aggressive skating

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Exhibition of aggressive inline skating in Písek, Czech Republic

Aggressive Inline Skating, Freestyle Rolling, Rollerblading or Blading are unofficial titles sometimes used to refer to a specialized form of inline skating in which the individual preforms dangerous stunts, tricks, or maneuvers.

It is a small underground culture generally self contained by its participants as an attempt to protect it from the mainstream gentrification. As a result much about it is left unknown or difficult to back with proper citations or references and may ultimately prevent this article from ever meeting the requirements of a completely valid document itself.

The term Rollerblade originates from a brand of inline skates that became so popular the name became synonymous for inline skating, much like Kleenex for tissue paper or Xerox for photo copiers.

It is considered an extreme sport and many times associated with skateboarding or bmx biking.

Types of Aggressive Skating

Aggressive skates

Exhibition of aggressive inline skating in Písek, Czech Republic

Aggressive skates are specialized inline skates that typically have the following characteristics:

Small wheels with a higher durometer, which may be "anti-rocker"
Soul plates
Frames that feature an "h-block" (or, alternatively, a "freestyle frame")

The hard shell, made of high-impact plastic, is for protection of the skater's feet. Aggressive skates are exposed to greater impacts than fitness skates, due to the stunts attempted with them. Aggressive skates are often partially or fully covered with a tough, durable cloth covering. These coverings, called "skins", can be purely aesthetic but are more often designed to protect the shell from abrasions. As the sport has evolved, several brands now manufacture soft skates, which provide greater flexibility, allowing for more comfort and a higher ability to "bone" the skate over.

The smaller wheels and higher durometer rating found on aggressive skates serve multiple purposes. A smaller wheel diameter (ranging from 52mm to 60mm) decreases the top speed of the skate while allowing the skater to accelerate and decelerate much quicker. The durometer measures the hardness of the wheels, and generally ranges from 72A to 101A. Softer wheels are used for gripping and turning, but generally wear out faster and have a decreased top speed. Harder wheels have less shock absorbance and grip, but do not wear out as fast and provide higher top speeds. Generally, park skaters use slightly harder wheels than street skaters.

The soul plate is a flat plate made of high-impact plastic that is affixed to the bottom of the hard outer shell, providing a stable platform for the souls of the skater's feet. It is generally oversized and is used in many aggressive skating grinds and stalls. Soul plates can be a single part, or can be made up of several different parts. Soul plates can also feature a backslide plate (an indentation in the side of the soul plate that is in line with the h-block) and a midsoul (an outer covering that protects the sides of the soul plate from wear).

The wheel chassis of the aggressive inline skate is commonly referred to as the frame. The frame of an aggressive skate is vastly modified from normal inline frames, featuring thick plastic sidewalls, internal reinforments, spaced axels that leave a gap in the frame, and molded grooves in the center of the frame that hold an "h-block". The H-block is block specifically meant for grinding, and is usually made of nylon-infused plastic or UHMW.

Frame design in skates has evolved greatly since the sport's beginnings. Originally, stock frames came molded with the soul plates of the skates, and were unreplaceable. In 2000, a universal frame system (UFS) was developed jointly by several companies and people involved in the aggressive inline industry. The UFS was developed to enforce standardization between different manufacturers, and to allow smaller, specialized companies to enter the market. There has, as a result, been a massive advancement in frame technology following its widespread adoption. The UFS is characterised by a flat, rectangular frame, with a fixed width, which allows for compatibility between all participating manufacturers. Current aggressive skates have stock frames that can be replaced with a variety of general or specialized after-market frames. Virtually all aggressive skates are now UFS compatible.

There are several recent variations on the traditional frame, such as suspension and freestyle frames. Freestyle frames are characterised by the absence of the two middle wheels, which lightens the overall weight and increases the skaters grind area, at the expense of some stability. These frames are popular among street skaters. Suspension frames add spring suspension to the skate wheels, which allow the skater to make bigger jumps and drops (often termed "gaps" in the sport).

The Anti-Rocker wheel is generally 35mm to 48mm in diameter and is specifically meant for grinding. They are placed on each side of the H-Block and do not actually roll on the ground, however, they still need to rotate to avoid snagging on obstacles on varied terrain.

A skater that has all normal wheels in his frames is said to be riding "eight down" (referring to all eight wheels touching the ground). An Anti-Rocker setup has two normal wheels on the outside and two anti-rocker wheels on the inside. Another setup, called "freestyle", only has two outer wheels and no inner wheels at all. The disadvantage to anti-rocker and freestyle setups are that they can slow a skater down (due to less wheels) and can lessen maneuverability. However, grinding is easier and faster, due to less wheel resistance (called "wheel bite") and a larger grinding area.

A detailed history and thesis on the evolution of the anti-rocker wheel & frame can be found at anti-rocker.com.

Tricks

A general consensus of trick names exists, however, all are subjective to the individual and/or local popularity as they are all slang terms which are constantly debated over.

Grinds

Grinds and grind variations are virtually limitless. Grinds may be given new names when they have been modified slightly, despite being a variation of a basic grind. For example, a topside alley-oop mizou is called a Kind Grind. The following is a list of the fundamental grinds and common variants.

Grind Variations

Backside - Only h-block based grinds can be done Backside or Frontside, the grind is 'backside' when the skaters back is facing the object being grinded. A "Frontside" grind is actually called a "Backside" when the trick is performed in the backside variation.
Farside - Any soul based grinds can be performed farside. It means to jump over to the 'far side' of the object and land in a grinding position.
Frontside - Only h-block based grinds can be done Frontside or Backside, the grind is 'frontside' when the skaters front is facing the object being grinded.
Alley-oop - Jumping 180 degrees in toward the object and landing in a reverse grind.
Truespin - Jumping 180 degrees out from the object and landing in a reverse grind.
Inspin - Riding backwards and spinning towards the object into a grind.
Outspin - Riding backwards and spinning away from the object into a grind
Rough - Lifting the front of the soul foot whilst in a grind. Eg. Rough Mizou
Tough - Lifting the rear of the soul foot whilst in a grind.
Negative - All soul based grinds can be performed 'negative'. As opposed to using the outer soul plate to grind on, the inside area of the soul plate located on the opposite side of the frame is used.
Topside - Soul based grinds can be performed topside, frame ontop of the obstacle as opposed to being beside it.
Grabed - When performing single-foot grinds, it is common to "grab" or hold the foot that is not involved with the grind to demonstrate control and balance. Variations can be performed on grabs as well.
Freestyle - Only used in single foot grinds. The trick is done freestyle if the free foot is not grabbed.
Disaster - When you jump from a distance or height to land in a grind on the obstacle, or over an obstacle, into a grind.
Half Cab - The term used to describe the motion when you approach the object backwards (fakie) and jump 180 degrees to land in a grind.
Full Cab - Skating backwards toward the object and spinning a complete 360 degrees before you land to grind.
Hurricane - Jumping 360 degrees the longest way round from the object and landing in a forward grind
Backside stall - a stall done on the grind area, or h-block of the skates on the coping of a halfpipe. The skater will approach the coping, and when he reaches the top, he will jump and do a half-turn (one-eighty) in the air and land with both of his grind areas on the coping. Then after a brief stall, the skater will drop back into the halfpipe.

Switch Up's

In Aggressive Skating it is not uncommon to see skaters 'switch up' their grinds. This term means to change feet positions whilst in the motion of the toal grind. There are a few aliases to certain motions that you can use to switch up.

Budget - A budget 'switch up' is where only one foot is moved when changing between grinding positions, usually making an easier switch.
Step over - Some grind variations can be done by stepping over one of your feet (whilst keeping it stationary). An example of this would be to go from a Soul, to a Pornstar - you would simply step over your leading foot.
Wrap Around - Some grind switch ups can be done using a wrap around technique. A common one to see is skaters doing a Backslide Grind, and then wrapping the free foot around the grinding foot and landing in an Alley-oop Pornstar position

Grabs

Abstract - Crossing the legs underneath the body (not essentially a grab).
Big-0/Flying squirrel/Parachute - Both legs bent behind body, and grabbed right hand to right ankle same on left.
Crawford - Left leg under right leg, grab left skate with left hand over right leg (or right leg under left grabbing with right hand over left leg).
Express
Flying Fish - Right leg forward and left leg behind, grabbing the right leg.
Indy - A variation of any listed grab, where the feet are at an angle leading the rotation of the individual as opposed to lagging behind as traditionally performed.
Japan - Both feet bent behind back except left foot held over the right, grabbing the right.
Judo - Right foot behind back and left leg forward, grabbing right foot with left hand.
Lui Kang - Leg pulled under body, held with hand from the same side, with the other leg extended out in front.

Kung Lao/T-Bone - Similar to the Lui Kang, although the opposite hand is used to grab the foot.

Rocket - Both legs stretched out in front whilst grabbing a foot with one hand.

Cross Rocket - Same positioning as the Rocket, although the grabbing hand grabs the opposite foot.

Safety - Legs tucked up under body, with either the right hand grabbing the soul plate of the right skate, or vice versa.
Shifty - Like an abstract, this is not essentially a grab, but the body is twisted to one side and then straightened out when coming down to land.
Stale/Stalefish - Grabbing the wheels.
Stiffy - Similar to a Rocket, with legs skewed to one side.
Unity - Both feet crossed, usually held with the right hand.
Buddhagrab - cross legs and grab both like a buddha.
Steel Japan - left leg behind the right leg and grab with right hand the right leg, or vice versa.
Cannonball - like safety, only both soul plates are grabbed.

Aerial

Alley-oop - Airing across a ramp the opposite direction you are spinning. Example: Spinning to your left (counter clock wise) while airing to the right (beginning on the left end of the ramp and landing on the right end).
Backflip - Spinning head over heels, spinning backwards.
Berani Flip - A 180 Frontflip off a ramp. (as opposed to the mctwist in the halfpipe)
Bio - Spinning parallel to the floor.
Brainless - 540 Backflip.
Corkscrew - Spinning horizontally through the air, in the same plane as a bio spin, the head or feet lead, and the spin, hence the name, has the same motion of a corkscrew being turned.
Flatspin - Most popular on vert but it can also be done over a spine or launch box. It can be thought of as a backflip done on the side, parallel to the floor.
Frontflip - Spinning head over heels, spinning forwards.
Inverted - Any spin that is done upside down in the air.
Hot Flip - A sideways flip similar to what is often called a 'Barrel Roll'.
McTwist - 180 Frontflip in a halfpipe.
Misty Flip - where you turn 90 degrees and sideflip then turn another 90 degrees so you land backwards.
Vile - Off-axis Bio.

Champion Aggressive Skaters (by country)

The following is a list of links to champion skaters. Due to a high rate of vanity vandalism, names on the list without a verifiable link will be removed.

Australia

Cesar Mora

List of Australia male skaters on rollerblading.com.au
List of Australia female skaters on rollerblading.com.au
Information on Australian Rollerblading

Brazil

Bulgaria

Canada

Denmark

Rene Hulgreen - Skating legend in vert - Roces pro until 2000

Japan

Netherlands

Spain

Switzerland

Cosimo Tassone - Best International Skater of the Year 2006 *RFCC All Star Awards

United Kingdom

Oli Short
Chaz Sands
Frazer Watson
Chris Doughty
Shaun Keaney
Nick Lomax - IMYTA Amsterdam 06 winner and current street world champion.
Anthony Linney

United States of America

Aaron Feinberg
Alex Broskow[6]
Alex Nunez
Arlo Eisenberg[7]
Austin Paz[8][9][10]
Billy O'Neil
Brian Aragon - Winner of Style of the Year at the [11]2006 RFCC All Star Awards [12].
Brian Shima [13]
Chris Chesire[14]
Chris Farmer
Chris Haffey 2006 RFCC All Star Awards
Colin Kelso[15][16]
Don Bambrick
Dustin Latimer
Erik Bailey - Valo pro rider and winner of the latest BCSD.
Eric Schrijn - Esco Zoo Legend - Escondido, California [17]
Franco Cammyo[18][19][20]
Gary Murphy - Detroit, MI[21][22]
Jeff Stockwell [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]
Jeph Howard[30][31]
John Julio[32]
Josh Petty[33]
Mike Currier [34][35]
Mike "Murda" Johnson[36][37].
Randy Juarez[38]
Rob Guerrero[39]
Sean Kelso[40][41]
Tory Treseder[42][43]
Franky Morales [44]

External links

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