Tag Archives: roller skates

Russell Westbrook puts the “Air” into roller skates

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January 14, 2012

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook tweeted this picture of a brand new pair of Air Jordan III “True Blue” basketball shoes he had customized into roller skates. Westbrook joins the likes of Celtics point gurard Rajon Rondo and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr who have also shown a love of roller skating. Westbrook and the Thunder are currently having a stellar year in the NBA with Oklahoma sitting at the top of the western conferance. Looks like Westbrook is benefiting from the added sense of balance and coordination roller skating provides. Russell is averaging nearly 19 ppg and 5 assists per game this season. Looks like he may take the title for top ballers who skate this year.

A Brief History Of Roller Derby

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A Brief History Of Roller Derby

Author: Janet Bugby

Originally invented in the 1930′s by Leo Saltzer the very first roller derby was seen in Chicago at the Coliseum in 1935 where roller skaters used a banked skating surface to simulate a cross country race watched by more than 20,000 spectators. At the time the craze was for marathon dance competitions which tested the endurance of the competitors over many, many hours of dancing. Marathon roller skating events at the time could last an unbelievable length of time, sometimes many months with full time staff and full time competitors.

The Early Years

From Chicago roller skating marathons spread out across the United States to many more cities with the track being dismantled and moved. The roller derby stayed in cities for many months before moving on. The roller derby evolved into a race between two teams with five members, one designated the ‘jammer’ who aimed to lap the opposing team members. Roller derby was ahead of it’s time as women competed on the same terms as men, a first for any team sport. The track changed over time with the elevation being raised to forty five degrees and rails added for the safety of the competitors.

The first televised roller derby was broadcast in the 1940′s and was instantly a hit. Over the next 20 years the game evolved into a sport with more body contact and similarities to American football. In the 60′s the women competitors were seen as role models for independent women throughout the world. In order to accommodate the track in available basketball courts it was modified to be more portable. At this time the popularity of the sport was a t a high with hundreds of teams touring and competing all over the US.

The Decline in Roller Derby in the 1970′s

From a high in the 1960′s the popularity sharply declines and was dropped from national television in the 70′s. High gas prices and transport costs took their toll. Many of the full time staff and competitors were laid off. Roller derby continued however with many part time leagues being formed who kept the sport very much alive. Several attempts to revive the sport were launched throughout the 70′s with some TV revivals and the formation of the International Roller Skating League which lasted for ten years. TV only spectacles were also staged including the Roller Jam and the Roller Games.

Roller Games was created in the 1960′s by a rival of Seltzer’s Roller Derby league. It was a televised spectacle and an increasingly theatrical interpretation of roller derby. The flagship team was the Los Angeles T-birds (Thunderbirds) and lasted through the 70′s 80′s and 90′s into the early years of the 21st century with many ups and downs in popularity.

Roller Jam was based on the original roller derby with skaters mainly using in line roller skates and was televised from 1999 – 2001. It evolves into a largely theatrical production which caused many skaters who felt that it should be focused on the original concept of a skating competition to boycott the show.

Roller Derby Today

The sport has increased in popularity today with many hundreds of largely all girl teams competing across the US. There are also some mixed teams and even some all male teams.

About 60 all girl teams are members of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) which sets the rules for competitions between leagues. Travel teams compete in regional matches.. the WFTDA organises championships and publishes rankings of it’s members.

The Old school Derby Association was formed in May 2007 and promotes the sport among it’s members. The rules are based on the early versions of Roller Derby but also incorporates newer rules to accommodate the fast moving defensive game that exists today.

The sport is now worldwide with leagues in the UK, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ireland, Canada and Germany.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/a-brief-history-of-roller-derby-773975.html

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For information on roller skates and some good deals on quad and in line roller skates for men, women and children visit Cheap Roller Skates for Sale and Quad Roller Skates

How old should a child be before starting roller skating?

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How old should a child be before starting roller skating?

Author: Gen Federico

Many children are very keen to take up roller skating. Since roller skating has significant health and fitness benefits it is definitely one copycat activity that parents should be encouraging. How old does a child need to be before starting roller skating however?

On the one hand, the younger a person starts the quicker he or she will be able to benefit from roller skating and to find it far easier to further develop this skill. On the other hand, if a child is too young to have developed full and confident body control and awareness in his or her everyday activities, trying to cope with roller skating may be a step too far.

For this reason, starting to roller skate between the ages of four and eight would appear to be a generally worthwhile strategy, depending on the natural abilities of the child concerned.

For a child beginner, greater balance and confidence is likely to be attained earlier on through using traditional quad style roller skates (those skates with two rows of wheels) rather than inline skates or rollerblades (skates with a single line of wheels). Buying adjustable kids skates will ensure the roller skates will continue to fit for a good while even when the child’s feet grow. It is also extremely important to ensure the beginner is fully protected with a helmet and both knee and elbow pads.

It is also a good idea to seek roller skating tuition for a child in order to give the child a few valuable early pointers in his or her skating development. In any case, all practising should be done in a safe open area away from traffic. At Skates.co.uk we have a terrific range of great value kids skates and are happy to advise parents on which are likely to be the most suitable.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/extreme-sports-articles/how-old-should-a-child-be-before-starting-roller-skating-2817243.html

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The Article is written by skates.co.uk/ providing roller skating and kids skates Services. Visit http://www.skates.co.uk/ for more information on skates.co.uk/Products & Services___________________________Copyright information This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links & this copyright statement must be included. Visit skates.co.uk/ for more services!


Defining Different Roller Skate Styles

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Defining Different Roller Skate Styles

Author: Scott

Roller skating from many perspectives may only be seen as a recreational activity or something that is done by kids at local rinks but to the actual roller skaters out there, they know there is much, much more. Roller skating has several differing genres within its vast name that give those who take part their own individual style that fits them. But what are all these styles and what do they mean? We are here to help define and differentiate these styles so that maybe you can pick one for yourself.

Derby Skating
Derby skating or Roller derby is a crowd favorite and a historic form of roller skating and of entertainment that many of us can remember from a young age. It was a widely American contact sport for men and women but has grown to be an international mostly women’s contact sport currently. Participants skate around an oval track in formation and score points by passing members of the opposing team often getting physical in their encounters.

Jam Skating
You may remember Jam skating as a casual form of skating done on the weekends but as any other activity as times change it forms and becomes redefined. Jam skating now borrows from gymnastics, hip hop and break dancing and is an amazing show of athleticism and balance. The idea is to transform these moves from traditional dancing and activity to doing them on rollerskates fluently. Jam skating can become very competitive with tournaments forming all over for skaters to showcase their skill.

Vert Skating
Vert Roller skating is just like vert skating in skateboarding and inline skating where the participant skates on a half pipe style ramp performing tricks and transitions. Using Roller skates you can perform many in air maneuvers as well as grinding the metal coping on the top of a halfpipe. This type of skating takes a lot of skill and great overall balance on rollerskates. Vert skating can be an absolute delight to watch if ever given the opportunity.

Rink Skating
Many of us have grown up going to the local roller rink on the weekends spending time with friends socializing and skating our worries away. Rink skating is a very social form of skating where it is almost like a roller party with everyone laughing and having a great time all while rolling around on rollerskates with music playing in the background. Many rinks offer couple skates, games, children’s skates among many other specials, what are you waiting for? Go find a rink near you and get in on some of the fun.

Dance Skating
Dance skating can be similar to Jam skating as in both you are dancing on skates although in traditional dance skating you are more fluent and choreographed. Dance skaters, either solo or in a team, get judged on the accuracy of their steps and are also judged by their rhythm and timing to the music.

Quadline Skating
If you take apart the name you can get the actual definition of this type of skating. Quadline skating is when you take a standard looking pair of Rollerskates and apply special frames and inline skate wheels to them making them more maneuverable, fast and stable. By adding these wheels and modifying these skates you can transform the feeling beneath your feet and unleash a new chapter in your rollerskating career.

Now that you have all the ammunition to make your choice of what type of skating you are mainly interested in take a look at the skate styles to see what type of skate best suits you. Get out and get rollerskating today! If you are ready to pick up a new pair, go to RollerSkates.net. You can find many different styles, colors, and sizes at every price range.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/outdoor-sports-articles/defining-different-roller-skate-styles-2578148.html

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Whatever happened to Kim Fields?

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May 14, 2010

Kim Fields former star of Living Single and The Facts of Life just turned 41 and has a 3 year old son named Sebastian Alexander Morgan. Kim who was born May 12, 1969 is a born-again Christian and is married to her second husband actor Christopher Morgan. Her latest project is in pre-production and is called Stork.
15th Annual Dream Halloween

Jessica Simpson on roller skates – A Public Affair Music Video

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June 24, 2010

Jessica Simpson dawned a pair of funky brown roller skates with colorfulness laces for her A Public Affair music video. The skates can purchased online for all you ladies who like them. The video was shot in Glendale California at the Moonlight Rollerway on June 23 and 24th 2006. Other celebrities appearing in the video included Christina Applegate, Christina Milian, Eva Longoria Parker, Maria Menounos, Andy Dick and Ryan Seacrest.

Kim Kardashian on Roller Skates – Pepsi Throwback Launch Party

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April 29, 2009

Kim Kardashian and sister Khloe were seen strutting their stuff at the Pepsi Throwback Launch Party at World on Wheels
roller rink in Los Angeles California April 29, 2009. Other celebrity skaters included Frankie Delgado, Holly Madison, Jonathan Cheban, Kelly Osbourne, Lacey Schwimmer, Lauren Conrad, Rob Kardashian, Simon, Vanessa Minnillo.