To a lot of people, inline skating is likely seen as something as simple as putting on a pair of inline skates and rolling way. While this is true on a very broad scale, inline skating as a whole is quite a bit more than that. Inline skates come in a few different types, each specialized for the type of skating it is used for. There are 4 different types of inline skate. Those types are: Recreational/Fitness, Hockey, Speed, and Aggressive.
No matter the type of skate, all have 3 main parts: the boot, the frame, and the wheels. Brakes are rare on any skate besides recreational/fitness skates, as they otherwise only serve to get in the way. Some skates that are designed for simulating ice skating will actually have a toe brake, but for skates with a brake, the traditional placement is at the heel.
Now, the first question to ask in regards to inline skates and figuring out which is right for you, is what you will be doing on the skates you buy? If you are a novice, then you should start out on a basic recreational skate, and learn all of the basics of inline skating. If you have already been riding inline skates for awhile, then it comes down to what you want to do.
Recreational Skates
By far the most popular type of skate is the recreational skate. Recreational skates are designed for anyone who simply wishes to put on a pair of skates and roll. They are generally good for use on any urban surface. Pretty much every maker of inline skates will have at least one model of recreational skate, and more than likely, they will have many more. Different skates will have different features and be made from different materials. There are numerous types of enclosure systems, and they will have nearly as many ways to secure them to your feet.
Aggressive Skates
Aggressive skates much more closely resemble inline skates as they were first introduced. They employ a more boot like appearance for overall durability, with reinforced frames. The wheels tend to be smaller and harder for landing tricks. Also, more oft than not, they will have smaller center wheels and grind plates installed, as well as having reinforced boot heels for the various grinds and slides that can be done.
Hockey Skates
Inline hockey skates are pretty much exact replicas of ice hockey skates, but with wheels. The boot design is the same, and the wheel frames are made to be durable, stiff, and light weight.
Speed Skates
If you like going fast, like competition, or even both, then speed skates are for you. Speed skates are built similar to running shoes. Low profile, light, with a slightly raised heel, and sporting 5 wheels on each foot, these things are all about one thing, and that is going fast. It should be noted that speed skating is for those of a high fitness level.
Photo Credits: cesarastudillo
Originally posted 2009-10-13 03:18:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
High Tech Deck Skate Park Choices There is a great deal of interest in high tech deck skate park materials today as more and more people are becoming interested in the sport once again. As you watch the interest in skateboarding becoming more popular every year, there is more reason than ever for the innovations in...... -
Inline Skate Rockering If you have been into inline skating for any decent amount of time, then chances are you have heard the term rockering before. You might even know what rockering is, and this will just be remedial information for you. But if you do not, then this could be quite enlightening...... -
How to Rotate Inline Skate Wheels It is important for you to know why it is important for you to rotate the wheels on your skates, and it is also important for you to have an understanding of when you should do it. There are a number of different available approaches to take when it comes...... -
Gear Basics for Kitesurfing Kite surfing is a sport that has gained significantly in popularity over the past couple of years. This is very understandable, at least if you watch some of the champion Kite surfing events and see how much fun it looks. Kite surfing is also known as kite boarding or fly...... -
Wakeboarding: Picking Your Board Wakeboarding is an intriguing surface water sport that was originally known as skurfing because it combines snow boarding, surfing and water skiing principles together. Wakeboarding specifically involves riding the wake of a speedboat while riding on a single board, the wakeboard. There are five different kinds of the products that......
Related Websites -
Skiing Lexicon pt 5 Here is a skiing and snowboarding lexicon of terms that will help prepare you for the upcoming skiing and snowboarding season. Shaped Skis - These are relatively new and fairly improved skis that are characterized as having some type of an hourglass shape, and they are supposedly designed with the...... -
Back to Basics 101: Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercises Sometimes it's good to review exactly what goes on inside your body when you exercise. You might gain some insight on how to approach your workouts, and that will just give you an extra edge to becoming fitter! So, let's go back to the basics and review the differences between...... -
Choosing the Right Triathlon Bike pt 2 You are really going to want to choose a bicycle that fits your body perfectly, comfortable, and also fits your budget. You can buy an extremely expensive bike, but if it does not fit your frame, then it is completely worthless when it comes to meeting your bicycling needs. The...... -
Skiing Lexicon pt 5 Here is a skiing and snowboarding lexicon of terms that will help prepare you for the upcoming skiing and snowboarding season. Shaped Skis - These are relatively new and fairly improved skis that are characterized as having some type of an hourglass shape, and they are supposedly designed with the...... -
Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Crested Butte, CO Crested Butte Mountain Resort is located in: Crested Butte, CO Phone: (970) 349-2222 Website: http://www.skicb.com/ About the Resort: This was the site of the first X games, and that should tell you all that you need to know about the terrain you'll be facing here. There are 550 acres to......
- Goalie Skates Ice Skating Winter Sports
- Ice Skating Other Sports Fan Apparel & Souvenirs Sports Collectibles
- Light Safety & Reflective Gear Running Exercise & Fitness
- Girls Inline Skates Skate Shop
- Short Hybrid Fast Growing Drought Tolerant Shade Trees Plants, Seeds & Bulbs Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living