Participating in your first inline marathon is an exhilarating experience, but it can also be a bit overwhelming if you’re new to the sport. Whether you’re inspired by the buzz around the NorthShore Inline Marathon or just looking to challenge yourself, understanding the terminology used in the inline skating community will help you feel more prepared and confident on race day. Below is a comprehensive guide to key terms every newcomer should know before hitting the road. Here's an alphabetical list of inline skating terms that we sometimes use.
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3WD: When an inline skate has three wheels. Three wheels make a skate lighter due to less wheels, bearings and axels. These skates typically have 3x110mm or 3x125mm wheels. 3WD skate set ups don’t distribute vibrations over rough surfaces compared to 4WD set ups.
4WD: When an inline skate has four wheels. Four wheel set ups have more grip and roll over rough surfaces with less vibration. 4WD set ups are heavier than 3WD set ups.
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Aero Position: A skating posture that minimizes wind resistance, typically achieved by lowering the back and angling the body forward.
Aggressive Skating: A style focused on performing tricks, jumps, and grinds, often using specially designed skates with reinforced frames.
Axle: The rod that passes through the wheel and attaches it to the frame.
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Bearings: Small metal components inside each wheel that allow them to spin smoothly; high-quality bearings reduce friction and increase speed.
Bearing Spacer: Bearing spacers fit between the two bearings that sit on either side of the wheel core. Bearing spacers come in various shapes, the most popular is the 8mm UFO spacer. These spacers prevent the bearings from binding when the wheel axel is tight.
Berlin Inline Marathon: The largest inline marathon in the world.
Bib Number: A number assigned to each racer, worn on the front, for identification purposes during the race.
Blade/Blading: Slang for inline skating.
Bonking: A sudden drop in energy and performance during a race, usually due to inadequate nutrition or poor pacing.
Boot: The main part of the skate that encloses the foot, providing support and comfort; the boot's fit is crucial for performance.
Brake: A device attached to the skate, usually on the back of one boot, used to slow down or stop; commonly found on recreational skates.
Breakaway: When a skater or group of skaters accelerates to separate from the main pack and lead the race.
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Cadence: The rhythm or speed of a skater’s strides, with a higher cadence often leading to greater speed.
Carbo-Loading: The practice of consuming carbohydrate-rich foods before a race to maximize glycogen stores in the muscles for sustained energy.
Chassis/Frame: The part of the skate that holds the wheels. Frames can be made of plastic, aluminum, or other materials.
Chase Pack: A group of skaters working together to catch up to the lead pack in a race.
Clinic: A training session or workshop focused on improving specific skating techniques, often held before major events.
Cooldown: Light skating and stretching exercises performed after a race to aid in muscle recovery and reduce stiffness.
Crossover: A technique used in turns where the outside skate crosses over the inside skate to maintain or increase speed.
Cuffs: The top part of the boot that wraps around the ankle, providing support.
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Drafting: The strategy of skating closely behind another skater to reduce wind resistance and conserve energy.
Double Push: An advanced skating technique involving two pushes—one inward and one outward—with each stride for maximum speed and efficiency.
Duro (Durometer): A measure of the hardness of skate wheels; harder wheels are faster but offer less grip, while softer wheels provide more traction and comfort.
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Endurance Training: Physical conditioning aimed at improving a skater’s ability to sustain long distances without fatigue.
Extend: A technique where the skater fully stretches out the leg during a stride, maximizing the power and efficiency of each push.
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Finish Chute: The area immediately after the finish line where skaters cool down and recover after the race.
Finish Line Sprint: The final burst of speed used by skaters to cross the finish line as quickly as possible.
Frame: The part of the skate that holds the wheels and attaches to the boot, crucial for stability, control, and maneuverability.
Freestyle Skating: A style of skating focused on performing tricks, footwork, and dance-like movements, often involving slalom cones.
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Gear Bag: A bag used to carry essential skating equipment such as skates, pads, and tools.
Glide: The smooth, continuous motion that occurs when a skater moves forward on one foot after pushing off with the other.
Grind: Sliding along a surface using the metal part of the skate’s frame (usually in aggressive skating).
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Heel Brake: A common braking technique using the brake attached to the back of one skate.
Hydration Station: Designated spots along the marathon route where skaters can grab water or sports drinks to stay hydrated.
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Inline Marathon Etiquette: Guidelines for polite and safe behavior during races, such as signaling when passing and maintaining lane discipline.
Inline Skating: A type of roller skate where the wheels are arranged in a single line, typically with 3 to 5 wheels. Inline skates are designed for various disciplines such as speed skating, recreational skating, aggressive skating, and freestyle. The configuration provides greater speed and maneuverability compared to traditional quad skates, making them ideal for racing and long-distance skating.
Inline Skating Series: A set of competitive races, including the NorthShore Inline Marathon, where skaters participate across different events. The Rollerblade Inline Skating Series is a great showcase of that. learn more by clicking this link:
Intervals: A training method where skaters alternate between periods of high-intensity effort and recovery to build speed and endurance.
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J-Stop: A braking technique where the skater drags one skate behind in a J-shaped motion to reduce speed or stop.
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Kick: A short, sharp push used to gain quick acceleration or adjust speed during a race or maneuver.
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Lacing System: The method used to secure the skate boot around the foot, which can include traditional laces, buckles, or BOA systems.
Lead Pack: The group of fastest skaters in a marathon, often consisting of top competitors.
Liner: the removable, cushioned inner layer inside the boot of an inline skate. It serves as the interface between the skater's foot and the hard outer shell of the skate. The liner provides comfort, support, and protection, and it plays a crucial role in the overall fit and performance of the skate.
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Marathon Skating: Inline skating over long distances, typically comparable to running marathons, often on roads or designated paths.
Misalignment: When the skate frame is not properly aligned with the boot, leading to reduced efficiency, discomfort, or increased risk of injury.
Molded or Hard Boot: A type of skate that features a hard, rigid boot made from durable materials like plastic, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. These skates are designed to offer maximum support, control, and protection, making them ideal for more aggressive forms of skating or for skaters who prioritize performance and durability.
Mounting: The process of attaching the skate boot to the frame, which affects the skater's control, balance, and comfort.
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Neutral Start: A race start controlled by a vehicle at a moderate pace until reaching the official start point.
NorthShore Inline Marathon: The second-largest inline marathon in the world. Hosted in Duluth Minnesota.
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Overstride: A technique flaw where a skater extends their leg too far during a stride, leading to inefficiency and potential balance issues.
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Pacing: The management of speed throughout a race to avoid exhaustion and ensure a strong finish.
Paceline: A formation used in group inline skating, cycling, or other endurance sports where multiple participants line up in a single file or double file to take advantage of drafting. The idea is to share the workload, reduce air resistance, and maintain a steady pace over long distances
Parallel Turn: Turning both skates parallel in the direction of the turn, with weight distribution aiding the turn.
Personal Best (PB): The fastest time a skater has ever completed a race of a specific distance.
Powerslide: involves sliding one or both skates sideways to create friction against the ground, effectively slowing down or stopping.
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Quad Skating: Roller skates with two pairs of wheels arranged side by side, offering stability and control, commonly used for artistic skating, roller derby, and rhythm.
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Race Expo: A pre-race event where participants collect race packets and explore vendor booths related to skating and fitness.
Race Marshal: An official responsible for overseeing the race to ensure rules are followed and safety is maintained.
Ready Position: Feet Shoulder width apart, Knees bent slightly, Hips back, Upper body forward, Arms out in from, Head up
Recreational Skating: The most common style, focusing on enjoyment and fitness rather than competition or tricks. Recreational skates are generally comfortable and easy to use.
Rollerblade: A brand of Inline Skates that has become synonymous with the industry.
Rolling Resistance: The friction between skate wheels and the surface, with lower resistance allowing for faster skating.
Rolling Start: A race start where skaters begin while already in motion, often used in larger events.
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Skate Maintenance: The regular upkeep of skate equipment, including cleaning bearings and rotating wheels, to ensure optimal performance.
Soft Boot: A type of inline skate that features a boot made from softer, flexible materials, such as mesh, fabric, or synthetic materials, as opposed to the more rigid plastic or carbon shells used in hard boot skates. Primarily used for recreational skating, fitness skating, and light urban skating. They are ideal for skaters who prioritize comfort over the rigid support required for aggressive or high-speed skating.
Split Time: The time recorded for specific segments of a race, used to monitor pace and adjust strategies.
Stride: The basic movement in skating, involving a push-off from one leg while the other leg glides.
Swizzle: A maneuver where both skates move in and out in a V-shape, often used for warming up or transitioning. (not to be confused with T-Swizzle which is Taylor Swift)
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T-Stop: A braking technique where one skate is dragged behind perpendicular to the other skate to create friction and slow down.
Tapering: The process of reducing training intensity in the days leading up to a race to allow muscles to recover and be in peak condition.
Tar-Snake: A line or patch of asphalt sealant used to fill cracks in road surfaces. Hitting a tar snake at an angle can cause the skate to slide, leading to a loss of balance. Skating into a tar snake can cause your wheels to lock up.
Time Trial: A race against the clock where skaters start at different times and aim for the fastest completion time.
Timing Chip: A device attached to a skater or their bib that tracks their race time from start to finish.
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Urban Skating: A style of inline skating that involves navigating through city streets, incorporating jumps, slides, and quick maneuvers around obstacles.
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Vert Skating: A style of aggressive skating performed in half-pipes or vertical ramps, focused on aerial tricks and stunts.
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Warm-Up: Exercises and light skating are performed before a race to prepare the muscles for intense activity.
Wheelbase: The distance between the front and rear wheels on a skate frame, affects stability, maneuverability, and speed.
Wrist Guards: Protective gear worn on the wrists to prevent injury during falls, is essential for both beginners and aggressive skaters.
Wheel Rotation: The practice of switching the positions of the wheels on skates to ensure even wear and extend their lifespan.
Wind Resistance: The force of air against a skater while moving, which can slow them down; drafting is a common technique to reduce this.
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X-Over (Crossover): Another term for the crossover technique, where one skate crosses over the other during turns to maintain speed and control.
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Zigzag: A technique where skaters make quick, sharp turns from side to side, often used to navigate through obstacles or during slalom skating.
Ready to Roll with these Inline Skating Terms
The NorthShore Inline Marathon is an exciting event that brings together skaters of all levels. By familiarizing yourself with these terms and incorporating them into your training, you’ll be better equipped to face the challenges and thrills of your first marathon. Remember, every skater was a beginner once, and the community is here to support you on your journey. We can’t wait to see you cross that finish line!
About The NorthShore Inline Marathon
The NorthShore Inline Marathon, established in 1996, has grown to become one of the premier inline skating marathons in the world. It draws participants from around the globe to the shores of Lake Superior for a competition that is as scenic as it is challenging. The marathon's route takes skaters on a 26.2-mile journey from Two Harbors to Duluth, Minnesota, featuring rolling hills and stunning vistas that showcase the natural beauty of the region.
Over the years, NSIM has expanded its scope to include multiple events catering to different skill levels and interests, including a half-marathon, a run event, and races for children. Its commitment to promoting physical fitness and the sport of inline skating, along with its consistent focus on community involvement and environmental sustainability, has helped it maintain a beloved spot in the heart of the inline skating community. Each year, the event not only celebrates athletic prowess but also fosters a sense of camaraderie among participants, making it a much-anticipated fixture in the inline skating calendar.
Learn more at www.northshoreinline.com