Inline skating not only allows you to enjoy the warm sunny weather of summer, but also provides added health benefits. Not to mention, inline skating has its roots in the Twin Cities!

The Evolution of Inline Skating

Inline skating, which evolved out of roller skating, got its start in the 1960s when the Chicago Skate Company attempted to develop a skate that mimicked the streamlined speed and easy control of ice skates, without the ball bearings and shock absorbent wheels of roller skates. Unfortunately, the Company’s original skate design did not offer sufficient comfort, stability, or a reliable break.

It was not until 1979 when a young Minneapolis hockey player named Scott Olson picked up one of these skates at a used sporting goods store that inline skates became what they are today. In an effort to find a way to train for ice hockey during the months without ice, Olson modified the original inline skates to include better wheels and a heel break.

In 1984 a Minneapolis business man named Bob Naegele, Jr. purchased Olson’s company, which eventually became Rollerblade, Inc. According to the International Inline Skating Association, “Rollerblade, Inc. took inline skating out of the exclusive domain of hockey players and introduced millions to the sport that now has the whole world on a roll.”

Finding the Perfect Skate

Although there are many different styles of skates made by a number of manufacturers, all skates have the same basic features. Before buying a skate, it is important to determine your particular interests. Will you be using these skates for hockey, recreation, fitness training, racing or cross-training? Depending on your intended use, there is a skate designed for each of these activities. Talk with area retailers to decide which skate is best for you. For more information on the skate selection process, click here.

Sources: International Inline Skating Association, Popular Fitness