| GLOSSARY OF TERMS |
| ABEC |
| noun |
| A scale, established by Annular Bearing Engineering Council, which measures the precision of a ball bearing, with ratings of ABEC-1, -3, -5, AND -7, with 7 being the most precise. |
| |
| aggressive |
| adjective |
| A type of skating where the emphasis is on stunts, performed either on street courses or specially-built ramps or -pipes. |
| |
| ANSI |
| noun |
| American National Standards Institute. Establishes standards for protective eqipment. ANSI-certified means the gear complies with certain design specifications for safety. |
| |
| anti-rockered |
| noun |
| When two middle wheels are smaller than front and back wheels on an inline skate, to allow for grinds and curbsides. |
| |
| artistic |
| adjective |
| see freestyle |
| |
| ASTM |
| noun |
| American Standards for Testing Materials. Establishes standards for protective equipment. ASTM-certified means the gear complies with certain design specifications for safety. |
| |
| bearings |
| noun |
| Mounted in pairs in the hub of each wheel, these make inline skate wheels turn with near-frictionless ease. |
| |
| black ice |
| noun |
| A smooth, recently paved street. This is an ideal surface for skating. |
| |
| blur |
| noun |
| An unbelievably fast skater. |
| |
| coping |
| noun |
| The upper edge of a ramp where vert meets a horizontal hanging along which one can perform various tricks." |
| |
| curbside |
| noun |
| Sliding along a curb (usually a waxed one) with skates perpendicular to edge. |
| |
| diameter |
| noun |
| Width of a wheel measured through its center, in millimeters (mm). E.g., 72mm. |
| |
| durometer |
| noun |
| The measure of a wheel's hardness, on a scale from zero to a hundred, with one hundred being hardest. Durometer is denoted by the suffix (A) E.g., 80A. |
| |
| fakey |
| noun |
| The rolling backward down a half-pipe after rolling forward up the half-pipe. |
| |
| frame |
| noun |
| Part of a skate which holds the wheels in place, also called the chassis |
| |
| freestyle |
| adjective |
| Type of inline skating most similar to ice figure skating, also called artistic. |
| |
| grind plate |
| noun |
| A piece of metal or plastic affixed to bottom of skate frame between middle wheels, which makes grinding possible. |
| |
| grind |
| verb |
| To slide along a rail or other edge, using skate surfaces (see grindplate) other than the wheels. |
| |
| half-pipe |
| noun |
| A U-shaped ramp on which skaters perform a variety of moves. |
| |
| liner |
| noun |
| The inner boot of a skate that cushions and supports foot and ankle. |
| |
| precision |
| adjective |
| Term used to describe non-ABEC-rated bearings. |
| |
| profile |
| noun |
| The thickness and shape of a wheel. E.g., racing wheels have a narrow, v-shaped profile. |
| |
| quads |
| noun |
| Traditional roller skates where wheels are mounted in pairs, as opposed to in line. |
| |
| quarter-pipe |
| noun |
| A ramp that is flat at the bottom and curves to form a vertical skating surface. |
| |
| recreational |
| adjective |
| Casual, non-specialized skating or skates |
| |
| road rash |
| noun |
| The scrapes and burns that come from falling on unprotected flesh. This can be prevented by wearing full protective gear! |
| |
| rockering |
| verb |
| When wheels on an inline skate are configured to simulate the curve of an ice skate blade to enhance maneuverability by shortening turning radius. As opposed to anti-rockering, all the wheels are the same size, but placed differently in the frame. |
| |
| rotate |
| verb |
| To switch the positions of inline skate wheels to prevent uneven wear. |
| |
| Snell |
| noun |
| Foundation which tests and certifies helmets to a high standard. |
| |
| spacer |
| noun |
| Plastic or aluminum hub that separates bearing casings |
| |
| street |
| adj |
| Skating on public thoroughfares, includes jumping obstacles. |
| |
| transition |
| noun |
| The curved portion of a ramp that connects horizontal and vertical skating surfaces. |
| |
| vert |
| noun |
| The part of the riding surface in a quarter- or half-pipe that rises straight upward. |
| |
