WInline skating is a multi-disciplinary sport and can refer to a number of activities practiced using inline skates. Inline skates typically have two to five polyurethane wheels, arranged in a single line by a metal or plastic frame on the underside of a boot. The in-line design allows for greater speed and maneuverability than traditional roller skates. Following this basic design principle, inline skates can be modified to varying degrees to accommodate niche disciplines.
WFreestyle slalom skating is a highly technical field of roller skating that involves performing tricks around a straight line of equally spaced cones. The most common spacing used in competitions is 80 centimetres (31 in), with larger competitions also featuring lines spaced at 50 centimetres (20 in) and 120 centimetres (47 in).
WInline figure skating is figure skating on inline figure skates—three or fourwheel frames with a toe-stop, mounted on figure skating boots in rockered configuration.
WRoller inline hockey, or inline hockey is a variant of hockey played on a hard, smooth surface, with players using inline skates to move and hockey sticks to shoot a hard, plastic puck into their opponent's goal to score points. There are five players including the goalkeeper from each team on the rink at a time, while teams normally consist of 16 players.
WInline speed skating is the roller sport of racing on inline skates. The sport may also be called inline racing by participants. Although it primarily evolved from racing on traditional roller skates, the sport is similar enough to ice speed skating that many competitors are known to switch between inline and ice speed skating according to the season.
WKite skating, sometimes referred to as Kiteblading, is a land-based extreme sport that uses powerful and controllable kites to propel riders of inline skates or off-road skates. They can reach speeds up to 60+ mph across parking lots, desert dry lakes, grassy fields, and sandy beaches.
WJohn Joseph Merlin was a Walloon from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège in the Holy Roman Empire. He was a Freemason, clock-maker, musical-instrument maker, and inventor. He moved to England in 1760. By 1766 he was working with James Cox and creating automatons such as Cox's timepiece and the Silver Swan. By 1773 he was designing and making innovative keyboard instruments. In 1783 he opened Merlin's Mechanical Museum in Princes Street, Hanover Square, London, a meeting-place for the gentry and nobility. In addition to his clocks, musical instruments and automata, Merlin is credited with the invention of inline skates in the 1760s. He was referred to by contemporaries as "The Ingenious Mechanic". He was friendly with composer Joseph Haydn.
WA roller rink is a hard surface usually consisting of hardwood or concrete, used for roller skating or inline skating. This includes roller hockey, speed skating, roller derby, and individual recreational skating. Roller rinks can be located in an indoor or outdoor facility. Most skating center facilities range anywhere from under 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2) to more than 21,000 square feet (2,000 m2).
WRoller skiing is an off-snow equivalent to cross-country skiing. Roller skis have wheels on their ends and are used on a hard surface, to emulate cross-country skiing. The skiing techniques used are very similar to techniques used in cross-country skiing on snow.
WRoller soccer, roller foot or roller football is a version of association football (soccer) played on roller skates.
WSkate sailing is a sport moving over ice standing on ice skates utilizing the force of the wind. A small sail is held in ones hands or leaned against with the whole body. Using a metal blade under foot and the height of the ice skates is of much importance in being able to steer as much it is acquiring the technique to gain an edge.
WA skike is a sports device consisting of two wheels attached to a frame that can be strapped onto the rider's shoe. Similarly to roller skis, the skike has a wheel in front and at the tail of an aluminium frame that can be attached to the foot. However, unlike roller skis and roller skates the tires are pneumatic. In addition to asphalt, the skikes can therefore be used on rougher terrain such as dirt roads, plaster and gravel. The skike straps onto the rider's shoe, and does not require any special type of boot. It has a brake on the heel that allows the rider to stop or brake gradually by pushing back the lower legs.
WA vert ramp is a form of half-pipe used in extreme sports such as vert skating, vert skateboarding and vert BMX.
WWorld Skate is the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognised organisational body for roller sports. The organisation is the result of the merger of the Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS) and the International Skateboarding Federation (ISF) in September 2017, after the ISF's involvement with the scheduled skateboarding events at the Japan 2020 Olympics was rejected.
WThe X Games is an annual extreme sports event hosted, produced, and broadcast by ESPN. Coverage is also shown on ESPN's sister network, ABC. The inaugural X Games were held during the summer of 1995 in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island, United States. Participants compete to win bronze, silver, and gold medals, as well as prize money.