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}