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The type and location of the trail you select can play a significant role in determining the enjoyment you get from a hiking experience. Before heading out on your next hike, evaluate the trail based on the following criteria.

Define Your Objectives: Select a trail according to your planned activities. Hikers hoping to photograph wildlife are going to want a quiet, secluded trail that sees little foot-traffic. Short trails over easy terrain are better suited to hiking with children. A trail with miles of ups and downs will be great for physical conditioning.

Consider Your Level of Experience: If you’re going to hike alone, take an honest assessment of your experience and physical abilities. Are you in good shape or has your physical activity been limited? Can you navigate with a compass and map? If you have a cell phone, take it along. Realize though, that it may not work on the trail and if something goes wrong, you need to know what to do. Unless you have a lot of experience, don’t hike alone.

If you’re hiking with a group, select trails based on those with the least amount of ability and experience. If you want to reach the summit of mount Buena Vista, make sure you hike with companions that can reach the top. Novices should start on shorter trails over easy terrain until they are comfortable with navigation and carrying a backpack.

Account for Distance and Time: It’s easy to underestimate the time you need to complete a hike. This can turn a planned 3-hour hike into a 6-hour ordeal. A good rule of thumb is to plan on 5-10 miles per day over moderate terrain if carrying a full load. On flat terrain, you’ll probably cover a mile in about 30 minutes. For every 1,000 feet you gain in elevation add another hour. For every 1,000 feet you lose in elevation add 30 minutes. Factor in 5 minutes of rest for every hour hiked and remember that multi-day trips should include a full rest day for every 4-6 days on the trail.

Location Matters: The trail you select should have ample links to other trails or alternative routes should you find a section closed or in case of a medical emergency. If you’re going on a multi-day trip, make sure the trail comes within close proximity to water, campsites and places to re-provision if necessary. Don’t hike trails (however well-marked) that don’t have a map.

Factor in Weather: Seasons affect the hours of available daylight and use patterns on a trail. Check local weather forecasts. Certain patterns (sudden storms, for example) are more typical of certain seasons. Don’t forget to take into account variables that might affect the weather like changes in altitude along the trail.

Rules and Regulations: Regulations or restrictions on group size limits, campfires, hunting or breeding seasons may be in affect in areas around certain trails. Check with park or trail officials regarding any restrictions or necessary permits that may apply to the trail you’re considering.

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Skydivers - Most people say we’re crazy. Some say we have a death wish. Psychologists say people with an inclination to take high risks are a necessary part of the continuation of our species.

We are people from all walks of life. Students, blue-collar workers, engineers, doctors, nurses, you name it. What we have in common is an infinity for a high-risk sport, skydiving. Some also participate in other sports like scuba diving, kayaking, rock climbing, skiing. There is a sense of camaraderie among us. A sense that we understand a greater truth that is missed by most people.

Mentally it is an incredibly refreshing break from “society”. Skydiving is a super stress reliever. When you are skydiving, you focus on that skydive and nothing else. This keeps away all the distractions of life. No room for stray thoughts or worries here. The intense focus and the pump of adrenaline leave you feeling mentally and physically cleansed.

And yes, the adrenaline is no doubt a part of it. Your body responds to the rush of adrenaline into it, bringing with it a sense of excitement and a surge of energy. Our human bodies are made to produce adrenaline as a survival mechanism and it is being regarded more and more as a necessary part of the human experience and overall health. Something any skydiver could have already told you a long time ago.

Stepping out the door of a flying airplane has other benefits too. It makes you mentally tough. It takes a lot of mind control to go against what you have been taught about danger since a child, get a hold of your thoughts, and realize that yes, it is okay to step out that door. You acquire an increased awareness of all that is around you. You develop a confidence in yourself and a quick response as events happen around you. The sense of accomplishment is incredible. Knowing you met your fear, took control, and pushed yourself to take that step flows over into other parts of your life.

When I did my first skydive a group of us from work went. I organized the outing. Everyone had a blast but I was the only person who did more than one jump. Later, in talking with one of the guys in the group he said to me - I know that whatever I face in life, I can remember that I went up in that plane and did a skydive. If I can summon the courage to do that, I can do anything. It was great.

Okay, so enough of the psychobabble mumbo jumbo. What is the sensation? When you step out the door of a flying airplane you are in freefall until the parachute is deployed. Most skydives are done from around 10,000 ft. to 14,000 ft. providing the skydiver anywhere from 30 seconds to 70 seconds of freefall time. Stick your arm out the window of a car doing 60 mph then imagine your whole body out there going twice as fast - then you start to get a little of the idea of what skydiving feels like.

No one I’ve ever talked to has been able to put into words the sensation of skydiving. Even asking first time jumpers - is there any way to describe what you just did - only elicits a wide-eyed, grinning, no way.

Freefall is such a stupendous sense of freedom. You are flying through the air, able to move your body in 3D. You can fly forward, back-up, move sideways, speed up how fast you are falling and slow down how fast you are falling. Yes, you are continually falling. But during that time you are definitely flying your body. You can do flips and twists. You can stand on your feet or stand on your head. There are absolutely no limits as to which direction you can move your body.

And let there be no doubt - there is not a plane around that can give you the same view. What an awesome sight to view 360 degrees around you - the sky, the horizon, the incredible beauty of the world, right there for you to see with no obstructions. To feel you are a part of that sky.

The parachute flies like a glider; responding to the pilot’s input and slicing you through the sky. It can be flown slowly and smoothly or fast and wild. But either way, with correct pilot input, it would bring you safely and softly to landing on the earth.

Why do we skydive? Who will ever understand the beauty, the freedom, the rush but someone who has been there? Truly, the sky is our playground.

Lori Steffen is an experienced skydiver who has won two medals in USA national skydiving championships, both in freestyle skydiving. Visit our site devoted to tandem sky diving at http://www.tandemskydivinginfo.com

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Are you looking for fresh ways to spend time with your friends and family? Outdoor activities getting a little boring are they? With your fast paced life gaining speed all the time, it’s easy to stick to what’s familiar; but is that any way to live? Let’s take a few minutes and look at how easy it is to break out of the same-ole-routine and into the new with wholesome activities near home and out of doors. Read on to see why it’s tough to beat having fun with friends and family outdoors in the fresh air.

One of the first things we notice as we step outdoors and into nature is that we are not alone. Life surrounds us. So the first thing to do is to slow down and have a look around. While you’re looking, why not do some bird watching. It’s fun, easy to do and inexpensive. All you need are birds and they are everywhere. Make a family game out of it. Who can find the first bird with the color blue on it? How many ducks are on the pond? Are they all the same kind? You get the idea. But be careful, once you start bird watching you’ll find it difficult to stop. Before long you’ll have a good pair of birding binoculars and a field guide for your part of the country. Then you’ll be a bird watcher with birding fever. The best part of bird watching is spending time with others outdoors; and birding is a hobby you’ll love for the rest of your life.

If you need a sport that’s a little more high tech, give geocaching a shot. Geocaching is the sport where you use your handheld GPS receiver to find caches hidden by others using their GPS receivers. This is something you can do by yourself, with friends or with your children. Geocaching teaches outdoor navigation in a fun and interactive way while allowing you to explore your own neighborhood and beyond. You’ll learn new words and phrases such as cache coordinates, travel bugs, micro-caches, benchmarking and geoteaming. All you need is internet access and a GPS receiver; some GPS receivers retail for many hundreds of dollars but many models are available for around $100. Although the sport is active in over 200 countries, most geocachers enjoy playing the game in their own neighborhoods. It’s awesome!

If a GPS receiver isn’t in your budget right now, perhaps you might give Letterboxing a try. Letterboxing is similar to geocaching in that you are searching for a hidden treasure, but in this case it is called a box not a cache and you use clues versus coordinates to locate the treasure. There are other components to the Letterboxing game such as rubber stamps and log books. Letterboxing is inexpensive, loads of fun and addictive.

So what’s next? How about the oldest of all outdoor hobbies? That’s right, stargazing. If you live in a large city and spend all of your time there, it’s easy to forget about the night sky because you can’t see it. But it’s still there and provides breath taking views that are impossible to communicate. So grab a jacket, a pair of binoculars and a loved one and go somewhere nearby where you can have an unobstructed view of the night sky with as little light pollution as possible. With a pair of binoculars you should be able to see man-made satellites, the moons of Jupiter and craters on our own Moon. Once you catch the stargazing fever you’ll move up to a telescope where you can point it virtually anywhere in the night sky and be awe struck.

There is so much available to us outdoors. Try something new like bird watching, geocaching, letterboxing or stargazing. Each of these activities has a large on-line community ready to share its sport, its tips and its passion with you. Visit our on-line education center and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Not everyone has the skill or desire to climb Mount Everest, hike the Appalachian Trail or sail the world’s oceans. But there is something everyone can do near their own homes that will open the eyes and their minds to the beauty of nature. Take a few hours this week and spend it outdoors with someone you like. Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!

Chuck Fitzgerald is the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the “Best Gear Out There” and dedicated to helping outdoor enthusiasts to “Get It Right The First Time” with timely educational information. Please visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to receive the Fact and Tips e-newsletter, “FreshAir.” (800) 316-9055.

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With a little planning and forethought, hiking with children can be a fun and rewarding experience. Hiking is a wonderful way to help them develop a love and respect for nature, stimulate their imagination and encourage them to stay active.

Even Snoopy Hikes: A great way to introduce children to the idea of hiking is through stories featuring their favorite animated characters. Several great children’s books about hiking are available: “Curious George Goes Hiking,” “Take a Hike Snoopy,” “Berenstain Bears Blaze a Trail,” and “Sheep Take a Hike,” just to name a few. The stories give you an opportunity to talk about expectations before leaving home and give you something to refer to on the trail.

Where to Go: Start small children on short trails over easy terrain. In terms of ability, children can cover about 1 mile for every year they are in age. They may not want to hike that far, but they probably have the ability to do so. Short attention spans are kept busy on trails occupied with activities along the way (rocks to climb on, water to splash in, etc.). Older children are often motivated by the promise of something at the end a trail like a scenic vista or waterfall. Don’t forget to plan for bathroom breaks and rest stops along the way.

Clothing and Footwear: Ideally, children (like adults) should be prepared for any weather and dressed in layers. They should also have access to suitable rain gear. Properly fitting hiking boots or tennis shoes are a must to avoid sore and tired feet. Leave open-toed shoes at home.

Water and Snacks: Bring plenty of both. Fruit and salty snacks are best (although sometimes candy works as a good motivator). Try to avoid bringing snacks laden with sugar and caffeine. They cause spikes (then crashes) in energy levels and tend to promote dehydration.

Matters of Safety. Know the basics of administering first-aid. Allergic reactions to insects or plants can turn urgent quickly. Keep children on the trail and within your site at all times. Steer them clear of poisonous plants, steep ledges, overhangs, and potentially dangerous falls. A small, travel sized first aid kit is great for short hikes in the event of accidental scrapes or insect bites.

Essential Gear: Wet wipes are great for cleaning and double as toilet paper if necessary (bring plastic bags to carry them home). Always carry a compass and map, a flashlight, waterproof matches, bug dope, sunscreen and a whistle.

Opportunities for Fun and Learning

Hiking provides the perfect opportunity to instill in children a love and respect for nature that will last a lifetime. Singing camp songs (quietly) or designing a simple nature scavenger hunt is a great way to engage their minds and teach them about the environment. Give them disposable cameras and let them take pictures for a scrapbook or have them carry a nature journal to write in or draw things they see. Don’t forget to educate them about trail etiquette and the importance of leaving plants and animals undisturbed.

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The tearing down of Coach Zook by the Gator Nation can be likened to that of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centers. Just like the terrorist nation the gators thought the attack would keep a great man down. But they fail to realize the amount of support that Coach Zook actually had. That fan base would not allow the candle that is a light and an example to many coaches to be extinguish by a bunch of unappreciative crocs. Like the Trade Centers a new and improve Coach Zook will arise from the ashes. Like America, Coach Zook will go on and continue to build a great team of young men to be all that they can be.

This process of rebuilding will take time. It has been three years since that infamous attack on america and there is still no buildings to replace the memories of the old, but there are plans on the table and when those plans are finally put into action you will see the results of those who worked day and night to create a fine tuned and greater nation under god. Coach Zook has been removed from the swamp for a few months now.

The group of young men that he has inherited will be coming into a new system, but we all know it will take time to implement and learn a new system. No coach coaches the same, this is one fact the gators fail to realize. They immediately expected Coach Zook to be like Coach Superior from the start. Coach Zook produced a well oiled machine at the swamp, but another coach will benefit from it.

This is not a bad thing it only proves that Coach Zook is capable of developing undervelop young men into a powerhouse to be reckon with. Coach Zook left the gators with a caliber team that will contend for the NC in ‘06 and he did this under a continous calling for his head. Imagine what he will do with the support of all the Illini Nation. To say this year a young Coach Zook team will be ready for a head to head competition with a more experience Coach Zook team like the Gators will be an overstatement, but given Zook’s zeal and determination our road to the Gators will be paved sooner than later.-We Support Our Coach!

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“Got Snow?” So read the bumper sticker on the rear fender of the huge plow that sat idling in front of me on my usually hurried way to work. As I sat there waiting with the rest of the freezing, huddled masses for the light to change I pondered the meaning of the bumper sticker, the meaning of all this snow. Hell, I pondered the meaning of life itself. I looked around me and all I saw staring back were grumpy faces and mountains of the white powder… So much snow that one needed sunglasses to deflect the glare that emanated from it.

“Got snow?” I muttered to no one in particular. Then out of nowhere, it hit me… like a ton of bricks on the head. ‘It’ was an overwhelming desire to get out of my car, pluck the offending plow truck driver to the street and beat the living daylights out him.

“GOT SNOW?” I found myself now yelling. The play unfolded in my mind’s eye. “Take a look around ya, pal, all I got is snow. Snow in my in my boots, snow in my socks, snow on the driveway, and snow on the tracks. I got so much damn snow, I’m thinking of selling some to the Eskimos. I got yer snow, alright!” I don’t think pummeling the poor guy would’ve made anything better but it sure would’ve felt good. Those of us who live in winter climates are in dire need of the release that riding our bikes give us, but wait we must for the winter thaw to usher in spring.

This little fantasy never played itself out and my tidy little daydream was interrupted by the sounds of angry horns invading my senses. When I looked up, the lumbering behemoth was halfway up the hill as I sat there holding up a long line of frustrated traffic. Before I could hit the accelerator pedal, the driver behind me slithered past me on the left, crossed up and sideways… followed by the rest of the cars in succession. Many of the drivers were kind enough to wave little ‘birdies’ at me as they shouted unmentionable things. Ah, no insult would be complete without injury; by the time the line drove around me, the light had changed back to red, leaving me stranded again.

When I made my way to the next light on a double lane road, a driver pulled up next to me and revved their engine. I was determined this was going to be a holeshot (*) or die situation. I sized them up and the game was on. The other driver revved their motor higher. ‘Aha, a runner,’ I thought. I waited for the light to turn yellow then pre-loaded the brake and gas, just like in moto cross and looked off to the side, waiting for the gate to drop. Uhm, I mean, the light to change. Before the green light came on fully, I had dropped the hammer and was wailing towards the upcoming curve. I manually shifted the automatic transmission to stretch out each gear. The little engine that could, actually did! I glanced in the rear view and the other driver was hanging right with me. They were going to make a race of it.

“I got you covered,” I thought, “I’ll keep the gas floored through the turn and drop you like a hot potato.” I checked the mirror again and saw I had indeed dropped my worthy adversary.

“Yes! Yes!” I shouted, fist pumping the air. A feeling of satisfaction washed over me as we rolled up to the next light; I had beaten my opponent with room to spare. When the other driver pulled up to me I glared at them with my best Mike LaRocco (**) race face. They weren’t impressed; they just looked at me like I had two heads. I didn’t care. I won, they lost, it was as simple as that. When they pulled off I made my way to work at the Sonotone garage where I work for Ma Bell (***).

I grinned at every other galvo tech and splicer I ran into. They too looked at me like I had two heads. It didn’t matter, my oats were flowing faster than wine at a college toga party; I was radiating confidence. Yes sireee, Bob, I might be snowed in and frozen with my bike collecting rust and dust in the garage but I was feeling the thrill of victory. I felt the rush of adrenaline from a pulse-pounding race with a truly worthy adversary. Yup, that eighty year old lady in her Ford Escort didn’t know what hit her. She’ll remember me the next time we bump up at a light, I got something for her. Got snow?

* To pull or take the hole-shot means to beat your opponents on the track to the first corner of a race.

** Mike Larocco is a professional motocross rider with two national championships to his credit. His ‘race face,’ the serious zone look that all top athletes have before competition is fearsome. His penetrating, icy blue-eyed stare gives off the vibe that he could kill a man with his bare hands.

*** A once-affectionate term for the Bell telephone System of companies. Since the breakup of the Bell System in the early 80s, the term is only used my insiders and employees.

Michael James

New York

*7th season covering professional motocross races

*8th year writing columns for dirt bikes newspapers and magazines

*anothlogised poet/open mike poetry

*screenwritier — seeking representation — several projects in various stages of development

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So, you didn’t know it was hot did you? Do you even know what Orienteering is? It is one of the most thrilling activities available for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and here’s the good news - it’s inexpensive. If you enjoy spending time out of doors and you are looking to break out of your regular routine, Orienteering may be the challenge you’ve been hoping for. Thousands of men, women and children around the country are addicted to the mental and physical rush of Orienteering. Let’s find out why.

First off, what is Orienteering? Orienteering is an outdoor sport where you use a map and a compass to find your way through a cross-country style course either leisurely or competitively. Here’s basically how it works: By using only a compass and a map, participants will move from one control point to another until reaching the end of the course. Each participant - an orienteer - uses a special device, a unique one is located at each control point, to mark their scorecard thus proving they have actually visited the required control points. The orienteer who reaches the finish line first, with all control points visited, is the winner. Sounds easy doesn’t it? So what’s the catch?

There are two main challenges to the sport. First, the route is not marked. Therefore the orienteer must personally navigate from control point to control point using only a compass and a map. To successfully do this, you will always need to know how far you have traveled and in what direction. Their map, provided at the event, gives detailed information on the terrain such as hills, landmarks, bodies of water and other obstacles. Secondly, to be successful in orienteering, the orienteer needs excellent map reading skills, the ability to focus mentally and the ability to make decisions. If the event is competitive, all of this is done as fast as possible.

The most popular type of Orienteering is Foot Orienteering - abbreviated as Foot-O - and it is an Olympic sport. World-class Foot-O athletes typically have endurance and strength characteristics similar to marathon runners. Other Orienteering types include Mountain Bike, Skiing, Trail, and Night Orienteering. To find out more information on Orienteering in your city, contact the United States Orienteering Federation or visit our online Education Center. Competitive orienteering has been called the “thinking sport” and has been likened to “running while playing chess.”

With Orienteering, you’ll improve your problem solving skills, your decision making skills and you will push yourself to new levels of accomplishment. All while having a great time. While leisure Orienteering is not nearly as fast paced or as pressure-packed as competitive Orienteering, you’ll still get an adrenaline rush when you’ve successfully found your way through the course - and that’s why Orienteering is Hot! Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!

Chuck Fitzgerald is the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the “Best Gear Out There” and dedicated to helping outdoor enthusiasts to “Get It Right The First Time” with timely educational information. Please visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to receive the Fact and Tips e-newsletter, “FreshAir.” (800) 316-9055.

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Advanced skaters sometimes prefer to use the T-stop as a quick way to slow down. However, excessive use of this means of stopping can prematurely wear out the inside edges and the profile of your wheels. If this isn’t a major concern for you, by all means use the T-stop when it’s to your advantage to do so. The T-stop is applied by forming a T-shape with your skates.

Applying the T-Stop

To prepare to make a T-stop:

Stand in the ready position.
Move into a staggered stance.
Make three or four strides to pick up speed.
Keep your right skate out in front and facing straight ahead.
Lift your left skate about 3 inches off the pavement.

The skater’s left skate has cleared the pavement and is positioned correctly for the next step, which involves a quick movement of the left skate to the outside. The skater needs to keep the right skate pointing straight ahead. He or she is now balancing over top of his or her right skate. This provides the lateral stability he or she needs. The hands are out in front and the head is up.

To make the T-stop:

Move your left skate about 1 foot back and out to your side. The left skate is now positioned properly for the next step which involves a quick, pivoting action.
Pivot your left skate in the air until it make a 90-degree angle with the heel of your right skate.
Place your left skate back on the surface about 6 to 12 inches straight behind you.
At the same time as your back skate touches the surface, tilt the inside edges of your back skate so they make a 15-degree angle with the pavement.
Drag all four wheels of your back skate to stop.

About this Inline Skating Technique
You have now formed a T-shape with your skates. The T-stop requires good balance and a proper posture throughout owing to the amount of weight and pressure you need to exert on the front skate. Notice the clearances that are specified in the above step. It’s important that you don’t clip the back of your right skate when you pivot your left skate behind your right skate.

In addition, you could also use the T-stop with your left skate out front and your right skate behind you. However, this is more difficult and cumbersome since your brake may get in the way when you attempt to pivot and place your right skate down on the pavement.

Summing Up
Use the above maneuver when you need to stop in a hurry because of a crowded trail or an obstacle in your path. Until next time, have a great season of inline skating!

About the Author
Jim Safianuk is the writer and publisher of the three-part, inline skating series entitled Skating Lessons, as well as the two-part, maintenance series named Skate Maintenance. He is also the developer and owner of the Inline Skating Center, a site which serves as a hub for the adult, recreational, inline skating community. To visit their Skating Lessons site, click here: http://skatinglessons.inlineskatingcenter.com/

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George Gershwin, an early American musical genius, transformed public opinion on a style of music that was up until that time found mainly in such “unrepeatable” places as bars and speak-easies. The uniquely American sounds of early jazz received a broad new audience with the advent of Gershwin’s phenomenal hit orchestration, Rhapsody in Blue. Almost single-handedly he brought a “tavern sound” of ragtime to the mainstream public and can now be found in high-brow music collections.

Like pre-Gershwin jazz, Croquet in its early days kept some unruly company. In the 1890’s Croquet at the Boston Common, one of the United State’s oldest public parks, gathered gambling, drinking and licentious crowds. Boston clergymen decried this filthy behavior, which tainted Croquet’s image as a public sport.

Croquet in the United States began as a watered-down version of the courtlier British Commonwealth 6-wicket Croquet. This posh sport was and is still played among the Brits on neatly cut greens similar to those found on golf courses. Heavier wooden mallets and balls are necessary to obtain high accuracy. Intense skill and strategy were aspects of 6-wicket Croquet that the US version did not contain at first. Garden Croquet, as it is known (among other aliases), has remained popular in the US since its introduction over a hundred years ago. US players though, considered it more of a light hearted game than a sport and thus failed to maintain the high status of the English 6-wicket.

It was not until the late 1970’s that the United States began to capture on a widespread basis the original essence of Croquet. Finally it had regained it standing and elegance as a refined sport through a bit of effort by Jack Osborn in 1977. Despite its small beginnings, Osborn’s United States Croquet Association has grown to include nearly 10,000 croquet players playing across the US and Canada on over 600 well-groomed lawns. While Croquet the garden game still enjoys a large following in the U.S., there is also now room for players who are passionate about the more competitive type of croquet that includes deep skill and focus.

Both versions of the game can be purchased and participated in by those interested in this British construction. The milder form of Croquet is great for family reunions, company parties, birthday parties and other get-togethers. The classy 6-wicket Croquet is typically played in clubs where membership fees can pay to maintain the manicured greens. With well documented rules for both versions one can easily learn how to play Croquet at any level, although it may be preferable for beginners to start with a more basic set of rules. A simpler version of the game called Golf Croquet can be easily learned and game time can be as short as 30 minutes. Domestic and international rules apply to club and tournament play and slightly differ from one another.

Croquet has truly transformed into a gentlemen’s, and for that matter, a lady’s sport, requiring physical skills similar to those found in billiards and golf, yet the strategic mind of a chess player. George Gershwin would be proud to see the progress of Croquet in America and perhaps even respect the mainstream attention that it has received, I’m sure he was a croquet enthusiast.

Ryan Mendenhall is a yard game enthusiast with http://www.Kubbin.com - “The place for the Swedish Game. For more about Croquet and Croquet Sets please visit Play Croquet.

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Sometimes, especially on trails longer than 20 miles, and in high heat in the middle of the summer, you may start to fatigue due to dehydration or if your caloric burn has exceeded your caloric intake for the day. Under these circumstances, it’s good to have a way to conserve your energy until you reach the end of the trail.

One approach is to use longer strides and glides. Let me explain!

The Three Forces
There are a number of forces that act on an inline skater while he or she is in motion including the following:

Rolling friction
Wind resistance
Gravitational force

When skating longer distances, we’re primarily concerned with rolling friction and wind resistance. Let’s tackle the frictional force that’s developed when your wheels roll over the pavement, and leave wind resistance for a future article.

Reduce the Rolling Friction
Rolling friction is defined as a force which opposes the motion of any body which is rolling over the surface of another. In our case, the body is the inline skater and the surface is the trail itself. The frictional force is applied against the skater’s wheels when they come in contact with the surface of the trail.

In addition, this force is in the opposite direction and hence opposes the force exerted by the skater to move him- or herself forward. The greater the rolling friction, the more force the skater needs to apply to overcome this resistance.
What would happen if the skater were to reduce the rolling friction?

In this case, he or she would need to exert less force to move forward. Since work is equal to force times distance, it follows that the skater needs to do less work to travel the same distance. The skater conserves energy by doing less work. So, how does one reduce the rolling friction? Good question, let’s find out!

Enter Longer Strides and Glides
You can employ a technique dubbed, Longer Strides and Glides. The idea is to minimize the time you spend rolling on both skates, or conversely, maximize the time you spend rolling on only one skate, which in turn serves to reduce the rolling friction.

Longer refers to a greater amount of time for the striding part of the maneuver, as well as a greater distance for the gliding part of the technique. Let’s see how it all works.

To skate using longer strides and glides:

Make four or five normal strides to pick up speed.
Push outward to your left side as far as possible using the inside edges of your left skate.
Hold your left skate in the air and out to the side for 2 to 3 seconds.
Balance and glide on the right skate.
Circle your left skate back under your body until it returns to the home position on the surface of the trail.
Quickly push outward to your right side as far as possible using the inside edges of your right skate.
Suspend your right skate out to the side for 2 to 3 seconds.
Balance and glide on the left skate.
Circle your right skate back under your body until it returns to the home position.
Continue to make long strides and glides using steps 2 through 9 above for a mile or so.

Key Benefits of the Maneuver
This technique affords two, key benefits when skating on longer trails. First, it reduces the rolling resistance since you’re now spending most of your time on only one skate, either the right or left skate, but not a lot of time on both skates at the same time. This means you’re conserving much-needed energy, because you’re doing less work to travel the same distance. Second, you’re giving your leg muscles a break by keeping one leg suspended in the air followed by the other leg. Trust me, even these short breaks feel good after 20 miles on the trail.

Summing Up
Use the above maneuver when you need to conserve energy and maintain a fluid style on the return leg of a trail that never seems to end. Until next time, good luck and get fit on the trails this summer!

About the Author
Jim Safianuk is the writer and publisher of the three-part, inline skating series entitled Skating Lessons, as well as the two-part, maintenance series named Skate Maintenance. He is also the developer and owner of the Inline Skating Center, a site which serves as a hub for the adult, recreational, inline skating community. To visit their Skating Lessons site, click here: http://skatinglessons.inlineskatingcenter.com/

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