Give ‘Em Some Air

Whether you are taking a quick trip around the block or a mini-marathon skate, your protective gear is going to be saturated with sweat when you’re finished. Like other items, it isn’t a good idea to put your protective gear away while it is still wet. If you do, this will cause the growth of bacteria and as a result, create that horrible stench. When you get finished skating let your gear sit out for an hour and dry before putting it away. For additional freshness, throw a dryer sheet in your bag after you pack your equipment away.

Spray ‘Em Down

Another method is to spray your gear with a disinfectant spray. A quick shot of Lysol or a similar product can help to kill bacteria that form from wet pads. We do not recommend household cleaners like Fantastic or Simple Green as this may damage your equipment more than help it and they can also irritate the skin quickly. Try quick sprits of Lysol or Febreeze but understand that even a heavy use of these products can irritate eventually. If you have sensitive skin, try spraying the products to help freshen the smell, then rinse and dry the pads.

Give ‘Em a Wash

If you just want to skip the other methods described here, give your pads a quick wash through the washing machine with this neat little trick. Add 1/4 cup of distilled vinegar and a 1/8 cup of detergent to a wash load before the cycle starts. If possible, let the pads soak for 10 minutes prior to the cycle. Run the cycle and then put the pads out in the sun to dry or in the dryer for 15 minutes. Strong smells will be dissolved after a good washing using this method.

http://www.skatelog.com/countries/us/inline-skating-instructors.htm

http://inlinenow.com/campsClassesLessons.htm

http://www.craigslist.com

If you’re a bit curious about the last listing, you should know that Craigslist.com is a great way to locate personal skating instructors at very affordable prices. Also, if you are an instructor who is looking for additional skating students, this is a great way to find them, as well as simply offer your services.

What to expect from an inline skating lesson?

Based on our experiences, a skating lesson is most effective only after you have spent time skating on your own. The reason for this is that when you skate on your own, you develop your own skating tendencies. When you begin your skating lessons, you will begin to learn the proper techniques and you will have something to compare your initial tendencies to. If you aren’t willing to lace up your skates and take a few spills before your lessons, you will not gain as much from your lessons. After you have made a solid attempt to learn to inline skate on your own, sign up for a lesson and start improving your abilities.

As far as how a skating less is administered, that is up to the instructor. Each instructor will handle lessons differently, but the concepts and techniques should be quite similar. The concepts and techniques, while similar, will also depend on the skill level you have. If you are a beginner, you will be instructed on beginner techniques. If you are at an intermediate level, you will learn some different techniques. And so on.

If you are going to your first lesson, you will want to make sure you show up a bit early to make sure you get your skates on comfortably, and that you can warm up to get the most out of your time with the instructor. At the start of you lesson, inform the instructor of the areas you would like to work on. If you want to work on balance, stopping, turning, or speed, let your instructor know in advance so they can focus on those areas when working with you.

During your lesson, you can expect to participate in a variety of drills, each designed to focus on many areas of your skating technique. Cone drills will be the most common because instructors can focus on speed, control, balance, turning, and agility. One the many benefits to cone drills is that they are easy to replicate on your own. Therefore, it is easier to practice on days when you do not have lessons.

Your instructor should be an expert on form and technique. Their expertise in these two primary areas should help your with skating faster and with more control. Your instructor should always teach proper form and help you become aware of correct and incorrect tendencies. This way you can begin correcting and analyzing yourself on your mistakes. Once you understand the proper execution of a maneuver, you will know how to fix any bad habits when you are working on your skating technique without your instructor.

For those who are not interested in skating lessons, but prefer the good ol’ fashion do-it-yourself techniques, you can find an abundance of information through skating sites and online skating forums. You can also find instructional videos in stores or possibly online through sites like YouTube.com. Finally, skate with friends because you can learn from one another by sharing information, this is not only helpful, but it’s fun too.

1.) What’s the difference?

And

2.) Which is better?

The answer to the first is rather simple. ABEC, an acronym for Annular Bearing Engineering Committee, refers to the perfection of a bearing. Historically ABEC ratings have been used to grade the quality of a bearing and the smoothness of the polish. According to the ABEC rating system, the higher the ABEC rating a bearing receives, the more efficient the bearing will operate. The more efficient the bearing operates, the faster speeds it is capable of producing. Presently there are 5 classes of ABEC ratings:

• ABEC 1 – Class 0
• ABEC 3 – Class 6
• ABEC 5 – Class 5
• ABEC 7 – Class 4
• ABEC 9 – Class 2

The above ABEC ratings correspond with the stated class above as measured by the International Organization for Standardization.

The Swiss bearing came long after the ABEC rating system. The primary difference between the Swiss and the ABEC are the standards for which they are rated on. The Swiss system takes into account not only the smoothness of polish on the bearing, but also the entire assembly of the bearing itself. Swiss argues that their rating process and the bearings they produce roll faster and shed debris with less maintenance.

Simply put, the difference that exist are in the standards used to rate the bearing. A Swiss bearing utilizes the same rating for smoothness of polish, but adds the process as a whole to its ratings process.

When making a decision to purchase a new set of bearings for your skates, your decision should be based on what you plan on using your skates for. Swiss bearings, while easier to maintain are generally more expensive. Out of the box, they also tend to be a bit slower, based on our personal opinion. However, if you plan on skating very frequently and in long stretches, or even marathons, the speed of a Swiss bearing will be beneficial for you in the long run.

ABEC bearings are generally less expensive and will be faster out of the box. However, ABEC bearings tend to be more susceptible to debris which can cause friction inside of the bearing itself, and make them less efficient. If you are a recreational skater who skates occasionally, you may not need to spend the extra money on bearings. Instead, educate yourself on bearing maintenance to help extend the life of your ABEC bearings.

Bearing Lubrication:  Oil or Grease?

Regardless of the type of bearing you decide to purchase, you will need to select the proper lubricant to service your bearings and help its performance. The two most common types of lubricant that you will be considering are oil and grease. Both work effectively, but each has its own pros and cons given a situation.

Oil is much thinner than grease and as a result creates less friction inside of the bearing. The less friction that is present in-and-around your bearings means the bearing can rotate faster, making your wheels rotate at a faster rate, allowing you to accelerate faster, and maintain speed longer. Unfortunately, the high viscosity of oil does a poor job of keeping dirt and dust from entering the inner parts of your bearings, potentially creating large amounts of friction if not serviced routinely and correctly.

By comparison, grease based lubricants offer the opposite effects on wheels and bearings. Grease is thicker than oil, which creates more friction for the wheel and bearings. This makes a grease lubricant inferior to oil in respect to speed. From a positive standpoint, grease lubricants are the perfect choice to protect the bearing from water, dirt, and dust. This allows the bearing to go for longer stretches with less friction from these elements.

The bottom line when it comes to bearing lubricant is that you want to consider how often you are going to be using your skates, and how often you will be able to flush the bearings and re-oil or re-grease. If you are buying a skate and want low maintenance, you will probably want to get a grease based lubricant. However, if you are buying a skate for aggressive uses like hockey or speed skating, and you plan on taking good care of your skates, then an oil based lubricant is the better selection. No matter which lubricant you select, remember that you do not need much at all. A couple of drops of oil based lubricant or a dab of grease should get the job done on each bearing.

If members of your family are a bit hesitant or skeptical about how much fun they can have, here are a few things to help you get them excited to pick up the sport.

First, learning to skate is easy to learn and you can skate almost anywhere. It is a low impact activity that helps increase flexibility, reduces stress on joints, and allows you to keep active.

Second, it can be fun for the whole family, and be more than just people skating. One of the great things you can do with inline skating is be creative and devise some games to play. Of course you can also take classic games such as tag, hide-and-go-seek, and basketball and adapt them to inline skating. Aside from these classic games, you can also play some others. We have provided a few below that you may like.

-          Beginner Games –

Koosh Ball Scoop: For this game you will need some Koosh balls, or other easy to grab, non-rolling targets. To play, scatter the Koosh balls around the area you plan on playing. Once they all have been scattered, skaters will skate around trying to pick them up, placing them in their or their team’s respective bin. The person/team who gathers the most wins.

Red Light! Green Light!: Another classic game turned into loads of skating fun. This game is perfect for helping beginner skaters with the critical skill of stopping. All players line up side-by-side at one of a skating area while a “cop” call out commands of Red, Yellow, or Green light. On green light, all skaters move forward. On yellow light, skaters glide/coast in preparation to stop. At red lights, all skaters come to complete stop. Any person who violates must start over.

-          Intermediate Games –

RoadRunner vs. Coyote: Begin by drawing a chalk line on the pavement where you are skating. This line will represent the “edge of a cliff”. Skaters will take turns skating as fast as they possibly can towards the “cliff”. As they make their approach a whistle is to be blown, indicating the skater to stop. If they can do so before going off the “cliff,” they are considered the RoadRunner. If not, they are a Coyote. As skaters get better at stopping before the “cliff,” wait longer before blowing it.

Skating Waiter Relay: Many skaters have difficulty keeping their upper body erect and their arms under control when skating. This retro-themed relay race will help remedy that problem. Divide skaters into teams, giving each team a tray and a water bottle to balance on top of it. A whistle signifies the beginning of the relay and each team member must skate to a cone and back without dropping the bottle. They must then hand the tray and bottle to the next teammate. The race ends when all team members of one team cross the finish line.

-          Expert Games –

Cone Slalom: Using a cone of any sort (plastic bottle filled with sand, milk jug, Frisbee, etc.) invent a course to skate through. Skaters must maneuver through the course without knocking over any cones in the fastest time.

It is no secret that ankle support and control are essential characteristics for successful power transfer and stability control when inline skating. If your ankles are loose and not firmly positioned to the heel of your skate, it will make any skating experience less enjoyable. Every skating manufacturer tries to develop a system that will help to firmly position the foot in place and maximize power transfer and stability. One of the systems that has been developed is the Power Later Support system, or PLS.

Developed by Rollerblade, the PLS system works in tandem with the TFS lacing system. In case you are not familiar with the TFS lacing system, the TFS uses a thin, very durable wire to cinch the foot in place with uniform pressure. It is very simple to use and employs the use of a handle that is attached to the tension cable. One pull, and the entire lacing system begins to tighten and apply uniform pressure across your foot. The PLS system makes use of the TFS system’s ability to position the foot uniformly by providing a support that wraps and cradles the heel of the foot. The PLS system is different from older support technologies because it provides uniform support for both the heel and the ankle, while providing more flexibility and a customized fit. If you are looking for a way to maximize energy transfer and increase foot stability, check out skates with the PLS system.

If you have ever purchased a new pair of inline skates, you have undoubtedly asked yourself this question, “what will a little extra money get me?” You may also ask this exact question if you are shopping around for skates right now. Ultimately, there is no simple answer to this question because the benefits you gain from spending a little extra money will vary from one skate brand to the next. Additionally, the type of skate you are looking at will have a determining factor as well. But what is important to remember is that spending extra money on skates will be noticeable to you if you are frequent skater.

Each skate type (racing, recreation, hockey, aggressive, fitness) will offer different features that are designed to meet the needs of its user. Where money is spent on a component on one skate, it may not necessarily be spent there on another. Unlike other sports where spending a bit of extra money on equipment may not translate into better performance, the extra money spent on inline skates will certainly be noticeable. Boot liners, bearings, wheels, and lacing systems are just some of the areas that your extra cash will prove beneficial.

If you are simply interested in purchasing a basic pair of recreational skates for occasional use, the extra money may not be worth it. However if you elect to spend a tad bit more you will certainly notice it in the comfort level. For roller hockey players and racing skaters, the money spent will certainly be justified as it will result in lighter frames, higher quality & rated bearings, and better liners that will increase comfort.

When shopping for skates keep the three areas mentioned above, frames, bearings, and liners, in mind. If you are torn between one pair of skates that are priced at $50 more than another, inspect each of them for differences in these areas first. You are welcome to compare them in other areas as well, but we recommend these three first and foremost.

However the bottom line is that when it comes to the final decision, we recommend that you select the skate you deem best for you. This includes your skating ability, the area(s) you plan on skating, the frequency at which you skate, and also your budget. Do not spend outside your means simply because you want a more comfortable skate or better performing skate. Make certain you can afford the skate and that it meets your other needs as well.

Stability

Okay, this one seems a bit too obvious, but the importance of maintaining stability on your skates is magnified when cruising down a hill. The key to stability is what Barry calls “tensed-relaxation.” Tensed-relaxation means that you keep a relaxing composure while consciously contracting your muscles to stabilize your ankles, knees, and trunk. Additionally, you need to be prepared for a bump or push in any given direction. Since your speeds will be higher when going down a hill, the bumps and pushes will come much faster, meaning you need to be prepared at any and all times. Basically, when skating down a hill you will need to be in what is referred to as “defensive” or “athletic” position. Keep your body low and your muscles engaged in anticipation for a move in any direction.

Braking

Braking when going down a hill is much easier said than done. The reason for this is that once you have reached a high level of speed, braking difficulty is increased because it affects your stability. When braking down a hill you need to approach it one of two ways. The first approach is to view the hill with the mindset that it is large and that you do not want gather much speed. If you elect this approach, begin braking near the top and apply constant or consistent braking spurts of pressure all the way down.

The second approach is that you desire to coast the entire hill and maintain speed. If this is your approach, beware that once you reach a certain speed (which varies depending on your comfort level) you can no longer brake. This speed may not be reached on every hill, but you will reach it if it is considerably steep or long. In this case, you will want to coast the length of the hill and wait for your speed to decrease towards the end. Once you decrease to a comfortable speed you can then engage your brake to slow yourself.

Stamina

You may not think that stamina has much to do with skating down a hill. However the exact opposite is true, in fact it requires quite a bit of energy due to the constant flexing and relaxing of muscles. The constant flexing and relaxing of muscles is necessary to maintain balance and stability, and it can be quite tiring. In order to maintain energy for upcoming hills, do not contract your muscles too tightly when skating or coasting because the constant tension will make you fatigue much faster. Relax when you can and maintain your energy when you really need it. And remember, if you feel yourself becoming very exhausted, do not overexert yourself. Save the big hill for tomorrow if necessary.

And For the Advanced Level Skaters…

Aerodynamics

If you’re an advanced level skater you are likely to be well-versed in skating hills…even though they can still be a challenge. When it comes to tackling hills, aerodynamics can be a key contributor. If you are not worried about keeping your speed up when cruising downhill, you don’t need to worry about aerodynamics. But if you like to try and carry your speed as far as possible you’ll find aerodynamics to be your best friend.

In order to maintain an aerodynamic position and keep your speed up, maintain a “deeply-seated” position with the head and shoulders at or just below hip level. Also, keep your hands in front of you in a stable or clasped position. This will help improve stability and reduce wind resistance.  This position is commonly called a “tuck”. If you have every skied before this position will be familiar to you. If not, just know that it is the same position you see skiers going into when they want to maximize their speed.

In fact, there are companies that specialize in making equipment for the purpose of developing your skiing skills during the non-winter months. The sport, commonly known as Roller Skiing, is a great way to train for both downhill and cross country skiing. Specialized equipment (see image to left), allows for you utilize your ski boots in a binging, mounted on an elongated base with wheels. This will provide you with the feeling of a ski and allow you to practice slalom skiing via a cone course set up on a hill, or other form of training that you desire.

Now before you start hunting down equipment that will allow you to train for skiing in the summer, we must caution you that inline skating, even with this specialized equipment, is still different from a mechanics standpoint than skiing. You will want to be careful of developing skating-specific movements that do not exist when on skis; otherwise you may hurt your skiing style. For example, you may weight your feet differently from turn-to-turn, you may begin using step movements, or even compromise your posture to an A-Frame posture, which is not the same as a skiing posture. Issues such as these can be handled with some patience and attention, but we want you to be aware that they do exist.

If you do not desire to hunt down this special equipment, you can still make great use of your regular inline skates for ski training purposes. Practice with cone courses that have tight turning radiuses, or simply do some conditioning style skating to improve strength and endurance.

If you are an avid skier you will find that this is a great way to keep your mind off of the days until the lifts start running in November. Remember that above all else, you should be having fun when you are skating. Make certain you wear your protective gear and stay within your abilities.

For additional information on Roller Skiing, please check out the links provided below.

• http://www.streetski.com
• http://www.qwickly.com/inline-skating-off-season-training-for-snow-sliders
• http://www.iisa.org/resources/skate-to-ski.htm

A large number of events occur each year for aggressive skaters, who have taken inline skating to new heights with dazzling tricks and jumps. Aggressive skaters compete in two types of competitions, Vert and Street. Vert competitions make use of a halfpipe in which skaters will propel themselves in the air while performing a combination of tricks, spins, grabs, and grinds. Street competitions are different in the sense that they do not use a halfpipe, but instead use a variety of boxes, slopes, and rails for the skater to perform similar maneuvers (see image to right).

In addition to aggressive skating events, there are also numerous events that take place annually across the United States and Canada. If you know in advance when an event is taking place it is an excellent way to plan a quick weekend trip or vacation. Unless of course the event is in your area, then you can just make plans to participate in it.

Information on inline skating events can be found in many different ways including: newspapers, magazines, word of mouth from other skaters, and of course the Internet. The Internet is a great tool to use to find new events and gather information for an event you are considering attending. To help you get started finding events, here is a list of events that take place annually. For more information on a specific event, click on the links provided below: 

Chicagoland Inline Marathon

Chicago Metropolitan Area, IL

Skate Boston

Boston, MA

Saint Paul Inline Marathon

Saint Paul, MN

Big Apple Roll

New York, NY

North of the 49 Marathon

Winnipeg, MB, Canada

3 River Roll

Pittsburgh, PA

24hrs Inline Montreal

Montreal, QC, Canada

North Shore Inline Marathon

Duluth, MN

Athens to Atlanta Road Skate Event

Athens/Atlanta, GA

In the United States the sport of hockey doesn’t receive near the same level of notoriety that other sports such as football, baseball, or even basketball receive…although we believe that it certainly should. However, that does not mean that the sport isn’t immensely popular across the nation through ice and roller hockey leagues. In fact, hockey is one of the most popular organized sports across North America, and has been for well over 100 years.

Hockey leagues are offered nationwide at numerous hockey rinks, with most offering a variety of leagues for children and adults of all ages and skill levels. However, these leagues are not limited to solely ice hockey. As inline skating has gained in popularity over the past decades, so has the interest in Roller Hockey. All of the same basic rules apply to roller hockey that apply to ice hockey, with the only major variations existing in the playing surface and the type of skate you are using. Minor rule variations may exist from league to league, but the substance of the game is still very much the same.

There are many characteristics in the sport of roller hockey that make it vastly appealing to people of all ages. First, it is relatively inexpensive to become involved in when compared to ice hockey. Second, there are many leagues available that help make the competition level remain fairly even. Additionally, you can play the sport in any or all of the four seasons, regardless of your geographic location. Finally, you can put a team together of many of your friends who also enjoy the sport. There are many other reasons as well, but these are just some of the many.

If you are interested in becoming involved in roller hockey, you will need to purchase certain equipment to be eligible to play. The basic equipment is what you will need, any additional items are solely your decision:

• Roller Hockey Skates (no brake is required)
• Hockey Stick
• Hockey Gloves
• Hockey Helmet (with or without mask and HECC Approved)
• Hockey Shin Pads
• Hockey Elbow Pads
• Roller Hockey Pants
• Jock Strap (men) / Pelvic Protector (women)

Equipment Tips:

An appealing characteristic of roller hockey is that is less expensive than ice hockey. The most important part in selecting your equipment is that you make sure it fits correctly. There is no sense in spending oodles of money on high-end equipment if it does not fit properly. Make sure your equipment fits properly, then worry about price if you so choose.

In that same mindset, a crucial purchase will be your roller hockey skates. Make certain that your skates feel comfortable and fit properly. If they are not comfortable and/or do not fit properly, you will be in lots of pain when you have to make those quick stops and turns.

If you are just starting in roller hockey, do not hesitate to save yourself a few bucks at first by just wearing some sweatpants over your shin pads. However, we strongly recommend that after a few times out that you purchase a pair of roller hockey pants. Roller hockey pants are lightweight, breathable, and reinforced in the knees and seams to be durable. Sweatpants are suitable in the beginning, but you will quickly find yourself sweating in places you never knew you could sweat.

Getting Started

If you are interested in getting started in roller hockey, but you don’t know how, try starting with a friend or joining a league at your local roller hockey rink. For a rink in your area, try searching through the site linked below. Once you find a rink close to you, you are well on your way to seasons and seasons of fun.

http://www.rinktime.com/roller-hockey-rinks/national/roller-hockey-rinks

When purchasing a pair of inline skates you should consider the money that you spend as an investment. Like most investments, you will want your inline skates to last for a long time before having to replace them. There are many ways to ensure that this takes place, but one easy way is to routinely rotate your wheels.

Wheel rotation on your inline skates is similar to the process of rotating wheels on a car. The process consists of removing your wheels and then positioning them in a different spot on your frame than they were before. The purpose of this is to make sure that the wear taking place on your wheels is balanced. Most skate wheels are made of a urethane material that while long lasting, begins to wear down after many uses. If you do not properly rotate your wheels, you will wind up with wheels that are severely worn down in one direction. This makes skating very difficult, and forces you to purchase new wheels to remedy the problem.

Ideally you should be checking your wheels before and after any skating session, but every couple of sessions is okay too. Checking before you skate will allow you to assure yourself that your wheels are in good condition to skate on. Checking after you skate will allow you to gauge how much your wheels are wearing down. The rate at which your wheels wear down will depend on the type of skating you are doing and the terrain you are skating on. If you are skating on an indoor skating rink, your wheels will not wear down as fast as if you were skating outdoors on pavement. Also, the Durometer rating of your wheels will play a factor in the wear as well. Keep these two things in mind when inspecting your wheels and making a determination whether you should rotate or not.

A standard wheel rotation should involve swapping wheel position, as well as flipping the wheel so that the inside edge now faces outwards. This will help keep the wear balanced and prevent you from having to replace wheels worn to a 45-degree angle on one side. Additionally, swapping wheel position is important because pressure isn’t always applied equally on each wheel. To remedy this issue you will want to swap wheel positions. You are welcome to re-position your wheels in any manner that you like, but the following method is the most common for 4-wheeled fitness or recreational skates.

1-3-2-4 Swapping Method:

For 4-wheel skates with wheels that are all the same size, you will want to utilize the 1-3-2-4 rotation. This method is known as the 1-3-2-4 because it requires the 1^st and 3^rd wheels on the frame to be swapped, and the 2^nd and 4^th wheels to be swapped.

There are other swapping methods as well, for 5-wheeled skates and Hi-Lo roller hockey skates as well. For a more in-depth review of those processes, please review Inline Skates 101 Guide.

Flipping and rotating your wheels is an easy way to save some cash, improve the performance of your skates, and increase the longevity of your skates in general. If you don’t feel like rotating your wheels, you are more than welcome to purchase new wheels every time, but don’t be upset if you spend more money on replacement wheels in 6 months than you did purchasing your skates.

We understand that not everyone owns each piece of protective equipment above. If you can, we recommend that you invest in the items you do not have. If that isn’t exactly an option right now, we strongly advise that you at least get a helmet and wrist guards. When you fall, you will no doubt attempt to brace yourself with your hands. Therefore, wrist guards are very important for protecting against broken wrists or fingers. Additionally, if you fall backwards or lose control while skating, you will want to protect your head from slamming against the ground or any other items in the vicinity or your tumble. You may think you look dumb, but that is a small price to pay for your safety and well-being.

If you are still a bit hesitant to protective gear because you believe it will make you hot, sweaty, and itchy, please note that inline skating protective gear has come a long way in design since the 1980s and 1990s. Today’s protective gear is typically lined with wicking material that not only feels comfortable, but it pulls moisture away from your skin as well. As a result, this keeps you cooler and dryer, eliminating the itchiness of wearing pads. Additionally, the pads are much lighter now too. This makes them practically unnoticeable when skating.

Protective pads have also evolved beyond knee, elbow, and wrist pads, to pads that protect the entire body. Crash pads are new to the market and are designed to protect against broken bones, scratches, and bruises. They are worn like a piece of clothing with small pads on the surface for protection and manufactured from mesh or wicking material to keep you cool.

If you’re looking to do yourself a favor, we strongly recommend that you invest in the right protective gear because it will save you money in the long run, and help you avoid pain and anguish too.

Inline skating is a very effective workout when it is done properly. There are many benefits to inline skating for fitness, including its ability to burn calories, reduce wear-and-tear on your bones and joints, and improve balance and coordination. Below is a discussion on how effective inline skating is in each of the areas just mentioned.

Skating for Fitness: Burning Calories

When it comes to getting healthy, or staying healthy, many people consider themselves to be calorie counters. They keep track of the calories on the foods they purchase and consume, and they also try burn calories through various exercises. Inline skating is great fitness activity for helping to burn calories because it takes very little time to become effective.

During a 30-minute skating period, an average inline skater will burn 285 calories at a heart rate of 148 beats per minute, if they are skating at a steady, comfortable rate. By comparison, if you elect to perform interval skating, in which you will alternate skating aggressively for one minute, and skating easy for another, you will burn 450 calories in 30 minutes.

If you choose running or cycling instead of skating, you will lose 350 and 360 calories respectively, at the same 148 beat per minute heart rate. The numbers are still slightly higher for running and cycling, but the number of calories you can burn per minute is largely dependent on your weight. Thus, you may still lose more calories in a 30 minute period while skating versus running or cycling. Not to mention, the toll that running and cycling take on your body, skating is a very suitable fitness option.

To help you determine how many calories you can burn per minute while skating, review the following chart to determine your rate.

Skating for Fitness: Low Impact

In addition to the calorie burning benefit of inline skating, skaters also gain from the low impact on the bones and joints of the body. If you have ever been jogging, you know that running produces a jarring impact on your knees, back, and ankles. The repetitive nature of this jarring impact is not good for your joints and it takes life out of them with each and every stride. Inline skating is a great alternative to jogging and an excellent way to alleviate your body from the damage to bones and joints. In fact, inline skating has been proven to show slightly less than half of the shock of running, while providing all of the same benefits. If you are a runner and your legs routinely hurt, you may wish to consider inline skating as an alternative. It will save you much pain and anguish in the future.

Skating for Fitness: Cardiovascular Workout

If you are dedicated runner you know that it is a tremendous cardiovascular workout. However, as was just discussed, running takes a toll on the body. If you give up running, how are you supposed to get in your cardiovascular activity? The answer is inline skating. Not only does inline skating help to relieve you of the jarring impact from running, but it provides close to the same cardiovascular workout. The only exceptions being that you have the ability to coast on skates, which you cannot do while running. One way to compensate for this however is to skate in an area with a slight incline which will prevent you from coasting.

If you are curious about how hard you should be pushing yourself when skating in order to get a good cardiovascular workout, the answer can be found with a few simple calculations:

Begin by subtracting your age from the number 220

220 - (Your Age) = _____ (A) From now on we will use (A) to represent this number

Next, subtract your resting heart rate from (A), multiply it by .60, and add your resting heart rate.

(A) - (your resting heart rate)= _____ * .60= _____ + (your resting heart rate)= _____

Finally, subtract your resting heart rate from (A), multiply it by .85, and add your resting heart rate.

(A) - (your resting heart rate)= _____ * .85= _____ + (your resting heart rate)= _____

Skating for Fitness: Balance and Coordination

Whether you have skated before or not, it isn’t a secret that inline skating requires a fair amount of balance and coordination. It also isn’t a surprise that many athletes, amateur and professional, will utilize inline skating as a training tool to improve balance and coordination.

If you are looking to take your balance and coordination training to the next level, inline skating is a great option for you. A great way is by practicing skating on each foot independently. Pick up one skate for 2 to 4 seconds, and then switch to the other foot. This will accelerate your balance and coordination very quickly. If you do attempt this exercise, please remember to always wear protection gear

However, even if you aren’t looking to use skating as a balance and coordination training tool, a little extra balance and coordination doesn’t hurt.

Skating for Fitness: Muscle Building

It is not a surprise to most that inline skating is a great aerobic and cardiovascular workout. However, it is also a great way to build muscle. In general, an individual who is working out is seeking to burn fat, not muscle. From a muscle building standpoint, inline skating has been found to be more beneficial than both running and cycling. This is do in large part because the motions of inline skating are easier and more natural for building hip and thigh muscles. Unlike cycling, inline skating develops the hamstring muscles. While inline skating also helps preserve your knees and joints, unlike running. Many studies have also been completed on the effectiveness of inline skating for building muscles; with each study showing that inline skating develops muscles in the entire upper leg, rear end, hips, and lower back. Additionally, your upper arms and shoulders are affected when arms are swung vigorously in intense skating periods.

Skating for Fitness: Sports Training

As touched on briefly earlier, inline skating is often used by athletes, both amateur and professional, as a sports training tool. In fact, Rollerblade, Inc. was founded by two hockey players who were looking for a way to train for ice hockey in the off season. Most hockey players utilize inline skating for this same purpose to this day. Additionally, Alpine and Nordic skiers will develop leg muscles, improve their cardiovascular fitness, and their agility via inline skating. These are just a few of the many ways that inline skating can be used for sports training.

Skating for Fitness: Mental Fitness

Among all of the benefits that have been discussed to this point, the one that is routinely overlooked is mental fitness. Inline skating can be a casual stroll around the block, or an intense, fast-paced adrenaline rush. Regardless of which style of skating you participate in, the mental health benefits that you gain from inline skating should not be taken lightly. Leisurely skating helps to reduce stress levels, and has also been shown to lower the likelihood for depression. Intense skating also has its benefits by increasing mental acuteness and reaction time as well. All in all, inline skating provides a number of significant benefits on many levels, both mental and physical.

]]> http://blog.inlineskates.net/skating-for-fitness/feed http://blog.inlineskates.net/my-child-wants-aggressive-skates http://blog.inlineskates.net/my-child-wants-aggressive-skates#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:27:46 +0000 aschaa01 http://blog.inlineskates.net/?p=116 If you are a parent you may have a vague idea of what aggressive skating is. Some of you may not, so we ask that you accept our apologies now if you know much of what is described below. If your child is begging for a pair of aggressive skates and wants to go to a local skate park, it is best that you have a little knowledge of what they are desiring to do. Here’s a little background on the sport:

Shortly after inline skating began to rapidly gain popularity in the mainstream market in the late 1980s, aggressive skating was born. The foundations of the sport began when inline skaters started using their recreational inline skates to perform creative tricks and jumps in natural urban environments. Not long after this phenomenon started, the first inline skates designed for aggressive skating were manufactured by Rollerblade, Inc.

In addition to designing and manufacturing the first aggressive skating specific skate, Rollerblade would also coordinate and sponsor many of the first aggressive inline skating competitions. In 1995, the Aggressive Skaters Association (ASA) was founded and provided aggressive skaters with a platform to showcase their skills at an international level.

Presently, aggressive skating has gained immense worldwide popularity, with countless numbers of skaters in dozens of countries. Numerous aggressive skating events are held nationwide in the United States each year, and many others are held in international competitions as well.

Aggressive skating competitions are held in two distinct formats: Vert Skating and Street Skating. Vert Skating utilizes a Halfpipe (see image to the right), requiring a skater to propel him or herself vertically into the air and perform aerial tricks. Street Skating is much different because it does not use a Halfpipe, but instead uses a series of obstacles (e.g. ramps, rails, slope boxes), which the skater must utilize to showcase his or her abilities.

In all, aggressive skating is a great activity for children of all ages. It requires a great deal of patience and focus on their part to learn the nuances of the tricks, which is very good for the brain. Additionally, it allows them to get off of the couch and get out of the house for some exercise. They also have the opportunity to meet and interact with others who share the same interest. If they get good enough at it, they can begin to enter competitions and from there the sky is the limit.

As a parent, you may consider the sport to be very dangerous and hazardous. While it is quite a daring sport, the protective equipment that is available is designed for the sport specifically. You just need to make certain you buy the equipment and make sure they wear it. Furthermore, the protective gear is continually advancing in design, becoming safer and safer all of the time.

]]> http://blog.inlineskates.net/my-child-wants-aggressive-skates/feed http://blog.inlineskates.net/skate-maintenance-preventative-vs-restorative http://blog.inlineskates.net/skate-maintenance-preventative-vs-restorative#comments Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:25:52 +0000 aschaa01 http://blog.inlineskates.net/?p=115 Preventative Maintenance

The key to keeping your skates rolling and performing like the day you bought them is preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance is nothing more than a few simple decisions on your part.

First, make sure you choose the right surfaces to skate on for the type of skate you own. Avoid skating through water, sand, mud, or any other type of material that can cause severe damage to your skates. The fewer opportunities your skates have to get dirty and collect debris, the longer they will continue to perform like the day you took them out of the box.

Second, if you want to avoid Stinky Skate Syndrome, make sure you select the appropriate sock to wear while skating. This should be a thin athletic sock. If you wear thicker socks, the more moisture builds up and the more your skates will stink. Once Stinky Skate Syndrome sets in, there is not a lot you can do about it.

Restorative Maintenance

If you have slacked on the preventative maintenance but you want to get an old pair of underperforming skates back in top shape, you will need to conduct some restorative maintenance.

Restorative maintenance will require that you focus on 3 areas of your skates: Wheels, Bearings, and Brakes.

Wheels: Rotating inline skate wheels is an essential part of keeping skates performing well. Analyze the wheels of the skates you are looking to restore. If they are in good enough shape to keep, analyze them for a rotation.

Bearings: Likely the key area to look when skates are underperforming. Bearings that are properly cleaned and lubricated will perform best. It is highly recommended that you remove the wheels from the frame and inspect the bearings for debris. Conduct a cleaning and lubrication before inserting them back into the wheel hub. Keep in mind that when servicing your bearings, there are two types of bearings you are likely to encounter. For a more thorough discussion on how to service and maintain your bearings, please review our Bearings Article.

Brakes: Checking your brake is a very important part of the inline skate restoration process as well. If you spend the time to make the skates go faster, you may just want to spend a bit of time making sure you can stop as well. Many brakes will have a recommended ‘wear-line’ that will help you determine how low you should allow your brake to wear down. We recommend that you do not wait until your brake gets to this line, but rather keep an eye on it and change it when you feel it becoming ineffective.

Selecting a new place to skate is relatively simple process…in fact it’s probably not a process at all. One important thing you will want to consider though is whether a new skate trail will affect your skates or not. If the terrain is different than what your wheels are used to, basically if conditions are harsher, then you will want to account for this before deciding to skate on it.