Flashy or basic, skates are back this year
October 9, 2001 11:00 pm
Flashy roller fads will inundate toy shelves this season, but retailers say the basics - skateboards, inline skates, and roller skates - are back just as strong.
Not only are wheeled staples in vogue, many brands are deeply discounted. Inline skate companies, for example, have responded to this year's economic downturn by reducing prices by 30 percent on average, said Lee Cole, owner of Skates on Haight in San Francisco.
"This is the year of the discount," Cole said. "For everyone across the board it's a great time to buy quality inline skates and skateboards."
Skateboarding has experienced a surge of hype in the past few years - much of it driven by exposure on extreme sports TV programs like "X Games" on ESPN, said Seth Easley, manager of XXX Sports in Nashville, Tenn.
"The industry has really taken off and sales have picked up. Skateboarding has always been big on the coasts, but now it's finally catching on in the Midwest."
Skateboarding had the largest increase in participation of any sport among boys ages 7-17 during the last five years, and the second largest increase among girls, according to the National Sporting Goods Association. In fact, more Americans rode skateboards last year than played baseball, according to a survey by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.
Charlie Buettner, manager of High Adventure Outfitters in Cullman, Ala., said a large chunk of the demand among younger enthusiasts is for skateboarding accessories that feature retired pro skateboarder Tony Hawk, including T-shirts, stickers and video games.
The most popular look for boards right now is abstract graphic art featuring intricate, thought-provoking designs, said Michael Schawel, director of marketing for Skates On Haight. These include holograms and drawings of cartoon characters specific to the brand.
Costs for a full skateboard, including wheels and deck, average $120, Schawel said.
Roller skates, which range from the traditional to the sportier and unusual, are another basic that retailers are predicting will be in demand this Christmas season. Economics and patriotism might have something to do with it, Cole said.
"Roller skating always becomes popular during (an economic) downturn," he said. "Within this year especially, it's grabbed public consciousness. People gravitate toward American things. Real leather, real American steel."
Recreational roller skates average $40 and can extend past $100 for high-end performance and speed skates.
Inline skates, which are basically souped-up roller skates, are still one of the biggest movers at extreme sports stores. The sport peaked in popularity in 1998, according to American Sports Data, but still attracts a large following.
A sturdy, quality pair of inline skates will cost between $110 and$170, according to the International Inline Skating Association. Two big sellers are Salomon and K2 inline skates, which both come in aggressive and recreational skating models.
Flashy roller fads will inundate toy shelves this season, but retailers say the basics - skateboards, inline skates, and roller skates - are back just as strong. Not only are wheeled staples in vogue, many brands are deeply discounted. Inline skate companies, for example, have responded to this year's economic downturn by reducing prices by 30 percent on average, said Lee Cole, owner of Skates on Haight in San Francisco.
"This is the year of the discount," Cole said. "For everyone across the board it's a great time to buy quality inline skates and skateboards."
Skateboarding has experienced a surge of hype in the past few years - much of it driven by exposure on extreme sports TV programs like "X Games" on ESPN, said Seth Easley, manager of XXX Sports in Nashville, Tenn.
"The industry has really taken off and sales have picked up. Skateboarding has always been big on the coasts, but now it's finally catching on in the Midwest."
Skateboarding had the largest increase in participation of any sport among boys ages 7-17 during the last five years, and the second largest increase among girls, according to the National Sporting Goods Association. In fact, more Americans rode skateboards last year than played baseball, according to a survey by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.
Charlie Buettner, manager of High Adventure Outfitters in Cullman, Ala., said a large chunk of the demand among younger enthusiasts is for skateboarding accessories that feature retired pro skateboarder Tony Hawk, including T-shirts, stickers and video games.
The most popular look for boards right now is abstract graphic art featuring intricate, thought-provoking designs, said Michael Schawel, director of marketing for Skates On Haight. These include holograms and drawings of cartoon characters specific to the brand.
Costs for a full skateboard, including wheels and deck, average $120, Schawel said.
Roller skates, which range from the traditional to the sportier and unusual, are another basic that retailers are predicting will be in demand this Christmas season. Economics and patriotism might have something to do with it, Cole said.
"Roller skating always becomes popular during (an economic) downturn," he said. "Within this year especially, it's grabbed public consciousness. People gravitate toward American things. Real leather, real American steel."
Recreational roller skates average $40 and can extend past $100 for high-end performance and speed skates.
Inline skates, which are basically souped-up roller skates, are still one of the biggest movers at extreme sports stores. The sport peaked in popularity in 1998, according to American Sports Data, but still attracts a large following.
A sturdy, quality pair of inline skates will cost between $110 and$170, according to the International Inline Skating Association. Two big sellers are Salomon and K2 inline skates, which both come in aggressive and recreational skating models.
