It is March 19th, spring 2018 begins tomorrow in the state of Minnesota, the popularization place of inline skating. Here in Minnesota, when Rollerblade started its mass marketing and subsequent mass proliferation of inline skates in the late 80’s, early 90’s, many new inline skaters skated off into the great outdoors, outside the comforts of a familiar controlled flat rink setting. New in their midst were hills, tight corners near busy motorized and non-motorized traffic, uneven broken terrain, sticks, twigs, sand, pebbles, wooden bridges, cliffs; and, but not limited to, unleashed dogs requiring unique skating negotiation skills.
No inline skate instruction was available at the time. Brand new skaters were left to their own devices to survive. Even experienced ice/roller skaters of all disciplines drawn to the new outdoor activity, found skating outside required an entirely different set of skating skills to ward off injuries. No matter the level of competency indoor skating skills were insufficient to prevent accidents and injuries skating outdoors.
The major skate manufacturer suffered lawsuits as a consequence of inline skating injuries. As a consequence, skate manufacturers started selling volleyball knee pads and other inadequate protective equipment to help mitigate injuries. Many skaters sought refuge by leaving their new inline skates in the closet declaring the sport as “dangerous”.
Without qualified skate instruction and appropriate protective equipment skating can be hazardous. However, with lessons specific to outdoor inline skating, like other sports, risk of injuries can be calculated and significantly reduced. Having a background in competitive roller skating, and living in the popularization place of “rollerblading”, Noelle Robichon recognized a dire need for outdoor skate instruction and started creating curricula, and new ‘outdoor’ skating skills and instruction techniques to ensure skater safety while skating outside.
While skating outdoors is not without inherent risk, professional inline skate lessons combined with appropriate protective equipment are a key component to ensuring the public is safe while skating on inline skates, outdoors.
The public is in need of awareness highly qualified and experienced professional inline skate lessons are available. To alert others experienced qualified inline skate lessons are available, please share our skate school far and wide or write an article or blog discussing instruction is available in the State of Minnesota.
*Side note: There are many reasons to take an outdoor inline skate lesson. Click why to take a lesson to learn more.
Our unique world-leading inline skate instruction can take place indoors and outdoors as long as the area is safe. Contact us to host-a-clinic in Minnesota or beyond.