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TAKING IT OFF THE STREETS In-line oes off-road When Todd Olson joined Rollerblade in 1994 as a principal industrial designer, he was a mountain biker at heart. But he had to learn to skate for his new job. Combining the two activities seemed like a logical step to him. Three years and six prototypes later, Rollerblade's develop ment team has produced a new skate that may spawn a new sport. Taking skating to a new place is what Miller likes about the six-wheelers. "It's gone from being an urban to a nature activity," he says. "Now you can skate to places where you go camping." Miller took a test run at Moab and was amazed when his wheels rolled right over three-inch-high rocks. It shouldn't be long before the skates make an appearance at the X Games. After motocross and boarder cross, here comes blade cross-giant slalom skating on defrosted ski slopes and freestyle skating on a dirt track. Is it the ultimate crossover sport? In March, at the liTo go off-road, the skates have to be able to Sea Otter Mountain Bike Classic in Monterey, California, absorb the shock and overcome the bumpy obstacles some top riders tried out the Coyotes and loved them. Happy on a natural surface," explains Olson. He hit upon the idea of trails.-Lesa Griffith using pneumatic-air-filled-tires. An early model featured the front tires from a power wheelchair. The result is more maneuverability, a big part Rollerblade: 800-232-ROLL, of off-road skating. www.rollerblade.com Like mountain biking, this new sport is about strategic posi- tioning on a trail, lessening the effort it takes to get through the terrain. The skates also have "tremendous downhill potential," says Olson. "It's the beginning of something big," says professional in-line skater Cory Miller, who helped develop the Coyote all-terrain skates. 14