Yet another well thought out article by up and coming and revolutionary blog “Że co, przepraszam?!“, this article analizes the birth and growth of the Powerblading movement. Take a moment to find out what has happened in the past 2 years, any why it happened: http://zecoprzepraszam.wordpress.com/2012/11/03/powerblading-deserve-its-own-identity/
Check the full article here, along with photos from Kiku Comino, Dustin Werbeski and Christoph Bottcher: http://www.be-mag.com/article/2188-What-is-Powerblading-#comments
Below: The Arrow frame shot by Christoph Bottcher
1. Adrenaline
Powerblading is an intense source of adrenaline. The speed, split second decisions combined with tricks keeps the skater constantly stimulated. With the streets and its architecture at your fingertips the adventure is endless and the feeling of leaving pedestrians, bikes and traffic in the dust as you breeze past is a constant rush.
2. Invent
With Powerblading being developed for the first time by previously aggressive exclusive brands, products are genre specific and advanced, allowing for more opportunities than ever before. This leaves a great chance for exciting new faces on the skate scene as well as huge opportunities to invent new tricks and variations – Powerblading is a blank canvas!
3. Discover
Travelling around your city on skates can lead you into some very interesting corners. Stimulate your body and mind while you go from A to B.
4. No age restriction
A lifetime of aggressive skating can take a painfully toll on your body. Powerblading can be as dangerous and exciting as you wish, while at the same time being more about invention and quick decisions than self harm. As long as you’re a strong skater, there’s no reason why you can’t power around a city whatever your age – the risk of injury is lower than that of aggressive skating but the adrenaline remains just as high, caused by a different sensation than that of “fear”.
5. Intelligence
As you move around a city, you will find yourself searching for ideas. You will find your mind racing with ways of using the architecture, banks, stairs keeping you constantly stimulated and mentally active which will also help you in your day to day life.
6. Health
-Exercise controls weight: The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn.
-Exercise combats health conditions and diseases: Regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.
-Exercise improves mood: Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.
-Exercise boosts energy: Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy
7. Convenient
Being able to go so fast without the need to park a car, chain up a bike, fight crowds on public transport or wait for hours for a bus means that you always know how long it will take you to go from A to B and that you are your own master. With no time restrictions and only a pair of skates needed Powerblading is a convenient and effective form of transport that is also effective on many terrains. Rough floor, poor paving and uneven surfaces are a breeze with 80mm wheels.
8. Environment
Reuduce your Carbon footprint. Leave your car in the garage. The world is becoming increasingly environmentally aware, and it’s our personal duty to help save this planet. A good start is by using public transport, a great start is using Powerblades!
9. Existing Installations
Where aggressive skating hungers for skateparks and that perfect rail or ledge, Powerblading is more about passing through an area, or using unusual elements on the streets. In this way instead of being limited to a skatepark or a definite obstacle, part of the challenge is in using what you have around you to create something – the challenge is to use what you have!
10. UFS
Powerblading adheres to UFS. With the simple changing of 2 screws you can switch frames to aggressive or any other style of skating that works with UFS. Powerblading in no way limits you through hardware, and can either be your total focus or an optional power-up for your current setup, keeping the costs down as your current aggressive setup is a perfect vehicle for Powerblading.
