Every skater should know the parts of their gear. In this case, their roller skates.
Knowing whether or not a roller skate is of good quality all boils down to its individual parts. This article will show you what makes a high quality roller skate. One that will last you for years and can support you as you progress in your skating journey; as you learn more and more complicated moves and tricks.
Read this first before choosing a pair of roller skates to purchase so you won't regret you choice later on.
You can also watch this video for a short discussion of the different parts of a roller skate.
@lokalskatesupplyph Roller skate anatomy #fyp #edutok #rollerskateph #everywhereweskateph #rollerskating #rollerskate #pinoyskaters #skatetok #skateph #rollerskatingtutorial #rollerskatingtiktok #tutorial ♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) - 山口夕依
There are different kinds of roller skate boots with varying levels of ankle support. Some are high cut and low cut, others are soft boots and some are harder boots. Choosing a boot will depend on the type of skating you want to do.
For beginners, it is advisable to get high cut boots first to prevent ankle injuries while still learning.
2. Laces
Skate boots usually have longer laces (96" to 120"). There are also different ways to lace up your boots depending on your feet structure.
The plate is attached to the bottom of the boot. This is where the trucks and the wheels are attached.
There are different materials for plates, but the 2 most common ones are Aluminum and Nylon. Aluminum plates are preferred by skaters because they're sturdier and can support more weight and jumps. Nylon plates on the other hand are lighter, but have the risk of breaking when doing jumps or more advanced skating.
Each roller skate has 4 wheels, 2 in the front and 2 at the back. A pair of roller skates have a total of 8 wheels. The wheels are held in place by a nut.
There are different types of roller skate wheels as well. Skaters change their wheels depending on the location and the type of skating they'll do.
Toe stops are typically used for braking or stopping. There are 2 types of toe stops: Bolt on toe stops and adjustable toe stops.
Bolt on toe stop screws have a measurement of 5/16". Adjustable toe stops have a measurement of 5/18". This is very important when purchasing toe stops.
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Bolt on
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Adjustable
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Most skaters prefer having an adjustable toe stop because they can adjust the height of these. They can have it closer to the ground or further form the ground. Bolt on toe stops can't be adjusted.
There are also more designs to choose from for adjustable toe stops. The designs are endless and customizing your skates is easier. Bolt on toe stop only have 1 shape, only the color changes.
Now, let us go under the plate to see the more technical parts:
6. Trucks and Axle
Trucks are where the wheels are attached to. There are 2 trucks in one skate, one in front and one at the back. Each truck holds 2 wheels. The rod where the wheels are inserted is called the axle. The axle nut holds the wheel in place.
7. Pivot cup
There is a small hole where the trucks meet the plate, and inside that hole is a pivot cup. Pivot cups help with the skater's turns and edges. Pivot cups need replacing too once they're worn out. When you can't turn or do your edges properly anymore, one thing you should check are your pivot cups.
8. Cushions or Bushings
Cushions or bushings are the round rubber material between the truck and the plate. These cushions act as the shock absorbers of your skates. They also affect the edges of a skater or the maneuverability of the skate.
Each truck requires 2 cushions, above it and below it. The cushion nearest the plate is cylindrical in shape. The second cushion is conical in shape. Each cushion also has a cushion cover or cushion cup.
Cushions also have different hardness. Skaters can choose cushions based on their weight or how responsive to the edges they want their skates to be.
9. Kingpin and Kingpin Nut
The 2 rods on the plate where all these parts are inserted is called the kingpin. The cushion covers, the trucks, and the cushions are all held in place by the kingpin nut.
The kingpin nut can be loosened to adjust the tightness of the trucks. This also helps with the edges or maneuverability of the skates.
You can also watch this video on how to install slide blocks to see how each part under the plate is assembled.
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