[tellersid]

I use to rollerblade in the 90s. I never heard of this at the time I couldn't have possibly cared less if I had.

IMO the problem is I rollerbladed for 3 years and I never learned to stop properly. I basically had to fall on grass or cruise. IMO it died because it wasn't a good hobby for the average person. A skateboard doesn't have a speed problem like rollerblades. A bike has nice easy breaking system.

It was a giant 90s fad that was not a good idea for the average person. I loved them and wouldn't even consider getting a pair now based on the almost certainty of taking a massive spill.

[pengaru]

> A skateboard doesn't have a speed problem like rollerblades

Nonsense, utter nonsense.

[mthoms]

It’s easier to both bail (jump off) and control speed (by dragging your foot or doing power-slides) on a skateboard.

So yes, skateboarding does have a speed problem but it’s easier to control for.

[pengaru]

Dragging your foot on a skateboard leaves your other foot planted on the board, meaning the board is vulnerable to catching on any crack or edge while carrying most your weight, which will send you tumbling.

You can drag your foot exactly the same way to lose speed on skates by dragging one perpendicular to the direction of travel, while your other foot is still perfectly capable of jumping you over any cracks or edges since the skates are strapped to your feet.

I'll admit it's easier to never go too fast for comfort on a skateboard, by simply not riding the skateboard; you get off and walk on shoes. Which is a problem for rollerblades. But that's kind of irrelevant beginner territory isn't it?

Once you're competent enough to be riding either at speeds above a run, the skateboard has significant speed governing challenges, as do rollerblades.

I street skated for years and never became competent enough to use power-slides for governing speed on anything but the most ideal uniform asphalt surfaces. To propose that as some kind of accessible braking method strikes me as disingenuous at best. For most, attempting that'll be a spectacular prelude to a broken clavicle.

[jhchabran]

To shed some lights on why power sliding is so unreliable, doing so requires to be familiar the surface on which you’re attempting it. Being familiar with it means that you basically failed to and fell down multiples times before getting it right, which already requires a good skill level.

And you cannot assume that power sliding on a surface will be similar to another one that looked the same because a slight change of humidity, dust or grease may totally change the outcome and transform the slide into a hang up that will throw you at the floor pretty hard.

So if you combine a really thin margin of error with the inability to confidently execute it on new surfaces, it makes powersliding a pretty unreliable way of braking unless it’s an emergency, in which case jumping off the board is much easier.

Meanwhile, you can power slide at will in the skate park because you know the surface by heart, and it’s easy to get it consistent by how many times you just rode it.

[mthoms]

Your point is valid. Power sliding on the street, with speed, is definitely for advanced skaters. Particularly for the reasons you mentioned (unpredictable surfaces).

See my other comment.

[mthoms]

>Dragging your foot on a skateboard leaves your other foot planted on the board, meaning the board is vulnerable to catching on any crack or edge while carrying most your weight, which will send you tumbling

You're doing it wrong. If you catch a crack with your weight planted dead center of your board (which is how this is done) then you're already in dangerous territory. Speed is not your issue - the terrain (or your lack of proper technique) is.

>I street skated for years and never became competent enough to use power-slides for governing speed on anything but the most ideal uniform asphalt surfaces. To propose that as some kind of accessible braking method strikes me as disingenuous at best.

Disingenuous? How rude. That's how me and my friends did it. Maybe if you were below advanced-intemediate level then power-sliding to control for speed might seem impossible (but it isn't - that's the beauty of skateboarding). I will concede it's an unreliable method because of the variance of the surface (which the other commenter mentioned). It does come with risks and requires sufficient skill.

Curiously, your comment left out the obvious thing I mentioned. You can jump off the damn skateboard. It's one of the very first things you learn.

You can jump off.

My 8 year old does it every day. You know what he and his sister do when they get going too fast on 'blades? Look for a grass patch and hope for the best.

You seem to be slighted by the mere suggestion that one measly aspect of 'blading is harder or requires a different approach.

I skated for two decades, and worked in the industry for over half of that. If there's one thing I learned it's that skaters are funny creatures. Especially when it comes to beefs with their "adversaries" like rollerblading, BMX and scooters.

It really makes me chuckle.

[watwut]

No, absolutely not. If anything, having controll on skateboard is harder pretty much no matter what context. And you have zero control over where the board goes once you abandon it on top of it - meaning you are more dangerous for anyone else.

[mthoms]

You're mistaking my comment for saying that skateboarding is easier. It certainly isn't.

I'm only saying that, placed at the top of moderately sized hill, a skateboarder has more options available to him/her to control for speed.

Like simply jumping off.

[watwut]

And my point, after trying both, controlling speed on skateboard is harder. It does bit make it better sport nor anything like that.

Any sport on a competitive level is hard. Including running. The skateboarding has the property of not that much control and ease of loosing it. (Leads to injuries).

Like, trying to run out of skateboard does not work in higher speed. It is good solution for small speed, but once you go faster then you can run, it gets ugly. Meaning, injuries look very ugly. And the skateboard is going God knows when risking to hit someone or something (old person, stroller with baby, car). It is just not safe once you don't control the thing.

[mthoms]

Your point is only valid for speeds faster than you can run.

I don't think that qualifies you to say "No, absolutely not" to my previous point when you really mean "except under extreme speeds".

I've also "tried both". I skateboarded for two decades and worked in the skateboard industry for over half of that. I'm now teaching my 8 year old to skate. He feels way more comfortable than on his rollerblades because it's way easier to bail out.

The skateboard hitting something else is not relevant to the point being discussed.

[toxik]

I wonder if you could make some kind of handheld brake lever cable system for inlines. That’d be sweet.