Title: Skating Away Word Count: 526 Summary: There was a time that roller skating was limited to one age group and could be an activity you would see in very limited locations, this has long changed and roller skating has become a very serious thing, today you can confidently say that there are skaters of all ages all groups and probably across the whole world. Not very surprising the roller skates is not such a modern invention, dating back to 1749 the roller skates have made a difference in the way people traveled ... Keywords: skates, roller skates, roller skating Article Body: There was a time that roller skating was limited to one age group and could be an activity you would see in very limited locations, this has long changed and roller skating has become a very serious thing, today you can confidently say that there are skaters of all ages all groups and probably across the whole world. Not very surprising the roller skates is not such a modern invention, dating back to 1749 the roller skates have made a difference in the way people traveled from one stop to the other, and soon after that it became a form of art as people perfected the skating movements into something that is graceful and delicate. The new form of transportation and movement soon received its fame and recognition, during the many years that passed the skates have evolved again and again, with each developmental leap making the roller skates easier to use, faster and safer. Among the many changes and improvements were movable axles, adjustable wheels, and improved bearings, all these inventions contributed to increasing the pleasure of roller skating. It is during the last 20 years that roller skating has seen its glory days, and in fact it is still very much used by many people around the world. The 80’s and 90’s saw an explosion of different kinds of rollers and roller skates, this has now become of form of exercise and sport, perfect for social meetings and very efficient in burning fats and increasing muscle mass. The rest is history, the roller blade and roller skate hysteria has caused city’s to shut down as thousands take to the streets with their skates and join together in a demonstration of impressive human traffic, new kinds of sports were invented as skates became the new way to move, ice hockey being one of these games, it made it easier to play almost any game without regard to the time of year or the current conditions. One very interesting phenomena is the forming of social groups around this activity, a unique social interaction has evolved surrounding the roller skating culture, special skating music and clubs, and groups of skaters of all ages that are skating together or meeting in specific points to learn new skating tricks and talk about skating news. This phenomena has not been limited to the United States alone, forming of social groups with a clear affiliation to the roller skating world has been seen in Japan, Europe and even the Middle East. Roller skating is indeed a fun activity and it is suitable for all the family to enjoy, many families take Saturday hikes on their roller skates, or go for a few hours tour of the city, this is a great way for family members to interact and enjoy a few hours of fun and activity together. Although buying roller skates for a whole family might be expensive, if you plan to use these skates a few times a year it is well worth your money, your children will learn something that they will probably use in the future and you will gain a few hours of great fun with your family.