While we worry about inline skating participation, either for recreation, fitness or at specific events, inline skating is currently at the top of the list of extreme sports participants and beats out a few other sports, too.

More people participated in inline skating in 2006 than played touch football, and there are more skateboarders than slow-pitch softball players, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. Here are some 2006 SGMA sports participation rates for people age 6 and older:

1. Inline skating...13.1 million
2. Touch football...12 million
3. Skateboarding...11.1 million
4. Mountain biking...7.0 million
5. Slow-pitch softball... 8.6 million
6. Climbing...5.2 million
7. Paintball...5.0 million
8. Wakeboarding...3.5 million
9. Surfing...2.3 million
10. BMX bicycling...2.1 million
11. Roller hockey...1.3 million
12. Boardsailing/windsurfing...1.1 million

Just turn on your television and you'll see extreme sports, including inline skating, on sports shows, commercials and in films. Any show or product that wants to identify with youth or a young lifestyle will try to use inline and extreme sports themes. Skating numbers are down, but we're still extremely superior.