In no particular order, the below are what we collected
Museum Piece
The first inline skate was assembled in the 18th century by a Belgian with the magical name of Merlin. You can get the whole story at the National Museum of Rollerskating.
You Betcha
Inline skating as we know it today was originated in Minnesota in 1979 by Scott Olson.
It Is God’s Will
While they won’t touch cars or telephones, Pennsylvania’s Dutch Amish do inline skate.
Have They Lost Their Bearings?
He’s the Bomb
David Lucht regularly hits downhill speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour on modified inline skates.
And Abishek Navale is the record holder for fastest on inline skates.
Because It was There
In 1998 Dave Cooper and Eddie Matzger inline skated up AND down Mt. Kilimanjaro. Better yet, Eddie reprised the effort in 2007 for his friend’s wedding.
A Georgia Peach
The Athens-to-Atlanta skate marathon is an 86-mile road race now in its 17th year.
Equal Opportunity
According to the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA), about half of inline skaters are women.
Not Just Kid Stuff
A 1997 NSGA survey found that half of inline skaters were 18 years of age or older.
It’s Good for You, Too
Burn, Baby, Burn
Inline skating as a form of exercise burns more calories than bicycle riding and almost as many as jogging.
Not-so-shocking News
Inline skating, when compared to running, causes less than 50 percent of the impact shock to joints, according to a study conducted by the University of Massachusetts.
A Skate of Mind
The Motion Trust offers college scholarships to inline skaters.
