Giving gifts that will help keep your loved ones moving is a good plan for the long roll. Growing kids need aerobic activities and adults need them even more. Everyone can benefit from a little fitness on wheels. Try these inline stocking stuffer ideas to help keep loved ones on the go in the New Year:

• Inline starter skates for beginners on a budget
  
  
• Gift certificates for skating lessons
  
  
• Adjustable inline skates for growing kids
  
  
• Sports clothing and accessories
  
  
• Electronic safety gear that goes beyond helmets or pads
  
  
• Try some fitness skates for your goal-oriented skater
  
  
• Roller rink session coupons from your favorite skating center
  
  
• Skating camp enrollment for fun and training

Photo © Don Nichols, iStockphoto.com

There is more than one way to check, if you are an inline skater. And all the kinds of checks have important skating functions. A check or checking can be used to stop rotation in figure and stunt disciplines, and becomes a very important skill to master if airborne stunts, jumps, turns or spins are part of your skating activities. If you play inline ice or roller hockey, checking is a defensive maneuver. And of course every responsible inline skater is familiar with those boring but necessary safety checks on gear, skates and skating locations. Check it out.

Sebastien Laffargue of World Slalom Series reports that the first Battle Buenos Aires was a success with 35 competitors, primarily from Argentina. Brazil, Bolivia and France also had participant skaters. The women's battle has been delayed until next Friday. But, these are the top five results, so far:

Battle Men :

1.Gonzalez Braian - Argentina
2.Kobayashi Marcelo - Brazil
3.Lays Damian - Argentina
4.Villarreal Alvaro - Argentina
5ex.Lays Alejandro - Argentina
5ex.Morgado Rodrigo - Brazil

Speed Slalom Women :
1. Malladott Andrea - Argentina
2. Pastorini Valeria - Argentina
3. Lara Natalia - Argentina
4. Canepa Fernanda - Argentina
5. Sobrino Augustina - Argentina

Speed Slalom Men :
1. Iriarte Alejandro - Argentina
2. Villarreal Alvaro - Argentina
3. Kobayashi Marcelo - Brazil
4. Palermo Alejandro - Argentina
5. Lays Damian - Argentina

Visit the World Slalom Series Battle Buenos Aires 2009 site for complete results.

The 2009 Roller Figure Skating World Championship in Freiburg, Germany certainly had more ups than downs. There was the great floor for the Juniors and Inline events, skaters sharing equipment, cheering wars between countries (a good thing) and lots of team spirit between members in each country as well as international bonding. The equipment manufacturers and vendors were set up in an exhibition hall that had a mall-like atmosphere. Food on and off-site was excellent. Transportation services were well thought out. The Messe Freiburg Convention Center venue was well appointed, and on the final event days the house was sold out. Like everyone else, I had a chance to see old friends from around the world and make some new ones, too.

Now here's another reminder that the next big inline figure skating event will be the Open International de Paris in January, 2010. Please support this event, hosted by Jean-Pierre Faugère, to help grow the inline figure sports and have fun in France while you do it.

If you have inline skating event or performance information for any discipline send it via email for possible inclusion in the inlineskating site.