Speed skating began about 1880 when rinks conducted professional quad races to attract spectators and amateur quad races to attract skaters. Now, inline speed skating - sometimes called inline racing - is a fun and challenging low impact aerobic activity and roller sport. Either name describes it accurately, since this is the sport of racing on inline skates - sometimes at speeds of 30 to 50 kilometers per hour. Inline racing grew from quad racing, but it is enough like ice speed skating to allow athletes to cross over between the ice and inline speed skating disciplines.
Inline speed skating is an extremely competitive international sport that can be conducted using short or long distance races. These races can be held on a variety of surfaces including indoor rinks, sports facilities, outdoor road circuits and banked tracks. In this inline sport the athletes wear high-tech inline speed skates and aerodynamically designed skin suits which are both designed to facilitate speed. Safety helmets are always worn and gloves are added for road competitions.
People choose inline speed skating as their sport for many reasons:
Inline speed skating is an extremely competitive international sport that can be conducted using short or long distance races. These races can be held on a variety of surfaces including indoor rinks, sports facilities, outdoor road circuits and banked tracks. In this inline sport the athletes wear high-tech inline speed skates and aerodynamically designed skin suits which are both designed to facilitate speed. Safety helmets are always worn and gloves are added for road competitions.
People choose inline speed skating as their sport for many reasons:
- Speed skating is fun
- Speed skaters want to achieve fitness goals
- Racing has social benefits
- Medals can be won and records can be broken
- There are many opportunities to travel
- Speed skating can be a family activity
- Racing is an on-going challenge