Related topics: •  Active Sports

Gliding along on in-line skates is just plain fun. It makes you feel like a kid again, and if you sometimes dream of flying, the sensation comes pretty close. On a practical level, it's a great way to ease stress and get some exercise.

Once you master the basic skills, a wide world of athletic, social, utilitarian, and creative possibilities opens up. Parks, paved trails, and quiet streets are yours for the exploring. You can run errands or commute to work on your wheels. And skating is a great way to meet people: Some major cities, including New York, San Francisco, and Paris, host weekly night skating events in which dozens to thousands of enthusiasts gleefully tour the streets en masse.

What else? You can play roller hockey or even roller soccer, or dance on your skates. If you're gutsy (and limber), you might tackle the stunts, twirls, and jumps of aggressive street skating. If you love to go fast, there's in-line speed skating.

In-line skates roll over bumps and rough pavement more smoothly than conventional roller skates, making them better suited for outdoor conditions. If you're used to regular "quad" rollers, balancing may feel trickier at first because the aligned wheels are like a runner down the length of your foot (if you're an ice-skater, on the other hand, you might find the transition relatively easy). You can go faster and farther with less effort on in-lines. Typical cruising speeds range from 10 to 17 miles per hour, although in-line speed skaters can maintain a pace of 25 mph.

It's certainly possible to hurt yourself, so be cautious (especially when you're anywhere near a car) and use your common sense. Experts estimate that 90 percent of in-line skating injuries could be prevented by wearing full protective gear. A wrist fracture or sprain is the most common injury, but using wrist guards can spare you a trip to the emergency room. Knee pads and elbow pads also can lessen the impact of a fall. Most important, never skate without a helmet - not even when you're practicing in your own driveway. A bike lid will work, although helmets designed for skaters provide more coverage for the back of the head.

Before you buy your own gear, make sure you like the sport enough to do it more than once in a while. Try it out by renting equipment from a local skate shop or borrowing from a friend who's your size. Pad up in full protective gear (which typically comes free with the rental). Get a lesson before heading out, preferably from a certified instructor, though an experienced friend who's patient and helpful or an instructional videotape is an acceptable alternative. (Some skate shops also offer a beginner's lesson as part of the rental package.) To find a certified instructor in your area, visit the Inline Skating Resource Center at its Web site at http://www.iisa.org .

Your first few times, you should keep to smooth, flat terrain where there's no car traffic and few pedestrians or cyclists to distract you. Stay alert, and steer clear of pebbles, sand, or uneven patches of pavement that could trip you up. Don't attempt a hill until you've had sufficient practice balancing and braking. Most new skaters will take a few spills their first couple of times out. Don't let that discourage you. As you grow more comfortable with maneuvering on in-lines, you'll hit the asphalt less and less often.

This is the number one concern for skaters. Being able to stop on a dime isn't so much the issue; what's key is the ability to control your speed and slow down enough to, for example, dodge that pedestrian who unexpectedly steps into your path.

The built-in brake on your skate is quite effective for curbing speed. Another technique is called the T-stop: Simply drag one foot behind, at roughly a perpendicular angle to the other foot. Some experienced skaters who rely on the T-stop even feel confident enough to remove the brake from their skates.

Without a doubt. On average, 30 minutes of skating at a steady, comfortable pace burns about 285 calories. It's not as demanding an activity as running -- which burns about 350 calories per half hour -- but it's far less jarring to the knees and feet. Of course, the faster you skate, the more calories you'll burn. Going up hills, in particular, can get your heart and lungs pumping hard. (Just make sure you can get down safely.)

Regular in-line workouts will build the muscles not only in your legs, rear end, and hips, but also in your lower back -- an area where strength may be especially valuable in terms of remaining free of strains and pains. You'll notice more spring in your step as you climb stairs, and the new definition in your legs will show off muscles you never knew you had. Best of all, more strength and endurance mean you can freewheel right into all the adventures the skating world has to offer.

References

First published November 24, 1999
Last updated November 6, 2007
Copyright © 1999 Consumer Health Interactive

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