Dec 2002

Once you have selected a skate boot, you will want to choose a plate for it to be mounted on (if you are having your skates custom made.) The traditional skate plate is made of aluminum and is the one you will find on most roller rink rental skates.  It is a very strong plate but is also very heavy.

Many quad roller skaters today prefer lightweight plates like the Sunlite brand sold by top distributors like RC Sports, Inc. (RC) of Lenexa Kansas.  The Sunlite plate is their best seller not just because it is constructed of a lighter material than traditional plates but also because of the variety of colors it comes in and the fact that it comes with a lifetime guarantee against breakage.  Much time and thought went into the development of this unique plate.

"After a great deal of research, the Dupont 801 Super Tuff Zytel Nylon was selected - it's just incredible stuff," said Dale Hanson, President of RC.

He recalls the Sunlite was first introduced during the heart of the disco era in the late 1970's and many believed skaters would reject the plastic plates.  Instead, they became the "pioneer in lightweight quad plates" and remain the #1 selling plate for RC.  In Dale's view, these plates have stood the test of time and have proven to be the plate of choice for skaters of various specialties, whether speed, artistic or freestyle/dance.

In spite of Sunlite's popularity there have always been those who prefer a metal plate like the Sure Grip Super X sold by RC.  It has also proven to be a good and reliable plate but its main drawback is the heaviness that comes from being composed of aluminum.  Also, since the Super X is not guaranteed against breakage (for the life of the skate), it cannot compete with the lifetime warranty that comes with the Sunlite.

Whether plastic or metal, skate plates come with additional parts other than the flat piece of material the boot is mounted on.  All plates have either single or double action Trucks between each set of wheels.  Double action trucks increase the precision and versatility of the skate and consist of a metal piece sandwiched between two rubber disks.  This allows minor movement of the truck assembly which enables a skater to lean right or left and go in directions other than straight forward or back.

Some plates also have a Jump Bar running lengthwise between the trucks.  This metal bar stabilizes the trucks and prevents them from detaching from their sockets, no matter how athletically you skate.

The Axle is the metal rod that fits through the cylindrical-like tunnel in the trucks and there are two axles per skate. This rod is what supports and holds the skate Wheels and Bearings in place.  Of course, the bearings and wheels are also secured and kept from sliding off the axle by the Axle Nut, which screws onto each outer threaded edge of the axle.  There are four nuts per skate.

Our next article will take a closer look at the variety and types of Wheels and Bearings available to quad roller skaters.

- Kim Muhammad -