Vanilla skates6/12/2023 A harder wheel is usually better on indoor surfaces where the floor gives you the grip you need. The surface where the jam skates will be used further expands the discussion. A larger, harder wheel is more difficult to use, but those with a higher ability level will find they can execute tougher tricks. This means that many different wheel models will work under different circumstances.įor instance, a softer, smaller wheel is easier to learn on but the grippy nature of a softer wheel ultimately gets in the way of tricks like spins. The two aspects of wheels to pay attention to are the diameter and the softness of the different forms of wheels. While there is definitely some discussion around what kind of wheel makes the most sense for jam skates, the answer appears to lie in two variables: skill of the skater and surface on which the jam skates will be used. Since it is much smaller than the various styles of toe stops and is made of non-marking plastics, the skates actually will help enhance dance moves for those who have carefully practiced their wheel-based dance skills. Some dancing moves involve the skater getting up on (guess what) their toes and the metal at the front of the skates where the stop was inserted would immediately damage the floor of the rink.Ī toe plug is the logical answer for jam skates. As a result, a toe plug is the replacement for a stop. Since jam skates are expected to help execute all kinds of aggressive moves, toe stops simply get in the way with the momentum of the wheels being brought to a screaming halt. Toe stops are the plastic or rubber, circular devices at the front of skates that is usually used to stop. While toe stops are found on many roller skates (but not all skates), a quality jam skate will use something entirely different. Speed is used to set up fantastic moves involving the entire body. And while speed can be a part of jam skating, it is not the focus. Traditionally, low tops were associated with speed skating. Jam skates with low tops were better positioned to allow a greater freedom of movement and better execution with speed. But that was soon to change.Īs it turned out, the best skates to make these amazing moves had to have low top boots. Originally, the combination of gymnastics and breakdancing with wheels meant that skaters were using high top boots to support the ankle in their jam skates. Somewhat confusing to some observers are the variety of names associated with jam skating and jam skates. Roller skates play a key role in the popularity of these videos (of course the star power of the performers may have had something to do with the success too.) Many Different Names But once the music industry embraced this new, free flowing style of individual expression in music videos, the concept of jam skating was firmly embedded in popular culture.Ī few examples of videos featuring jam skating include, “I Heart You” by Toni Braxton, “Blow” by Beyoncé and “My Shoes” by Murphy Lee. The big rage from the 1970's was fading fast and rinks were having trouble getting teens to come out on roller skates. History of Jam Skatingīy the 1990's, traditional roller disco was losing popularity. While it began in the 1990's and has had a variety of different names over the years, this form of artistic skating involves elements of the movements associated with break dancing and figure skating. Jam is a modernized skating style with its roots in disco skating involving a combination of gymnastics and modern dance performed on wheels.
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