Roll Out — The Need-to-Know
Along with Brussels sprouts and waffles, rollerblading’s roots are in Belgium, where an 18th-century inventor created the first pair to impress other guests at a party. By the 20th century, guys and gals in the United States were showing off fancy moves at public skating rinks. The term “rollerblade” is actually the name of a brand that, in the 1980s, transformed the shoe-with-wheels into the inline skate we wear today.
Other companies started producing similar-style skates in the 1990s, when rollerblading’s popularity peaked. But unlike scrunchies and Sega Genesis, this sport has some lasting health benefits, dude. Depending on speed, intensity, and terrain, rollerblading can increase heart rate to up to 148 beats per minute and burns anywhere from 400 to 900 calories per hour. Some research suggests kids who rollerblade at least four times a week may be less likely to be overweight as young adults. And who wears short shorts? Rollerbladers do, since the sport helps strengthen leg muscles including the quadriceps, hamstrings, groin, hip, and buttocks. While sports like running have similar health benefits, rollerblading is a relatively low-impact workout, so knees and other joints take less of a beating.
Nice Wheels — Your Action Plan
Few would want to be the guy or girl who rolls straight into a face plant— or the person who ends up in the hospital afterward. Common rollerblading injuries include fractures in the forearm and wrist from falls
Advanced athletes might fly like the wind in skate clubs and racing teams, but anyone can give this sport a whirl. Certified rollerblading instructors are available to give lessons all over North America. Learning to rollerblade means mastering a few basic moves— standing, the heel stop, turning, and striding and gliding. But becoming a better ’blader also means shelling out some dough: a decent pair of rollerblades costs about $100, and the full set of protective gear costs anywhere between $50 and $100. Buyers can choose from indoor skates, with hard wheels, or outdoor skates, with wider and softer wheels. (Outdoor skates also work indoors, but not the other way around.) Strap on some skates soon, and stride into better health!
