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This week's column:
What's the Best Setup for Young Skaters?
Dec 14, 2011
Hello, Bill: I am getting ready to switch my 10-year-old son, who wears a size 4 shoe, from quad to inline skates. But I am not sure whether to get him skates with three or four wheels. Do three-wheel skates perform as well as four-wheel skates? Also, are three-wheel skates allowed in competition?.Thank you. - Ajit from Belgaum, India.
Hi, Ajit: Recently, we switched the young skaters on our club to setups with three 100mm wheels. They had been on four-wheel setups with smaller wheels. But on these, they couldn’t keep up with young skaters on big wheel setups.
For a boy with a size 4 foot, I would recommend a 3 x 100mm setup. It would give him the superior roll of big wheel skates without the weight and length of a larger setup.
A 4 x 100mm setup would be much to long for your son and could hinder his technical development. Similarly, a 3 x 110mm setup would probably be too heavy for your son.
In general, skaters need to have a foot size of at least 5 to comfortably handle 4 x 100mm setups and a foot size of at least 7 to handle 4 x 110mm setups.
In most countries, 100mm and 110mm setups are allowed for children. But I am not sure about the rules in India.
Roller sports in India is governed by several competing organizations. So it may not be so easy to get a simple answer.
I would suggest that you consult with the governing body that sanctions races in your area or talk to a local speed coach.
Cheers, Bill
World renowned coach Bill Begg shares his vast knowledge of skating in his weekly advice column, "Ask Bill Begg!" ... Every Wednesday on the Inline Planet.
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