Tikumu’s letter

Press, 12 May 1981, Page 14

Tikumu’s letter

Don't Deadeis Many of you are probably roller skating fans. The sport has become popular in New Zealand, following a trend in the United States of America and Australia where it has been booming for several years. Roller skating is not new, although the outdoor variety is comparatively so. It began as an indoor sport about 100 years ago, but the idea of moving on wheels had been thought of long before that. A Belgian, Joseph Merlin, invented the first pair of roller skates in 1760. He created a stir in London when he appeared in a fashionable salon, skating among the guests and playing a violin at the same time. As he could not turn or stop, the performance was short. It ended when he crashed into an expensive mirror and broke his violin, seriously injuring himself. About a century passed before an American invented roller skates to use on indoor rinks. It was the beginning of an exciting sport which always had a steady following. Lately roller skating has bounced back — this time as an outdoor sport. A new type of wheel has changed everything. No longer do enthusiasts have to practise at crowded rinks on rattly skates. Now they can glide' easily on a suitable concrete surface. The new wheels are made . from a substance called polyurethane, giving the skater a more comfortable ride.

For added comfort and protection light-weight pads are now being made. They fit snugly over knees and elbows and save lots of grazing and bruising to the skin. Outdoor skating can be safer than indoor as skaters often bump into each other in the restricted space. However, it depends oh

where people choose to skate. As in other sports and games skating has to be done in a safe place, well away from traffic, with plenty of space to try out the turns and figures that make skating interesting and exciting. Uihmu