On Inline Skating

Inline skating is an extremely popular way of both getting around and keeping fit. Many people unfamiliar with skating are often puzzled as to how different for the skater inline skating is compared with using more traditional roller skates, and whether it is harder to learn than traditional roller skating.

First of all, it is important to clear up a couple of popular confusions surrounding inline skating. Firstly, there is no difference between rollerblading and inline skating; the two are in effect one and the same. Rollerblades are simply a trade name for inline skates.

Secondly, what most people think of as �roller skates’ should more precisely be called �quad’ roller skates. Inline skates, or more precisely inline roller skates, are simply roller skates which have their wheels set out in the form of a single row or line (hence the term �inline’).

For the skater, inline skates tend to offer a much smoother and faster skating experience than quad skates. They do however rely on a stronger sense of balance and coordination than quad skates. For this reason those who require more practice in perfecting their balance are generally advised to try quad skates first before moving on to inline skating.

Many inline skaters looking for an even faster skating experience tend to switch to a larger wheeled variation on inline skates known as �fitness’ or �speed’ skates. There are also professional-standard inline skates known as �aggressive’ skates, designed for those wishing to use their skates for the performance of stunts and tricks.

Regardless of one’s choice of inline skates and one’s level of ability, it is of course always vital to wear full protective gear and only skate on smooth surfaces away from traffic and high pedestrian volume areas. At Skates.co.uk we can offer expert advice on inline skating as well as provide some great value quality skates to get you started.