Inline figure skating is a branch of roller figure skating (often called artistic skating) which emerged as a competitive discipline very slowly. In the 1880s, ice skating instructors were hired by roller rinks to teach skating basics to beginners and figure skating maneuvers to advanced skaters on quad skates. Figure skating on inlines has appeared at various times since then for ice cross-training, but did not get recognition as a sport in its own right until 2002, when inline freeskating events for women and men were included as part of the World Roller Figure Skating Championships in Germany for the first time.
Today's roller sports include inline figure skating on skate frames that support 3 or 4 wheels in a line with a rubber toe-stop or toe-pick, mounted on figure skating boots. The popularity of inline figure skating has grown with the development of high quality inline figure skating equipment and customizations that allow each skater to attempt more difficult maneuvers.
In this sport, the competitors execute program requirements on inline skates. Many championships are combined with roller figure skating, since both disciplines can use the same type of skating surface with similar free skating, dance and creative events. But there are also inline only events like the Paris Open. Inline figure skating is currently governed by the Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports, which includes it as an artistic roller skating sport on inline skates at its world championships. Inline figure skaters around the world are now performing double and triple jumps, a range of spins, interesting choreography and all of the senior level dances while using inline skates. Ice figure skating federation members often use inline figure skating for cost effective off-ice training.
Roller and ice enthusiasts choose inline figure skating for many reasons:
Today's roller sports include inline figure skating on skate frames that support 3 or 4 wheels in a line with a rubber toe-stop or toe-pick, mounted on figure skating boots. The popularity of inline figure skating has grown with the development of high quality inline figure skating equipment and customizations that allow each skater to attempt more difficult maneuvers.
In this sport, the competitors execute program requirements on inline skates. Many championships are combined with roller figure skating, since both disciplines can use the same type of skating surface with similar free skating, dance and creative events. But there are also inline only events like the Paris Open. Inline figure skating is currently governed by the Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports, which includes it as an artistic roller skating sport on inline skates at its world championships. Inline figure skaters around the world are now performing double and triple jumps, a range of spins, interesting choreography and all of the senior level dances while using inline skates. Ice figure skating federation members often use inline figure skating for cost effective off-ice training.
Roller and ice enthusiasts choose inline figure skating for many reasons:
- Inline figure skating is fun
- Inline figure skating can be done on many surfaces at many locations
- Inline figure skaters can achieve cross-training goals
- Inline figure has competitive opportunities
- There are opportunities to travel
- Inline figure can be an on-going non-competitive activity