Posts Tagged ‘inline’

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

The trails

Once our newbie skaters are ready, the trails meandering through the forests and golf courses of the Sea Pines Plantation offer a sampling of real-world conditions. Skating here (with our help nearby) gives our campers experience with street crossings, a variety of surfaces, sharing the path with other users, surviving on rolling humps and the occasional alligator sighting. We also provide bicycles for non-skating spouses or those who need a rest from skating.

Tony and Wini enjoy an extra sweet patch of pavement

The weather

Camp Rollerblade is scheduled in early May. This date is largely based on local weather patterns conducive to a great tour. Besides skating, we offer other optional outdoors activities: kayaking, biking on the seashore, tennis and even horseback riding on request. But as our 2012 camp commenced, Alfredo, the first tropical storm of the season, was spinning in the Atlantic just offshore.

"We survived Tropical Storm Alfredo!"

Not to worry! We plan ahead for bad weather. After a very productive indoor rink session on our second day (thank you, SuperGoose in Savannah!), the sun came out for our kayaking trip that afternoon. Our group was just as proud of “surviving Alfredo” as they were of their growing skating skills.

The people

One of the best reasons to get rolling at Camp Rollerblade is the new friends you will make. Amazingly close  personal bonds can emerge while learning this “extreme sport” and sharing battle stories around the dinner table with other active and adventurous people. (And photogenic!)

Desiree’s photo album

With such good luck with the weather and a perfect mix of personalities, this year’s Camp Rollerblade will remain especially memorable for me and my co-instructor Desiree Kameka. She took charge of my camera for 5 days to capture the fun in images. Here is a password-free  slide show of the newest grads progressing from rink to trail at Camp Rollerblade 2012.

Size 6 Skates 4 Sale

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

My southern California pal Debbie Merrill (instructor to the stars!) is on a de-cluttering mission. Lucky for my skating friends, she wants to offload her extra gear in the photos below. She asked me to help sell three pairs of pristine Rollerblade brand skates plus other gently used skates (all ladies size six) and a pair of figure skating frames. Her beloved, one-of-a-kind custom Fila skates are still practically new.

These are not your toy-store skates. They are the quality  and brands I recommend myself, and typically sell for about $200 – $350. Debbie is asking $150 or your best offer. Please contact her directly if you are ready to make a serious offer.

More details about the skates and Debbie’s contact details are below the photos. Click a photo to see the entire and larger version on a new browser page. Click the larger version to examine the full size image closely.

Rollerblade Activa TPS — Green and silver, brand new size 6 with a great heel brake, pull-up lacing system, soft mesh boot. Great for recreational beginners, advanced beginners, or intermediate skaters.  Retails at $200; Debbie will take best offer.

Fila skates — Used only twice, 76 milometer wheels,  size 6, featuring a very hard and supportive leather boot, aluminum frame, lace-up with Velcro strap. These skates were custom, one-of-a kind and no longer found or sold. Retailed at $350; Debbie will take best offer.

Rollerblade Twisters — Brand new size 6 with shock absorber, 76 millimeter wheels, ABEC 6 bearings,  hard shell with laces and and buckle. Debbie and I both enjoyed the Twister which is good for beginners and coned slalom courses. Retails at $250; Debbie will take best offer.

Rollerblade Problade Junior — Brand new in sexy red, white and silver, these are designed for speed.  Features 84 millimeter wheels, and a low cut, hard  leather boot with an aluminum frame and ABEC 8 bearings. A great value retailing at $350; Debbie will take best offer.

Viroll quad 4-wheel skate — Brand new, featuring a ventilated soft shell with strap and clip,  gigantic 100 millimeter wheels, and rubber toe brake  in front. Good for off road and recreational skating. Retails $300; Debbie will take best offer.

Aluminum frame and wheels only — Great for figure skating and toe jumps, featuring a rubber stop in front, mount on any boot or ice skate. Retailed for $200; Debbie will take best offer.

Landroller skate — Brand new size 6, designed for off-road (dirt) skating. Features a lightweight aluminum frame, high proficiency polyurethane tires, low resistance bearings, air ventilation system built into the boot with reflector feature on sides. Retails for approximately $350; Debbie will take best offer.

Debbie Merrill
Skate Great USA School of Skating
PO Box 3452
Santa Monica, Ca 90408
www.skategreat.com

debbie@skategreat.com
(888) 866-6121
Facebook.com/debbiemerrill

Check out Debbie’s New book, The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth at: www.debbiemerrillshow.com