Skate Industry News
Inline Planet news and articles about the skate industry, listed in reverse chronological order. May 4, 2010
Product News
Bont's New Kinetic HR Wheel
 Innovative company uses the stuff of golf balls to make a wheel with more rebound.
• Planet story July 1, 2009
Industry News
Nurse-Skater Takes Aim at Inline Safety
 Carol Hochstein launches a non-profit in hopes of seeing fewer skaters at work.
• Planet story April 28, 2009
Industry News
Chicagoland Extreme Makeover
New name, new sports, time trials, crit, cheer squads — it's the revamped Chicagoland Inline Marathon Weekend.
• Planet story April 14, 2009
Product News
Rollerblade Offers Innovation in 2009
 The skate company invigorates its 2009 product line with new technologies.
• Planet story March 30, 2009
Industry News
NorthShore Seeks Exec. Director
The NorthShore Inline Marathon is looking for a new executive director.
• Help Wanted Ad Jan. 9, 2009
Skaters in the News
Join the Skaters Network!
Inline Planet launches a new forum on the amazing ning social networking platform.
• Robert's Welcome
• Main Page Dec. 3, 2008
Industry News
Bag Some Swag!
The Inline Planet launches its online store: Swag, one deal ... one week.
• This week's Swag
• What is Swag? Dec. 1, 2008
Industry News
Asphalt Beach - Reborn!
Forced to move, the Nashville skate shop reinvents itself, bigger, better and with a 250-foot oval.
• Planet story July 15, 2008
Product News
Bringing Skike to America
 Savvy businessman Clemens Krueger talks about his plans for the skate-ski hybrid.
• Planet story June 10, 2008
Rollerblade Teams Up with Luigino
 Companies polish Rollerblade's line of speed skates, starting with the Racemachine LE.
• Planet story May 14, 2008
Inline Keeps Losing Skaters
The number of American skaters drops by 12 percent, according to new report.
• Planet story April 1, 2008
Camp Rollerblade Tweaks Format
Zephyr's learn-to-skate program offers 16 one-day clinics this year.
• Planet story
• 2008 Skate Calendar Feb. 25, 2008
Nike Sells Bauer
Another athletic shoe maker gets out of the skate business.
• Planet story Feb. 13, 2008
A Car Designed for Skaters
 Renault teams up with Rollerblade to develop a car "built around a roller skating theme."
• Planet story Nov. 15, 2007
Skates.com Founder Talks Technology
 Lee Cole talks about how the Internet transformed his business.
• Capgemini video Nov. 8, 2007
Did Disney Dump Skaters for Heelys?
Now that skaters are out, Heelys are in at Disney World.
• Planet story Oct. 9, 2007
OK for Bigger Wheels
Officials approve the use of 110mm wheels for international competition.
• Planet story
• More Industry News Sept. 20, 2007
Armani Styles a Skorpion
 Big wheel quad skate will be featured at Emporio Armani stores.
• Planet story Sept. 4, 2007
Skates Return to Haight
Inline and quad skates are back on the shelves of the venerable Skates on Haight shop in San Francisco. June 21, 2007
Giant Skaters Spotted in St. Paul!
 That's right ... rolling across billboards that are intended to draw new skaters to the city's inline marathon.
• Planet story May 24, 2007
Healthy Saturdays Hoopla
San Francisco skaters plan celebration for first Healthy Saturday road closure in Golden Gate Park.
• Announcement May 10, 2007
Ask Bill Begg!
 Got a question about skating? ... Ask the world's top coach in his weekly Q&A column on the Inline Planet.
• Ask the Coach May 9, 2007
Get Yourself Rolling!
As part of Skate for Health Day, participating inline instructors will provide free lessons Saturday for beginners.
• More info April 30, 2007
Tears Flow as Rink Closes
After 29 years in business, Skate World in Longview, WA, closes its doors.
• Daily News story
• Industry News April 24, 2007
Industry News
Bont Reports Record Sales
 New 3-point inline system ignite sales for innovative skate maker.
• Planet story Feb. 14, 2007
Inline's 'Field of Dreams'?
 Inline skating would be part of the mix at the planned $9 billion City of Sports resort and casino in Las Vegas.
• Go to Planet story. Feb. 13, 2007
Powerslide: Back in USA
 German skate maker Powerslide has a new U.S. distributor (Bobby Brewster) and web site. Powerslide and former U.S. distributor Luigino parted ways last year.
• Go to announcement. Feb. 8, 2007
Is the Future Wearing Running Shoes?
 In its search for new skaters, Rollerblade is hanging with a new crowd: marathon runners.
• Go to Planet story. Jan 24, 2007
Air Gear Debuts Thursday
 Yanked from YouTube for copyright infringement, Air Gear returns tomorrow as a video on demand television series. The Japanese anime follows the rise of a young hero who competes for fame and glory on motorized inline skates.
• Go to announcement.
• Watch Air Gear trailer. Jan. 22, 2007
Cycle Company Heats Up Skinsuit Market
 Champion System, a top maker of cycling clothing, is adding a line of skinsuits for inline speed teams. The New York-based company hopes to woo skaters by offering digital printing, unlimited fabric colors and low minimum orders (10).
• Go to company web site. Jan. 17, 2007
Sometimes Nice Guys Finish First!
The United States Olympic Committee has named Joey Cheek its SportsMan of the Year. The former inline skater won gold at the 2006 Olympics and caught the world's attention when he donated his winnings to charity.
• Go to announcement. Jan. 11, 2007
Ice Season Meltdown!
Global warming is playing havoc with the outdoor ice skating season. In fact, one long-standing event is even considering a switch to inline.
• Go to Planet story. jan. 4. 2007
2006: Year in Review
What a roller coaster ride it was! Self immolation, roller derby at Worlds, even a vist from Rumpelstiltskin ... Don't believe it? Read our Year in Review.
• Go to Planet story. Nov. 30, 2006
New Company Picks Up the Pieces
 With Mogema out of the picture, its innovative skate designer rolls out his own company.
• Go to Planet story. Nov. 28, 2006
IOC Lowers the Bar
Not to get your hopes up (only to be dashed again) ... but the process of gaining entry into the Olympics has just gotten a little easier.
• Go to Planet story. Nov. 21, 2006
Send the Best Offers Customizable Video
 Send the Best has started selling a video as part of its effort to support the U.S. World Team and inline skating in general.
• Go to Planet story. Nov. 17, 2006
Skate Ranger to the Rescue!
 He's the newest action figure on the shelves of FAO Schwarz — and he just might inspire a new generation of skaters.
• Go to Planet story. Oct. 31, 2006
Iowa Paper Proposes Skate Marathon
What would it take to make Des Moines a more exciting place? That's the topic of an article headlined "Ideas to Steal" in today's Register. No. 9 on the list is "inline skating marathons." ... We couldn't agree more.
• Go to more info Oct. 18, 2006
Industry News
Bont 'Raps' Up a Deal
Bont Australia is teaming up with Raps Holland to build sales in Europe. Raps, a leading speed skate maker, will distribute Bont skates, shoes and clothing through its wide European sales network. The companies also plan to share technology and manufacturing.
• Go to announcement. Oct. 11, 2006
Free Lesson Program to Try One-Day Format
Sponsors hope Free Skate Lesson Day (May 12, 2007) will attract more attention from the media and more support from inline instructors.
• Go to Planet story. Inline Academy Awards?
Hollywood has the Oscars; television, the Emmys; music, the Grammys. Even the Internet has its own awards: the Webbys. So isn't it time skaters had awards of their own. ... We think so. Maybe we could call them the Eddys.
• What do you think? ... Sound off in the Forum. Oct. 3, 2006
Online Shop Opens for 'Space-Age' Wheels
The new pc-vane racing wheels are like nothing you've ever skated on — at least that's what the company says. One thing for sure: They're pricey. One 80mm wheel will set you back $8.50 (US). You can pay as much as $14.75 for a 110mm.
• Go to announcement. Go to older industry news. | 
