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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1991-07-17, Page 15• s� Rollerblading not just a fad By Fred Groves EXETER - Jodi Soldan says it's fun. But rollerblading seems to be much, much more. Sure there is the thrill of having the wind blow through your hair and zipping past your pedestrian friends, but there is much, much more. Rollerblading is catching on and although there is an aspect of fun, it's a good'way to keep the legs in shape for skating in the winter. Soldan of Exeter, recently tried on a pair of rollerblades at RSD Sports Den. Being a ringette player, she looked like a pro as she glided and turned. "It's just like ice skating, r said Soldan. Ron Bogart, of RSD explained the main reason people are buying rollerblades is to stay in shape for skating. - "It's basically the same skating motion," said Bogart. "You don't quite stop the same but it's differ- ent than roller skating." Rollerblades have a break stop- per on the back of the right skate; roller skates have two rubber stop- pers on the bottom of the toes. Bo- gart said with the roller blades, it doesn't matter if you're left or right handed when it comes to stopping. Scott Bogart put on a pair last year and his dad says it helped him. "Scotty said he did a lot of skat- ing on them last summer and his legs were in shape for hockey." Made by Bauer and a company simply called Rollerblades, Bogart recommends rollerblades for young skaters who are just ap- proaching their first winter on the ice. "I think it would build a kids' confidence. I don't think there's that much of a difference in the skating stride." Rollerblading seems to be safe and easy to master. Losing one's" balance does not happen very often. "I haven't (fallen) but I'm sure some people have," said Soldan. MacLean's in Exeter also carries a full line of not only rollerblades but other accessories as well, "Parents are concerned with the kids wiping out (falling down) but we sell elbow pads and knee pads,' said Lori Dalrymple at MacLean's. Sizes at both RSD and MacLeans vary from children to adults. ."A lot of boys come in and they're playing ball hockey," said Dalrymple. Ken Needham, coach of the Lu - can Irish Junior 'D' hockey team, lives in llderton and is that commu- nity's arena manager. He says he hasn't seen that many rollerblades ,but has heard positive comments. "I've heard the pros speak about them," said Needham. Big seller: Bum Bums in Grand Bend, has been selling a lot of the rollerblades. Sonya Turner explained that stores in Canada are able to sell them a lot easier now than in the past. She said prior to January 1, 1991 there was a tariff which made them too expensive to bring to Can- ada. But that's been lifted and the re- sort community is buying them up. "Everybody from , children to grandparents," she said. "Eigh,t of 10 sales are to adults." So, what is it that makes roller - blades a big seller? As Bogart indi- cated, its a good way to keep in shape for ice skating. But Turner says it's more than that. "You're not just going around in a circle. You're outside and it's a good aerobic workout," she said. Is rollerblading a fad? Something different to break the boredom of summer. Neither Bogart or Turner think so and they should know because they are the ones selling rollerblades. "I really don't believe it's a fad. It's been in the States for 12 years," said Turner. She said it was invented in Min- nesota to assist hockey players in their training and said it will always be a cross -training tool. Bogart agreed, he said less and -less people are jogging and this is a good alter- native. "If it's a fad, it's really taken off. More than anything I'm aware of," said Bogart. A big concern with rollerblading is safety. Skateboards are,not the most stable pieces of equipment. Bogart said if the person jumps off, or falls off, the board keeps going and that's dangerous. The Town of Exeter has a bylaw which prohibits.skateboards on the sidewalks, but the town has yet to have any complaints about roller - blades so they are allowed on the sidewalks. A good workout„ a method to keep in shape for those many hours of ice skating, and a safe way to ex- ercise. Rollerblading has got it all and looks like it's here to stay. Away she goes - Jodi Soldan has little trouble getting around on a Big sellerfRon Bofart, left; and Jodi' Soldenstf RSD Sports Den pair of roller blades. - display the hot new item: —" DISCOVER, NTALS NEW Lifts now in Stock Also available Zoom Lift 50' Workheight, 1000 -load rating FREE' Delivery and pickup on all rental equipment (except Zoom Nat) AtAt- RENT-ALL Mount Carme 237-3456, 237-3457 ,� << 1-800-265-2901 24 Hour Emergency Service 1-800-2654117 pager number 1658 Pitching it's an art ockey goalies, foot-'', ' - ball quarterbacks sidelinesand baseball pitch- ers. They control the game and it is their actions which deter- mine the final outcome. ' - Many may argue this, say- ing for instance you have to have a guy who can put the puck in the net to win the game. Argument - but it's the goalie who is the final line of defence. If he makes a mistake then yes, the,scoreboard flashes another number. In football, at least on the professional level, the quarter- back always brings a certain charisma to the game: From the flamboyant and outrageousness of a Jim McMahon to the quickness but shortness of a Doug Flutie. , It's the quarterback who has the most contact with the coach ana therefore it is he who has control of the game. But what about the pitcher? He is the first line of defence and to many it may appear as though he is a magician. A king of the magic act and the mound is his throne. - From atop the mound he looks down upon his subjects and it is from there he makes his selection. Oh, but what to throw. Reaching into his bag of tricks he pulls out a fastball, curve, slider, changeup, knuckleball and even maybe a forkball. It's important not to rush pitchers when they are young. Don't get them throwing a variety of pitches. Control, that's what's important. "Pitching is a tough job," said Don Correll, coach of the Ex- eter Co-op Juniors. He explained that when pitchers are young, coaches may have a tendency to teach them Iiow to throw curves. But strikes, getting the ball ovet the plate is what should be em- phasized. "I would teach them how to throw strikes. It would help everyone because you'd have better pitches to hit," said Cur- rell. Players as young as seven years old are picking up a hard- ball and heading towards the mound. Currell suggested not to push the youngsters. "If I was coaching I'd be conscious of their arms getting hurt." The biggest change pitchers have to adopt to is the transac- tion from pitching off of a flat surface on a softball diamond to moving up and hurling off the elevated mound. "The mechanics are the same. The difference is the control. Now all of a sudden you're stepping down and find the ball is going up," said Currell. Wednesday night, Mike Agnew made his debut on the mound for the local juniors. Exeter was in a tournament'this weekend and,Currell was just seeing if he could add another pitcher to his staff. by Fred Groves "I have to find two or three more guys to get a couple of in- nings herejand there," said Currell. Currell said the hardest part about teaching his pitchers to throw is time. They only have three or four practices a week so most*off"'the inforniation he"passes on comes during the game. At the junior level, usually 15 years -and -older he encourag- es his pitchers to try and make the batter chase the ball. Hit- ting the comers 'and up high could draw the odd swing. Even at the junior level, Currell said although his pitchers are trying to throw the curve; "they're throwing a ball that will break, but I don't know if it's a curve." Fastballs seem to be the favorite pitch. And why shouldn't it be. Getting a batter to swing and watching him miss at your hardest thrown ball is a big ego builder. Currell said it's all right -4f the opposition gets the wood on the ball. "So what if they hit the ball, as long as they don't hit it hard." In junior, the better pitchers like Exeter's Scot Russell can throw the ball 85 miles per hour. Hits and erro"'s are all part of the game, -but it's the walks that hurt. It seems. at Least in junior anyway. The less walks, the better the chance of winning. NEW C I3aIII "ONS OFA KIND" DEMO AGED IN vt, v TORY SALE • 600 Forage Bower H.D. 60" fan $4,295 5610 Chisel ' low "Special Offer" ... • 8430 Fid. Baler 4r $10 ,295 width, up to 51" dia... 99 v.4,..1111 . 49622' Disc Dual 13 395 wheels, fur. filler.... • 3309 9'3" cut ?F`70r r.__-• $11,995 • ..i`lIII I 111 1845 Skid Steer 56 HP 73" bucket..: $23150 T. • 8610 Large Bala651414' Consortia shank, ga. whls $7,995 Processor, sell load..$8,995 hyd. lift on disc $8,395 , ASK ABOUT OUR RENTAL PLAN DON'T MISS OUT... 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