Do Ice Skating Tricks on Rollerblades

Some ice skating moves can be done on inline skates. It's really fun to do figure skating moves on Rollerblades!

• How to Figure Skate on Inline Skates

Happy Skating!
From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

Photo Courtesy of the Jump-Spin Skate Company

Skating to Music in the Alps

This speedskating video clip, produced by Eric Maurer of Skatetrix-Visiomatics, shows the skating of Roger Schneider who is a speedskater both on inline skates and on the ice. Roger is the European champion of marathon speedskating. Here he is skating in the Alps to the powerful music of Dimitri Shostakovich (The Bolt Suite).

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Video of Roger Schneider Inline Speed Skating in the Alps - Video Copyright © Eric Maurer of Skatetrix-Visiomatics}

How to Skate on One Foot

Skating on one foot can be a challenge for new inline skaters. Follow these basic steps:

1. Skate on two feet first.
   
2. Transfer your weight to the foot you want to skate on.
   
3. Lift up the other foot for a brief moment and glide on one foot.
   
4. Put the foot your just lifted up back down and glide on two feet again.
   
5. Practice the one foot glide over and over again.
   
6. As you build up confidence, relax and hold the glide for longer periods of time.

Tips:

• Don't raise your arms as you lift up your foot.
  
• Allow your blade to glide on either an outside or inside edge, not on a flat.
  
• Put the skate that you lift up at the heel of the other skate.
  
• Bend the knee you stand on slightly.
  
• Don't lean backward!

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Photo of About.com Figure Skating Guide, JO ANN Schneider Farris Skating on One Foot
Photo Copyright © JO ANN Schneider Farris}

“Skaters Rule” Calendar by Artist Sarah Curtiss

The "Skaters Rule" Calendar by artist Sarah Curtiss is a unique inline skating wall calendar. The calendar features full color paintings of inline skater's feet, legs, and hips. Some of the paintings are very creative and unusual.

• About the "Skaters Rule" Calendar
  
• Preview the "Skaters Rule" Calendar

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{"Skaters Rule" Wall Calendar - Painting Copyright © by Artist Sarah Curtiss}

October Inline Skating Events

October is almost here. The weather will be cold soon, but there is still time to take part in inline skating events and to enjoy being outdoors while skating. Some skating events scheduled for October include:

• Athens to Atlanta Road Skate
  
• Parkinson's Open Road Race - Long Beach, California
  
• Zephyr Skate Camp - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
  
• Défi de L'Île de Montréal 128K Inline Skating Race
  
• The Halloween Friday Night Skate - San Francisco, California

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

Skate in New York

There are many great places to inline skate in New York. Also, there are opportunities for group skating, hockey, dance skating, and speed skating. If you live in New York, do take the time to inline skate and if you visit New York, take your skates with you!

Further Reading:

• The New York City Inline Skating Guide

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

My Skate Collection!

I have several pairs of skates. In fact, I may own more skates than anyone on the planet! What is even more interesting, is that I'm able to skate on every kind of skate I own....is there anyone else out there who owns a large variety of skates?

JO ANN's List of Skates:

• Original Rollerblades With Three Wheels
  
• PIC® Skates
  
• TrailSkates
  
• Rollerblade Coyotes - Off Road Rollerblades
  
• Landrollers
  
• Jump-Spin Skates
  
• Traditional Quad Roller Skates
  
• Razor Scooters
  
• The Trikkke
  
• Snow White Artistic Inline Skates
  
• Rollerblade Microblades
  
• Inline Hockey Skates
  
• Ice Figure Skates
  
• Ice Hockey Skates
  
• Speed Skates
  
• Hypno Inline Skates - Inline Skates With Removable Frames
  
• Heelys
  
• Two-Wheel Heelys
  
• Carpet Skates
  
• Cross Country Skate Skis
  
• Snow Skates

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Photos of Just Some of About.com's Figure Skating Guide's Skates - Hockey Skates, Shopping Image - Landroller Skates, Pubic Domain Image}

Take Part in the Houston Inline Marathon

The Houston Inline Marathon is scheduled for the first weekend in November. This inline skating event is a way for inline skaters of all ages and skating levels to have fun. Times to socialize and skate with others are planned for the weekend. A pre-event party will take place before the race.

You don't have to be a champion speed skater to participate in an inline skating marathon since the majority of marathon skaters are recreational inline skaters. Those who don't want to do a full marathon have the option of entering a half-marathon event or an "Easy Street" Fun Skate Event.

• About Inline Skating Marathons
  
  
• HoustonInlineMarathon.com
  
  
• Houston Inline Marathon Forum Discussion - From Skatelog.com
  

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Houston Inline Marathon Logo - Photo of Logo Courtesy of Justin McMurtry, Houston Inline Marathon Organizing Committee}

How to Spin on Inline Skates

Spinning on inline skates is not easy. The easiest way to start is with a two-foot spin, but spinning on one foot is also possible.

1. First try to get the feeling of turning forward on your right skate and backward on your left skate in one spot.
   
   

   It will feel like you are doing a forward inside half-circle swizzle on your right foot and a backward inside half circle swizzle on your left foot at the same time.

   
   
2. The right skate should have most of the weight on the heel, while the left skate should have most of the weight on the toe.
   
   

   Pull your arms in towards your chest.
   

3. When you reach the point where you know you are skating backward on the left inside edge, lift up the right foot.
   
   

   Stay forward over the left skate, and you will find yourself making a small back inside circle, and you should be spinning on one foot!

Tips:

• Don't expect the spin to last long, especially if you are on one foot.
  
• Plan on falling a lot as you learn this move.
  
• Don't forget to bend your knees.

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide


_{Spinning on Skates - Illustration Courtesy of Artist Larisa Gendernalik}

Should “Federation” Be Used in the Name of the New Inline Figure Skating Association?

USA Roller Sports (USARS ) is the recognized governing body for competitive roller skating in the United States. A new organization has begun that hopes to become the recognized organization for artistic inline figure skating, the United States Federation of Inline Figure Skaters.

There has been some concern about the use of the word "Federation" in the title of the new organization. Some say that there is nothing wrong about promoting inline figure skating, but the new organization's name may imply that it wishes to replace the established roller skating governing body.

What is your opinion? Can two organizations promote artistic inline figure skating?

• Join the Discussion - Is a new and separate governing body needed especially to promote figure skating on inline skates?

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Inline Figure Skater Gustavo Casado de Mello of Brazil - Photo Copyright © Kathie Fry of SkateLog.com}

Downhill Inline Skating Photos

Downhill inline skater, George Merkert, has sent me some great action photos by Marc Dean from the IGSA (International Gravity Sports Association) race that took place in Jungholz, Austria on July 11, 2007.

• More Photos of Downhill Inline Skating in Jungholz, Austria
  
  

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{George Merkert reaches for the Gatorleash brake device to slow down for Turn 2 at the Almabtrieb Inline Downhill race in Jungholz, Austria on July 11, 2007. Photo by Marc Dean All Rights Reserved 2007.}

Video of World’s Fastest Skating in the Alps

• Submit Your Own Video

This speedskating video clip, produced by Eric Maurer of Skatetrix-Visiomatics, shows the skating of Roger Schneider who is a speedskater both on inline skates and on the ice. Roger is the European champion of marathon speedskating. The skating he does in this video clip is right in the heart of the Swiss Alps and is a joy to watch.

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Video of Roger Schneider Inline Speed Skating in the Alps - Video Copyright © Eric Maurer of Skatetrix-Visiomatics}

Video of Nathalie Biedermann - Inline Figure Skater

• Submit Your Own Video

This video clip, produced by Eric Maurer of Skatetrix-Visiomatics, shows the artistic inline figure skating of Swiss skater Nathalie Biedermann. The title of the video is "Figure Off Ice II." The video was produced by Skatetrix to show off Nathalie's skating on PIC® Skates.

What Nathalie does is very impressive to watch. She looks like she is on the ice as she does figure skating moves on inline skates.

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Video of Nathalie Biedermann Figure Skating Off the Ice - Video Copyright © Eric Maurer of Skatetrix-Visiomatics}

George Merkert - Downhill Inline Skater

George Merkert of Los Angeles, is not only a downhill inline skier, but a downhill inline skater. He admits that doing downhill inline skating does takes guts.

• Downhill Inline Skating -- Yikes!
  
• George Merkert Profile - From PureGuts.com
  
• Downhill Inline Skater George Merkert - From the UCLA Daily Bruin
  
• YouTube Video of George Merkert Crashing While Downhill Inline Skating
  

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{George Merkert - Downhill Inline Skating Champion - Photo Courtesy of George Merkert}

Roller Skating Video of Gene Kelly

• Submit Your Own Video

The legendary Gene Kelly did tap dancing on roller skates in the 1955 movie "It's Always Fair Weather." Viewers will see that it is obvious that Gene Kelly had mastered many difficult skating techniques in order to be able to sing and dance on skates.

Imagine how great Gene Kelly would have been on inline skates! I'd love to be able to sing, dance, tap, and skate the way he did.

• Video of Gene Kelly Tap Dancing on Roller Skates
  
  

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

A Hockey Stick May Help You Balance on Inline Skates

One of my favorite things to do is to put on my inline hockey skates and my helmet. Then, I grab a hockey stick and skate down the street! I'm not a hockey player; I'm just a person who loves to skate. Skating with a stick once in awhile adds control and power to my skating.

Even if you don't play hockey, you may find it useful to hold onto a hockey stick and skate. Having something to hold onto may give you balance and confidence. Think about it this way: even if you don't know how to skate, you can look like you can skate just by putting a hockey stick in your hands!

• Hockey Sticks

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Hockey Stick by Illustrator Mark A. Hicks - Licensed From the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com}

Share Crazy Skating Stories

Once I decided to take the gondola to the top of Vail Mountain (in the summer) and skate down. I kept hearing, "You must be crazy!" Well, I admit it, inline skating down Vail Mountain in the summer did not go well. Then, there was the time that I drove my car with my skates on! That wasn't a very successful venture.....my son tried to ride his bike with his skates on and had better luck...

I've taken my dog skating. I've put my shoes in a stroller and pushed the stroller and baby successfuly while skating, but lost my shoes in the process. (A dog found my shoes and chewed them up!) I've passed out pamphlets on skates on the streets of New York and in San Francisco. I've pushed a wheelchair with a heavy adult in it and tried to skate. I've made cell phone calls and skated at the same time. I've tried to ride a scooter while wearing inline skates. I've played basketball on skates and jumped rope while wearing skates.

Some of my crazy and funny skating skating adventures have gone well; others have not. What amusing inline skating stories do you have to tell? Have you tried something adventuresome on skates? Please share your skating adventures and experiences in the comment section of this post.

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Crazy Skating Experiences: Stroller Skating and Dog Skating - Paintings Courtesy of Artist Larisa Gendernalik}

What is a Trikke?

A Trikke is a three-wheeled scooter with large eight-inch wheels. Sometimes, when I'm too lazy to strap on my inline skates, I hop on my Trikke. I enjoy the feeling of gliding, turning, and riding down the street. When I'm on my Trikke, I feel like I'm on the slopes and pretend I'm skiing. The Trikke is a very stable gadget and the large wheels go over the cracks in pavement quite easily. One thing that takes a bit getting used to is being so high off the ground.

Most inline skaters find the Trikke very easy to ride and fun to use. In this photo, the person using this Trikke was not able to skate all that well, but he could ride a Trikke!

• How to Ride a Trikke
  

• The Trikke

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide
_{Riding a Trikke - JO ANN Schneider Farris Personal Photos}

Physician Skates to Patients

Forty-five year old Dr. Thomas Bolte has discovered that inline skating is the fastest way to get around New York City. If his patients have urgent needs, he's there in a jiffy. He makes "skating house calls" to the elderly, to busy entertainers, to important officials, and to those who visit Manhattan. He also believes in getting to know his patients and specializes in solving medical mysteries.

Dr. Bolte skates about ten miles each week. What a great way to make use of inline skating! I think being able to mix the fun and exercise of skating with work is an inspiring and great idea. I hope to meet and skate with this creative physician next time I visit NYC.

• The "Real Dr. Bolte" (message from Doctor Thomas Bolte)
  
• Dr. Wheel-Good is on Call - A Savior on Blades - From Ginger Adams Otis, The New York Post
  
• New York Doctor Rolls by Traffic - From Earthtimes.org
  
  
  

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Dr. Thomas Bolte - Photo Courtesy of Dr. Thomas Bolte and NY Post Photographer Julie Stapen}

Have a Skating Birthday Party

Almost all roller skating rinks make it possible to have a skating birthday party. Parties include a table to celebrate, skating for two hours, skate rental, games, and a gift for the birthday child. Sometimes a cake, ice cream, and invitations are included with the parties. Usually, pizza, hot dogs, and soda are also available.

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide


_{Skating Birthday Invitation - Illustration Courtesy of KustomDesignz4U}

Hypno Skates - Inline Skates With Removable Frames

Have you ever been skating and wished you could take your wheels off and just walk for awhile? Would you like to skate to the bus or train as you commute to work and keep your shoes on, but take your blades off? Hypno Skates make it possible to do just that. The entire inline skate's frame detaches from the boot.

These skates are meant for recreational skating and should not be used for hockey or for long distance skating. It takes some time to learn how to attach and detach the skate's frame and the boot can be a bit warm for walking on a hot day, but it is nice to be able to take the blades off and put them back on again.

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Hypno Skates - Public Domain Image}

Learn to Powerslide

Powersliding is considered an advanced inline skating stopping technique. It looks cool and is fun to do!

How to Powerslide:

1. Skate forward, but prepare to make a tight turn and curve on your skates.
   
   
2. From a staggered stance position, make a quick ninety degree turn.
   
   
3. Stretch the skate that didn't do the tight curve back and almost touch that skate's boot to the ground.
   
   
4. Turn the skate that did the tight curve completely around and bend that knee far forward.
   

• Powerslide Tutorial

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Powerslide - Illustration Courtesy of Artist Larisa Gendernalik}

Skating on Venice Beach

After seeing Kathie Fry's photo collection called "What I Saw Skating in Venice Beach," I'd like to skate on a California beach everyday!

• What I Saw Skating in Venice Beach - From Kathie Fry, Skatelog.com

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Skating on Venice Beach - Copyright © Kathie Fry, Skatelog.com}

Skates Do Have Edges

Inline skates have inside edges and outside edges. Stand with your feet parallel. Press your feet to the outside. These are outside edges. Now press your feet to the inside. You are on inside edges. When you glide on one foot, you must either be on an outside or an inside edge. If your skates are standing completely straight, not on outside or inside edges, you are on flats. It is impossible to glide on one foot on a flat. Trust your edges to hold you. They will.

• Finding Your Edges by Kathy McSparran - InlinePlanet.com

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Skating on Inside and Outside Edges - Photos © Copyright InlinePlanet.com}