My inlines are an appendage of my own body, more a part of me than my
own two feet. For the better part of nine years, I've been attached to
my skates and vice-versa. In fact, the bond is so strong that I must
confess I've even slept with them.

Being in bed with my skates occurred during those first heady years of
discovery when, spread out on the floor with books and notes, I'd be
cramming after a late night at the library. It wasn't uncommon to wake
up in the morning with my skates still on, only to rush off to class
again with scant minutes to spare.

This new sport sucked more and more of my time, to the point where some
of some of my friendships frayed. Although skating was a great way to
meet people, especially Sundays in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park,
they just seemed to get in the way of "normal" affairs. Instead of
buying bouquets I bought bearings; rather than whispering sweet nothings
in the ears an amorous other, it was I who melted when I heard the
gentle whirring of fresh bearings.

Even though some people could barely hide their scorn at this
"pseudo-sport" with which I was so engaged, my skates stayed at my side.
There were always those who did my dedication to these lifeless objects
of love, however. Howie, Lord of the Life Sciences Building on the UC
Berkeley campus, liked the skates because of the transformational
effect they had on his dogs' personalities and the twist they gave to my
own. Professor Powell admired my inlines for the singularity of purpose
they gave me not just athletically but academically as well. Normally a
stickler for regular attendance and punctual completion of course work,
Professor Powell allowed me to miss many an exam or field trip in order
to pursue my passion of skating.

My skates became a part and parcel of the substance of my very being. I
lived in them. On skates I commuted to school, shopped for food, went to
cafés, did laundry, ran errands, and saw movies. I took my
wheelchair-bound friend Norma on screaming rides through campus,
slaloming through crowds with her whole rig popping a wheelie. I pushed
the limit everywhere. For example, when in airports I often was able to
make illegal connections on flights thanks to being able to zip over to
a faraway gate on skates.

Inlines are my lifeblood. With them, nowhere is too far to go at any
hour. Without them, life becomes mundane, and even a walk to the corner
store seems a waste of time and effort. During those brief, unbearable
moments of separation from my skates, life is such a chore that torpor
creeps through my limbs and I begin to drift aimlessly in the doldrums,
wind out of my sails and head hung low.

I'd rather be with my skates, whatever the situation. Instead of talking
about the weather with a store manager, I can just point to the
insurance sticker on my skates and say "Don't worry, I'm insured."
(Once, I managed to convince a shopkeeper who was trying to throw me
out of his store that since I spend so much time on my skates, I was
much more likely to fall and injure someone if I took them off. He let
me stay)

On the surface, it would seem that skating has been a way to ignore
relationships and stifle personal development, but this is not so.
Skating has caused me to look inward more than I would have dared do
otherwise. Skating has forced me to face my own very real fears and
weaknesses and actually do something about them. Skating has taught me
about setting goals and pursuing them. In short, skating has been my
savior.

Foolproof Ways of Falling in Love With Your Skates

1. Find Your Balance. Being centered over one skate or the other at all
times is the single most important thing you can do to enhance your
enjoyment of skating. If balanced, you'll be able to relax and won't
ever feel like you're fighting your skates. Think "nose, knees, toes
alignment" and repeat it like a mantra until your muscles finally
remember.

2. Keep your feet happy. Your feet are the most important link between
your skates and tingly feeling you'll get all over your body when you
fall (not literally) head over heels (again, not literally) in love with
skating. Take preventive action and avoid blisters by getting a skate
that pampers your feet like slippers. Get a skate with a removable liner
that can be taken out and washed periodically. Stock up on foot care
items like tape, moleskin, second skin, and bunion cushions to pursue
your love even when your hooves start complaining.

3. Keep your skates souped up. If you're riding on crummy wheels and
bearings, it'll feel as if your teeth are about to rattle out. A
high-precision, low-maintenance bearing will give you the feeling of
effortless speed, and a high-rebound wheel will smooth out the little
bumps that can sometimes be major bummers.

4. Rotate your wheels frequently. Changing the position of your wheels
around all the time keeps your skates performing at their best. Handling
in corners and straightaways improves dramatically if you keep a good
sharp edge on your wheels. When they get worn flat on one side, they
feel flat. Put the wheel with the most wear into the position with the
least wear and you'll always be loving it.

5. Use your skates as transportation. Rolling down the block is more
fun than sticking your head out the window at 25 miles per hour. Armed
with a backpack, skates can be used to accomplish virtually anything.
Plus, the feeling of freedom you get when you skate by everybody stuck
in traffic is unparalleled. And, once you've arrived at your destination
you'll kiss your skates because you'll neither have grease on your pants
nor a big heavy lock to fiddle with.

6. Travel with your skates at all times. Without a doubt, your skates
will be the best tour guides you'll ever find. On skates in a
metropolitan area, you'll be capable of seeing three times as much as
you would with a car. And in spite of any language barriers you may
encounter, skates will be your bridge to communication with the natives,
bringing them and yourself nothing but joy and smiles in the process.


Eddy Matzger's inline love-affair is currently with Roces Roadskates,
TWINCAM bearings, PowerBar, Breathe Right, and Transpack, as well as the
grassroots public he loves to teach. His nationwide weekend
instructional workshops reach out to all ages and ability levels. For
more information about the workshop call 1-888-WRK-SHOP or surf over to
www.inlineskate.com.