The Rollerblade skates became synonymous in the minds of many with "inline skates" and skating, so much so that many people came to call any form of skating "Rollerblading," thus becoming a genericized trademark. For much of the s and into the s, inline skate models typically sold for general public use employed a hard plastic boot, similar to ski boots.
In or about , "soft boot" designs were introduced to the market, primarily by the sporting goods firm K2 Inc. Other companies quickly followed, and by the early s the development of hard shell skates and skeletons became primarily limited to the Aggressive inline skating discipline and other specialized designs.
The single-wheel "quintessence skate" [1] was made in by Miyshael F. Gailson of Caples Lake Resort, California , for the purpose of cross-country ski skating and telemark skiing training. Other skate designs have been experimented with over the years, including two wheeled heel and toe inline skate frames but the vast majority of skates on the market today are either quad or standard inline design. Artistic roller skating is a sport which consists of a number of events.
These are usually accomplished on quad skates, but inline skates may be used for some events. In the US, local competitions lead to 9 regional competitions which lead to the National Championships and World Championships. See [2] for more information. Skaters, either solo or a team of two, dance with standardized choreography to music. They are judged on their adherence to the choreography, skill, and style. Skaters are judged by the accuracy of steps that they skate when performing a particular dance.
In addition to being judged on their edges and turns, skaters must carry themselves in an elegant manner while paying careful attention to the rhythm and timing of the music. An individual event where creativity is emphasized. Includes jumps, spins and choreographed movements to music. A team of skaters usually counted in multiples of 4 creates various patterns and movements to music.
Often used elements include skating in a line, skating in a box, 'splicing' subgroups skating towards each other such that they do not contact each other , and skating in a circle. The team is judged on its choreography and the ability to skate together precisely. A single skater or a pair of skaters present routines to music. They are judged on skating ability and creativity. So Olson began tinkering. He made the wheels softer and faster, and put them on a track that could be attached to hockey skates.
When he got nowhere peddling his new product at local sporting goods stores, he started approaching hockey players and coaches directly. Olson bought a patent off of a Chicago company and eventually crafted a more comfortable and sturdy boot. In , he formed a company and named it Rollerblade, an obvious nod to the hybrid between roller and hockey skates.
Olson wore his creation everywhere, and when people saw how fast and effortless the skates were, Rollerblades sold themselves, first in the hockey community and then rippling outward. Olson hired his friends to work for him, and one of them ended up embezzling from him. He was on the brink of losing the company altogether when two investors made him a deal. They would keep the brand alive and give him a tiny percent.
Olson says he made enough money to live comfortably for the rest of his life. He now spends his time dreaming up new inventions like the ones that are strewn about his Waconia farm. But by the early s, popularity slumped, and sales have waned steadily since. What we need right now is a hit in one a movie out in Hollywood.
In , an American developed the conventional rollerskate model, with the wheels positioned side by side, and it became the skate of choice. In , Scott and Brennan Olsen, two Minnesota brothers, discovered an older inline skate in a sporting goods store and thought the design would be perfect for off-season hockey training. Hockey players and alpine and Nordic skiers quickly caught on and were seen cruising the streets of Minnesota during the summer on their Rollerblade skates.
Over time, strategic marketing efforts thrust the brand name into public awareness. Skating enthusiasts began using Rollerblade as a generic term for all inline skates, putting the trademark in jeopardy.
However, as of February , it is still a trademark owned by the company. Today 60 inline skate manufacturers exist, but Rollerblade is credited with introducing the first polyurethane boot and wheels, the first heel brakes, and the development of active brake technology, which makes stopping easier to learn and to control. Rollerblade has approximately patents and registered trademarks.
Still, the first mass-produced rollerblades, while innovative, had some design flaws. They were difficult to put on, adjust, and were prone to collecting dirt and moisture in the ball bearings. The wheels were also easily damaged and the brakes came from the old roller skate toe-brake and were not very effective. The Olson brothers eventually sold Rollerblade, Inc. In this pair of skates, the flaws had vanished, fiberglass was used to produce the frames, the wheels were better protected, the skates were easier to put on and adjust, and stronger brakes were placed at the rear.
The skater had to straighten one leg to stop, driving the post into the brake, which then hit the ground. Before ABT, skaters had been tilting their foot back to make contact with the ground. The new brake design increased safety. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.
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