| With a history that can be traced back as far as | | | | skate wheels attached to the bottom. The boxes |
| 1760, skating has arguably enjoyed longevity as a | | | | then developed to become planks and then |
| popular pastime amongst children and adults alike. | | | | further evolved to become pressed layers of |
| We explore the evolution of skates, starting as a | | | | wood manufactured by companies. In this era, |
| very basic patented roller skate and progressing | | | | skateboarding often took the name of 'Sidewalk |
| into new waves such as the skateboard and its | | | | Surfing'. |
| latest counterpart. | | | | With advances in technology and manufacturing |
| Roller Skates | | | | improving the skateboard year on year, |
| The first patented roller skates were not very | | | | Skateboarding grew in popularity. The mid 1970s |
| popular. The invention, by Belgian John Joseph | | | | saw a big peak in popularity for skateboarding and |
| Merlin, was soon out phased by a newer and | | | | then again in the 1980s. |
| more sophisticated model. | | | | Today's skateboarders are predominantly street |
| In 1863 James Pimpton developed the 'rocking' | | | | skaters. Most boards are between seven and |
| skate which provided a vast improvement on the | | | | eight inches wide and 30 to 32 inches long. The |
| roller skate, allowing the skater to turn. Skaters | | | | wheels are made of hard polyurethane and are |
| could turn around corners and calve turns, | | | | small in size to make the board lighter and the |
| something which was unimaginable on its | | | | wheel's inertia quicker. There are a reported 18.5 |
| predecessor. From the 'rocking' skate, roller | | | | million skateboarders in the world, 85% of these |
| skating was born. | | | | are under the age of eighteen |
| What started out as a backyard activity has now | | | | Freeline Skates |
| developed to become a fully fledged a globally | | | | Freeline Skates offer the latest development in |
| recognised sport, even bearing its own Roller | | | | the world of skating. The skates are dual |
| Skating Association. The Roller Skating | | | | independent skates that combine elements of |
| Association, which started out in 1937, works to | | | | skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. |
| educate people about roller skating and is | | | | Freeline Skates offer a new experience for |
| headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. | | | | gadget lovers to demonstrate their boarding skills |
| Playing a pivotal role in many competitive sports, | | | | by transferring them to a new manner of riding. |
| such as roller hockey, roller skating is no longer | | | | The skates provide a challenging and innovative |
| viewed as a simple pastime. Roller skating has | | | | way to carve big turns and invent new tricks, |
| even featured in the Olympics, making its debut in | | | | whether it's on the flat, on a hill or on the ramps. |
| 1992. Other competitive sports to feature roller | | | | Freeline Skates are ridden in a similar manner to |
| skates include speed skating, figure skating, roller | | | | that of a surfboard/snowboard, with riders |
| derby. As well as sports, roller skates have been | | | | shifting their weight from heel to toe to change |
| used in global stage shows, such as Starlight | | | | direction allowing them to carve smooth 's' turns |
| Express and made a huge splash in the disco era | | | | while riding downhill. |
| of the 1980s. | | | | The skates are independent, but unlike skates and |
| Skateboarding | | | | blades they are not strapped to the rider's feet, |
| The exact birth date of skateboarding is not | | | | this offers an added bonus to riders by allowing |
| known, it is believed to have emerged in the late | | | | them to achieve high levels of traction on the |
| 1940s to early 1950s. Regarded as a dry land | | | | flats and uphill providing a wide range of locations |
| alternative for surfers, the first skateboards | | | | that are suitable for skates. |
| started as wooden boxes or boards with roller | | | | |