Skating, In-Line. Encyclopedia of World Sport

In-line skating is a variant of roller skating employing
a series of wheels, generally four or five, set in a straight
line mimicking the ice skate. The modern in-line skate
sacrifices the precise control of the dual-axle roller
skate for greater speed, superior adaptability to a variety of surfaces, and easier mastery.
History
In-lines are actually the oldest type of roller skate. Inline skates were used in theatrical productions in the
late 18th and early 19th centuries as substitutes for ice
skates. Experimentation with different configurations
eventually resulted in the superior maneuverability of
the cushioned dual-axle roller skate. The in-line concept survived into the 1970s largely as an off-season
training tool for skiers and ice skaters, benefiting from
the introduction of plastic components and
Polyurethane wheels. In 1979 Scott Olson, a 19-year-old
American semi-professional hockey player, discovered
the in-line skate as an off-season training aide. Olson
modified the design for hockey use and sold the patent
rights to a private investor in 1984. The resultant company, Rollerblade, launched a major marketing campaign that popularized in-line skating and made the
company’s name synonymous with in-line skates.
Early in-lines were wooden platforms mounting
wooden wheels, attached to the foot with straps of
leather or fabric. Modern skates employ space-age materials. The boot, or shell, encases the foot. Frames can
incorporate a number of features depending upon
their intended purpose, including “rocker” features to
enhance maneuverability, brake pads, and even active
braking systems. Wheels are chosen to suit the surface
and activity of the skater, with variations in size and
hardness.
Rules and Play
Sidewalk and rink skating serve as the introduction to
organized in-line sports. The least regulated of these is
“aggressive” skating—the performance of various acrobatic stunts, similar to stunt skateboarding in nature
and its largely adolescent demographics. Aggressive
skating also inherited some of skateboarding’s bad reputation due to their close relationship and the damage
each inflicted upon public property through both skating stunts and the often rebellious behavior of youthful
subcultures. The in-line industry’s formation in 1992
of the Skatesmart program, which promotes skating
safety, attempted to adjust this image.
Organized competitive roller skating is governed
internationally by the Fédération Internationale de
Roller-Skating (FIRS), which accepts in-line skates in
all categories and has established speed and hockey divisions reserved for in-line skaters. The codified and
regimented nature of these activities stands in stark
contrast to the more informal world of stunt skating, as
does organized skating’s appeal to a broader range of
age groups.
One discipline of competitive skating, roller hockey,
enjoyed a particularly substantial boost in popularity
with the introduction of in-line skates. The 1992
Olympic Games in Barcelona featured an exhibition of
roller hockey, the first roller sport in the Olympics. The
game itself is based upon ice hockey with a few modifications relating to the different surfaces involved. Inline roller hockey has formed professional leagues and
includes professional ice hockey players in its ranks.
In-lines quickly replaced traditional roller skates in
speed competitions, both those sanctioned by FIRS
and recognized national governing organizations and
the less formal events, which increased in number as
the popularity of in-line skating grew.
Only one discipline of internationally organized
skating remains untouched by in-line skates. Artistic
roller skating is still dominated by dual-axle skates due
to their superior maneuverability and control. But
artistic events are open to in-lines, and inventors continue to improve in-line designs.
In-line skating grew explosively in the later 1980s
and early 1990s. In the United States alone an estimated 12 million people tried the sport at least once in
1993. In-line skates may now be found around the
world, for both recreational and practical purposes.
One reflection of this is their adoption by the American
Amish community, renowned for its rejection of modern technology and recreational pursuits, as a means of
transportation.
—JEFFERY CHARLSTON
Bibliography: Joyner, Stephen. (1993) Complete Guide and
Resource to In-line Skating. Cincinnati, OH: Betterway.
Rappelfeld, Joel. (1992) The Complete Blader. New York:
St. Martin’s.

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