Everything you should know about roller sports

Roller sports is a group of disciplines, in which using roller skates is required. These extreme sports are popular in many countries, which is why there are so many competitions and variations. While some people practice roller skating for fun, others consider it to be a professional sport.

Freestyle

Although roller skating appeared in 1743, some of its variation became popular many decades later. For example, freestyle is a relatively young discipline that was first recognized in 2000s. This is when the first European and World Championships were held. This sport has two variations: the speed slalom and the freestyle slalom. The freestyle slalom involves demonstrating a set of artistic elements. The performance is accompanied by music. The goal of each sportsman is to perform the hardest tricks and try not to hit the cones placed on the surface. There can be a slalom battle, in terms of which several competitors try to demonstrate their abilities in a particular order an be better than their opponents. The speed slalom involves skating on one leg and trying not to hit any cones. The less time it takes a sportsman, the better.

Speed skating

This discipline is often referred to as ‘inline speed skating’. It involves covering particular distances as fast as possible. There are several distances: 200 m, 300 m, 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 5000 m and even more. The technique of movement resembles the technique of running in ice skates, which is why figure skaters sometimes opt for speed skating in summer, when ice rinks are closed.

Artistic roller skating

This discipline is divided into several types. For example, the skates may be inline (it means that there are several wheels located in a row) or quad (there are two rows consisting of two wheels each). There is single skating (men and women compete separately), pair skating, dancing on roller skates, synchronized roller skating and the compulsory figures. Sportsmen can include various elements in their programs, including step sequences, spins, jumps and pair lifts. The jumps are similar to those of ice skating, but Lutz and Flip are evaluated equally because it is very hard to distinguish them from one another.

Roller derby

This is a team sport. Usually quad skates are used in this discipline. This is more popular among women, however, men also compete in it. The game consists of two periods, each of them lasts for 30 minutes. The periods are divided into several jams lasting for 2 minutes or less. The track is oval and is 26.8 meters in length. Jammers earn points by trying to overcome the blockers representing another team. A team with the biggest amount of points becomes the winner.

Aggressive inline skating

This extreme sport is based jumping and sliding on various parts of the skate. Aggressive roller skating can take place in a street or in a park. Moreover, there is a variety that is called vertical skating. Sportsmen use a vert ramp and perform complicated aerial and acrobatic maneuvers.

Roller skiing

This discipline requires using special skis. Initially it serves as a way of training for skiers in summer. Later it became a separate sport. The roller skis are divided into several categories. Classic roller skis are at least 70 centimeters long, and one of the wheels cannot move backwards. There are variations that are used in training or are aimed at reaching high speeds.

Roller skates

Just like in ice skating, in roller skating there are many types of skates. They must be chosen in accordance with the discipline a sportsman wants to compete in. The skates may be soft or firm, they can be high or low. Skates for aggressive roller skating must be extremely firm. Sometimes they are customized by adding extra plastic elements because this sport requires doing various stunts and acrobatic elements. If you want to practice speed skating, you’d better opt for skates with lower boots.

How to choose proper skates? It is important to give your preference to the skates of good quality. Although they might be more expensive, they are safer and more durable. The boots must fit you perfectly. Buying roller skates of a bigger size (if often happens when it comes to choosing the ones for children) can lead to injuries.

Competitions

The International Federation for Roller Sports (FIRS) was established in Italy in 1924. It includes 114 national federations. There are many international and national competitions. All of them can be classified in different ways. For example, some championships take place in one day, while others last for several days. Sometimes only women can compete against each other, whereas there are competitions, in which sportsmen of both genders can participate. All championships are divided into three categories. Individual competitions mean that each sportsman receives a particular amount of points and his or her place is determined by them. Team tournaments require working as a team and being evaluated together. Finally, sometimes both individual and team results may be evaluated.

To take part in a competition, a sportsman has to apply by sending several documents to the commission. It is necessary to provide a medical allowance, as well as a passport and a life insurance to participate in various tournaments. There are three judges who publish the program of the competitions and solve any problems if they appear.

Requirements for sportsmen

According to the rules, all sportsmen are divided into several categories. This division is based on their age. Participants of the same groups compete together. Yet, sometimes outstanding sportsmen are allowed to compete with older participants. All sportsmen, no matter how old they are, are expected to follow the rules and the judges’ orders. They must say to the judges their surnames, and names, and the names of the organization they come from, if they are asked to. It is important to be friendly to the rest of the participants. In addition, all sportsmen must be checked for banned drugs. If somebody takes drugs to increase one’s power and overall abilities, he or she will be disqualified.

All in all, roller skating sports is a huge group of disciplines. Each of them has its own characteristics and peculiarities, which means than any person can choose a sport to their liking.