2002
Skating Articles Published in 2002
12/25/02 Britney Spears Roller Skate Lawsuit
On December 23, 2002, Britney Spears filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against Skechers Footwear of California,
12/15/02 Betty Spaghetty Skating Dolls
These wild-haired inline skating dolls with skinny legs will delight any child, and any adult who collects inline skating memorabelia.
11/29/02 Before You Buy Inline Skates
What kind of skates to buy, how much you should expect to spend, the truth about wheels and bearings, and more tips and advice about buying a pair of inline skates.
11/27/02 Before You Buy Skate Wheel Bearings
The skate wheels turn freely because of an anti-friction device inserted between each wheel and axel. That device is called a bearing. Here are some tips to help you select the best bearings for your skates.
11/26/02 Before You Buy a Skate Bag
Some features and issues you should think about before you purchase a bag for your skates and skating accessories. How do you want to carry the bag? Will you ever check it on an airplane? Do you need to keep the bag with you when you're skating? Learn about hese issues and more.
11/23/02 X Games Moved to Los Angeles in 2003
In November of 2002, ESPN announced that the summer X Games will move from Philadelphia to Los Angeles in 2003.
11/21/02 10 Most Popular Roller Sports
Roller Sports are hotter then ever and people of all ages, with all levels of athletic ability can participate. Here are some of the most popular roller sports activities.
11/20/02 Top 10 Aggressive Inline Skates
Aggressive skates are tough, durable skates usually made of thick plastic. They have small wheels for maneuverability and grind plates to protect the boots when you perform aggressive stunts.
11/16/02 Salomon High-End Inline Skates
The TR line is Salomon's very best line of fitness and recreational skates, and it includes two four-wheel fitness skates, one five-wheel fitness skate, and a speed boot that is sold without a frame and wheels.
11/12/02 Salomon Mid-Range Inline Skates
The X-TR (X-Trainer) is Salomon's intermediate line of recreational and fitness skates. The line includes the Pulse, the Speedster the Quattro, and the Children's Zoom, plus four skate models not sold in the United States
11/08/02 K2 Fitness Inline Skates
K2 was the first company to manufacture a soft-boot inline skate and their line of fitness and recreational skates is one of the popular skate lines on the market.
11/05/02 Types of Skates and Skating Styles
One reason inline skating and quad roller skating are so popular is there are many different types of skating, each with it's own special type of skate.
11/01/02 Top 10 Adjustable Skates for Kids
When people ask about skates for children, I always recommend one of the high-end, size-adjustable children's skates made by several well known and reputable skate manufacturers. Here are some of my favorites.
10/28/02 10 Newest Skating Books for Kids
A collection of inline skating books for kids age 9 to 12, published between November of 1999 and October of 2002. These are the newest of all the children's inline skating books on the market.
10/24/02 Before You Buy Binoculars
Tiny binoculars are a fun and useful item to bring along when you're skating, but buying them can be confusing. Here are some guidelines and tips.
10/21/02 24 Action Sports Books for Kids
Capstone Sports has published a series of books that will help children learn to read and get them started in a wide variety of action adventure sports.
10/15/02 Skate the 2003 Disney Inline Marathon
On March 30, 2003 there will be a full marathon and fun roll for inline skaters and quad roller skaters at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida.
09/30/02 Danish Skater Breaks World 1 Hour Record
In September of 2002, Claus Hechmann of Slagelse Denmark broke the world's record for longest distance skated in 1 hour.
09/15/02 The Beautiful New Long Beach Marathon Route
The Long Beach Marathon in Southern California is one of my favorite events, because it's always a fun-filled, all day party. This year the start line, the finish line, and most of the route has beautiful views of the Califoria Coastline.
09/01/02 Olympic Committee Rejects Roller Sports
The International Olympic Committee has decided not allow roller skating and 12 other sports into the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Here's Why.
08/15/02 Walk In Your Skates
When your favorite restaurant won't let you roll in on skates, try whipping out one of these special gadgets.
08/01/02 Heatstroke or a Broken Head?
How to keep your head cool in a helmet, and what kind of helmet you should wear for warm weather skating.
07/29/02 The 2002 X Games
A special report and guide to the 2002 EXPN X Games in Philadelphia. This year's sports include biking, inline skating, climbing, motocross, skateboarding, and wakeboarding.
07/15/02 The 2002 Gravity Games
A special report and guide to the 2002 Gravity Games in Cleveland Ohio. This year's sports include biking, inline skating, motocross, skateboarding, street luge, and wakeboarding.
07/01/02 Skating World Championships in 2002
World championship inline skating and quad roller skating events in 2002, including aggressive, artistic, downhill, roller hockey, roller skiing, abd speed skating.
06/03/02 New Cuban Roller Sports Federation
In May of 2002, while reporting on a skating event in Havana, I had the pleasure of spending a great deal of time with the members of the Cuban Roller Sports Federation. Here are photos and some of the Federation's plans for 2002 and 2003.
05/20/02 Introduction to Skating in Pakistan
Roller skating as a national competitive program was introduced in Pakistan nearly 20 years ago by Khalid Saeed, who is now the General Secretary of the Roller Sports Federation of Pakistan.
05/10/02 Classified Ads for Skaters
Something new has been added to the About.com skating Web site - classified ads for skaters! Now you can finally get rid of those unused skates and accessories you have been planning to get rid of.
05/03/02 Vilnius Thursday Night Fever
The first Vilnius Thursday Night skate took place in Lithuania on May 2. The skaters in Vilnius hope you will join them the next time you visit Eastern Europe.
04/20/02 EXPN Action Sports and Music Awards
Photos of Carmen Electra, Tony Hawk, Jim Rippey, Taryn Manning, Mat Hoffman, the Red Hot Chile Peppers, the Osbournes, Xzibit, and many more athletes and performers at this Southern California awards show.
04/17/02 2002 Giro Helmets
A buyer's guide and preview of nine unisex helmets in Giro's 2002 line for skaters and cyclists.
04/14/02 2002 Salomon TR Vitesse2
A buyer's guide and preview of the most advanced 5-wheel fitness skate in the 2002 Salomon TR line of inline skates.
04/13/02 2002 Salomon TR Mg Elite2
A buyer's guide and preview of the most advanced 4-wheel fitness skate in the 2002 Salomon TR line of inline skates.
04/12/02 2002 Salomon TR Magnesium2
A buyer's guide and preview of the entry-level skate in the 2002 Salomon TR line of fitness skates.
04/10/02 2002 Salomon TR Skates
An introduction to Salomon's high-end line of fitness and recreational skates including the Magnesium, the Mg Elite, the Vitesse, and the Carbon.
04/08/02 2002 Salomon X-TR Skates
An introduction to the Salomon intermediate line of recreational and fitness skates, including the Quattro, the Speedster, the Pulse, the Zoom and several other models.
04/07/02 Skate With Me in Cuba - May 2002
Are you ready for some warm-weather skating after a long cold Winter? Come to Havana at the end of this month for the Cuba Cup and Havana Inline Marathon.
04/03/02 Skate With Me in Russia - June 2002
Find out how you can skate with me this Summer in St. Petersburg, Pushkin, Peterhof, Sosnovy Bor, Novgorod, and Moscow. And here's a little surprise: You might want to take a few TANGO lessons before this trip!
03/29/02 Nairobi Inline Speed Tour
Treat your family to a fabulous holiday in Africa this summer and skate through the streets of Nairobi in this official FIRS-sanctioned speed skating event.
03/26/02 Tuca Reichert of Brazil
One of the most popular and well-known skaters in Brazil is Cecilia Maria Simplício, known on the Internet as "Tuca Reichert".
03/19/02 Five New Skating Books for Kids
Five new inline skating books for children age 9 and up. You might not find all of them in bookstores, but you should be able to order them online.
03/12/02 Skate Off 20 Pounds in 3 Months
How to skate 20 pounds in 3 months without altering your eating habits. A weightloss plan that really works!
03/05/02 Inline Skates Sorted by Price
This chart will give you a general idea of what kind of skates you will find at bottom, the middle, and the top of the price range.
02/26/02 X-Rays of a Broken Wrist
If these photos don't convince you to wear your wrist guards, then nothing will. WARNING: PHOTOS ARE VERY GRAPHIC.
02/19/02 An Olympic Figure Skating Scandal
When the Russian pairs skaters were given a the gold medal over the Canadians at the Winter Olympics, an uproar was heard around the world.
02/12/02 Skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics
A special report on the skating events at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Check this site frequently to learn about the latest news in Olympic figure skating, ice hockey, and speed skating.
02/09/02 Special Report: Winter X Games
Articles, news, schedules, TV broadcast dates, and links to the official EXPN Web site.
02/05/02 Britney Spears Roller Skates
Her endorsement of quad roller skates made by Skechers could be the best thing to happen to our sport since Roller Derby.
01/29/02 I am Not a Rollerblader
You can call me an inline skater, a roller skater, a blader or even a fruit booter, but please don't ever call me a Rollerblader. Here's why.
01/26/02 Photos of A Skater's Face Injury
Photos of an injured skater's bleeding face after a bad fall. WARNING: PHOTOS ARE VERY GRAPHIC. I published these photos to remind skaters of why they wear a helmet and body padding.
01/22/02 Where to Buy Roller Skating Movies
A collection of roller skating movies from the early 1900's to current releases, and where you can buy them.
01/18/02 A Beginning Speedskater's Diary
How 47 year old John Aurentz quit smoking, skated for the first time, embarked on a rigorous training program, and participated in his first inline skating marathon, all in less than six months
01/15/02 Nike's New Air Max Skates
During the first quarter of 2002 Nike will introduce a new line of 4-wheel fitness skates called the AIR MAX N-DORFIN. The skates utilize the patented "Air Max" heel cushioning technology that was developed for Nike's high end athletic shoes.
01/08/02 Trying Clap Skates in California
Here is speedskater Lawrence Quimby's opinion of clap frames after skating on them for the first time.
01/01/02 Casey Does It for Doritos
Remember the article I published a few weeks ago, about Casey Pieretti, the skater with a prosthetic leg who does aggressive trick skating? Look what Casey is up to now (We know Casey is bold... but is he... DARING???)
2001
Skating Articles Published in 2001
12/10/01- Vertical Roller Skating
Aggressive skating on quad roller skates is not something you see every day, but pro skater Brian Wainwright has been doing it for years. Brian explains how he got started and he has some tips for people who want to try it.
12/03/01 - Top 5 Light Protection Wrist Guards
I always recommend that skaters wear wrist guards with hard plates covering the top and bottom of the wrists, but there are other options for skaters who make the personal choice to wear hand protection that is less protective but lighter in weight.
11/26/01 - Adjustable Skates for Kids
When people ask about skates for children, I always recommend one of the high-end, size-adjustable children's skates made by several well known and reputable skate manufacturers.
11/26/01 - Aggressive Skates for Kids
It is not easy to find aggressive skates in children's sizes, but some skate companies are making them. Here are my favorites.
11/19/01 - Roller Hockey Skates for Kids
The quick turns, rapid stopping, and high level of agility required by roller hockey can be enhanced by a good pair of skates, but skates that do not fit properly or provide adequate support can cause injuries. Here are some high quality hockey skates for children.
11/12/01 - Top 10 Five-Wheel Fitness Skates
If you have been thinking about moving from 4 wheels to 5, but you are not ready to give up the comfort and ankle support of your recreational skates, try one of these high end 5 wheel fitness skates.
11/05/01 - High Tech Gadgets for Skaters
When you are shopping for a gift for your favorite skater, consider one of these electronic gadgets. Some of them are healthy, some are practical, and some are just a lot of fun.
11/02/01 - Free Chad Hedrick Skating Clinic
World champion Chad Hedrick and top-ranked skater Theresa Cliff will conduct a free skating technique clinic for fitness skaters in Southern California on November 9.
11/01/01 - Casey Pieretti, Motivational Skater
Profile and photos of motivational speaker, triathlon athlete, and amputee skater Casey Pieretti.
10/25/01 - Photos of a Fast Blond
This beautiful Arizona skater broke an inline skating world's record in 1999. Can you guess who it is?
10/18/01 - The Long Beach Marathon
This Southern California event is always a full day of family fun, with races in the morning and food, beer, music, entertainment, and socializing all afternoon. This year it is an official stop on the Roller World Cup Tour.
10/14/01 - Top 5 Arizona Skating Events
The most popular skating events in Arizona for inline skaters and quad roller skaters.
10/06/01 - Are ABEC Bearings Better?
What are ABEC skate bearings? Should you pay extra for them? Here is an explanation of the ABEC rating scale and some opinions from the experts.
10/04/01 - Bearing Sizes and Codes
An introduction to skate bearing sizes, codes, and part numbers.
10/03/01 - Skater Dies After Wild Ride
Have you ever been towed on skates behind a truck or a car? Read this and you will never try it again. This is a sad story.
09/29/01 - Come With Me To Cuba
Join skaters from all over the world at the
Cuba Inline Cup and Marabana Inline Marathon in Havana, Cuba,
November 14-18, 2001.
09/29/01 - U.S. Athletes CAN Visit Cuba
Everything a U.S. citizen needs to know about visiting
Cuba for an athletic event.
10/28/01 - Recycle Your Skating T-Shirts
Are skating t-shirts filling up your closet? Turn them into a beautiful memory quilt or wall hanging.
09/12/01 - A Tribute to Jorge Coutinho
I am very saddened to announce that Jorge Coutinho of the International Roller Sports Federation died suddenly in Portugal on September 12, 2001.
09/11/01 - Team Salomon Training Tips
Did you ever wonder how the pro teams turn their bodies into powerful, super-charged, skating machines? Team Salomon was kind enough to share some of their special training techniques.
09/10/01 - Taig Khris Up Close
A slide show with 11 close-up photos of this world champion aggressive vert skater.
09/09/01 - Taig Khris Airborne
A slide show with 13 action photos of this world champion aggressive vert skater.
09/07/01 - Swedish Skater Takes a Fall
Ulf Haase was one of the best looking skaters in Stockholm before he fell and dragged his face across a manhole cover. Here are some before and after photos.
09/04/01 - Missing The Olympic Bus
Roller skating seems to meet the IOC requirements for an Olympic Sport, but is the seven year time limit going to freeze us out of the 2008 Games?
09/01/01 - Organize a Hallween Skate
Now is the time to start planning a group Halloween skate in your city. Here is a schedule of Halloween skates in 2001, photos from last year's events, and hundreds of costume ideas.
08/29/01 - Why They Call Me Scary Chick
I never thought I would show this photo to anyone.
When you see it you will know why. If you us it as your
desktop wallpaper, no one will dare to come anywhere NEAR your computer.
08/20/01 - Naked Skating in FaSST Magazine
If you subscribe to Fitness and Speedskating Times Magazine, check the August 2001 issue for my article about skating naked in San Francisco. Here is a reprintT.
08/19/01 - Photos of a Race in Belgium
Last week I flew to Belgium for the Flanders International Grand Prix. Some of the fastest skaters in the world come to this event year after year. It is an exciting and well-organized race, in a lovely location, with a very special atmosphere
08/05/01 - Roller World Cup 2002 Schedule
Here is a provisional schedule for the 2002 World Speedskating Roller Cup. If you have not yet registered your event, you should do so now.
08/04/01 - Photos of Inline Skating in Finland
Photos of the FinLine 2001 skaters arriving in Hanko after they skated 1500 kilometers across Finland.
07/31/01 - X Games Special Report
A special report on the Summer World X Games in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 11-22, 2001. News, schedules, photos, articles, sports, athletes, and more.
07/30/01 - A Portuguese Skating Club
Profile and photos of the Clube de Patinagem de Serpa inline skating club in Portugal.
07/29/01 - 6 Days of Racing in Portugal
Photos from last year's 6 Dias Serpa-Alentejo race in Portugal. The 2001 event will take place August 17-23.
07/28/01 - Skating in St. Petersburg Russia
Part 1 of a series of articles about inline skating in St. Petersburg. The best places to skate, where to find other skaters, road trips to nearby towns, and more.
07/23/01 - A Freedom Skate Striptease
The Philadelphia Freedom Skate is always a wild event, but this is the first year anyone took their off their clothes and danced the rain.
07/08/01 - The Summer X Games Schedule
I'm building a special page for About.com coverage of the Summer X Games in Philadelphia but for now, here is some information about the schedule for this year.
07/04/01 - Celebrating July 4th at About.com
Ideas for celebrating the Fourth of July from more than 50 About.com guides. Party ideas, safety tips and fireworksd displays from coast to coast.
06/30/01 - Daniel's Wild Week in Mallorca
A highly entertaining story about a one-week skating adventure in Mallorca, Spain, written by Swedish skater Daniel Edman with photographs by Ulf Haase.
06/27/01 - A Rollerski Event in Sweden
The organizers of Vasaloppet, the largest cross-country skiing race in the world, have organized a rollerski and inline skating competition that will follow approximately the same route.
06/23/01 - Hourglass Shaped Skate Wheels
Dahan Industries has invented a new type of aggressive skate with hourglass shaped wheels designed for grinding rails and curbs.
06/21/01 - Heelys and Stabilizers
These innovative products for skaters were selected as two of the top 30 sports products of the.
06/10/01 - Skater's Swap Meet in California
On June 24, 2001 there will be an inline skating swap meet and social skate in the City of Alameda in Northern California.
06/07/01 - Two Remedies for Skate Boot Pain
Two of my favorite products for preventing and treating foot pain caused by new or ill-fitting skate boots.
06/02/01 - You Can Skate Naked on June 17th
Join Sandy Snakenberg, fifty inline skaters, and photographer Jack Gescheidt for a naked skating photography session in San Francisco on June 17, 2001.
06/01/01 - A 1300k Roll Across Finland
For two weeks in July of 2001, the members of a Helsinki inline skating club will participate in a 1300k (800 mile) fun roll across Finland, and you are invited to join them.
05/29/01 - Stockholm Friday Night Skate
The very first Friday night skates in Stockholm, Sweden will happen on June 1 and June 8, 2001.
05/28/01 - Downhill Europacup #1 Results
The first Downhill Europacup event in 2001 was held in Passy France on May 27. Here is a report and some preliminary results.
05/27/01 - A 5 Day Skating Adventure in Paris
In May of 2001 15 skaters from 3 different countries toured Paris for 5 days with Zephyr Inline Skate Tours. Here are photos and trip reports written by 5 of the skaters who participated.
05/18/01 - Rear View Mirrors for Skaters
Have you ever wished you had eyes in the back of your head when you were skating? Here are more than a dozen rear view mirrors that can be attached to your wrist guards, eye glasses, or helmet.
05/17/01 - Skating on Mogema Clap Frames
In Parts 1 and 2 of this article, Dave Parcells of CDS Detroit explained how he installed the Mogema clap frame onto his Miller Boots. In Parts 3 and 4 he tells us what it was like to skate on clap frames for the first time.
05/15/01 - Installing Clap Frames - Part 2
In Part 1 of this article,, Dave told us about his first attempt to install the Mogema M41 clap frame on his Miller Boots. Now Dave tells us what he would do differently next time.
05/14/01 - Festival de la Santé 2001
On Sunday, May 20th there will be a Sports Festival and 32k inline skating race in Montreal, Canada.
05/11/01 - Installing Clap Frames - Part 1
Dave Parcells of CDS Detroit shares his experience installing Mogema's M14 Clap Frame onto his Miller Boots.
05/10/01 - Long Beach Marathon 2001
This race in California will be held on November 11 in 2001, and it will include both a full and a half marathon for inline skaters.
05/08/01 - The Baltic Cup in Sweden
In July of 2001, nine Baltic Sea countries will send their best inline skaters to Varberg, Sweden to compete in a new inter-country competition called The Baltic cup.
05/07/01 - New Copenhagen Friday Night Skate
In June of 2001, the city of Copenhagen in Denmark will have their first Friday night skate, modeled after a similar event in Paris, France.
05/06/01 - Photographing Indoor Sports
The New York Institute of Photography explains how to take photos at an indoor sporting event, including what film and settings to use, where to position yourself, and how to get the best shots.
05/05/01 - A Roller Limbo Troup in Beijing
The Beijing Bid Committee for the 2008 Olympic Summer Games invited a roller limbo troup to perform for FIRS president Isidro Oliveras in April of 2001.
05/04/01 - Skater's Killer Gets 6 Years
In June of 2000, drunk driver Carla Wagner killed inline skater Helen Witty near Miami, Florida. Both the driver and the skater were teenage girls.
05/03/01 - Xtreme Downhill Grand Prix
A report from the 2001 Xtreme Downhill Grand Prix in St. George, Utah on April 27-28, 2001.
05/02/01 - The New WISA Discussion Group
Régis Chatellier of the World Inline Skating Association has created a new discussion group for that organization.
05/01/01 - New London Friday Night Skate
The first London Friday night group skate organized by Citiskate.com will be held on May 4, 2001.
04/30/01 - Meet Fernando Brocal Velazquez
While I was vacationing in Spain, I met one of the best skaters in Mallorca, Fernando Brocal Velazquez. Fernando is a wild aggressive skater on inline skates, and a fabulous skate-dancer on quad roller skates.
04/29/01 - Skating in Palma de Mallorca
Photos of skating on the waterfront bike ath that runs along the beach and through the small boat harbor in the Town of Palma, on the Island of Mallorca in Spain.
04/17/01 - Skating the Dikes of Holland
Swedish skater Daniel Edman tells us about skating along the dikes of Holland where he encountered smooth pavement, strong winds, and absolutely beautiful scenery.
04/14/01 - Dallas Improves the Katy Trail
The Katy Trail in Dallas has a dramatic view of the city skyline and Turtle Creek. Plans are underway to extend the trail to 17 miles, add a pedestrian walkway, improve access, and add beautiful landscaping.
04/12/01 - Kent Baake New World Record Try
In April of 2001, Washington DC endurance skater Kent Baake will attempt to break the world's record for distance skated in 24 hours.
04/11/01 - Downhill World Championships
The 2001 world championships for extreme downhill inline skating will be held in Lausanne, Switerland September 1-2, 2001
04/10/01 - A Downhill Qualifier in Utah
The International Gravity Sports Association has announced a qualifying race in Utah for the 2001 downhill inline skating world championships.
04/04/01 - Artistic Inline Frames: PIC vs. Triax
Seven experienced inline figure skaters explain the differences between these two skate frames, and tell us which one they prefer.
04/03/01 - Play RollerSoccer on TV
The Roller Soccer International Federation is accepting audition tapes from experienced skaters who would like to play rollersoccer in a televised tournament with a $75,000 purse.
04/02/01 - Skate in Mexico on April 21
Skate in Mexico with thousands of cyclists on April 21, and share expenses with this group of Los Angeles skaters.
04/01/01 - Skating Can Increase Breast Size
It is a little-known fact that skating can increase your bustline by as much as 2 or 3 bra sizes.
03/23/01 - A Scale for Evaluating Skating Surfaces
Lars Lison Almqvist of Stockholm has developed a system for evaluating the suitability of a surface for inline skating. (An article by Joakim Wassberg).
03/22/01 - The New FIRS Web Site
On March 15, 2001, the world governing body for roller sports unveiled their new and completely redesigned Web site. How to navigate your way around this great new Web site.
03/20/01 - A Medieval Fun Roll in Sweden
In July of 2001 there will be a fun roll called "Kustrullet" on the Swedish Island of Gotland, on the beautiful bike path that begins in the medieval town of Visby.
03/17/01 - Me With the President of FIRS
In March of 2001, I spent the day in Seattle Washington with Isidro Oliveras, the President of the Féderation Internationale de Roller Sports. He is an interesting and creative man who is leading FIRS in many new and exciting directions.
03/16/01 - The Dresden Friday Night Skate
Tim Weidman of San Francsico skated the Dresden Friday Night Skate in Germany in 1999, and he tells us what it was like.
03/14/01 - Indoor Speedskating 101
If you have never skated at an indoor speed practice, don't miss this article by Jim Fink of the Seattle Skate Patrol. He tried indoor skating for the first time this Winter, and now he is sharing his experiences.
03/11/01 - Photos from the Early 1900's
The Uljanik Roller Skating Club of Croatia was founded in 1982, but roller skating has been popular in the City of Pula since the early 1900's. Take a look at these photos
03/09/01 - Lars Thomsen of Denmark
The chairman of the Bornholm Roller Skating Club won seven Danish National speedskating championships in the year 2000.
03/08/01 - Dirk May in Southern California
Photos of the leader of the Frankfurt, Germany Tuesday Night Skate skating in Venice Beach and Santa Monica, California.
03/04/01 - Robin Cousins' Rolling Thunder
Olympic skater Robin Cousins is auditioning artistic skaters, aggressive skaters, skateboarders, scooter riders, bmx riders, and gymnasts for his new touring roller show "Rolling Thunder".
03/02/01 - Skate Wheels Made of Rubber
A company in Yugoslavia has developed a wheel that is ideal for extreme downhill skating and skating in the rain.
02/25/01 - The Palajolly Roller Palace
This roller skating rink in Trieste, Italy is in a beautiful location, high on a hill. It is really a complex of buildings, with an indoor rink, an outdoor rink, a chapel, a cafe, and a gymnasium.
02/23/01 - Photos of My Skates
I have five pairs of skates, and some of them are pretty interesting. Two pairs have no brake, one has a standard friction brake, one has a hand brake, and one has a brake that is embedded in the wheels.
02/21/01 - About.com Guides on Skates
I'm not the only guide at About.com who skates. Take a look at these photos of About.com guides wearing their skates. These are great photos!
02/18/01 - A Proposal for a Covered Bike Path
The town of Orebro in Sweden has made a proposal to build a covered bicycle path, so residents can use their bicycles (and hopefully their skates!) for transportation, on the coldest and snowiest winter days.
02/13/01 - Dangerous Skating Activities
Have you ever done any of these things while you were inline skating? Find out why you could be asking for trouble.
02/04/01 - My First Day on Trail Skates
I spent two days playing around on these unique off-road skates. They have 8 inch inflatable tires and a hydraulic hand brake. Lots of photos!
02/03/01 - Flash - Is It Cool or Does It Suck?
Many popular skate companies are releasing new Flash based Web sites. How do you feel about this? Do you think Flash improved most of those sites? Can you still find the information you need? Please vote in our poll.
02/01/01 - Romantic Gifts for Skaters
Unique gifts for the skater you love, just in time for Valentine's Day. A few ideas that are more interesting (and more romantic) than the usual candy and flowers.
01/30/01 - Geoff Being Pulled by Bodie
Three photos of About.com Mountain Biking Guide Geoff Slater, wearing inline skates, and being pulled along by his dog Bodie.
01/28/01 - The Southern Cross Marathon
South Africa will hold their first inline skating marathon on September 16, 2001. This article includes photos of the Gerotek Vehicle Training Center, where the event will take place.
01/27/01 - El Dorado Inline Challenge
This new speedskating series will have four races in 2001, and they will all take place in El Dorado Park, one of Southern California's favorite outdoor speed training venues.
01/23/01 - Frankfurt Skating Police
The city of Frankfurt, Germany has an inline skating police unit and you can see them at that city's famous Tuesday Night Skates.
01/18/01 - The Art of Artistic Roller Skating
In February of 2001 there will be an international artistic roller skating workshop in Trieste, Italy for skaters from all over the world.
01/13/01 - Detroit Skaters Do It in Snow
A little snow on the ground does not discourage skaters in Detroit, Michigan. Take a look at these photos of people skating right through snow!
01/08/01 - USARS Speed Championships
The 2001 United States National Banked Track and Road Skating Championships will be preceded by 3 speed clinics and a 3-event banked track tour.
01/05/01 - Skating in the Movies - Xanadu
Even Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and the Electric Light Orchestra could not save this roller skating film.
01/04/01 - Willie Woo - All Terrain Boy
Ever since 10 year old Willie Woo learned to walk, he has had a helmet on his head and wheels under his feet.
01/03/01 - Young Skater Tragically Killed
A 10 year old skater in Buena Park, California, was killed on January 2 when he was unable to stop quickly enough at the bottom of a hill.
2000
Skating Articles Published in 2000
12/28/00 - Fred and Ginger on Roller Skates
In the 1937 RKO Pictures film, "Shall We Dance", Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers perform one of their dance routines on roller skates. (First article in a series called "Roller Skating in the Movies".)
12/26/00 - Cecilie Mogensen of Denmark
This 12 year old speedskater from Bornholm Island may soon become one of the most difficult skaters to beat on the world inline racing circuit.
12/19/00 - The New 2001 Helmets
On December 19, BHSI released their annual helmet report for 2001, with information about nearly every helmet model that will be sold in 2001.
12/17/00 - Top 10 High Tech Gifts
The most popular electronic gadgets in 2000 for skaters, cyclists, runners, and other athletes. Gift ideas for your geeky outdoor friends!
12/14/00 - Scooter Injuries Skyrocket
In September of 2000, scooter injuries surpassed inline skating injuries for the first time. Scooter injury statistics from 1998 through 2000.
12/10/00 - ESPN Moved X Games to Philly
ESPN is moving the X Games from San Francisco to Philadelphia for 2001 and 2002.
12/10/00 - Asian X Games Results
The winners of the Asian X Games held in Phuket Thailand December 7-10, 2000. Find out who is going to the 2001 World Games.
12/07/00 - Skate on a Formula One Track
Skate on the world famous Hungaroring Formula One race track in Budapest, Hungary on May 4-6, 2000
12/02/00 - Socks for Skating - 3 Rules
Can't figure out which socks to wear with which skates? Here are 3 rules to remember when you shop for skating sock
11/12/00 - Long Beach Marathon Photos
Photos, results, and reports from the Long Beach Marathon in Southern California on November 12, 2000.
11/20/00 - Clap Skates on a Half-Pipe
Photos of aggressive world champion Sven Boekhorst skating a half-pipe in 5 wheel Mogema clap skates, plus photos of world vert champion Taig Khris, Team Rollerblade manager Cory Miller, long time pro skater Mike Budnik, and 10 year old Willie Woo.
11/16/00 - A Slide Show: Kathie's Costume
Several views of the "SambaGRRL" Halloween costume I wore to our Southern California Halloween skates in 2000.
11/14/00 - A 38 Year Old Speed Club (November 14, 2000)
Flanders, Belgium is well known for its canals, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, but not many people know that it is also the home of a 38 year old speedskating club: The Zandvoorde Roller Club.
11/07/00 - Zen and the Art of Ceramic Bearings
Mechanical engineer Kyle Milliken discusses the pros and cons of ceramic bearings and bearings with a high ABEC rating.
11/03/00 - The Cuba Cup
Copa Cuba de Patinaje de Carreras is the National Championships event for inline speedskating in Cuba, and it ends with the Marvana Marathon in Havana. In 2000 the event is November 14-20, 2000.
11/01/00 - L.A. Thursday Night Skate
The new Downtown Los Angeles Thursday Night Skate happens twice a month, and skaters meet at the famous "Dome Village" homeless shelter.
10/30/00 - Rosarito to Ensenada 2000
Los Angeles skater Dan Benveniste tells what it was like to skate 54 miles in Mexico, from Rosarito to Ensenada, in the middle of 15,000 cyclists.
10/30/00 - Papeete Friday Night Skate (October 30, 2000)
The skaters of Papeete on the Island of Tahiti, had their first Friday night skate on September 30, 2000.
10/30/00 - Cactus Speed Classic
Challenge yourself by skating this difficult marathon route in Tucson, Arizona on Sunday, September 5.
10/25/00 - Skate Against Violence
Photos of the "Skate Against Violence" group, at the October 20 Santa Monica Friday Night Skate, after they skated to Los Angeles from San Francisco. Zack Phillips played rollersoccer all the way down Santa Monica Boulevard!
10/14/00 - Venice Beach Skate-Dancers
Photos of skaters dancing in a line, at the temporary Venice Beach skate dance circle.
10/14/00 - Index to Matzger Workshop Photos
A one-page index to all of Eddy Matzger's Workshop photos, organized by country and city.
10/12/00 - How to Buy a Razor Scooter
Before you buy one of those popular aluminum mini-scooters, learn who makes authentic Razor scooters, what brands they are sold under, how to recognize a fake, and which model to buy.
10/05/00 - The Silver Comet Trail
This country trail in Georgia runs through forests and meadows, and it has several interesting tunnels and bridges to cross. When construction is completed, it will connect with the Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama, and those trails will have a combined distance of more than 100 miles.
10/02/00 - A2A Finish Line Photos
Photos of the first three skaters crossing the finish line at the A2A Road Skate in Georgia on Sunday, October 1, 2000.
10/02/00 - Halloween Skates in 2000 (October 2, 2000)
Skaters in cities from Melbourne, Australia to Washington DC will dress up in costumes and parade through the streets October 27 through 31.
09/22/00 - The United States Cup
Two important United States speedskating organizations have joined forces to create this new indoor and outdoor speed series, with a cash purse of nearly $100,000.
09/21/00 - Southern California Beach Cams
Southern California has many great Web Cams, and several of them are pointing directly at the skate path that runs for 25 miles along the coast, between Malibu and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
09/20/00 - Skating the Duluth Aerial Bridge
The next time you skate the Northshore Inline Marathon in
Duluth, Minnesota, don't miss skating across the aerial lift
bridge that connects Point Park to the City of Duluth.
09/19/00 Skating the Duluth Lakewalk Path
Photos of inline skating on the Duluth Minnesota Downtown
Lakewalk Path.
09/13/00 - Crossing the Berlin Finish Line
These five photos from the 2000 Berlin Marathon, show the
first three skaters approaching and crossing the finish line.
This was the decisive moment of the race.
09/05/00 - World Record Attempts
Attempts to break the inline skating world's records for
distance skated in 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours.
09/04/00 - Victor Harbor Australia
Photos of several beautiful skating paths in Victor Harbor
on the Fleurieu Peninsula in Southern Australia.
08/28/00 - Jesus Skating with Friends
There is a mural on the First Lutheran Church in Venice,
California called "Jesus Roller Skating with Friends in Venice Beach".
08/27/00 - How to Mold Speed Boots
If you have speedskates that do not fit perfectly, it might be
possible to heat the boots and custom mold them to fit your particular feet. Here's how to do it
08/23/00 - Russian Downhill Event
Great photos of downhill skating, from the first downhill
competition ever held in Russia, in Sosnovyi Bor near St. Petersburg, on July 15 and 16, 2000.
08/21/00 - New Foot Odor Remedies
Tips for preventing foot odor, and some of the newest
treatments options. Some of them are quite radical and one
of them will shock you.
08/15/00 - Wheel Rotation Strategies
Three different methods for rotating skate wheels:
#1 is the method usually recommended by skate manufacturers,
#2 is for people who love to rotate wheels, and #3 is what
most of us end up doing.
08/11/00 - Surreal Inline Speedskater
Eric Maurer of Skatetrix.ch in Switzerland took these
fantastic photos of Team Reidell speedskater Phil Schneider,
on a dark rain day, using very slow film.
08/11/00 - Swiss-German Team Reidell
Profiles and photos of the members of this European speed team
founded by Visiomatics of Switzerland, and sponsored by
Reidell Skates USA and Telemedia Marketing of Germany.
08/08/00 - Venice Beach Reopening
In the summer of 2000, the Venice Beach bike path, pavilion,
skate dance circle, aggressive ramp, and graffiti pit were
completely torn out and renovated. They re-opened the
weekend of August 12-13.
07/28/00 - Puerto Rico Skating Police
This article, by Agent Juan C. Matos, has plenty of
interesting photos and information about Puerto Rico's
25-officer inline skating police unit. Agent Matos is a
sworn police officer and an IISA-certified skating instructor
07/21/00 - Dog-Powered Skating
Richard Dale-Mesaros and his wife Lidia of AllTerrainDog.com
spend much of their free time being dragged through the woods
behind one or more of their five dogs.
07/20/00 - A Medieval Fun Roll
Kustrullet 2000: A 17-mile fun roll in a Medieval
Swedish Village.
07/14/00 - A Brutal Uphill Battle
Photos of a difficult uphill inline race in Switzerland
on July 9, 2000: The Davos Alpine Uphill. This race was
the only uphill event in the 2000 Swiss Inline Cup.
07/09/00 - Clothing Optional Skating
"Skating Without Tan Lines". Information and advice
about skating in the nude, and where you can do it legally.
07/03/00 - Roller Skating in Italy
A very interesting article by Giuseppe Varriale,
Webmaster of ItalianSkating.com. He talks about inline and
quad skating in Italy, and the status of some proposed
legislation that will benefit skaters in that country.
07/01/00 - Visby-Tofta Path on Gotland
Photos of the beautiful Visby-Tofta Bike path on the
Gotland, an island in the Baltic Sea on the Southeast
coast of Sweden.
06/30/00 - A 300 Mile Fun Roll
Do you think you could you skate 5 or 6 days straight,
traveling 40 to 80 miles a day? That's what Finland's
Katukiitäjät inline skating club does every year at FinLine.
They consider this 300 mile annual event a fun roll!
06/26/00 - The Antioxidant Lifestyle (June 26, 2000)
A program for a healthier life, developed by
Dr. David Leaf and Dr. Peter Glassman, authors of the new
book, "The Oxidative Balance". Dr. Glassman is a Southern
California Pro-Master level inline speedskater who
competes at the National level.
06/23/00 - The Slalom Skaters of Göteborg
If you ever make it to to Southern Sweden, don't miss the
slalom skaters in Slottsskogen, the largest park in the
City of Göteborg.
06/22/00 - A Toolkit of Stopping Techniques
Creative techniques for stopping on inline skates.
DISCLAIMER: This is a humorous article. Some of the stopping
methods are serious and some are just plain silly!
Don't attempt them or you may get hurt or die!.
06/21/00 - See the World on Inline Skates
Enhance your travel adventures by bringing your inline
skates. Resources to help you plan your trip, and travel
reports from other skaters.
06/04/00 - Skating the Chicago Lakefront
One of the best places in the world to skate is Chicago's
lakefront Path Path, between Belmont Harbor and Oak Street Beach.
06/03/00 - The Basics of Speedskating
Tips for beginning speedskaters.
05/29/00 - Speed Practice at El Dorado Park
Every Saturday morning, Southern California Speedskaters
gather for speed practice at El Dorado Park in Long Beach.
05/22/00 - The Best U.S. Skating Events
Allan Wright of Zephyr Tours shares his list of the best
skating events in the United States. He selected events based on number of participants, organization, history, and appropriateness to all levels of skaters.
05/18/00 - Skating in Venice Beach
One of the best places in the world to skate is Venice Beach in
Southern California.
05/14/00 - Skate of the Union 2000
In May and June of 2000, five U.S. cities will host IISA fund
raisers for Easter Seals.
05/07/00 - Don't Let This Happen to You
Photos of what can happen if you don't wear your knee and
elbow pads. Send us your best photos of your worst accidents.
Help us shock skaters into wearing their head and body protection.
04/29/00 - Zephyr Tours - Would I Take One?
At a presentation in Long Beach California, Allan Wright,
the owner of Zephyr Inline Skate Tours, answered everyone's
questions about his skating vacations in Europe and the United States.
04/27/00 - ASA Pro Tour 2000 Update
Event schedules, results, articles and news abou the
Aggressive Skating Association Pro Tour 2000.
This feature was created on April 27, but it is continuously
updated, as results and new information becomes available.
04/24/00 - Converters for International Skaters
Free on-line calculators and converters for area, length,
volume, weight, currency, distance, languages, mathematics,
metric units, imperial units, speed, temperature, and time.
04/20/00 - London Roller Cops
How a London skating instructor and a Fairfax Virginia police
officer established the first inline skating police force in
the United Kingdom: The London Royal Parks Constabulary.
04/13/00 - My First Speed Skates
Photos of my first day on 5-wheel inline speed skates
04/02/00 - Rosarito to Ensenada
Read about 3 skaters who did this tough 50-mile skate in Mexico,
and then try it yourself. A group of cyclists and skaters do it
twice a year.
03/20/00 - Denmark to Sweden
Skate, bicycle, run, or walk across the new Oresund
Fixed Link Bridge that runs from Copenhagen in Denmark to Malmo
in Sweden. Join thousands of people for a grand opening
celebration June 9-22, 2000.
03/06/00 - A Swiss Champion
Beautiful photos of Swiss artistic skating champion, Nathalie
Biedermann on inline skates in Zurich's Central Train Station.
02/21/00 - How to do a Grass Stop
Allan Wright of Zephyr Inline Skate Tours explains how to
"Use the Grass to Save Your ..." Second article in a new series
called "How to Stop on Inline Skates".
02/07/00 - Insult to Female Skaters?
Was this skater's comment an insult to women? Read our poll results
and find out what other skaters thought.
01/24/00 - How to do a T-Stop
How to execute a perfect T-stop. Step by step instructions and
tips from other skaters. First article in a new series called
"How to Stop on Inline Skates".
01/10/00 - Moving from 4 wheels to 5
Swedish inline skater and guest writer, Joakim Wassberg, describes
his experience switching from 4 wheel recreational skates to
5 wheel speed skates.
1999
Skating Articles Published in 1999
1999 DEC 27
American River - Ban Lifted
Inline skaters were welcome and legal on this Sacramento trail
for the first time on January 1, 2000.
1999 DEC 17
Gift Ideas for Inline Skaters
Gift ideas for the inline skater in your life.
1999 DEC 13
Start Your Own Skating Site
Free 10 MB Web site + free email + free help from your
About.com guide!
1999 NOV 29
Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Her Sskating Family
Profile of Jo Ann Schneider Farris, her family legacy of skating,
and her book, "How to Jump and Spin on Inline Skates".
1999 NOV 15
Heather Gunnin/Jay Etheredge
Both injured Team Hyper skaters are recovering nicely and
keeping busy.
1999 NOV 01
Inline Skater's Travel Guide
Hundreds of skating links organized by region, PLUS travel
information from 150 About.com Guides. (This travel guide was
first released on 11/1/99, but it has been constantly
updated since then.)
1999 OCT 18
My First Eddy MatzgerWorkshop
My fun weekend at the Eddy Matzger Workshop in Long Beach Oct 15-17.
1999
Nutritional Supplements
Nutritional supplements, energy products and hydrating drinks
for speed and long-distance skaters.
1999 SEP 20
Meet New Skating Pals
Join a club, organize a group skate, start a mailing list, or
add yourself to a database of skaters.
1999 SEP 06
See the World on Inline Skates
Enhance your travel adventures - bring your skates! Article
was updated June 21, 2000.
1999 AUG 23
Mount Kilimanjaro on Skates
In January of 1998, Eddy Matzger and Dave Cooper skated up
Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa wearing off-road inline skates.
1999 AUG 09:
Practice Tips for Beginners (aa080999)
How to make your your first practice sessions productive and fun.
Last article in a four-part series called "Getting Started on
Inline Skates".
1999 JUL 26:
Skating Safety and Etiquette (aa072699)
How to anticipate and avoid skating hazards and do your part to
give skating a good name. Third article in a four-part series
called "Getting Started on Inline Skates".
1999 JUL 12:
Buying Your First Skates (aa071299)
How to select and purchase your first pair of skates.
Second article in a four-part series called "Getting Started on
Inline Skates".
1999 JUN 28:
Overcoming Fear of Skating (aa062899)
How to overcome inline skating fears and find an instructor.
First article in a four-part series called
"Getting Started on Inline Skates".
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