A Quick History of Roller Skating
Many of us think that roller skating dates back to the 1950's and 1960's. Truth is, roller skates came about long before then. Although roller skates didn't receive their first official patents until 1819, there were noted attempts in the 1700's.
In the early 1700's, ice skating was a popular method of transportation in Holland during the cold winters. An unknown Dutchman nailed wooden spools to pieces of wood and attached them to his shoes in an attempt to accomplish dry land skates. Then in 1819, a similar design to quad skates were created only instead of wooden spools, this inventor aligned 2 to 4 rollers made of copper, ivory or wood and attached it to the bottom of a boot. By the end of the 1800's inventors had made incredible advances and roller skates were now very popular.
In 1902, Chicago opened the very first public skating rink. This opened the doors for other countries to open their own skating rinks, which then, in turn, opened doors for different uses and versions of roller skates. People were now attending indoor and outdoor rinks for recreational skating, polo skating, competitive skating and even ballroom roller dancing! Roller skates and quad skates were popular for youth and adults alike.
In the late 1970's, there was a huge boom in skates, youth skates and quad skates. It seems disco music and youth skates were destined for each other. There were over 4,000 roller discos open and it became so popular that Hollywood started creating roller movies. In 1979, two hockey players invented roller blades. The improved the design of inline skates, only they used polyurethane wheels and attached them to the bottom of their ice hockey boots. Unlike earlier quad skates, this model allowed youth skates to pick up more speed and make quicker turns.
In last few decades, skates have evolved to perfection. Skates are now light, easy to put on and adjust to ones feet. Wheels are better protected, set firmly in place and have stronger brakes. If you visit http://www.theskateauthority.com you can find tons of skates in a variety of styles, types, designs and different colors. The best part of buying youth skates through this site is you'll be able to see how much money you're saving. You can now be a part of roller skate history. |
