A History of Rollerblading
Roller blading is becoming a familiar pastime. We see kids and teenagers in parks or empty lots playing in groups and enjoying their inline skates. People of all ages can enjoy as well as young kids. Teenagers can spend time with their friends. They can even run errands and some adults even continue with this hobby and make it their sport of choice.
The reality of roller blades has been ever-present to all of us. Most people might wonder how roller blading ever came about.
The History of Roller Blades
Roller blades or in-line skates came about in the early 1700s. A Dutchman was responsible for initiating the events in its history. He experimented with his shoes and nailed into it wooden spools. Later on, an American explored further on this possibility. It was then that the roller skates we have become familiar with were developed. This second model was how the conventional skates came about. The wheels in this model are attached to the shoes side by side.
It was a few decades after that the actual in-line skates or roller blades were developed. Responsible for this endeavor would be the Olsen brothers of Minnesota, Scott and Brennan. The brothers happened to find a pair of old in-line skates in a sports store. They thought the skates would be perfect for training in hockey. They tried to improve on the design and model. Before they knew it, they were manufacturing the first in-line skates as known today. The hockey players, alpine skiers and Nordic walkers soon took notice.
Later on, people took on the in-line skates and cruised. They enjoyed the chance to explore even in the absence of snow. Many people came to learn of the new discovery. Enthusiasts grew in number and later on termed it roller blades as we would know them now. At present, there are at least 60 manufacturers on the market that offer in-line skates.
Roller blades became loved more than the traditional skating shoes because of the advantages it provided to the skater. It has been popularly known for being the first to have boots and wheels made of polyurethane. It was also first to employ the heel brakes. The Active Brake Technology or ABT has been famous too for making control easier.
Conclusion
The history of roller blading clearly illustrates that there is more to the fun than just a pair of shoes with wheels. It all came about because of dedication and ingenuity of those who explored the potentials of a simple pair of shoes.
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