Archive for April, 2009

As I was surfing the net I came across one of those websites that lets you submit your questions and “the public” can answer them for you.  The title of this particular question was “Is Roller Skating a Good Form of Exercise?” Intrigued, I clicked and found answers such as…

Absolutely! It builds leg, back, thigh, butt and ab muscles….not to mention the cardio!

Study after study have found that roller skating is a great source of exercise and is recommended by the American Heart Association.

Instead of going out for a run, try dusting off your skates and see what a 30 min skate can do for you! One of my favorite ways to skate is at a skating rink, it has air conditioning, great music, and even better if you invite a friend or two along!

By Jo Ann Schneider Farris, About.com (http://bit.ly/14a0Zy)

Figure Skating Without Ice:

Artistic roller skating is very much like figure skating on the ice. Everything ice skaters do can also be done on roller skates.

Lack of Media Coverage:

The public does not get as excited about artistic roller skating as ice figure skating because artistic roller figure skating is rarely shown on television.

Quad Roller Figure Skates:

Most artistic roller figure skaters skate on quads. Although roller figure skating moves may look the same as ice skating moves, sometimes a different technique is used on four wheels. Quads have turning trucks that steer the skate much like the steering mechanism on a car.

Inline Figure Skating:

Artistic inline skating feels a lot like ice figure skating. Many ice figure skaters have found it possible to do all figure skating moves off the ice on inline figure skates. In recent years, inline figure skating has become a competitive sport.

PIC® Skates Work for Ice Skaters:

Some figure skaters say that the PIC® Skate makes it possible to practice all figure skating moves done on the ice off the ice. Most skaters find that the skate takes some time to get used to. Skaters say that the PIC® (toe stop) feels very much like the toe pick on a figure skating blade.

Other Inline Figure Skates:

There are other types of inline figure skates besides PIC® Skates. One of the most popular brands is the Snow White artistic inline skate. The Jump-Spin Skate is an entry level inline figure skate.

Roller Figure Skating Competitions:

Both ice skating and artistic roller figure skating have regional, national and world competitions; however, roller figure skating is not an Olympic sport. Roller figure skating competitions usually include events in figures, free skating, pairs, dance, and precision (synchronized) skating.

Some Roller Skaters Who Have Switched to Ice:

1998 Olympic figure skating champion, Tara Lipinski, was originally an artistic roller skater.

2009 US Pairs Silver Medalist, Caydee Denney, was a competitive artistic roller figure skater. In roller skating, she won the Juvenile National Roller Singles title and Elementary Pairs National title.

Most people in the figure skating world know that Morry Stillwell served as President of U.S. Figure Skating from 1995 through 1998. What is not known is that Morry Stillwell was a roller skater before he was an ice skater.

From http://bit.ly/SXp9O

The YMCA offers a 5 step approach:
1. Involve the whole family in meal planning, preparation and clean-up
2. Eat more meals together as a family.
3. Provide each child with one-on-one time every day.
4. Designate one night a week for walks, bowling, bike rides, roller skating or the park.
5. Serve fruits and vegetables at most meals; include a whole grain or protein option with every snack.

Here is a nice article about the sport of Roller Derby…

Remember Roller Derby? The sport was on TV in the 1970s. Women would skate around an oval track, knocking each other off their feet. Well now a handful of dedicated women have started a team right here to Lynchburg.  Reporter Brian Damewood put on some skates to practice with the Hill City Derby Dollz.

Typhoid Carrie, Jammer - “O.k what we’re starting with tonight are suicides!”

Don’t let the checkerboard socks, fishnet stockings, and miniskirts fool you.

Carrie- “Some of us are moms, some of us aren’t.”
Kersten - “We have nurses, school teachers. You’d be surprised.”

The Hill City Derby Dollz are the everyday women of Lynchburg.

Carrie -”You know, we’re just all different chicks out here to have a good time.”

Rebeccah is a social worker by day.

Beccanator, Hill City Derby Dollz - “By night I’m a roller girl.”

And becomes the Beccanator.

Beccanator - “Roller Derby is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve never been involved in organized sports, and I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m making new friends, I’m having fun.”
Kersten - “Hitting girls, hitting chicks. It’s awesome.”

As much as the Derby Dollz enjoy hitting each other.

Carrie - “We have fresh meat here… Brian.”

They loved serving me a man-sized slice of embarrassment.

Kersten - “When you knock down a man, that’s even better.”
Carrie - “I hit like a girl and I’m proud of it.”

Typhoid Carrie, one of the Derby Dollz’s Jammers, says roller derby is about more than just hitting.

Carrie - “The Jammer’s goal is to get through the pack of girls without getting hit and knocked down. And each girl that she passes she gets a point. And then she goes around and does it again.”

Each match is called a Bout and they last for an hours, so that means a lot of skating and push ups to stay in shape.

Kersten - “It’s just as equal to like spin class or running.”
Carrie - “I’ve lost 50 pounds in seven months. And I’m in the best shape of my life.”

It’s turned out to be a big stress releaser for Britten, mother of a two-year-old.

Britten - “It’s a different kind of mommy time for me.”

Skating under the name Love To Hate Me, she founded the team last year.

“It’s crazy. I never would’ve thought it would’ve grown so big so fast.”

And with the team now more than a dozen strong, the Hill City Derby Dollz expect their numbers to grow.

Carrie - “Who wouldn’t want their wife or girlfriend to be a butt-kickin, derby girl?”

The Hill City Derby Dollz are always looking for new members. Right now they’re just scrimmaging teams from cities across Virginia, but they plan to have their first official bout in Lynchburg’s Amazement Square Warehouse in November.

Thanks to WSET - http://www.wset.com/news/stories/0409/612812.html

I would like to wish everyone a very happy Easter!

Jesus is Risen!

We had the pleasure of helping out a school district in Napakiak Alaska becoming physically fit by supplying them with roller inline skates!

They have sent us some pictures of the kids opening their skates and trying them on.

Here is a note from the school…

We have received the shipment in March and have already begun to skate! In-line skating, an aerobic activity, can now be enjoyed by the students in our gym. We plan to have community evenings for students to skate with their families in April/May.

Students now have another activity in their school that can be a life-long learning activity to further develop physical health. As an example, our Jr. High plans to practice skating and then measure their cardio workout for the Health Class curriculum. The Kindergarten and First Grade students have each written an ‘experience story’ about their first in-line skating.

Hello y’all, I want to let you know that I am excited. Spring is finally arriving (although it was freezing temperatures last night here in Atlanta).

None the less, my favorite time of the year hands down is spring, I love the fresh air, the trees, the smell of freshly cut grass, and also the fact that it is not cold anymore!

One awesome thing about spring is that you can roller skate outdoors. Many parks are skate friendly and welcome skaters along with bicyclers, joggers, and walkers. One of my favorite things about roller skating is the fact that it is an excellent way to stay in shape.

I belong to a gym and love to work out, however, it is a drag to be inside on a treadmill when it is such a beautiful day outside. As soon as I get the chance I will be grabbing my skates and going outside. I live in Atlanta and one of my favorite places to go is the Silver Comet trail. You can even skate with your dog! (You are on the skates, not Fido). Just “Google” outdoor paved trails in your city to find the best places to skate outside.

Happy Skating,

Adam

adam@theskateauthority.com

This skate was invented by Antonio Pirrello in 1956. These  skates feature a 19-pound gasoline motor that is worn like a backpack. The gas connects to the right skate to push while the skater holds his or her left foot out in front to steer. A second cable connects to the hand-held clutch to regulate speed. Quite a lot of speed. These skates can roll at up to 40 miles per hour!

Read more about the “evolution of roller skates” in one of our resource articles!

Thanks to the National Museum of Roller Skating for the picture!