Archive for June, 2012

Why Get Rolling at Camp Rollerblade?

Sunday, June 10th, 2012

Why do I believe  Zephyr Adventures’  Camp Rollerblade on Hilton Head Island, SC is the best possible way for novices and advanced beginners to gain confidence and inline skating skills?

The rink

For starters, we have full access to the Bristol Sports Arena with its smooth surface, morning shade and bench seating. Whether it’s an astounding breakthrough or a taste of future grace, this rink is where everybody makes progress on the basics as well as more advanced moves for the duration of camp.

Desiree coaches Wini; Sheba, Mike and Rick get a jump on skating skills  Read more... (416 words, 3 images, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

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Paying attention to trail hazards

Sunday, June 10th, 2012

It was a beautiful spring day for a roll on the trail.

My ski season doesn’t end until after Memorial Day, but with the arrival of spring, the early Daylight Saving time and our first hot spell, I chose a day in late April for my first skating workout of the year. I literally dusted off my skates (we’ve just survived a complete kitchen remodel), and hit the streets, relishing the faint vibrations of urethane on smooth pavement.  Read more... (529 words, 2 images, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

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Tricks Aren’t Just for Kids

Sunday, June 10th, 2012
(Updated GetRolling.com article from 1996)

Because all the world is not a stage (flat, smooth, protected), I make time in every lesson to help my students work on real-world skills and drills designed to improve overall balance and agility. Aside from the safety aspect, it’s always fun to have a frisky move or two to impress your friends.  As always, gear up before experimenting.

Get Air

How are your hopping skills? Being able to get both skates off the ground at the same time is a prerequisite to hopping up a curb. Out in the real world, this is an essential safety skill: it’s often necessary to hop over an electrical line seen at the last minute. Try your first hops on the lawn or carpet and remember these key points:  Read more... (679 words, 3 images, estimated 2:43 mins reading time)

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Help Shape the Future of Skating!

Sunday, June 10th, 2012

I can’t believe it’s been five years since I tested Alex Bellehumeur’s impressive cuff-activated disc braking technology, currently named the 4XS system. Why isn’t this system available on inline skates yet? Because manufacturers just don’t get it. They underestimate how much and how many people care about staying in control of gravity and momentum when they’re inline skating.

My efforts to support Alex’s attempts to get the 4XS into production have probably helped raise awareness a little, but have not yet resulted in improving the safety of our current technology:  Read more... (384 words, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

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Skater Crossing

Sunday, June 10th, 2012


Your friendly crossing guard is here to point you to a few choice inline destinations shared from friends across the Internet.  Read more... (141 words, 2 images, estimated 34 secs reading time)

  • YouTube – A unique style of skating was all the rage in France in 1923. (Thanks to )
  • YouTube – Off-skates training for Olympic ice skaters in 1953. (Thanks to Mike van Erp, LondonSkaters.com)
  • Inline Planet – Get the latest inline skating news and views
  • See how new instructors are cultivated across the globe by ICP International.
  • Destination Florida! – Anybody who has just graduated from Camp Rollerblade with all of the basic skills (stopping, turning and skating at least 5 miles) will enjoy this 5-day skate tour.

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