Beginner's Guide To Inline Skating; Learn To Rollerblade Without Killing Yourself

These two productions are low-budget introductions to the increasingly popular activity called "rollerblading" or "inline skating," in which skaters use an ice skate boot with 4 or 5 small wheels in a line on the bottom (rather than a blade). Beginner's Guide to Inline Skating is the lesser of the two. Basically an amateur production, the program offers very little in the way of instruction. The camera follows host Leanna Moore around as she skatesand talks with skater Tom Hess--who offers suggestions on choosing and maintaining one's skates. The video has washed-out color, poor audio, and is strictly a primitive use of the medium.Learn to Rollerblade Without Killing Yourself features better production values, and includes sections on equipment, safety, stretching exercises, and road hazards, in addition to the standard instruction on skating, turns, and stopping. However, there's too much talking head instruction, and the host does not appear entirely comfortable in front of the camera.Beginner's Guide to Inline Skating is not recommended. Learn to Rollerblade Without Killing Yourself is an optional purchase. License to Skate: In-Line (reviewed in our December 1991 issue) is a much better choice than either of these. (Beginner's Guide to Inline Skating is available from: Quality Books, 918 Sherwood Dr., Lake Bluff, IL 60044-2204; (800) 323-4241.) (Learn to Rollerblade Without Killing Yourself is available from: Picturebrent Productions, 520 N. 45th St. #A, Seattle, WA 98103-6460; (206) 547-4333.)