If you love to skate, sooner or later you’re likely to want your own pair of skates instead of renting them. It’s important to know the parts of your skates so you can keep them in good working condition and get the longest possible life out of them. Read on to learn the basics of skate anatomy from your friends at Rainbow Roller Rink in North Tonawanda!
The Parts of a Roller Skate
(Keep in mind that these are the parts of a typical quad skate; inline or other specialty skates have some differences.)
- Skate boot – The boot is the shoe-like part of the skate that you put your foot in. Typically made of leather (real or synthetic) for durability, the boot supports and protects your foot.
- Plate – The boot is mounted to the plate, a durable metal platform that attaches to all of the other parts of the skate.
- Trucks – Also known as Kingpins, the trucks are part of the plate, allowing you to attach the wheels.
- Wheels – You can’t have a skate without wheels! Roller skate wheels come in many varieties, with different sizes, hardness levels, grips, and styles to fit different needs, like indoor skating vs outdoor skating, speed skating vs roller dancing, and so on.
- Toe stop or toe plug – Toe stops are large rubber pieces that attach to the front (toe) of the skate, allowing for quick and easy stops. However, they tend to be rather bulky and some skaters (especially jam skaters) find that they get in the way. In that case, toe plugs can be installed. They are smaller and not intended to help you stop, but will protect the floor if the toe of your skate comes into contact with it.
- Tongue – just like in a sneaker, the tongue of a skate boot allows for adjustable lacing and may have more or less padding depending on the type of skate.
- Bearings – The bearings fit between the skate wheels and axels, allowing them to roll smoothly. They are available in 8 mm and 7 mm sizes.
If you need parts for your skates, or advice on what type of parts to order, call our Pro Shop today! We’re happy to answer any questions you may have to keep you rolling. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date on skating events in Tonawanda!
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