QUAD and DERBY SKATES 101

Artistic skating Roller figure skating, is a long-standing performance roller sport combining balance, strength, and artistry into one sport. Roller figure skating is the largest division of competitive roller skating in the United States, individuals, or clubs, or pairs can compete at different levels, from beginners to world class athletes. In competitions there are divisions for: Singles, Pairs, Figures, Solo Dance, Team Dance, Precision, and Show skating. This challenging division of artistic roller-skating demands precision gear, generally high-top boots to provide ankle support, and resilient plates to absorb the jarring impacts from jumps.

Roller derby Made its return debut in 2002, and is still one of the fastest growing skating sports, that encompasses skaters of all athletic abilities and ages, with women’s, men’s, co-ed, and junior teams, with clubs that can be found throughout the United States. Whether skating banked track or flat track, its popularity wins spectators over and over. Skaters require equipment to meet not only the specifics of the track type, and surface, but also equipment must meet demands of the skater's movements on the track: competitive collisions, quick pivoting and toe work, and falls. Generally, derby skates are low-cut to maximize speeds and ankle flexion in the moves, but some players prefer mid-cuff. Boots and plates need to be durable to withstand the forces placed upon them when playing (a game is called a ‘Bout’), and the skates typically use a larger, over-sized toe stop. Derby players also use protective gear as required for competitions: larger pads set, mouth guards, and helmets designed to help prevent injury in this fast-paced scramble on the track.

Jam skating Popularized in the 1990’s, with roots in disco, and its origins in the states of Michigan and Florida, jam skating combinations break-dance, dance, shuffling, gymnastics, and roller skating. There are competitive events, Battling, whereby skaters can compete and learn moves from other skaters. This type of skating warrants skates to meet the advanced manures skater place on equipment, low-cut designs are preferred to allow for increased ankle flexion and freedom of movement, and the skates use special plugs.

Outdoor skating Whatever your Quad-Quiver, you can take it outdoors just the same on tracks, trails, beach strand, and paved roller rinks. The take-away here is that, whatever skate you roll, be sure to get appropriate “Outdoor” wheels to optimize your experience. Indoor wheels are designed for indoors, they have special grooves, if used outdoors it will reduce their ability to grip indoors. Outdoor wheels are smooth surfaced, and made with special softer urethanes to give the best performance under outdoor conditions of concrete or asphalt.

Rhythm skating A step-down to Artistic skating is Rhythm, another roller child of the 70’s and disco, and is described as artistic rhythmic movements of shuffle and freestyle, as an expression of the beats, playing in the moment, in the rink. In other words, you hear a good tune while skating, and feel a bit like dancing, then just roll with it. Rhythm skaters require a skate that is exceptional in flexibility and maneuverability, and prefer those with high-top boots, for ankle support, and use skate dance plugs to provide effortless braking and mobility.

Rink and Speed skating Catch all categories for anything roller-skating in a rink, from recreational rolling to intensely competitive speed skating. Let’s focus on speed, why not? World competitions were held until the early 90’s and inline speed skates debuted, and changed racing formats, but traditional quad racing still continues on. Indoor speedskating uses a 100-meter track, and is demanding. National level competitions are held for all age groups, with organized events skaters can take part in. Fast speeds demand optimal racing set-ups, and skaters typically select low-cut boots designed to help optimize speed and provide good ankle flexion. Wheels are typically selected by the floor surface quality of the event one is training for.

Quad skating as a traditional skating sport has many facets that can provide hours of fun, fitness and potential to learn new skills on wheels. Guides at skateNOW can guide you to the right gear for the sport you choose.

Types & Hypes Wheels: 

Wheels are defined by both Diameter in Millimeters and Hardness in Durometers.

Quad Wheel sizes & hardness: 

76mm, 78mm, 80mm are common sizes for rink floors, for Recreational, Derby, Jam and Artistic, Speed.  Check to see what size the wheels are on the skates you are purchasing, and see whether the plates will accept larger wheels. As you progress, slightly wheels afford you an easier roll, and last a bit longer. The Durometer is the other number you will see on the skate wheels, it refers to the hardness or softness of a wheel. Usually it is 78a, 80a, 82a on ____more to come____on Speedskates. As speedskaters we talk about wheels characteristics such as rebound, roll-out, wear patterns. Rule of Thumb: A softer wheel is a bit more forgiving, while a harder wheel is less forgiving, and a very hard wheel can even cause you to slip easily, not recommended. Unless you plan to be a rink-rat, get a set of outdoor wheels. You will have fun enjoying the great outdoors in addition to endless laps on the rink to vintage disco tunes. Whatever your groove, go out and roll.

Bearings: 

Your skates will come with bearings that are typically serviceable, with protective shields designed to come off for cleaning, meaning at some point, you will need to clean and re-lube them. (We typically teach skate maintenance as part of our lessons). From the factory bearings are either packed with a special light grease, gel, or oil, , all of which are fine. Greased bearings tend to take a bit longer to "break-in", but will last longer between cleanings. Just don't expect them to roll too quickly until you get a few miles on them. Oiled bearings roll a bit faster initially, but require more servicing than grease packed bearings. Grease packed protects the bearings from water and dirt better than oiled bearings. Gel lubed bearings are a nice medium that roll well and last longer than oiled bearings. If your bearings get wet, get them dried out immediately or they will rust. Towel dry, then use a hair drier to get them as dry as possible. If your skates come with non-serviceable bearings, expect to spend upwards of $35 for a new set of 16 skate bearings once they do get worn out. How do you tell a worn bearing? Does it no longer roll, or does it make crunchy or squeaky noises? If the answer is "yes", they are toast. What's all the Hype about ABEC or ILQ? These are rating standards for bearings which for Recreational and Fitness skating purposes really doesn't equate to a whole lot, except maybe extra expense. The ratings go from ABEC1 to ABEC 11, and are priced accordingly. Some bearings are not rated at all, and others have similar rating systems such as ILQ. The ABEC rating is a reference to the tolerances designed between the bearings in the crown and the inner hub diameter within the bearings..... just hyped, tech-talk, as bearings used for inline skating will never meet or exceed the speeds they are designed for. ILQ bearings and some other similar types use less balls (6-balls) within the bearing crown rather than the standard 7 balls, and argue that there is better free spin, and less chance for dirt and grit to slow down your roll, thus less maintenance and servicing. There are also ceramic bearings and rain bearings. If your skates come with an ABEC 3, 5, or 7 or ILQ 7 or 9 they should be fine for many years providing you take proper care of them. The standard bearing size is 608 for most skates and is universal. For Speed Skates there are also mini and micro bearings 688, either steel or ceramics, which are lighter and perhaps arguably a wee bit faster than standard bearings, but a bit more maintenance, all designed to keep you moving fast. Bearing Retractors - the tool you cannot live without.

Skate Plates: 

The materials, types, and sizes of skate plates vary as much as the skates themselves.  Types:  & Lengths:  more to come... 

The easiest access to inline skating is a nearby paved park pathway or indoor rink, with many roller rinks throughout the USA, it's not difficult to find a club, derby league, and coaches willing to help you on your path to skating sports on any level.  In all of the USA there are many indoor and outdoor rinks.  Numerous paved trail ways (multi-use paths) serve skaters and cyclists alike all across the USA. Organized quad skate events for the disciplines can be found at the roller sports national governing body web site, USAR's. Our modo: skate NOW, skate SAFE, and have FUN!