# Roller skates > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Roller_skates > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Roller_skates.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_skates > Source revision: 1344958224 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Shoe or overshoe with wheels "Roller skate" and "Rollerskates" redirect here. For other uses, see [Roller skate (disambiguation)](/source/Roller_skate_(disambiguation)). A pair of roller skates **Roller skates** are boots with wheels mounted to the bottom, allowing the user to travel on hard surfaces similarly to an [ice skater](/source/Ice_skate) on ice. The first roller skate was an [inline skate](/source/Inline_skate) design, effectively an [ice skate](/source/Ice_skate) with a line of wheels replacing the blade. In modern usage, the term typically refers to skates with two pairs of wheels on shared axles like those of [skateboards](/source/Skateboard) (early versions of which were made using roller skate parts). Skates with this configuration are also known as "quad skates" or "quads" and, like skateboards, steer by tilting the skate to one side, which causes the axles to turn inward. [Roller skating](/source/Roller_skating) is a hobby, sport, and mode of transportation using roller skates. ## History While the first reported use of wheeled skates was on a London stage in 1743, the first [patented](/source/Patent) "roller skate" was introduced in 1760 by Belgian inventor [John Joseph Merlin](/source/John_Joseph_Merlin).[1] They were hard to steer and stopping was difficult due to the fact that they did not have any type of braking mechanism and as such they failed to gain popularity. Merlin demonstrated his invention during a party in the city of [Huy](/source/Huy), during which he skated while playing the [violin](/source/Violin).[2] In the 1840s, Meyerbeer's opera *[Le prophète](/source/Le_proph%C3%A8te)* featured a scene in which performers used roller-skates to simulate ice-skating on a frozen lake set on stage. This exposure had an impact on audiences and led to the rise of roller skating as a new and popular activity throughout the Continent. As ice skaters subsequently developed the art of figure skating, roller skaters wanted the ability to turn in their skates in a similar fashion.[3] Plimpton prototype 1863-1866 In 1863, [James Plimpton](/source/James_Leonard_Plimpton) from Massachusetts invented the "rocking" skate and used a four-wheel configuration for stability, and independent axles that turned by pressing to one side of the skate or the other when the skater wants to create an edge. This was a vast improvement on the Merlin design, one that was easier to use and drove the huge popularity of [roller skating](/source/Roller_skating), dubbed "rinkomania" in the 1860s and 1870s,[4] which spread to Europe and around the world, and continued through the 1930s. Eventually, roller skating evolved from just a pastime to a competitive [sport](/source/Sport); [speed skating](/source/Inline_speed_skating), racing on skates, and [artistic roller skating](/source/Artistic_roller_skating), equivalent to [figure skating](/source/Figure_skating) on ice. In the mid-1990s [roller hockey](/source/Roller_hockey), played with a ball rather than a puck, became so popular that it even made an appearance as a demonstration sport in the [Olympics](/source/Olympic_Games) in 1992. The National Sporting Goods Association statistics showed, from a 1999 study, that 2.5 million people played roller hockey. Roller skating was considered for the 2012 Summer Olympics[5] but has never become an Olympic event. Other roller skating sports include [jam skating](/source/Jam_skating) and [roller derby](/source/Roller_derby). A pair of roller skates within the permanent collection of [The Children's Museum of Indianapolis](/source/The_Children's_Museum_of_Indianapolis). Skates like these fit over shoes and were adjustable with a roller skate key. Roller skating popularity began during the late 1950s and 1960s at [rock 'n' roll](/source/Rock_and_roll) teen dance halls, but exploded and took off in the 1970s and 1980s due to the introduction of large rubberized polymer wheels such as Krypto-Pro, to replace metal wheels, becoming popular and an iconic thing of that time. In the early 1990s it would begin to diminish in popularity. Sales of roller skates increased during the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic) as people sought safe outdoor activities.[6] Roller skating saw a revival in the late 2010s and early 2020s, spurred on by a number of viral videos on the popular video-sharing app [TikTok](/source/TikTok) and also a revival of [1970s](/source/1970s_nostalgia) and [1980s](/source/1980s_nostalgia) pop culture from film and TV nostalgia. Many popular brands sold out to the point of back-order, with many people taking up the hobby during [COVID-19 quarantines](/source/COVID-19) across the globe.[7] ## Parts A roller skate has two main parts: the boot and the plate, which is the part that holds the wheels and provides the ability to steer. There are two main categories of roller skate boots: a high-top boot with a raised heel similar to an ice figure skating boot, and a flat-soled boot cut at or below the ankle. The plate is bolted to the boot, typically by drilling holes through the sole of the boot to match existing holes in the plates and placing bolts with low-profile heads inside the boots with nuts on the outside facing the floor. For boots with a raised heel, screws can be driven into the heel directly. Roller skate plates are composed of several parts: the base structural component is also called the plate, and the trucks, which are the main steering components, are attached to it in a way that allows the trucks to steer when the plate is tilted. Almost all roller skate plates achieve this by sandwiching each truck between a pair of flexible [cylindrical](/source/Cylindrical) "cushions" or bushings so that it can tilt. The stack is held together by a "kingpin" that passes through the center of the stack and is used to adjust the compression applied to the cushions. The "traditional" kingpin is a bolt that threads into the plate and is secured by a jam nut against the plate. Most modern plates use a "flipped" kingpin instead, which is a threaded stud attached to the plate and allows preload adjustments using a locking nut. To prevent the truck from rotating around the kingpin, an additional protrusion from the truck called a "pivot pin" sits in a cup on the plate. Skates may also have rubber toe stops for braking or pushing off with. ## Organizations The Roller Skating Rink Operators Association was developed in the U.S. in 1937. It is currently named the Roller Skating Association. The association promotes roller skating and offers classes to the public, aiming to educate the population about roller skating. Its current president is Bobby Pender and the associations headquarters are located in [Indianapolis](/source/Indianapolis). ## Gallery - *The General adoption of the rolling skate - Lively appearance of Regent street in june*, a cartoon by [George du Maurier](/source/George_du_Maurier) published by [Punch](/source/Punch_(magazine)) in 1866 - An advertisement for an early 20th-century model which fit over regular shoes - Young woman roller skating beside a group of women's [suffragists](/source/Suffragist) at the White House, 1917 - Girl on roller skates, 1921 - Roller skates of a design common in the 1960s - Skates at [Paul Bunyan Land](/source/Paul_Bunyan_Land), [Brainerd, Minnesota](/source/Brainerd%2C_Minnesota) ## Health benefits The Roller Skating Association's web page offers some health benefits of roller skating. Some of the benefits they list include:[8] - Providing a complete [aerobic workout](/source/Aerobic_workout) - Burning 330 kilocalories (1,400 kJ) per hour while skating 10 km/h (6 mph) for a 65-kilogram (143 lb) person or 600 kilocalories (2,500 kJ) while skating 15 km/h (10 mph). - A study from the University of Massachusetts found that in-line skating causes less than 50% of the impact shock to joints compared to running. - Roller skating is equivalent to jogging in terms of health benefits - The [American Heart Association](/source/American_Heart_Association) recommends roller skating as an aerobic fitness sport. ## See also - [Ice skates](/source/Ice_skates) - [Inline skates](/source/Inline_skates) - [Rollerblade](/source/Rollerblade), a popular brand of inline skates - [Roller shoe](/source/Roller_shoe) - [Roller skating](/source/Roller_skating) - [Roller ski](/source/Roller_skiing) - [Skike](/source/Skike) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Valderrabano, Victor; Easley, Mark E., eds. (21 February 2017). *Foot and ankle sports orthopaedics*. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-3-319-15735-1](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-319-15735-1). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-319-15734-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-319-15734-4). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [972330993](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/972330993). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Highfill_2-0)** Highfill, Philip H.; Burnim, Kalman A.; Langhans, Edward A. (1984). [*A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800: M'Intosh to Nash*](https://books.google.com/books?id=xE2a06VfoogC&pg=PA202). SIU Press. pp. 201–202. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8093-1130-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8093-1130-9). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Wilson, David Gordon (2004). [*Bicycling Science*](https://books.google.com/books?id=0JJo6DlF9iMC) (3 ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-262-73154-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-262-73154-1). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Victorian craze that sparked a mini-sexual revolution"](https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31831110), [BBC News](/source/BBC_News), 6 April 2015 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Article: Roller Skating Being Considered for Olympics @ SkateMall.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716080922/http://www.skatemall.com/article-roller-skating-being-considered-for-olympics.aspx). Archived from [the original](http://www.skatemall.com/article-roller-skating-being-considered-for-olympics.aspx) on 16 July 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Spellings, Sarah (2 July 2020). ["There's a Worldwide Shortage of Roller Skates"](https://www.vogue.com/article/roller-skate-sold-out). *Vogue*. Retrieved 20 October 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Conlon, Scarlett (8 January 2021). ["Roller skating is having a revival, but whatever you do don't call it a trend"](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/a35151297/roller-skating-revival-history-origins/). *Harper's BAZAAR*. Retrieved 30 March 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["All About Roller Skatin"](http://www.rollerskating.com/pages/all+about+roller+skating/51). *Roller Skating Association International*. Retrieved 26 January 2018. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Roller skates](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Roller_skates). - ["How Rink Rollers Are Made", by George W. Waltz](https://books.google.com/books?id=diEDAAAAMBAJ&dq=popular+science+1951+%22bed+bikes%22&pg=RA1-PA54) – November 1951 article in *[Popular Science](/source/Popular_Science)* on how roller skates are manufactured - [History of Roller Skating in Canada](http://rollersports.ca/roller-sports/history/) - [homepage for USA Roller Sports](http://www.usarollersports.org/) - [Roller Skating Museum](http://www.rollerskatingmuseum.com/) v t e Footwear List of shoe styles List of boots Shoe Shoemaking Shoe size Dress shoes Blucher Brogues Brothel creepers Derby Monks Oxfords Saddle shoes Spectator shoes (Co-respondent shoes) Wholecuts Winklepickers Slip-on shoes Court shoes Loafers Prince Albert slippers Venetian-style shoes Women's Ballet flats High-heeled footwear Mary Janes Mojari Mules Peep-toe shoes Slingbacks T-bar sandals Other shoes Driving moccasins Flip-flops Galoshes Jazz shoes Platform shoes Sandals Self-tying shoes Slides Slippers (Uwabaki) Tiger-head shoes Veldskoens Zōri Wooden footwear Bakya British clogs Cantabrian albarcas Clogs Geta Klompen Namaksin Okobo Padukas Pattens Sabot Träskor Boots Military Ammunition Bunny Combat Jack Jump Jungle Patauga Tanker Trench Work Australian work Cowboy Engineer Hip Jika-tabi Rigger Steel-toe Waders Fashion boots Chelsea (Beatle) Chukka Go-go Knee-high Over-the-knee Platform Thigh-high Ugg Other Ballet Balmoral Bean Derby Jodhpur Safari Wellington Sport-related footwear Ballet shoes Boat shoes Climbing shoes Cross country running shoes Cycling shoes Football boots Ghillies Hiking boots Ice skates Inline skates Kung fu shoes Minimalist shoes Motorcycle boots Mountaineering boots Plimsolls Pointe shoes Racing flats Racing shoes Riding boots Roller shoes Roller skates Sabatons Skate shoes Ski boots Sneakers Swimfins Water shoes Wrestling shoes Folk footwear Abacas Abarkas Alpargatas Avarcas Balghas Bast shoes Ciocie Clogs Espadrilles Furlane Galesh Geta Giveh Haferlschuh Hnyat-phanats Huarache Hwa Jipsin Jorabs Kamiks Kolhapuri chappals Moccasins Mojaris Mukluks Nalins Okobo Opanci Peshawari chappals Snowshoes Tsarouchi Takunya Upanah Valenkis Waraji Zōri Historical footwear Areni-1 shoes Buskins Calcei Caligae Carbatina Cavalier boots Chinese styles Chopines Duckbill shoes Flowerpot shoes Hessians Lotus shoes Pampooties Pigaches Poulaines Socci Turnshoes Shoe construction Bespoke shoes Blake construction Goodyear welt Shoe buckle Shoelaces Toe box High heels Clear heels Kitten heels Spool heels Stiletto heels Wedges Leather Leather Calfskin Shell cordovan Patent leather Nubuck Suede Goatskin Exotic leather Hosiery Anklets Bobby socks Dress socks Footwraps Knee highs Pantyhose Sock Stocking Tights Toe socks Tabi Related Abandoned footwear Spats v t e Human-powered transport Land Pedal power 29er Bicycle (outline) Bicycle trailer BMX bike Boneshaker Cargo bike City bicycle Cold-weather biking (ice cycle) Cruiser bicycle Cycle rickshaw Cyclo-cross bicycle Downhill bike Enduro Fatbike Flat bar road bike Folding bicycle Go-kart Glossary of cycling Hybrid bicycle Motorized bicycle Mountain bike Mountain biking 27.5 Downhill Singletrack Party bike Penny-farthing Porteur bicycle Prone bicycle Quadracycle Recumbent bicycle Road bicycle Roadster Safety bicycle Sociable Small-wheel bicycle Tandem bicycle Touring bicycle Track bicycle Trailer bike Tricycle Unicycle Utility bicycle Velocar Velocipede Velomobile Wheelie bike Electric motor assist Electric bicycle Pedelec Motorized bicycle E-scooter Treadle power Treadle bicycle Other foot power Balance bike Dandy horse Kick scooter Kickbike Kicksled Brakeboard Freeboard Freeskates Longboard Skateboard Hand power Handcar Handcycle Hobcart Invalid carriage Wheelchair Row action Rowing cycle Pushed/pulled Baby transport Stroller Baggage cart Bath chair Cart Flatbed trolley Hand truck Pulled rickshaw Shopping cart Shopping caddy Stairclimber Stretcher Toy wagon Wheelbarrow Sled Carried Baby sling Babywearing Litter/sedan chair Scoop stretcher Weight shifting Trikke Pogo stick Caster board Snakeboard Gravity Gravity racer Billy cart Street luge Snowboard Toboggan Summer toboggan Gravity biking Water Hand power Canoe Kayak Paddleboarding Rowing (fixed seat) Punt Standup paddleboarding Hand and foot power Rowing (sliding seat) Rowing (sliding rigger) Foot power Hydrocycle Hydrofoil Pedalo Amphibious Amphibious cycle Air Aircraft list Helicopter Ornithopter Non-vehicular transport Foot power Inline skating skates Roller skating skates Running Stair climbing Walking Stair climbing Snow and ice Crampons Ice skates Ski Alpine touring skis Cross-country skis Telemark skis Snowshoes Related Animal-powered transport Cycling (outline) Bicycle- and human-powered vehicle museums Human power Zero-emissions vehicle Authority control databases GND --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Roller skates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_skates) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_skates?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.