January 03rd, 2012 - by
Monday
The Brian Krans Column: The Resurgence of ‘Powerblading’
Tags:
anti-rocker, brian konoske, brian krans, c-notes, cobblestones, column, el presidente, esg, goodwill, iowa-transplant ass, jsf, old arthritic bastard, powerblading, san francisco, senate, shitting bricks, skitching, the brian krans column, the resurgence of powerblading
Do you like this? Share it with your friends and help Be-Mag to spread the word about Rollerblading. Like us on Facebook, add us on Google+ or follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates from the Blading world!
There’s yet another movement in blading dubbed, “Powerblading.” I guess it’s skating in the streets on eight wheels. Man, that sounds familiar.
Write-up by Brian Krans
Kizer came out with their Powerblading frames, and more power to them because it filled a void many bladers had: an easy, economically-sound way to get around without burning through wheels or quad strength to get to a spot. It’s a UFS frame that supports big ass wheels all over the place, much like the frames of old, including the Rollerblade Switch frames.
Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Kizer frames and Richie Eisler fucked up the world with his edit including the new Powerblade frames, but shelling out the extra cash for a different frame, wheels, and bearings does come with some groans just to “powerblade.”
For most of us growing up, this style of blading had no name. It was the way to get from spot to spot – skating. You didn’t switch up frames because, well, you couldn’t switch frames. You bought your Rollerblades, threw on some Senate wheels, and went around with about five bucks in your pocket to buy Surge sodas and Funyuns to get you through your day.
The closest we came to powerblading back in the day was when people moved from oversized Brian Konoske outer wheels and tiny C-Notes in the center, to smaller, harder wheels in a four down setup.
Still, the old, arthritic bastard I am, there are times I would appreciate the extra ease of cruising around on these new powerblades. Then again, I’m set in my ways.
On a given week here in San Francisco, I can log between 20 to 30 miles – or 32 to 48 km for the rest of you with a legitimate mathematical system – on my skates going from home to work, from appointment to appointment, and back home again. From rough, ugly pavement to train tracks and gradual uphill inclines there are plenty of moments where I wish my Colin Kelso Street Artists were a bit bigger and my Dyna B. Smith’s were a bit more forgiving, but that’s the way I do shit.
There are plenty of bladers here in the city of hills that swear by recreational skates for transportation and I sincerely entertained the idea when I first moved to San Francisco two years ago, but the idea of mile-high frames, insanely high cuffs and other shit had my Iowa-transplant ass shitting bricks.
Fuck everything about that. I’m sticking with my normal setup. I know it. It knows me. It’s a good relationship that I don’t want to fuck up by cheating on it with some second-hand pair of blades I bought at Goodwill, all jaded from being in garage for a few decades that they’re out for vengeance should some new guy think to stick his parts in them.
Around the Bay, I’ve hit up to 63 mph (101 kph) on an anti-rocker setup. For the record, ESG on a flat setup whipped right by me because he’s JSF el presidente that don’t give a fuck. I’ve cored the best of wheels and felt urethane turn to butter as I skitched cars. I’ve been in some really stupid situations because of my skates, but there’s a reason why I stick to the same setup, from session to transportation – unity.
The more you skate in your singular setup, the more you can handle. When you learn to bounce over train tracks, roll over cobblestone, or handle rush hour traffic via skitching, the better your regular skating will be.
Bomb the same hill daily in your anti-rocker setup and in a few weeks you’ll stop shitting your pants and start doing it fakie. Trust me. If my old, lame ass can do it, you can too.
The whole point of it all is that in a few short months you’ll be riding over that shitty run up you used to hate like it’s freshly laid concrete.
Really, fuck all of it. Powerblade on your own setup. It’ll make you a better skater. At least people will be able to tell you apart from the 1990s.
-Brian Krans
About the author: Brian Krans has been blading for half of his life. Now 30, he works as an editor at Healthline.com in San Francisco. His first two books, A Constant Suicide, and Freeze Tag on the Highway, were published by Rock Town Press. He also writes at www.bladeordie.com and is a proud member of JSF.
Do you like this? Share it with your friends and help Be-Mag to spread the word about Rollerblading. Like us on Facebook, add us on Google+ or follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates from the Blading world!
Comments
January 11th, 2012 @ 11:16 - by tom
krans you are obviously just ignorant. why on earth would anybody suffer the uncomfortable, unsafe ride out of stubborness towards powerblading?
if they offer higher speed with less effort, more comfort and an alternative to driving / public transport then where is the problem?
surprised that be-mag would post this article. powerblading may not be new - but at least it is creating a link between the two types of skating and helping people realise that speed skating isn't 'gay'...
January 10th, 2012 @ 07:15 - by cameron talbott
Krans is the man!! Its just rollerblading people!!! No more no less.....
January 05th, 2012 @ 19:09 - by N.S
I'm not sure about what I just read...comedy attempt?
the title should be : "the brian krans needs attention column"
No but seriously...people should just stop trying to find answers about Powerblading, conference came up with it, or didn't, their product is working...maybe you wanted to come up with it...because its so obvious, well you didn't so either embrace it, or go find your old stock of fucking Grizzli wheels and put them on your rollerblades, and leave everybody that supports it, the fuck alone.
Undercover powerblading wheels...show me anything that came out in 15 years that is half as good as they are...
We are a fucking struggling community because of fucking stupid no brainers. And this is suppose to be a website that SUPPORTS ROLLERBLADING...not bring it down by letting anybody write their stupid thoughts, thus HATING on the sport.
Fuck this shit, its stupid.
P.S: why not have a weekly column and SHIT on every company there is in rollerblading?
January 05th, 2012 @ 10:50 - by interesting
interesting take on the whole situation, thanks for sharing your perspective on the story.
January 04th, 2012 @ 12:49 - by rui
hate hate hate. u bladers will never change
do ur own shit let others do theirs....
January 04th, 2012 @ 05:39 - by bballog
Krans you my dawg, but...I just tested out the undercover wheels on the powerblade frames and found it to be insanely awesome for SF. Felt like I was ice skating it was so smooth. Don't think I'd give up my anti-setup overall, but for hill bombing and transit it was pretty legit.
January 03rd, 2012 @ 21:04 - by buckethead.
Going 63 MPH on rollerblades "around the bay"
do you know how fast 60 miles per hour is?
you would shit yourself at 45.
and powerblades are sick.
January 03rd, 2012 @ 20:27 - by Rob
This artice is pretty lame and I can't believe it's published here on most respectful web page for rollerbladers..
Brian Krans you are still skating on Roces M13? Well then I got to tell you.. That sh*t aint new. Now they call it Valo you know..
Same sh*t different story. ;)
January 03rd, 2012 @ 17:46 - by ummm
"powerblading" has never happened before. what don't you people get? this combination of our advanced style of shells and these frames designed for structural integrity as well as being able to grind w/ them, has not happened before. im almost 30 and skated everything from OXYGEN ARs to MAJESTIC 12s to ROLLERBLADE LIGHTNINGS to every Bauer hockey skate out there, and this set up is 100% different. fitness/free skate boots and frames do not allow for the movement and flex of our skates. this is a true combination of different styles in ROLLERBLADING not just aggressive skating. but to trick skaters, who aren't well rounded rollerbladers anyway, "shelling out some extra cash" to skate 4 times faster on wheels that last 10 times longer that our shit urethane aggressive wheels that fall apart every 2 weeks, this would be a point for whining since most people can only roll up to spots and grind things but couldn't skate to save their lives. if you're a rollerblader at heart, not just an "aggressive skater", this shit is mind blowing. but if you're a one of these new age swaggsters, you should probably just stick to rails and ledges.
January 03rd, 2012 @ 16:40 - by Dork
Very well informed article, its good he tried the frames too, brilliantly written too, faaaaaaaaantastic duuudenot.
January 03rd, 2012 @ 16:38 - by Ralph
I loved that, i hate how the conference came up with something that was already here, oli just chilled with Greg Myzorian who was mashin streets on his rb solo/fitness skates the last 6 years, and he probbly thought, lets think of a new name and act like its our own idea, everybody was hating on how Rollerblade was bringing fitness skating and aggressive skating together, and now look what the biggest haters (yes im referring to the wieght bullshit video) are doing the same thing..
January 03rd, 2012 @ 16:21 - by Krans
Oh, Worst Dude, you funny.
I've never been fired from a job outside Wal-Mart, but thanks for caring!
January 03rd, 2012 @ 16:16 - by Nicolas Sarkozy
Mr. Krans,
Your piece has touched my heart and my soul grind. You truly are an international man clearly living in the Paris of the USA. I would love to have you and your crew of Jucied Sucka Foos at my Chateau in the mountains where we can hold the first international bladers summit. I shall have the maids prepare the marijuana cigarettes and get only the finest bottles of Champagne ready. We can then deal with all of these haters wanting to hate but thus it shall not effects us for ballers shall ball. Oh and make sure Pete Deeeeeee brings those pills because you know i like to get freaky...
January 03rd, 2012 @ 15:51 - by worst dude
Why get a guy who is clearly biased against Kizer and Powerblading, to do a piece on it? Krans is lame and I can't belive that after getting fired from ONE and the SF Examiner we have to read his crap here! Get it together be-mag, Krans' bias is anti-European, and pro-whatever-Ivan-Narez says.
These are the type of followers Krans attracts:
dabol wrote:
December 31, 2011 at 11:56 american skating is better than european skating. we’re not all friends just b/c we all have skates. US makes better skaters.
And in case you've forgotten, Ivan is the dude who doesn't think anyone else should have an edit up next to his. Freedom of press? I don't think so.
January 03rd, 2012 @ 13:31 - by angelo ferrer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRjHlxTh1Pg&list=UUwWs5IKuoTQANo7coBgayMw&index=1&feature=plcp for once i was going faster then the boarders in there own park
January 03rd, 2012 @ 13:31 - by Angelo ferrer
I was able to reach some pretty sick speeds in cement parks lately with them makes for some different fun outside the anti rocker set up, Not to mention Doing both is whats up because by riding down a hill on a powerblade set up when you put on your anti rocker set up youl do it backwards on one foot hahahah brian krans is the man! bladeordie.com is the legend
January 03rd, 2012 @ 12:22 - by cavin.b
i love krans!
January 03rd, 2012 @ 12:06 - by leon de jong
haha fucking ingenius shit.. marketing shit.. that is.. kizer.. came with a freestyle frame.. and all of a sudden.. people are hyping freestyle setups.. and calling it what kizer called it.. ''powerblading''.
still the same thing.. different name..
but yeah.. some people call all mp3 players.. ipods and all smartphones iphones..
like the fictional character clay davis said..
SJJJJJJIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
January 03rd, 2012 @ 09:57 - by rol247
how long do your wheels last if you go 20-30 miles a day? I'd guess thats at least a set a week...
I don't get why people don't get it...it is just fun... its so much fun to go around on an 80mm flat setup that CAN NOT be achieved by riding an anti rocker setup. Simply cannot. Call it what you want, but this new (old) idea of skating is awesome.
And i'm not gonna change my frames at every spot. (Kizer fucked that up, they should have made the frames 10mm longer so you don't need to unscrew the wheels as well) it is just a new perspective on rollerblading. and moving through the city. Something different to the old grind grind grind. You have to do different stuff cause royals don't work that well anymore.
January 03rd, 2012 @ 09:03 - by yeah
interesting take
krans you are obviously just ignorant. why on earth would anybody suffer the uncomfortable, unsafe ride out of stubborness towards powerblading?
if they offer higher speed with less effort, more comfort and an alternative to driving / public transport then where is the problem?
surprised that be-mag would post this article. powerblading may not be new - but at least it is creating a link between the two types of skating and helping people realise that speed skating isn't 'gay'...
Krans is the man!! Its just rollerblading people!!! No more no less.....
I'm not sure about what I just read...comedy attempt?
the title should be : "the brian krans needs attention column"
No but seriously...people should just stop trying to find answers about Powerblading, conference came up with it, or didn't, their product is working...maybe you wanted to come up with it...because its so obvious, well you didn't so either embrace it, or go find your old stock of fucking Grizzli wheels and put them on your rollerblades, and leave everybody that supports it, the fuck alone.
Undercover powerblading wheels...show me anything that came out in 15 years that is half as good as they are...
We are a fucking struggling community because of fucking stupid no brainers. And this is suppose to be a website that SUPPORTS ROLLERBLADING...not bring it down by letting anybody write their stupid thoughts, thus HATING on the sport.
Fuck this shit, its stupid.
P.S: why not have a weekly column and SHIT on every company there is in rollerblading?
interesting take on the whole situation, thanks for sharing your perspective on the story.
hate hate hate. u bladers will never change
do ur own shit let others do theirs....
Krans you my dawg, but...I just tested out the undercover wheels on the powerblade frames and found it to be insanely awesome for SF. Felt like I was ice skating it was so smooth. Don't think I'd give up my anti-setup overall, but for hill bombing and transit it was pretty legit.
Going 63 MPH on rollerblades "around the bay"
do you know how fast 60 miles per hour is?
you would shit yourself at 45.
and powerblades are sick.
This artice is pretty lame and I can't believe it's published here on most respectful web page for rollerbladers..
Brian Krans you are still skating on Roces M13? Well then I got to tell you.. That sh*t aint new. Now they call it Valo you know..
Same sh*t different story. ;)
"powerblading" has never happened before. what don't you people get? this combination of our advanced style of shells and these frames designed for structural integrity as well as being able to grind w/ them, has not happened before. im almost 30 and skated everything from OXYGEN ARs to MAJESTIC 12s to ROLLERBLADE LIGHTNINGS to every Bauer hockey skate out there, and this set up is 100% different. fitness/free skate boots and frames do not allow for the movement and flex of our skates. this is a true combination of different styles in ROLLERBLADING not just aggressive skating. but to trick skaters, who aren't well rounded rollerbladers anyway, "shelling out some extra cash" to skate 4 times faster on wheels that last 10 times longer that our shit urethane aggressive wheels that fall apart every 2 weeks, this would be a point for whining since most people can only roll up to spots and grind things but couldn't skate to save their lives. if you're a rollerblader at heart, not just an "aggressive skater", this shit is mind blowing. but if you're a one of these new age swaggsters, you should probably just stick to rails and ledges.
Very well informed article, its good he tried the frames too, brilliantly written too, faaaaaaaaantastic duuudenot.
I loved that, i hate how the conference came up with something that was already here, oli just chilled with Greg Myzorian who was mashin streets on his rb solo/fitness skates the last 6 years, and he probbly thought, lets think of a new name and act like its our own idea, everybody was hating on how Rollerblade was bringing fitness skating and aggressive skating together, and now look what the biggest haters (yes im referring to the wieght bullshit video) are doing the same thing..
Oh, Worst Dude, you funny.
I've never been fired from a job outside Wal-Mart, but thanks for caring!
Mr. Krans,
Your piece has touched my heart and my soul grind. You truly are an international man clearly living in the Paris of the USA. I would love to have you and your crew of Jucied Sucka Foos at my Chateau in the mountains where we can hold the first international bladers summit. I shall have the maids prepare the marijuana cigarettes and get only the finest bottles of Champagne ready. We can then deal with all of these haters wanting to hate but thus it shall not effects us for ballers shall ball. Oh and make sure Pete Deeeeeee brings those pills because you know i like to get freaky...
Why get a guy who is clearly biased against Kizer and Powerblading, to do a piece on it? Krans is lame and I can't belive that after getting fired from ONE and the SF Examiner we have to read his crap here! Get it together be-mag, Krans' bias is anti-European, and pro-whatever-Ivan-Narez says.
These are the type of followers Krans attracts:
dabol wrote:
December 31, 2011 at 11:56 american skating is better than european skating. we’re not all friends just b/c we all have skates. US makes better skaters.
And in case you've forgotten, Ivan is the dude who doesn't think anyone else should have an edit up next to his. Freedom of press? I don't think so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRjHlxTh1Pg&list=UUwWs5IKuoTQANo7coBgayMw&index=1&feature=plcp for once i was going faster then the boarders in there own park
I was able to reach some pretty sick speeds in cement parks lately with them makes for some different fun outside the anti rocker set up, Not to mention Doing both is whats up because by riding down a hill on a powerblade set up when you put on your anti rocker set up youl do it backwards on one foot hahahah brian krans is the man! bladeordie.com is the legend
i love krans!
haha fucking ingenius shit.. marketing shit.. that is.. kizer.. came with a freestyle frame.. and all of a sudden.. people are hyping freestyle setups.. and calling it what kizer called it.. ''powerblading''.
still the same thing.. different name..
but yeah.. some people call all mp3 players.. ipods and all smartphones iphones..
like the fictional character clay davis said..
SJJJJJJIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
how long do your wheels last if you go 20-30 miles a day? I'd guess thats at least a set a week...
I don't get why people don't get it...it is just fun... its so much fun to go around on an 80mm flat setup that CAN NOT be achieved by riding an anti rocker setup. Simply cannot. Call it what you want, but this new (old) idea of skating is awesome.
And i'm not gonna change my frames at every spot. (Kizer fucked that up, they should have made the frames 10mm longer so you don't need to unscrew the wheels as well) it is just a new perspective on rollerblading. and moving through the city. Something different to the old grind grind grind. You have to do different stuff cause royals don't work that well anymore.
interesting take