But by the early s, popularity slumped, and sales have waned steadily since. What we need right now is a hit in one a movie out in Hollywood. Olson may be waiting for the American Rollerblade resurgence, but the skates are still popular in some places. Our mission at Marketplace is to raise the economic intelligence of the country.
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Skip to content. Brought to You By. Listen Now. Share Now on:. Scott Olson second from left , the Rollerblade revolutionizer, sports his Rollerblades with his family and friends. Provided by Scott Olson. Apple gear is getting more expensive. Women who left tech jobs were sexually harassed and passed over for promotions, report says. Also Included in. Share this Story.
Latest Episodes From Our Shows. Read More. The happy accident that changed squirt guns forever. The surprising story behind the rise of flip-flops. Inline skates were created in the early s when a Dutch person attached wooden spools to strips of wood and nailed them to his shoes.
In , an American developed the conventional rollerskate model, with the wheels positioned side by side, and it became the skate of choice. In , Scott and Brennan Olsen, two Minnesota brothers, discovered an older inline skate in a sporting goods store and thought the design would be perfect for off-season hockey training.
Hockey players and alpine and Nordic skiers quickly caught on and were seen cruising the streets of Minnesota during the summer on their Rollerblade skates.
Over time, strategic marketing efforts thrust the brand name into public awareness. Skating enthusiasts began using Rollerblade as a generic term for all inline skates, putting the trademark in jeopardy. However, as of February , it is still a trademark owned by the company.
Today 60 inline skate manufacturers exist, but Rollerblade is credited with introducing the first polyurethane boot and wheels, the first heel brakes, and the development of active brake technology, which makes stopping easier to learn and to control. Rollerblade has approximately patents and registered trademarks.
Still, the first mass-produced rollerblades, while innovative, had some design flaws. They were difficult to put on, adjust, and were prone to collecting dirt and moisture in the ball bearings. The wheels were also easily damaged and the brakes came from the old roller skate toe-brake and were not very effective.
The Olson brothers eventually sold Rollerblade, Inc. In this pair of skates, the flaws had vanished, fiberglass was used to produce the frames, the wheels were better protected, the skates were easier to put on and adjust, and stronger brakes were placed at the rear.
The skater had to straighten one leg to stop, driving the post into the brake, which then hit the ground. Before ABT, skaters had been tilting their foot back to make contact with the ground. The new brake design increased safety.
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