gear
skate breakdown
G E N O “ G . N O - E V I L” G U E R R E R O , P U G E T S O U N D O U T C A S T
I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N W I T H K N O C K ’ E R S O C K S O F F, O LY R O L L E R S
I PASSED... AND NOW I NEED SKATES, AAH! Before choosing skates, ask yourself some questions:
1. How much can you really spend?
Is this you? “OK I passed the first test, I can do this; right? I am going a. What is your budget, do you have wiggle room? You may want
to be a rollergirl” (aah!...deep breath). “OK, first I need to get off these to upgrade some of the components to fit your needs best.
rentals. What to buy?” 2. How much experience do I have skating?
Or, “My beginner skates are not going to hold up much longer, a. This will help in choosing between a stiffer speed boot
is there something better out there that isn't going to cost me or the softer recreational boot.
a fortune?” 3. Where do you skate?
With so many package skates out there and some great deals, a. This will help choose wheels best suited for your
what are you really getting for your money? Skates have so skating surface.
many components and every single one of them is important, but You may have to compromise in some areas to make a smart
not everyone looks at all those individual pieces. I really want you purchase within your budget, and hopefully after reading this you
to be able scrutinize skates so you can actually see if they can feel confident in your final decision. If after reading this article you
will work for you, and then you can decide what your best can’t see the benefits of certain model skates being offered to you, my
options are. advice is to purchase the lesser priced one. OK, let’s talk components:
Boots Plates Wheels
Material – most boots are made from leather, Material – there are both plastic and metal Material – Urethane, which is a form of plastic
but the quality varies, and not all use it for their options. Many skaters want to go with the most that can have different qualities. There are
inner lining. Most speed boots take time to lightweight product, but that may not always many manufacturers that make the wheels for
break in because of this. hold up to your demand. the companies we all know and love.
leather nylon/plastic indoors
Quality and thickness effects price and initial There are a couple different types here; one is First thing here is to understand the hardness
wear comfort (break in). Please make sure you the basic injection molded plastic frames and of the wheels and what it means to you. Most
are fitted correctly, leather does stretch but they then the others are made with fiber material in indoor wheels range from 88a-98a. The lower
don't get longer. So if your toes are cramped, the mix for added strength. the number means softer the wheel, which in
they don't fit. metal turn gives you more grip. Now this doesn't
Leather is very durable especially in the You have aluminum and magnesium options for come without a sacrifice. If the wheels are
higher end boots that use a thicker hide. metal plates. Aluminum is more commonly grippier they are creating more friction which
synthetic used, and comes in varying degrees of quality will give you less roll and make it hard to keep
Man-made materials like vinyl are usually and construction. your speed up. It’s nice to find a happy medium
common on $100 packages. Some nicer between grip and roll for your skating surface.
synthetic leather is used on others like the The people most in the know will be your
Divine boot from Riedell. league mates, ask them what works for them
These low cost alternatives are used mainly and why.
on recreational skates. The boots are usually outdoors
very comfortable like a tennis shoe fit, but lack These wheels are a much softer wheel that may
in durability. not have a hub and are solid urethane. This is
to increase rebound by adding more material.
You’ll find this important when skating outside
when you want to roll over pebbles instead of
kissing the concrete.
hybrid
This is a combo of both wheels for those crazy
wicked surfaces like slick indoor concrete.
They have a hub but have a softer urethane
to increase grip, so you can maintain control
coming around the derby track. Examples
of this would be the Atom Poisons, Radar
Shadows or Sure Grip Optics.
24 | Fall 2010 | fiveonfivemag.com
We’re going to look at some starter skates, often classified as recreational or session skates, they go a bit higher at the ankle and are typically
easier to break in. Then we will look at some rookie skates which give you more of a low cut, speed boot design. Both groups have great value
and offer some good components for the price.
Beginning with starter skates, let’s take a look at the more common ones from Riedell and Sure Grip, offered in the $99-$169 price range. First
thing many veterans will tell you is they all had to get new wheels, which is very common in the lower priced package skate. Keep this in mind if
you’re going to upgrade, most decent wheels start at the $50 range. The skate packages on the higher end of the $169 price range do come with
decent wheels like the Fugitives from Sure Grip and Flat-Outs or Tuners from Riedell.
Riedell Riedell Riedell Riedell Sure Grip Sure Grip
RW Outlaw Dash R3 Rogue Rock GT-50 Rebel Fugitive
Price: $99-169 Price: $129 Price: $99 Price: $169 Price: $99 Price: $149
Details: Riedell introduced Details: A new entry into Details: Riedell’s popular Details: Riedell’s best Details: Sure Grip’s entry Details: Sure Grip’s Rebel
its value line and recently the market for Riedell is the introductory skate package. introductory boot in this line called the Rock is is a leather boot that is
introduced the package Dash. If you look closely It is a synthetic boot price range. The 795 is a similar to Riedell’s RW line. constructed with a glued
called the Outlaw. It is a it’s an R3 with heel tabs constructed with a rubber leather boot that looks very It is a synthetic boot that is rubber sole and fits like
synthetic boot constructed instead of the speed strap. sole, which is normally similar to 965. Though it constructed with the glued a sneaker as well. It comes
with a rubber sole which is The heel tabs allow you to glued on. The inside is built may not be made from the rubber sole and fits like a with a rolled collar and
normally glued on. The use your laces to keep that with a foam lining to give same quality material, it has sneaker. At the $99 level, cinch strap to keep that foot
inside is built with a foam heel securely in the back a sneaker fit. I would have some of the same features, you are getting a skate that properly placed in the boot.
lining to give a sneaker fit. of the boot. This can be an to say the majority of derby like the closed-toe design is a compromise between This package is highly
A nice thing they added is issue with many of the skaters started on this boot and lace cover. This boot is value and durability. sought after since it
a leather toe for durability. recreational skates since or at least owned one. focused toward the derby comes with a balanced
One very cool thing is they they are built for comfort, skater who may want to set of components. Like
give options to upgrade the foam may break down spend a little extra for the Riedell Rogue this is
to any Radar wheel and eventually you start to a better boot. Great boot for a package that leads
and Kwik bearings. get heel slip. this price range. Good sticky the group.
Flat Outrageous Wheels
which are narrow
to help with footwork.
The Rookie Skates are focused more on durability and may even The combinations of boots and plates are seemingly endless and you
market themselves as Derby Skates. But again I want you, the skater, can put together a sweet skate for yourself. As you may know, I am
to look at all the components and see what you are getting for the fan of the DA45 plate design. I believe the action is well suited for
money and will it work best for YOU. All these skates are reasonably roller derby, giving you quick maneuverability that isn’t available on
priced and will give you a boot modeled after a speed boot. For those longer speed plates. Please take note that when building your own
not knowing the difference, a speed boot gives counter support, which skate/plate combination, a mounting charge may be added to your
is a usually moisture proof leather or moisture resistant fiberboard overall cost. You can mount them yourself, Dahmernatrix has written
that is cemented to the lining and upper and attached to the insole. a great DIY article on plate mounting featured in Issue 7.
It provides support when pushing through those turns, which is Another option to consider is used skates, you can find a complete
important when you’re trying to get going fast. Another upgrade will package or components from skaters upgrading their skates,
also be an aluminum plate which provides a stiff chassis to transfer your local skating rink, Craigslist, EBay, or my personal favorite,
all your power to the floor. Once again wheels will be on the average Skatelogforum.com.
side, but you may already have some go-to wheels, so check out the From the beginner starting your career in derby, to the rookie
following page to see what this price range has to offer. upgrading your skates for something that works better for your play,
What if you only need boots and plates? You may already have I hope that I have helped you wade through the many choices
those superstar wheels and bearings that work for you and your floor. available to you when purchasing your skates.
fiveonfivemag.com | Fall 2010 | 25
gear
Riedell Riedell Riedell Sure Grip Sure Grip Sure Grip
Vixen She Devil Wicked Rebel Invader Challenger XL 95
Price: $199 Price: $299 Price: $399 Price: $235 Price: $256 Price: $335
Details: The Vixen has Details: The She Devil Details: The Wicked comes Details: The Rebel Invader Details: The Challenger is Details: The XL95 is Sure
a 165 boot that is very soft comes with a 126 boot with the classic 265 boot was born from the DA45 a XL75 boot constructed Grip’s premium leather boot.
creating virtually no break- which offers the new D/B design that has also plate innovation. The Rebel with leather uppers and a Mounted on Probe plates
in period. Coupled with the last, which is a D width for received the D/B last is a leather boot, coupled comfort padded lining. It’s with Fugitive wheels makes
PowerDyne Triton plate and the ball of your foot and conversion. Comes complete with the DA45 Invader mounted to the 15 degree this a good value for a
Radar Flat Outs makes this a narrow B heel offering with the DynaPro plate plates, Fugitive wheels speed XK4 plate and rolls package skate. Also, plate
a great value for its price. a better fit for women’s feet. and Radar Tuner wheels. and Qube Juice bearings. out on Fugitive wheels. substitutions are offered, so
The Riedell Vixen comes in This package rounded out This has been a popular Sure Grip coupled a great you can upgrade to those
at a perfect price point and with the Triton plate and package for a long time. plate that is mounted with DA45 Invader plates. The
a nice soft leather boot, Radar Tuner Wheels. The The recent D/B boot the axles at the perfect XL95 is Sure Grip’s newest
giving this package an easy 126 boot is my personal last upgrade is a huge sweet spots to increase boot that is very supple and
choice for skaters who are recommendation for value. improvement. The Dynapro maneuverability, with an claims to have no break-in
looking for great value. plates are on par with intermediate boot to come time. This package is built
the Triton plates offered up with a price point that is on request, it really means
on other packages. perfect for the majority of that you could easily modify
new skaters. it to fit your needs better.
DNN BRINGS IT TO YOU
live coverage from all the biggest events!
SCORES HIGHLIGHTS ANALYSIS LIVE COVERAGE POWER RANKINGS