Rollerblade to Roll Out Two 100 mm Skates for 2005

The New ProBlade and Lightning 10 Models May Be the First Consumer Skates Equipped With 100 mm Wheels

By Robert "Would Love to Give 'em a Roll" Burnson

Leave it to Rollerblade, the inline instigator, to stir the pot again!

In February, the company will roll out several new skate models, including the Lightning 10 and the ProBlade 100, both with 100 millimeter wheels.

The Lightning 10 will be aimed at the advanced fitness market. It will come with four 100 mm Hyper wheels, a carbon fiber shell, an aluminum dual-box frame (326 mm long) designed with Mogema, and an auto shaping dual-density liner.

"The Lightning 10 is the equivalent of adding turbo-powered jets to your Sunday morning slippers," says Nick Skally, Rollerblade's spokesman.

The skate will sell for $350 to $400 (US).

The ProBlade, as its name implies, is designed more like a professional inline speed skate. Aside from four 100 mm wheels, it will sport a low-cut boot. The boot appears to be a complete redesign of the company's current speed skate, the Road Runner. (see photos) It has the 190 spacing.

It will sell for $500 to $600, Skally says.

The not-so-little brother of the Lightning 10, the Lightning 6, will come with four 90 mm wheels. It is expected to sell for $250 to $290.

These new models represent a huge leap forward for Rollerblade --- and indeed for the entire consumer skate industry. Right now, the biggest wheels that come with any consumer skate (that I know about anyway!) are 84 mm. In fact, even some of the speed skate makers have been slow to come out with 100 mm equipment.

The remainder of Rollerblade's 2005 Lightning series will stay with 84 mm wheels. The Lightning 8 will have five 84 mm wheels; the Lightning 4 will have four.

All the new skates will come with a heel brake, except for the ProBlade.

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Copyright © 2006 by Robert Burnson