People often think inline skating is as simple as just fastening on a pair of roller skates and rolling off. Yes, this might be vaguely true. However, inline skating happens to involve a lot more than that. Inline skating is divided into several different types, each with its own set of rules and purpose. The most common types of inline skating competition include; speed skating, aggressive skating, figure inline skating, and hockey inline skating.
Speed Skating
Speed skating was invented in Holland several hundred years ago, but only as a means of transportation. Before and during the 1800s, the sport grew tremendously in popularity across the entire Northern Europe and into the United States. This popularity is also the reason why, speed skating has been recognized and categorized as part of the Winter Olympics from 1924. However, according to history, women were only allowed to take part in this sport after 1960, which first happened at Lake Placid.
During the Winter Olympics, speed skating is equally subdivided into several races for both men and women. This includes; 500 meters, 1000 meters, 1500 meters, 5000 meters, and finally, the team pursuit. Additionally, a 3000-meters race for women and a 10,000-meter race for men also takes place in the Olympics.
When it comes to speed skating, racers stand the test on a 400-meter oval. Skaters can only compete in pairs through numerous heats, all the way to the finals. As the race is in motion, the skaters are required to interchange lanes every single lap while taking care not to get in each other’s way. In cases where both skaters arrive at the switching point at the exact same time, the racer on the outside lane has to give way and allow the other to proceed.
Team pursuit is the only event that’s not affected by this regulation. During the pursuit, a team comprised of three skaters, commence at each side of the oval at the same time. To win, teams have to implement some clever drafting techniques to ensure each team mate is able to pass the finish line within the least possible time. Time continues to elapse until all three team mates are through the line. Women are allocated six laps while men have to cover eight laps.
Due to the high speed involved in this competition, skaters usually result to adopting the most efficient scientific approach conceivable to not only the technique, but to the equipment as well. Some skaters will usually take advantage of full-body skin-tight suits designed to be as aerodynamics as possible.
Speed skating happens to be the wildest competition globally. Skaters often reach speeds of up to 35mph and over as they cruise around the track. According to physics, a body will experience a centrifugal force pushing it away from the center of the circle. Due to this, the skaters must lean their bodies to a 45% angle while taking a corner.
Aggressive inline skating
Aggressive inline skating is also commonly referred by participants as blading, roller blading, skating, rolling, street skating, or free style inline skating. Being a subsection of the inline skating discipline, it emphasizes on the method of trick execution. Skates used in aggressive inline skating are especially developed to allow for grinds and jumps. This particular inline skating sport can be initiated on found street barriers, or at modified street parks.
One of the highly anticipated aggressive inline events is known as the Big Apple Roll (BAR), which is organized by the Empire Skate Club. The event takes place every first weekend of August per year. The show goes for multiple days and involves group skates, clinics, social events, and exploring the New York City on skates.
However, thanks to the ongoing health crisis, BAR 2020 was limited to only few groups of skaters. But according to their website, they are optimistic of the next event being exciting. It will be held on August 4th to the 8th, (first weekend)
Tuesday Night Skates
This event is also organized by the Empire Skates Club. It is a regular weeknight group skate on Tuesdays. If the weather favors them, they can skate all year round. The meeting place is always at the Manhattan’s Grand Plaza near the statue of General Sherman at 8.00 pm.
Tuesday Night Skates are the longest running group skates in the NYC. They have been consistent for more than 30 years.
North Shore Inline Marathon
Established in the year 1995, the North Shore inline Marathon is committed to showing its appreciation to the inline skating sports and general fitness. More than two thousand skaters of all age groups participate in this event every year. The event features exquisite routes with excellent views and wonderful communities. NSIM is widely recognized as one of the greatest aggressive inline marathons in the entire world by many individuals, and it’s quickly turning into a tradition for most of the participants.
Everyone is welcomed to join to be among new friends, and make memories happen. You can join in on the fun by signing up their half marathon, or 10k’s.
Other attractive aggressive inline skating competition to watch include;
• Artistic Skating German Cup 2021, taking place from 13 JULY – 17TH JULY
• International Inline Race on Parabolic Track, Scheduled to happen from 10th JULY – 11th JULY in SOLIGORSK CITY, BELARUS
• PGKA & WORLD SKATE INLINE HOCKEY CLINICS 2021, on 19th JUNE. To take place in KALTBRUNN, SWITZERLAND
• Artistic Show and Precision European Championship 2021, taking place on 28th – 31st JULY in LLEIDA SPAIN
Figure Inline Skating
Inline figure skating can mean figure skating while wearing inline figure skates, which may comprise of 3 or 4 frames and having a toe-stop. Figure skating was initially a type of off-ice training option for ice skaters. This particular branch of inline skating has been identified as an artistic roller skating by the International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS), and has been incorporated in its world championship.
Figure skating events you should look out for include;
2021 Cranberry Cup International
This competition will commence between August 12 and August 15. It will be taking place at Skating Club of Boston’s ice facility found in Norwood, Mass.
2021 Lake Placid Dance International
This event will take place from August 12 to August 15, 2021 at the Skating Club of Boston Facility in Norwood.
Hockey Inline Skating
There’s something interesting that happens to hockey all over North America every summer, and this happens without some players knowing. This thing is called the roller hockey tournaments. However, this tournament is rapidly growing in popularity and as a result, summer tournaments are increasingly gaining the attention of the whole world.
Roller hockey tournaments takes place all year round in particular places where roller hockey is common. This includes St. Louis, Long Island, Detroit, and California. However, during the summer, there are three major tournaments that dominate all roller hockey tournaments, they include; Torhs – 2Hot 4Ice, NARCh, and StateWars.
TORHS – 2Hot 4Ice
This tournament is a combination of two tournament franchises, it became possible when TORHS purchased 2Hot 4Ice a couple of years back. The tournament is the small brother among the big three, but it still manages to make a big impact. The tournament has been able to lure in a significant number of current, perspective, and newly graduated Linderwood players. The tournament usually takes place in different locations every year. Some of the most previous places include Tampa, Detroit, Kalamazoo, and many others. As with many tournaments out there, this completion provides several divisions and skill degree.
NARCh
NARCh happens to be one of the most prominent tournaments for all hardcore roller players. The skill level demanded by this particular tournament is largely the best of all national tournaments. Instead of having a single extensively massive tournament, it was divided into two national tournaments a few years ago. This means that there are two national tournaments going by NARCh West and NARCh East. According to Dary Goodwin and a number of his staff, dividing the tournament into two would make it more convenient for relatively younger teams and players to make it to national tournament.
Like TORHS 2Hot4Ice, this tournament also rotates around the country from year to year. NARCh East is mostly found in Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, and sometimes Canada. NARCh West on the other hand rotates across Irvine and San Jose.
StateWars
StateWars is the big brother of all three, and also the most widely known. This is mostly because it incorporates teams from almost all states, Canada, and not to mention teams from South America, Europe, and Africa. StateWars can carry on for weeks and its games can commence at 8:00 am up to 10:00 pm or later on a daily basis. One of the most captivating feature about this tournament is the player has to play for the state, country, or province he/she lives in.
StateWars is also indicating growth on its international side. This is based on the facts that this year, it featured a number of teams from countries like Spain, France, Columbia, Brazil, and many others.
The tournament also provides numerous divisions and offers the biggest pro money pool going up to $25,000 for the winner in the pro tournament.
Just like the other two tournaments, it’s also not restricted to hold tournaments in one or two locations only. It jumps across cities as well. However, most of its operations are largely within the Midwest as it has aspirations to offer the national tournament in central United States.
