Skates – Tips On Selecting The Correct Skates

By: Lucy Bartlett

Skates can be used in many different ways. Some of the most common activities with skates are figure skating, ramp, hockey, stair riding, up and down hills, speed skating, commuting and so on. Before selecting a pair skates decide whether it is to be used for speed, hockey or multi-purpose.

The skating sports boom occurred in the 1880s and from that time onwards roller skates were mass produced to meet the demand. Richmond, Indiana based Micajah C Henley was producing more than a thousand pairs of skates every week and selling all of them. These skates were the first model to hit the markets with a provision to adjust the tension through the screws fitted at the base.

Multi-purpose skates are also known as fitness or cross-training skates and recreational skates. Correct translations of these sales terms will be “expensive skates” and “cheaper skates” respectively.

Multi-purpose skates with rugged shells, smaller and harder wheels and grind plates made of either plastic or metals are ideal for aggressive or street skating. These types of skates are very popular. For inline skating, multi-purpose skates form a large share of the market. They are made of plastic and contain an inside foam liner. Some models have only laces for tying and some have only buckles and some have a combination of both laces and buckles.

Hockey skates are made of stitched leather. They are good for use only in rinks and may not withstand the abrasion and shocks of the rough surface of the outdoors. Hockey skates can be properly fastened by using the Velcro straps and the laces.

Speed skates are provided with a wheelbase which can fit in 5 wheels. Speed skates are usually made of leather. Speed skates are sold only specialty stores.

When purchasing speed skates ensure you get a good fitting. Sit down and fasten the skates as if you are going to skate. When you stand up your toes should reach or touch the end of the skate. Bend your knees in the standing position. Straighten your legs and bend them again. Do these exercise a couple of times and check your comfort level. A small toe room should be created when you bend the knees during skating which ensures a good fit. If the toes are touching and feeling the tip of the skates, it indicates a good and proper fit. By using custom insoles you can get a perfect fit.

When the inside of the wheels appear worn or your speed is not picking up, it is time to change the wheels. Your weight, skating downhill and the terrain are some of the factors causing the wear and tear of the wheel.

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Roller Skates – Taken Apart

By: Nathan Hicks

Parts of a skate

Roller skating is a good recreational endeavor. While it is a fun activity for families, there are also roller skating competitions that may put you are risk of injuries. It is always important to know your skates well like a friend. Know what type of skates you need to ensure that you will be able to choose the best skates that will be good for your use.

What are the parts of a skate?

Knowing the parts will help you know your skate better, this is important to help you use your skates well.

• The boot
• Frame
• Bearings
• Wheels
• Brakes or stops

The boot

The boot is the part of the skate that you will wear on your feet. Some boots are hard, some are soft, and some boots are high-cut while others want it low cut for more ankle flexibility.

There are disciplines of roller-skating that necessitates hard boot. Hard boots are used for many disciplines to protect the foot from impact and for better control of the sakes.

Recreational skating however prefers soft boots for comfortable riding.

If you are engaging in an aggressive skating, hard boot or hard booth with soft inner support will help you skate well.

Frame

The frame is the part of a skate that will support the wheels and attach it to the boot. The frame is important to be strong enough especially for competitive skating. The frame for a recreational skates is usually made of high-grade plastic.

For speed skating frames, they are usually built out of carbon fiber or extruded aluminum. They are more expensive but solid enough to protect the skater during competitions.

Frames made of magnesium or pressed aluminum is likewise used in some specialized skates.

Bearings

Ball bearings are used for the wheels to rotate smoothly and freely. Some bearings differ in precision tolerance, depending on the type of wheels and bearings combination, you will need to understand how to check it if they are worn out already so you know when to change them if necessary.

Wheels

The size of the wheels used in roller skating depends on the need of the various skating disciplines. Some of the common wheel sizes include the following

• 44-59mm for aggressive skating
• 68-72mm for artistic inline skating
• 47-80mm for roller hockey
• 72-80mm for freestyle slalom skating
• 72-90mm for general recreational skating
• 84-110mm for speed skating

Some wheels are made of plastic while some are made of rubber. Common plastic wears out easily and thus some competitive skates need to use polyurethane or high-grade plastic.

This is to ensure that you will be protected when you skate.

Brakes or stops

This is the part of a skate that is important to avoid accidents for beginners. Breaks or stops may be used under the heel or under the toe. This will ensure that young or beginning skaters will not hit the wall or lamppost when they skate.

However, for competitive skaters, the need for breaks may not be necessary because it may cause then to trip as they do the tricks.

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