Skate Bearings and Maintenance: A Simple Routine to Keep You Rolling
What ABEC ratings really mean, how to clean skate bearings, and a simple maintenance routine for wheels, toe stops, brakes and trucks.
Roller Skate Wheels Explained: Durometer, Size and Indoor vs Outdoor
What do 78A, 95A and 62mm actually mean? Learn how wheel hardness, size and profile affect grip, speed and comfort — and how to choose wheels for the rink or the street.
Roller Derby History: From a 1935 Endurance Race to the Flat-Track Revival
Roller derby began as a 1935 Chicago marathon race, became a TV spectacle and was reborn in the 2000s as a skater-run sport. Here’s the full story.
Roller Disco: How the 1970s Turned Roller Rinks Into Dance Floors
Mirror balls, disco beats and urethane wheels. Here’s how roller disco took over rinks in the late 1970s and why its spirit still lives on at the rink today.
The Rise of Inline Skating: How Rollerblades Took Over the World
From 1800s European patents to the Olson brothers’ Minnesota basement and the 1990s X Games, here’s the story of how inline skates rolled into the mainstream.
James Plimpton and the Invention of the Modern Quad Skate
In 1863 James Plimpton patented a quad skate you could steer just by leaning. Here’s how his pivoting trucks launched the first roller rink boom.
The History of Roller Skating: From 1700s London to Today’s Rinks
Roller skating has been rolling for more than 250 years. Follow its history from an inventor’s 1700s stunt in London to rink booms, roller disco, inline skates and today’s revival.
How to Fall Safely on Roller Skates (and Get Back Up)
Falling is part of skating. Learn how to fall forward, avoid the dangerous backward fall and get back up on your skates the right way.
Roller Skating Safety Gear: What You Really Need (and Why)
Helmet, wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads — here’s what each piece of roller skating safety gear protects, how it should fit and what to look for when buying.
How to Stop on Inline Skates: Heel Brake, T-Stop, Plow and Power Slide
A practical guide to stopping on inline skates: how to use the heel brake correctly, plus the T-stop, plow stop and power slide for more control.