Roller Skating
In 1863, James Plimpton, a businessman from Massachusetts invented a roller skate that everyone was able to use. By the early 1900's roller skating became more popular, roller rinks were being made all over the US. Technology, due to the invention of plastic, helped the wheel truly come of age with new designs by the 1960's. In the late 1970's, there was a skating boom due to the invention of disco roller rinks.
Why are less people inline skating than ever?
New technology, alternative activities, fewer convenient places to skate, economics and fear of injury all play a part in the decline in the number of inline skaters.
Different Events
Madison Square Gardens in New York became a skating rink. Hundreds of rinks opened in the United States. The sport was becoming very popular and various versions of the roller skating developed: recreational skating on indoor and outdoor rinks, polo skating, ballroom roller dancing and competitive speed skating.
Rollerblading
Then in 1979, the Olson brothers used the old skate Plimpton used, and put all four wheels parallel to the foot. Four years later in 1983, Scott Olson created the new term rollerblade for his new invention. As the 90's rolled around, rollerblades were made with new material to decrease weight and increase speed.
