Inline artistic skating: an alternative to figure skating?

Inline art buying: an alternative to figure skating when the ice rinks are closed.

Jumps, postures, step sequences and even spins with the same sensations as on the ice, but on any kind of ground!

A bit of history

Even though we had already discussed the subject with Cathy Marcastel earlier, we should not forget that modern inline figure skating exist since the 1990s.

The WIFSA (World Inline Figure Skating Association), on the other hand, has only existed for a few years. This world structure already comprises about fifteen nations. It is responsible for organising the competitions, writing the rules and developing the discipline. The International Skate Federation (the World Skate), is the only one authorized to award international titles.

Every year, numerous international competitions are held at world-class level. They are often open. Many French clubs and figure skaters are beginning to practice this sport as a complement to skating and claim to achieve better results in competition.

Which disciplines are practised?

There are the same disciplines as on ice, namely :

• The freestyle
• The dance
• Synchronized runs
• But also the chorus (which resembles the ballet)
• And the quartet (a choreography of 4 athletes).

Good news: There are competitions open to adults and beginners, just like on the ice. This is a real plus for all disciplines, because even in dance the compulsory dances patterns are the same as the ISU rules.
Aesthetically speaking, inline figure skating is just as beautiful and spectacular to watch as it is on the ice. Even quads figure skaters can be seduced by inline skating!
The material in inline figure skating:
The boots used in inline figure skating are the same as those used on the ice artistic skating. Only the frame/blade is different.

See below: Risport RF3 Pro shoes with Pic Skates P73 frame | Belati Violetta boots with a Snow White frame

There are 4 main brands, making frames for inline figure skating:

• Snow White (3 wheels)
• PicSkates (3 ou 4 wheels)
• Roll’Line (3 wheels)
• Off Ice (4 wheels)

Inline figure skating frames have the special feature of being bent like a figure skating blade and having a toe stop (brake) to imitate the claws of the skates for toe jumps. This is called « rockering« . They are lighter than quad skates, more agile and above all quieter.

There are beginner packages for less than 100 Euros! Beginners can start with a pair of classic inline skates.

For the experts it is a matter of choosing the hardness of the wheels, toe stop, etc. Well maintained, a frame can be used for several years. Only the wheels, toe stop and bearings are changed according to the frequency of use. It is no longer necessary to sharpen every 10 training units.

A cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative

Unlike an ice rink, which consumes a lot of energy, inline figure skating is an ecological alternative in a world where global warming is taking its toll. In fact, all it takes is a pretty smooth surface. Whether indoors or out, a simple basketball court will do the trick. Concrete, asphalt, parquet, nothing stops inline figure skating! You no longer need a specialized infrastructure, but can train wherever you want.

Join a skating club!

Furthermore, existing skating clubs can integrate inline figure skaters as well as quad figure skaters. Do not hesitate to contact the skate clubs around you! There are already a dozen inline skating clubs in France. You can also join the Facebook group: Roller En Ligne Artistique – France.

You will also notice that an annual membership in a skate club costs on average between 130 and 155 euros, while in an ice club it is between 300 and sometimes more than 1000 euros.

The possibility to train everywhere with the same quality is a real plus for both beginners and experienced skaters. It allows you to improve, gain endurance, strength and precision, because inline figure skating is not as forgiving as figure skating.

What you can do with a pair of inline skates:

• Rediscover the thrill of figure skating
• Figure skaters can simply mount an inline skating frame on their ice figure skates.
• With a little practice, all spins are possible in inline figure skating.
• All jumps are possible, from single to triple.
• All compulsory dances are also possible.
• The competition rules are similar and there are more categories in inline figure skating.
• There are indoor and outdoor wheels everywhere to practice!
• Only a few hours are enough to get used to inline figure skating, to imitate what you can do on the ice.

Links

French shops

• Glisse et Dance (Snow White et Pic Skates)
• GoldenIce (Pic Skates)
• Axel Creation (Roll’Line et Snow White)
• Starlight (Roll’line)
• Interglace (Risport) 

Photos : Raniero Corbelletti
Prissy Boatto