| Skate Maintenance and Skating Etiquette |
From "Family Sports"
episode SPT-106 |
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Skate Maintenance A moderate amount of maintenance is required if you want to keep your in-line skates in peak-performing condition. In-line skating instructor Bret Smith discusses some of the basics of skate maintenance as well as some "rules of the road" for skater etiquette. Skating on pavement will eventually wear down the surfaces of your wheels. And since your skating technique involves shifting your weight and body position, the wheels won't all wear evenly. Generally the front and rear wheels wear down faster than the center wheels. For that reason, it's important to rotate your wheels just as you do on your automobile. To rotate your wheels, move the front and rear wheels to the center positions, and the two center wheels to the front and back positions. It's also a good idea to swap wheels from the right skate to the left, and vice versa. If you skate fairly frequently, it's a good idea to replace your wheels completely with new ones about every six months. The frequency, of course, will vary with the amount of skating that you do. It's also important to service your bearings (figure A), the center portion of each wheel that allows it to rotate on the axle. Bearings are rated on a scale from 1 through 7, their ranking depending on the ease with which they spin. Bearings with a higher rating spin more freely and are used by more advanced skaters. They also use a gel lubricant, rather than grease, so they roll more smoothly and with more precision. Bearings can be cleaned in a citrus cleaner or degreaser and then left to air-dry. Bearings should be cleaned each time you rotate your wheels. Just like the wheels, your rear brakes will eventually wear down from use. Most brakes have a wear-line (figure B) that indicates it's time to replace the brakes. If you skate regularly, brakes can be expected to last about three months, and the cost to replace them is about five to seven dollars. You may want to leave all of this type of service to the pros at your skate shop. For a small charge, they give your skates a complete tune-up -- a process that takes about 30 minutes. Some skates have a removable boot-liner. These can be taken out and washed in the washing machine and left to air-dry. Don't dry them in a clothes dryer, as the heat may ruin the rubber elements.
Skating Safety and Etiquette - Always be aware of your surroundings. Be alert and courteous to pedestrians, cyclists and other skaters.
- Before you pass a pedestrian, as you approach from behind, give a warning by saying "Skater on the right" or "Skater on the left." An alternative method is to click your wrist guards before you pass.
- Be watchful for debris in the road or on the skating surface.
- Be aware of traffic. Wear reflective clothing or some sort of reflective device.
In summary: Skate safe, skate smart and skate polite.
RESOURCES :
International Inline Skating Association (IISA)
105 South 7th St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: 910-762-7004
fax 910-762-9477
Web site: www.iisa.org
Alpine Ski Center
Alpine Ski Center
IISA-certified skate instruction
7240 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 865-584-3614
Web site: www.alpineskicenter.com
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