Skating Types

There are a few basic styles of skating: recreational, fitness, hockey, aggressive,  off-road, and racing.  Each style requires skates with specific attributes.

	Sport/Recreation General: Skaters who are not concerned about their technical level. Skating goals:  Skate for enjoyment and exercise. Look for: 1. Price / Value issues 2. Quality issues 3. Comfort issues 4. Image issues
	Training/Fitness General: Skaters looking to improve their level physical condition and technical proficiency. Skating goals: Faster skating, good control. Searching for challenging terrain. Look for: 1. Price issues 2. Comfort issues 3. Image issues - eye on performance and quality issues
	Hockey General: Has become a sport in its’ own right, not just Skaters who play on ice in winter and moved to street in the summer season. Skating goals: Looking for improved personal performance for playing/training.   Look for: Look for: 1. Performance issues 2. Quality issues 3. Image issues 4. Comfort issues They look very similar to their ice skate counterparts.  These skates are especially durable, have excellent stability and quick turning.
	Aggressive/ Street General: Skaters who have mastered technique. Skating goals: Skaters who are looking to improve personal performance. Look for: 1. Performance issues 2. Quality/Durability issues 3. Image issues Looking for fun. Will expose themselves to extreme situations and conditions. (half pipe, ramps, curb and rail slides)
	Off-Road General: Skates who are looking to tackle tough, rocky terrain. Look for: 1. Performance issues 2. Quality/Durability issues Off-road skates are for skaters who don't want to be limited to paved streets. They are looking to challenge their skills on trails and gravel roads.  Off-road inlines have oversized wheels, and a high center of gravity.
	Racing General: Skaters who have perfected technique. Skating goals: Measure personal performance against the clock (speed). Look for: 1. Performance issues 2. Quality issues 3. Image issues Speed skates have elongated frames and a fifth wheel to help generate more speed.

Skate Boots <top>

Sizing

In-line skate sizes are the same as street-shoe sizes. When selecting your skate size, be sure to account for socks. The fit goal for skates should be "comfortably snug" with no heel lift.

Moulded Skates

Shells are made from Polyurethane, or a similar plastic. Layers and the thickness of the materials set the flex characteristics. The materials must be strong and durable. Closure is by buckle or lace or a buckle and lace combination.

Liners for Moulded Skates

Liner outer material: - Nylon, PVC, PE, PU in high stress areas. Pre-formed closed cell foam.
Padding inner materials: - Open cell foam, (high compression or pack rate), closed cell foam, (low compression or pack rate), memory high density material (retains shape).

Inner liner material close to foot: Velour, Leather, Polyester
Liners are manufactured in two methods.

1.Lasted liners: - Formed, glued and/or stitched around a foot last (form).
2.Stitched - sewn in a box format. Low cost and inexpensive materials.

  Aggressive, Training and Fitness models use pre-formed lasted liners. They make use of high tech materials in critical areas (ankle, tongue, upper cuff) to deliver performance fits. Padding consists of low compression rate materials for a consistent, stable fit.

Sport and Recreational models use lasted or stitched liners with a combination of open cell padding and closed cell padding in critical fit areas. Open cell foam provides more comfort with some compromise on control. The fit will be comfortable but performance will be a little lower as the liner compacts during use. Fit adjustments can improve performance.

Soft Boot Technology

Designed as a fit innovation for performance as well as weight saving innovation. This technology uses a boot similar to a hiking boot / running shoe with additional support in the ankle and cuff.  Support may come from an internal or external frame of hard material.  Closure is by Lace or a lace buckle combination. The “soft” materials allow total foot envelopment and a contoured fit not dissimilar to a running shoe.  Precision of fit is a major advantage for the delivery of control. This innovation is targeted at the Training and Fitness category and will rapidly move to the Sport and Recreation category.

Hockey Boot Technology

These are essentially ice hockey boots with additional design attributes to keep the foot cool.  A hockey boot is made of synthetic (ballistic nylon) reinforced with extra material (synthetic or leather) for support in ankle and heel areas. The materials are stitched together and lasted on a rigid sole for a close fit. A hard toe cap provides protection. Closure is by lace.  

Race Boot

A Racing boot has a rigid sole with a mid to low cut lasted boot built on top. The boot is made of synthetic or leather and can be moulded. Although much more substantial in support the racing boot resembles a cycling shoe.

Drivetrain Components <top>

The drivetrain on an inline skate is made up of the chassis, wheels, axles, bearings and brakes.

Chassis

The more rigid the chassis, the more responsive to input resulting in more control. Chassis have three basic material constructions:

Plastic is the most flexible. Plastic will absorb shocks which allows for a smooth ride. This is the least expensive to produce.

Plastic reinforced with fiberglass, more rigidity and strength without adding too much weight and control is improved.                                               

Aluminum alloy is used to keep the weight to a minimum. Extrusion or machine milling result in a more expensive to production. Aluminum is the most rigid offering maximum response and  control.

Chassis length or how many wheels the chassis will accommodate will also contribute to ride sensation. Shorter chassis on smaller sized skates, particularly junior models, may have only three wheels. The shorter length chassis has a more choppy ride. Sport and recreational skates will have four wheels for all adult sized skates. Training or fitness skates will have four wheels but will be spaced out a little longer to provide more stability and accept a large diameter wheel. Race or long distance chassis may have five wheels. The longer the chassis and the more wheels the greater straight line stability will be provided. Race and serious training skater’s require higher stability for more confidence at greater speeds.

Some chassis are molded at the same time as the boot. (Current situation at Oxygen)

Higher quality skates (Stitched and race) may offer chassis choices, they can be interchangeable and therefore could be upgraded, but at a high expense. The best choice is to match the chassis with the skater’s performance expectation at time of purchase. 

Wheels

Example Picture	Profile	Description
		Aggressive: These wheels have a square looking profile which provides a more stable platform for the skater to land on.
		Hockey: The rounder the profile of the wheel, the easier the maneuverability. The round profile has more surface contact and increased adhesion.
		Recreational and Race: A crowned wheel has lower contact with the surface and offers low rolling resistance. Sharp crowns are used in racing, lower crowns for recreational wheels.

Wheels are made of polyurethane

Four factors to consider with wheels: Size, Hardness, Profile, Core

Size: Size is measured in diameter. The greater the diameter the greater the circumference and the higher the speed can be attained with lower rpm at the wheel center. This means less build up of friction, this is the advantage to the larger diameter. The drawback is that a higher diameter wheel accelerates slower than the low diameter wheel and increased height from the ground will limit responsiveness.

Aggressive wheels start at 45 MM and range up to 72 MM. A Junior skate wheel diameter’s start at 64 MM, Average adult recreational skate is 70 or 72 MM. A 76 MM diameter is used for better fitness training models and better roller hockey.  76MM will become the norm for the future. Racing skates use 80 MM diameter wheels.

Hardness: Hardness is measured by durometer and is marked on the wheel. The lower a number indicated means a soft durometer (74 A) Aggressive skates use a hard wheel with durometers 100A.  Hard Polyurethane is more durable against abrasion. Softer Polyurethane wears easily but delivers better adhesion or grip on the skating surface. Minor shocks will be absorbed by the softer material wheel. Indoor roller hockey skates use a softer durometer. The hardness also affects the ride. 

Dual Density technology is developing quickly.  A softer material is used close to the core, this material can very from low Durometer PU, open cell foam, or air chamber which is encased with the harder PU.  The hardness improves wear with smoother ride and adhesion is increased.

Profile (see above for images): There are four profiles, Aggressive, Hockey, Recreational and Race. A crowned or ridged wheel has lower contact with the surface and offers low rolling resistance, a sharp crown is used in race and lower crown is used with the recreational profile. The ridged wheel will have more weight on the contact surface and be slightly less maneuverable. A more constant round profile has more contact surface and increased adhesion. This rounder profile is used in hockey. The rounder profile wheel will also be easier to maneuver. Aggressive wheels have a more square profile than a hockey profile and are made of harder polyurethane.

Core: The core of the wheel holds the bearings in place. Cores can be made from polyurethane or plastic. Polyurethane cores will bond best to the polyurethane wheel material.  The core design can reduce the weight of the wheel and through venting designs help heat dissipation from axles and bearings. Cores also help in smoothing out the ride by providing some shock absorption. Better performance Recreational and Hockey wheels will have cores designed to do just that. Aggressive wheels in small diameters and low performance wheels will have simple bearing casings and solid wheel material surrounding them.  

Axles and Bearings

Axles

Axles connect the wheel bearings to the chassis. Bearings are held in place by a bearing spacer.

Two types of axle systems are in used in Inline skates.

1. A Single Axle system where a bolt with a hex screw threads in to secure it to the frame. This is used in conjunction with bearing spacer that slips over the axle to hold the bearings in place. Axles are made of hardened steel.

  2. An axle that also acts as a bearing spacer is used as well.  The Axle has threads inside that a hex screw inserts into each end. These axles can be made of Alloy aluminum or steel. Alloy aluminum will reduce weight.   

Bearings

Bearings reduce the rolling friction at the wheel and will reduce the effort required to skate. Although the bearings may look similar, the quality and the precision with which a bearing is designed and put together can make a substantial difference in the smoothness of rolling.

Semi precision bearings are used in low price point and low end models of children’s skates. They have a limited friction reduction capacity and will wear rather quickly.

Annular Bearing Engineers Committee (ABEC) have a grading system for bearing quality

ABEC 1 is the first quality assurance level. The manufacturing assembly and component tolerances are monitored and the resistance to rolling is checked. ABEC 1 Bearings are used in most of  the first price point skate models.

ABEC 3 is the next quality level provides even lower rolling resistance with more strict tolerances. These are used in the more performance oriented skates.

ABEC 5 is of higher quality and has even more improved rolling ability. They are offered in the better skates where performance is a must.

ABEC 7 is now offered as the highest grade bearing from a few after market manufactures.  ABEC 7 has very little rolling resistance.

Most skates can be upgraded to a higher performance bearing at any time.

Brakes

The brake is a slowing device that is designed to stop a skater gradually.

Brakes are attached at the rear of the right skate. Some hockey skates are shipped without brakes and can be added as an option. Use of the brake is one of the more important tasks that a novice skater must learn.

Rockering

Rockering is a process where the middle two wheels are in contact with the skating surface and the first and last wheel are a little higher. This will affect stability but increase maneuverability. This is desirable for hockey and someone wanting a quick turning skate (slalom). This can be accomplished by means of an offset in the chassis for the axle position allowing wheels to be raised or lowered as required. This can also be accomplished by using front and back wheels with different diameter than the middle wheels.

For Aggressive skaters the opposite is required where the center wheels are of smaller diameter, this allows for clearance while performing grinds on rails.

Drive Train Maintenance

The following should be performed as required:

1. Brake pads should be inspected before and after each use. Replacement of brake pad when worn is a must.

2. Bearings should be cleaned and lubricant replaced. This will reduce wear on the bearings and keep the effort required to skate to a minimum. Bearings should be replaced when wear creates sloppy movement between the inner and outer bearing races.

3. Wheel Rotation - wear occurs on the inside edge more than the outside edge. Rotation of the worn side to the outside will increase usage, replacement will be needed when the diameter has reduced substantially. Wheel rotation can be done at the same time as a bearing cleaning and lubrication replacement.

Transmission

The inline skate should deliver support and rigidity in three directions to transmit the actions of the skater.

Side to side (Lateral and Medial) movements are required to push off the edge of the skate for forward projection and in addition provide directional (steering) control.

Flex

Forward flex allows the skater to stretch out over the blade for efficient push off.

Rear flex hould be kept to a minimum. The result will allow the skater to hold their position over the center of the chassis 

Stance

Stance should be slightly bent at the ankles, knees and waist weight centered over the chassis. The skate should accommodate this while the wheels remain in contact with the surface remaining 

Fit

Wrap around envelopment of the foot is desirable. Tightening of the laces or buckles should allow for maximum adjustment without collapsing the structure. This provides the best foot wrap while eliminating internal pressure points The skate liner shape should follow the morphology of the foot and lower leg extending a precise wrapping of the ankle and foot hold to provide dynamic centering.  

Women's Skates

Most manufacturers offer skates specially designed for women. These skates take into account how women's feet differ from men's. For the most part, women have higher insteps, lower calves, wider forefeet and narrower heels.

Protective Equipment <top>

Helmets

Helmets are critical to preventing head injuries from falls. Two of the most common ways of falling are straight forward and slipping backward so that the head bounces off the pavement.

For in-line skating, there are two basic types of helmet designs: one that's similar to a bicycle helmet and a second that resembles a football helmet. Bicycle-type helmets are half-oval shaped and cover the front, top, and back of the head. Football-type helmets offer a larger area of protection with an outer shell that extends farther down the back of the head and covers the ears as well. Both designs are approved by national testing bodies, and your personal preference will determine which is best for you.

The outer shells of helmets are generally made from a hard synthetic material that is light but can still absorb an impact. Outer shells should have ventilation holes to help keep your head from overheating. Interior shells are usually composed of soft polyurethane foam, designed to provide comfort and absorb blows.

Most importantly, the helmet should have a securely-fitting chinstrap.

Elbow and Knee Pads

Protective pads are recommended for the elbows and knees. Made of polyurethane foam with a hard plastic cover, pads can either be slipped on or secured by Velcro fasteners. Many skaters recommend Velcro fasteners because they make it easier to take pads on and off.

Elbow pads protect the bony, exposed joint at the elbow. More often than not, when falling backwards, we end up on this joint. Wearing extra padding and support will prevent most breaks and fractures.

Knee pads are used by many sports enthusiasts who want protection from the cold, hard ground, but it may be in-line skaters who benefit most. A good knee pad will cover the knee itself, as well as the area directly below the knee. With slip-on knee pads, you'll likely have to remove your skates first before taking them off.

Wristguards

Wristguards are designed to protect the palm and the carpal bones in the wrist which become sprained or broken easily. In the past, most wristguard exteriors were made of leather, but today, many feature a ventilated, synthetic mesh design that helps cut down on perspiration. Interiors are usually made of polyurethane foam. In addition, most wristguards contain a thin, tough, nylon spine that adds support to the wrist and protects the palm. When buying wristguards, make sure they're washable.

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