Inline skating is a multi-disciplinary sport practiced widely internationally. Inline skates typically have 2 to 5 polyurethane wheels, arranged in a single line by a metal or plastic frame on the underside of a boot. The in-line design allows for greater speed than roller skates and better maneuverability. Following this basic design principle, inline skates can be modified to varying degrees to accommodate niche disciplines.
Inline skating is also known as "roller blading" due to the popular brand of inline skates, Rollerblade.
A term used to refer to inline skates on a vert ramp, a half pipe with some vertical in it usually between 6in to 24in. Vert skating is a form of gymnastics performed with skates. The purpose of vert skating is to ride higher than the coping (which is the metal pipe on top of the ramp) and perform spins or flips. It focuses on complicated hard aerial maneuvers, such as spins and flips. The intent of the skater is to build speed until they are of sufficient height above the edge of the ramp to perform various aerial acrobatics. In competitions skaters have limited time, often less than a minute, to impress the judges by landing numerous and difficult tricks. The sport was included in the first X Games in 1995. Vert skating is used in a lot of competitions such as the X Games. Vert ramps are also present in most skateparks of today.
In addition to speed, fitness, artistic, or skating for fun, some skaters prefer to skate aggressively. Aggressive skating is referred to by participants as rollerblading, blading, skating or rolling and refers to not only the variety of maneuvers that include a variety of grinds, airs, cess slides, toe/heel rolls and other advanced skating stunts but also the equipment used. Aggressive skates are rollerblades that include aspects of the skate that facilitates grinds, this includes a plastic frame with a space in the middle for grinding, and, sole plates that allow the practitioner to grind on the side of the boot. Types of aggressive skating include Park and Street. The range of wheel size for aggressive inline skates range from 40mm to 72mm, the median ranging in the general vicinity of 53mm - 58mm.