Roller Skating

Roller skating is a fun way to move around on wheels. The skates have four wheels, two in the front and two in the back. People skate at rinks, parks, and on smooth streets. Roller skating is great exercise and a cool activity with friends. It has been loved by kids and adults for over 200 years.

History

The first roller skates were made in the 1700s in Europe. They were not very good at first and hard to stop. In 1863, an American named James Plimpton made better skates that could turn well. This made roller skating much more popular. Soon, roller rinks opened in many cities around the world.

Types of Skating

There are many kinds of roller skating. Speed skating is a race to see who is the fastest. Artistic skating is like figure skating, with jumps and spins. Some people skate to music in groups, which is called jam skating. Others play team games on skates, like roller hockey.

Fun Facts

• The first roller skating rink opened in London in 1857.
• In the 1970s and 1980s, roller disco was a huge craze.
• Some roller skaters can spin very fast, like ballerinas.

Did You Know?

Traditional roller skates are called 'quad skates' because they have four wheels in a square pattern under each foot.