2009 Inline Skating Adventures

Marty Streeter, Randy Domm, Mike Lin - TBN Inline Committee

With the arrival of the good weather, we'll see fitness conscious people propelling themselves on wheels throughout the GTA. However, they won't all be on bicycles. Over the past decade the popularity of inline skating has grown tremendously. Once again TBN will offer its members an exciting program of inline skating starting in May and carrying right through until Thanksgiving weekend.

In line skating is a great form of weight bearing, cardio-vascular excercise without the risk of joint stress caused by activities such as running. It can also serve as a great cross training activity for fit minded cyclists that want to add a little variety to their routine.

TBN inline skates are a great way to explore the city, as well as meet and socialize with great people who share your enthusiasm for an active outdoor lifestyle. This year our regular skates will be on Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings.

Saturday morning skates will be at a variety of places both in the GTA and outside of the GTA. Among the out of town venues we'll be visiting are the scenic, smooth and wide Hamilton Beach Trail, the Ajax waterfront trail and two new short loop courses at Brampton's Gage Park and Richmond Hill's Richond Green.

Weeknight skates have been changed to Thursday for this year, with a common central start point in the Cherry Beach area of the Martin Goodman Trail.

We welcome all levels of skaters to come out and join us. You'll find the skate leaders and regulars are extremely helpful with the advice and patience they lend to the newer skaters. Nobody gets left behind as we will regroup every couple of kilometers and regroup points will be outlined on the route maps distributed prior to skates. Maps will also be available online soon. Although we are very helpful as a group, it should be noted that these skates do not serve as formal instruction.

All in all, it looks to be an exciting season of inline skating with the TBN. So if you're looking to put a little more fun and excitement into your active outdoor lifestyle, come on out and give eight wheels a try. You might just end up having four times the fun!

WEEKLY SKATES - From May to October, weekly group skates take place on Thursday evenings and on Saturday mornings. The distance and pace - shorter/slower or farther/faster - depend on the group and, if warranted, the group will be split into two to better accommodate skaters' varying skill levels. The start point and route vary for each outing, with routes along paved paths and in parks throughout Toronto, and sometimes beyond. For the après-skate, we'll visit a local restaurant for food, refreshments and further socializing.

Check out our new guest discount arrangement with the Toronto Inline Skating Club (TISC) in Section 6!

September/October 2009 Schedule

Classifications:
SS Shorter/Slower Skate - For recreational (rec) skaters.
FF Farther/Faster Skate - For fitness (fit) skaters.
MM Monthly Marathons (42k) & Half Marathons (21k) - For strong rec and fitness skaters.

A helmet and wrist guards are mandatory. Knee and elbow pads are strongly recommended. Bring water. No headphones. The skate is cancelled if there's rain or wet pavement. All are welcome! Complete details on the skates are available on the homepage at www.tbn.ca, in the weekly Chain of Events email newsletter (subscribe here) and on the 24-hour hotline at 416-760-4191, line 4.

Refer to our inline skating maps page for locations.

Note: We welcome inexperienced skaters, although all skaters should be able to start, stop and skate in control. While there is no formal instruction on our skates, the skate leaders and the more experienced club members are always happy to give pointers. Novice skaters that require instruction can take professional lessons from Stephen Fisher. Click here for his website.

WHAT FOLLOWS:

1. Tips for Beginners
2. Multi-Use Path Etiquette
3. Buying Skates
4. Retailers
5. Skate Maintenance
6. Special Events - Ontario
7. Special Events - Outside Ontario
8. Toronto Area Venues
9. Links to Related Websites
10. Contact Us
11. Photos

1. TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

The following guidelines are intended to enhance your early inline skating experiences. They do not replace the advice of a qualified inline skating instructor.

• Wear safety equipment - helmet, wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads.
• Take a lesson or two from a qualified instructor.
• Know or quickly learn your limits. If you see other skaters flying down hills, crossing streetcar tracks with apparent ease or whizzing through downtown intersections, that doesn't mean you should try this too! Progress at your own pace.
• Learn how to stop using your heel brake. This is a must. Practice - again and again and again - until you are fully comfortable with stopping. Review the excellent, step-by-step "Heel Brake Tutorial", complete with photos, at www.skatepatrol.org.
• Exercise caution on slopes; avoid hills. You can quickly build up speed on even the slightest of slopes. If you do encounter a scary-looking slope, hill or bridge by all means feel free to side-step down it or remove your skates and walk down it. When in doubt, err on the side of caution.
• Avoid "obstacles" until you are ready to deal with them. These include slopes, hills, bridges, sidewalks, roads, cars, streetcar and train tracks, curbs, road/tar snakes, speed bumps, crowded paths, rough pavement, mud, sand, gravel, rain, wet pavement, etc.
• Ideally, practice your first few times at a local rink or perhaps an empty parking lot, not on roads or sidewalks. When ready, progress to skating on paths that are flat, smooth and uncrowded.
• Build up your skating time gradually. Begin with 30-45 minute outings then add a little each week to your skating time. This will allow your body time to adapt and help prevent injuries. Most importantly, listen to your body!
• As your skating skills develop so will your confidence. Keep practicing. It will get easier! The bottom line: Skate safe. Have fun!

2. MULTI-USE PATH (MUP) ETIQUETTE:

MUPs are commonly called bike paths, recreational trails, paved pathways, asphalt trails and a variety of other names but are formally known as "multi-use paths". They are intended to be SHARED for use and enjoyment by a diverse group of non-motorized users including cyclists, inline skaters, pedestrians and others.

For all users:

• Travel at a pace safe for conditions.
• Stay right except to pass.
• Pass only when it is safe to do so.
• Signal you are passing with a polite warning bell, whistle or by stating "passing on your left".
• Signal well in advance to give others time to react.
• Pass with care.
• Share the path; don't impede other users.
• A great article on MUP manners can be found here

3. BUYING SKATES:

So you're ready to buy a pair of recreational inline skates? Great! Here are some helpful tips to help you choose the right pair.

FIT

A good fit is absolutely paramount. If your skates don't fit well then pain will replace skating pleasure. Fit should be the most important consideration when buying skates. Things to consider:

• Try on skates in the afternoon or evening, as feet swell during the day. Skates that fit in the morning may become tighter as your feet expand.
• Fit your skates using the socks you intend on skating with.
• Put on both skates, properly laced and buckled and skate around in the store. Avoid stores that don’t let you do this.
• Avoid skates that pinch or hurt anywhere. You want a snug fit, but not a tight one.
• The most important fit element is the heel. They should fit well in the heel and your foot should not lift out of the skate very much when you lift the skate.
• Some room in the forefoot and in front of the toes is generally ok. Naturally, you do not want skates that are too large.
• Modern skates won’t break-in, as a pair of leather shoes would. They won’t expand very much over time and should fit properly out of the box.

3. BUYING SKATES:

So you're ready to buy a pair of recreational inline skates? Great! Here are some helpful tips to help you choose the right pair.

FIT

A good fit is absolutely paramount. If your skates don't fit well then pain will replace skating pleasure. Fit should be the most important consideration when buying skates. Things to consider:

• Try on skates in the afternoon or evening, as feet swell during the day. Skates that fit in the morning may become tighter as your feet expand.
• Fit your skates using the socks you intend on skating with.
• Put on both skates, properly laced and buckled and skate around in the store. Avoid stores that don’t let you do this.
• Avoid skates that pinch or hurt anywhere. You want a snug fit, but not a tight one.
• The most important fit element is the heel. They should fit well in the heel and your foot should not lift out of the skate very much when you lift the skate.
• Some room in the forefoot and in front of the toes is generally ok. Naturally, you do not want skates that are too large.
• Modern skates won’t break-in, as a pair of leather shoes would. They won’t expand very much over time and should fit properly out of the box.

SPECIFICATIONS

Boot - The best bet for comfort is a soft boot (as opposed to the hard-shelled plastic boot of days gone by). Skates with soft boots still offer ankle support, tend to be a little cooler and are now widely available. They're fastened with a combination of laces, ratcheting buckles and/or Velcro straps. As the price increases, boots are made with better materials like carbon fibre shells, memory foam linings and have more advanced fastening systems such as multiple ratcheting buckles and speed lacing.The best bet for comfort is a soft boot (as opposed to the hard-shelled plastic boot of days gone by). Skates with soft boots still offer ankle support, tend to be a little cooler and are now widely available. They're fastened with a combination of laces, ratcheting buckles and/or Velcro straps. As the price increases, boots are made with better materials like carbon fibre shells, memory foam linings and have more advanced fastening systems such as multiple ratcheting buckles and speed lacing.

Wheel Size - Look for wheels of 80-84mm in diameter (printed on the wheel). The trend is toward larger wheels. The bigger the wheels, the faster they'll go but the less maneuverable they'll be. Larger wheels also put your feet higher off the ground and can make it more difficult to learn proper skating technique. Some recreational skates are now equipped with 90mm and 100mm wheels – suitable for intermediate and advanced skaters, but not recommended for beginners. More expensive skates typically have larger wheels.

Wheel Hardness - Wheels are made of polyurethane (a plastic) and can vary in hardness. In general, once you select the boot and wheel size, the hardness is fixed. Skate manufacturers usually don’t offer a variety of wheel hardnesses on the same model of skates. However, when you are buying replacement wheels, there is a choice.

Harder wheels have a harsher ride but are faster and last longer. The hardness measurement is known as durometer and is rated on the “A” scale. The higher the number, the harder the wheel. 76A is considered soft and 84A and upwards are considered hard. Heavier skaters may want to consider harder wheels than lighter skaters because they deform less under load. A typical wheel might be: 84mm/78A or 84mm/82A (size/hardness).

Bearings - Skate bearings are rated on the ABEC (Annular Bearing Engineering Council) scale. ABEC 3, 5 and 7 are most common on skates (often printed on the frame). The higher the number, the more precise the bearing. Theoretically, this should allow for the bearing to roll faster, but for inline skate applications, there isn’t much of a difference in speed between ABEC ratings. More expensive skates typically have higher rated bearings.

Frame/Chassis - The frame is attached to the boot and holds the wheels. Frames today are most commonly made of one of two materials. Less expensive frames are made of plastic reinforced with fibreglass or carbon and are typically called composite frames. These frames are typically black in colour but are sometimes painted silver to look like aluminum. Higher-end skates have frames are made of aluminum or magnesium alloys. These are usually lighter and stiffer, but may also have a harsher ride than plastic frames. Better skates have frames attached to the boot with bolts instead of rivets. These can be adjusted laterally and sometimes front-back to suit your physiology and skating style.

BRAND - The "big two" skate brands today are Rollerblade and K2. Other brands are Ultra Wheels, Fila, Nike, RBK, etc. Try on more than one brand and model of skate to get the feel of the different fit, particularly since some brands and models will fit wide and some narrow. The brand that's right for you will largely depend on fit and personal preference. No one brand suits everyone. Most brands offer several skate models ranging in quality and price. Replacement parts like brake pads and axles are usually specific for each brand and sometimes each skate model. These are usually easier to find for one of the “big two” brands, but check with your retailer.

COST - About $150 - $200 for a medium-quality pair of rec skates (but you can spend less). Prices can be lower in the off-season, but selection and sizing is more limited.

ACCESSORIES

Brake Pads - As they sometimes can be hard to find, buy a spare brake pad or two when buying skates. They're $5 - $10 each. Be sure the brake pad is the right fit though as each year/make/model of skate might use a different brake pad.

Socks - Avoid cotton socks as they hold moisture and promote blisters. Synthetic socks work best as they wick moisture away and keep feet dryer and cooler. These are usually made of nylon or polyester and marketed with names like Dri-Fit or Coolmax. Socks need to be high enough to reach the top of the skate boot to prevent chafing. Sock thickness is largely a matter of personal preference and skate fit, but thinner socks will be cooler.

Safety Gear - Try on the gear at the store to ensure it fits properly. The fit should be snug to avoid having them slide off in a fall. Knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards cost about $25 to $50 and are usually cheaper when you buy the entire set of three. A helmet runs $40 and up. (A CPSC certified bike helmet is fine.) Click here to read about buying and properly fitting a helmet.

WHERE TO BUY - Review the "Retailers" section that follows.

OTHER RESOURCES - Check out the buying guide and list of skate specs at www.sportchek.ca. Other buying guides can be found at About.com, Inline Skating Resource Center and Skate FAQ. You'll find the specs of current year skate models (not all of which are available in Canada) for the "big 2" brands at Rollerblade, and K2.

4. RETAILERS

Note: This list is not exhaustive; it mostly includes the larger retailers of brand name gear. Some retailers service inline skates. If interested, ask at the store. (Read the "Maintenance" section of this site for maintenance tips.) Stores are listed alphabetically.

McMaster Sports

Where: 1331 Main St. W., Hamilton, Toll Free: 1-866-245-SKIS (7547), 905-523-8880 (long distance), Fax: 905-523-0333, mailto:info@mcmastersports.com

Notes: Sells harder-to-find fitness/speed skating gear like better quality wheels and bearings. Overnight shipping available.

National Sports

Where:Many stores in the GTA – check their website.

Notes:

Sport Chek

Where: Many stores in the GTA – use the store locator online.

Notes: The website has a skate buying guide and includes the specs for most of the skates it sells. Online store, but larger selection in the brick and mortar stores. The flagship Eaton Centre store carries some higher-end skates not found in other stores.

Sport Mart

Where: Many stores in the GTA – check their website.

Notes: Same parent company as Sport Chek, Sport Mart has slightly lower price points. Online store.

Sporting Life

Where: 2665 Yonge (near Lawrence), Sherway Gardens Mall.

Notes: Good selection of higher-end skate models, wheels and replacement parts. Inline maintenance offered - repairs, wheel rotation, bearing cleaning.

Play It Again Sports

Where: Many stores, both in and outside Toronto.

Notes: Sells both new and used sporting goods including some new inline skates and accessories. Some stores offer skate maintenance. Franchised.

Wheel Excitement

Where: 249 Queen's Quay W., ground floor of the Radisson Hotel, 416-260-9000

Notes: Not a retailer, per se, but a skate rental outlet. Rollerblade dealer. Also sells used rental skates. Has parts for repairs. Lessons by appointment.

5. SKATE MAINTENANCE:

GENERAL CLEANING - Treat your skates well and they'll last longer. Avoid skating through water, sand and mud as they can prematurely wear or damage your bearings. As bearings wear you'll have to exert more effort to skate. If you do happen to skate through water, sand or mud, clean your bearings, wheels and frame when you get home.

To do a general cleaning, first remove the wheels using an Allen key(s). Then use a dry toothbrush on the exposed side of the bearings and/or a very slightly damp-not wet-cloth to wipe down the wheels, bearings and frame. (No need to remove the bearings from the wheels.) Once done, and you're sure everything is dry, put the wheels back on the frame with the Allen key(s). Be sure not to overtighten the wheels as this will prevent them from spinning freely. Tighten them just enough. (Since the wheels are off the skate, you might as well rotate them when reinstalling. Read below for info.)

WHEELS: ROTATE & FLIP! - This is probably the easiest and most important thing to do to extend the life of your wheels. The goal is to have even wear on all eight wheels so you periodically rotate and flip them. It's easy to do. Turn your skates over and look at the wheels. Are they symmetrical or worn more on one side (probably the inside)? Place your skates upright on a counter or table top. Do all four wheels touch the surface? If the wheels are worn unevenly, then it's time to rotate and flip.

For the rotation pattern, follow the instructions in your owner's manual or on your manufacturer's website. Most recommend a 1-3, 2-4 rotation and also either flipping the wheels on the same skate or switching them to the other skate. You can even mark the wheels with a pen so they don't get mixed up, e.g. R1, L3, etc. Follow the instructions above for removing, cleaning and re-installing the wheels - just rotate them as well. That's it. You're all done!

CLEANING BEARINGS - The majority of skaters won't need to clean their skate bearings (remove, take apart, clean, dry, relube, reassemble). Recreational skate bearings come packed in grease and, for most rec skaters, are usually fine if left alone. But if you're having real problems with your bearings - experiencing poor wheel spin, feeling grittiness and increased friction or hearing squeaking - either buy new ones or take your skates to a reputable retailer for servicing. Cleaning bearings (16 of them!) is meticulous, a little messy and requires some know-how to do properly. If you're a more-serious skater or techie who is keen on cleaning your own bearings, surf
Skate FAQ.

A note of caution: Bearings in almost all recreational skates are packed in grease. After cleaning, replacing the lubricant with similar grease (as opposed to oil) is recommended for most skaters. The grease acts as an effective lubricant and provides some degree of protection against water and dirt. Oiled bearings are faster, but require much more frequent maintenance, especially if they get wet.

The bottom line: Treat your bearings well and they'll last longer - avoid skating through water, sand and mud!

6. OTHER CLUBS

Irene wins 3rd in the TIIRW marathon!

• Toronto Inline Skating Club / Inline Mississauga

We are extremely pleased to offer a guest discount arrangement with the Toronto Inline Skating Club (TISC). TBN members can guest skate with TISC for the discount rate of $5 per session. TISC skaters can attend TBN Inline Skating events with the guest fee waived. Limit of five (5) sessions per person with each club.

TISC provides advanced coaching and skill development for recreational and fitness level skaters. We encourage everyone to check them out.

• Toronto Trailbladers
• Ottawa Inline Skating Club
• Roller Montreal

7. EVENTS - CANADA

Note: Confirm event details with the host website. A marathon is 42.2 kilometres or 26.2 miles.

MARATHON ROLLER OF MONTREAL – Sun. May 17, 2009 – Montreal, QC. On the 5 km Gilles Villeneuve Track at Montreal Island Park. More info

24 HOURS INLINE MONTREAL – Jun. 6-7, 2009 – Montreal, QC. Relay teams of 1-10 skaters skate for 24 hours straight on the 5 km Gilles Villeneuve Track at Montreal Island Park. Registration is limited, however a number of Ontario teams are registered. If you are looking to join a team, email inline@tbn.ca and we’ll try to match you up. More info. French.

BECEL RIDE/SKATE FOR HEART - Sun. June 7, 2009 – Toronto, ON - Three official skating options on the traffic-free Gardiner Expressway: 5/10/20km. The loop between Jameson Ave. and the South Kingsway is approx. 7-8km so skate as many loops as your body and time will allow! Reg. fee + pledges encouraged. Proceeds to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Info: 416-486-RIDE (7433) or click for www.heartandstroke.ca/rideforheart

We also need volunteers on this event, to help inexperienced skaters down the ramps and act as skating ambassadors. Plus, you can skate the course all you want. Contact us inline@tbn.ca if you would like to volunteer, or would like more details.

CANADA DAY MARATHON - Wed. July 1, 2009 – Cambridge, ON - Roller Sports Canada hosts a marathon 42km and half marathon 21km open to recreational, fitness and elite inline skaters. The rural road course is smooth and mostly flat with a couple of minor hills. A fast, easy loop course: 1km loop x 3 + 13km loop x 3 (approx.). Cambridge is about 100km west of Toronto. More info

GET INLINE - Sun. Aug. 16, 2009 - Toronto - Participate in getinline.ca, an exciting fundraiser in support of people living with developmental disabilities. Starts at Woodbine Park in the Eastern Beaches area. More info.

NORTH OF 49 INLINE MARATHON – – Sun. Aug. 30, 2009 - Winnipeg, NB. More info.

OTTAWA INLINE SKATE FESTIVAL - Sun Sept. 6, 2009 – Ottawa, ON. The Ottawa Inline Skate Festival is a great opportunity to participate in races from a full marathon to a 2 km kids race. Organized by skaters for skaters, the whole day is about celebrating and enjoying inline skating on one of the most scenic routes anywhere: Colonel By Drive along the beautiful Rideau Canal in downtown Ottawa. Events will begin immediately following NCC/Alcatel Sunday Bikedays. More info.

TERRY FOX RUN - Sun. Sept. 13, 2009 - 10km cancer-fundraising events all over Canada with many to choose from in the Toronto area. The event website indicates whether wheelchairs (W), bikes (B) or "rollerblades" (R) are suitable. Info: www.terryfoxrun.org under "Run Site Listings"…

LE DÉFI DE L'ÎLE DE MONTRÉAL (Montréal Island Challenge) - Sat. Oct. 17, 2009. This ultra-distance 128km race (or not) is around the Island of Montréal. To earn a gold medal, finish within 8 hours; for silver, within 10 hours; for bronze, within 12 hours. More info.

8. EVENTS - OUTSIDE CANADA

Inline skating is more established in the U.S. as well as in various European and other countries around the world. Below is a selection of some of the more popular or interesting events outside Ontario. It is not an exhaustive list but should give you a taste for what's out there. Plan a holiday around an inline event… in Napa Valley, Florida, Martha's Vineyard, Philly or the Big Apple!

If you’re interested in any of these events, email us at inline@tbn.ca if you have any questions about travel details, etc.

Also visit www.skatelog.com for its extensive events calendar. For firms offering skate tours, view the "Links to Related Websites" section of this site. Be sure to confirm event details with the host website.

PHILLY FREE SKATE - June 19-21, 2009 - Philadelphia, PA - A full weekend of skates, parties, prizes, and much more. Free registration! The Freedom Skate was the first of the big U.S. skate weekends, and continues on as the Free Skate. More info.

SKATE BOSTON – July. 17-19, 2009 - Boston, MA. A full weekend of skating fun! More info.

ST. PAUL INLINE MARATHON - Sat. Aug. 15, 2009 - St. Paul, MN - The 26mi route is along the Mississippi River with a downtown start and finish. More info.

BIG APPLE ROLL – Aug 14-16, 2009 - New York, NY – "The fifth annual Big Apple Roll Weekend (BAR) is an exciting weekend of group skates, adventures exploring and experiencing New York City on skates." Free registration! More info.

NORTHSHORE INLINE MARATHON - Sat. Sept. 19, 2009 - Duluth, MN - The BIGGEST inline marathon in North America! There's a half marathon course too. Join 3,000+ skaters (no runners) skate this fast, slightly downhill, point-to-point 26.2 mile course. It's on scenic Hwy. 61 along Lake Superior from Two Harbors to Duluth. More info.

ATHENS-TO-ATLANTA ROAD SKATE - Sat. Oct. 11, 2009 - Atlanta, GA - The "oldest and most famous road skate in America". Three options: 38/52/87 miles (61/84/140km)! To add to the challenge, it'll be hot, hilly and there's a six-mile stretch of teeth-rattling rough road the locals call "gator back". This is not a closed course so there's traffic to contend with too. More info.

THE GREAT EsSKATE – (TBA, Feb 2010) - Miami Beach, FL – Mark your calendars and escape the cold (brrr!) along with hundreds of others to experience the "flavor of South Beach" at the "hippest skating event ever". The biggest and most well-organized skate weekend, with of fun with loads of skating and social events. More info.

EUROPEAN STREET SKATES: Many major European cities have weekly street skates, many are at night. These tend to be HUGELY popular, with thousands of skaters taking part in some cities (like Paris and Frankfurt)! Here are a few sites to visit: Paris: pari-roller.com, Frankfurt: www.t-n-s.de, London: www.londonskate.com, Amsterdam: www.fridaynightskate.com

9. TORONTO AREA VENUES

CITY OF TORONTO ARENAS/RINKS - Public inline skating is offered on a drop-in basis in the Spring/Summer sessions at a few indoor arenas, e.g. EAST: McGregor Park Rec. Centre (416-396-4023), NORTH: Oriole Comm. Centre (416-395-7969). Check for dates and times. Also, many of the city's outdoor ice rink pads can be used in the non-winter months for inline skating. The smooth surface is ideal for beginners. Check to confirm when the rink is available for general public use. For info, refer to your local "Toronto Fun" guide, call Parks & Rec. at 416-392-1111, surf www.toronto.ca/parks or email parks@toronto.ca.

SCOOTER'S ROLLER PALACE, MISSISSAUGA - An indoor roller rink offering roller and inline skating. Rentals and lessons available. At 2105 Royal Windsor Drive, Mississauga, south of the Clarkson GO station, just west of Southdown Rd. Info: 905-823-4001 or www.scooters.on.ca.

CUMMER SKATEBOARD PARK, TORONTO - Toronto's first skateboard park. For the 3Bs-boarders, bladers and BMXers. Concrete construction. Open dawn till dusk, no supervision, use at your own risk, free admission and free parking. At Cummer Park Community Centre, 6000 Leslie St., at Cummer/McNicoll (half way between Finch and Steeles). Info: 416-395-7803 or www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/cummer.htm.

9. LINKS TO RELATED WEBSITES

www.skatelog.com
www.AskAboutSkating.com
Hosted by the energetic Kathie Fry. The second site is a popular skating forum and chat room.

www.inlineskating.about.com
There's info here on buying skates, maintenance, instructions on how to stop, nude skating photos and more!

www.skatefaq.com
An excellent site that covers all areas of inline skating. Good info on cleaning bearings.

www.skatepatrol.org
An excellent, step-by-step "Heel Brake Tutorial", complete with photos. A MUST READ FOR BEGINNERS!

www.sportchek.ca
Canada's leading retailer of inline skates. The site has tips on buying skates and includes the specs of the many skates Sport Chek sells. Register online for exclusive membership rewards.

www.k2skates.com
www.rollerblade.com
Sites of the primary inline skate manufacturers. Not all skate models are available in Canada.

www.ZephyrAdventures.com
Based in the U.S., Zephyr offers skate tours in various U.S. and European locations for all ability levels, ages and interest ranges. Also offers skate camps and other types of adventure tours.

www.skate-a-round.com
Based in Amsterdam, Skate-A-Round offers skate tours, mostly in Europe. For English, click on the round Union Jack flag with "EN" below it at the top right-hand corner of the home page.

www.groups.yahoo.com/group/toronto-blading
A Toronto-based e-group where you can exchange inline skating info with others. Home of the Toronto Friday Night Skate. Get info here on Toronto's downtown night street skate, held alternate Friday and Saturday nights in the summer.

http://ca.geocities.com/sk8toronto@rogers.com/
Ed Duncan's Sk8toronto web site. An excellent page to get information on places to
skate in and around Toronto.

10. CONTACT US:

Questions or suggestions regarding TBN Inline? Direct them to
inline@tbn.ca

11. GALLERY OF TBN INLINE SKATING PHOTOS:

Patrick Lam
community.webshots.com/user/tbnphotos

ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pltoronto@rogers.com/my_photos

Mike Lin
ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kiteboy314/my_photos