I wanted to pass along a few tips on equipment that we have found to be off extra importance as we skate around Asia Pacific..

Wheels Camera/MP3 Player Timex Ironman Speed & Distance System Pads

Wheels

I have a pair of Solomon Skates, Speedsters, I purchased them at my favourite shop in Sydney. A strange think happened the last time I was skating down a hill on Victoria road on the west side of Hong Kong Island. I had one of my wheels explode, Well, it felt like it exploded, it flew apart, jamming my skate, and throwing me for a long slide down a steep hill. I was wearing my pads, so my injuries were limited. But the slide was so hard and long my pads were torn apart. I am not sure what caused it, but my wheels are gone, my pads are gone, my skates are considerably scratched up, and my body is showing a few marks.

I bought Salomon wheels, size and hardness based on the advice of the Salomon in Chatsood, near Sydney, now in MHO, my own personal humble opinion, the worlds worst skate shop

Salomon Action Sports & Travel

Level 3 Westfield Shopng Town Chatswood

When it comes to skating equipment, it is MHO they do not know what they are talking about. I bought eight wheels there from them, they all broke, crumbled, into pieces just after a little use. What I got from them when I returned them was an argument. After lots of pressure the best they would do is return them to Salomon for a “review”, which of course was "normal wear and tear" Wheels crumbling and cracking is Normal?. Anyway in my opinon their advice is bad, their equipment faulty, and they do not stand behind their products. Go to totalskate. Which I did and get 8 wheels, of their selection, "ultimate infinity", they are great. Been working really well.

Camera/MP3 Player

After wrist, knee and elbow pads my number one accessory, is my Casio Exilim Camera. It is not just a Digital Camera, it is also a MP3 player, and records 30 second 15fs movies. The pictures are “ok”, 2 mega pixel pictures, which are “better than nothing” and frankly the option for me is either this camera or not to carry any camera. I use it at its best quality setting.

It is great device to have. It lets me stop and take pictures (and take a breath). While skating it gives me a good MP3 player. I use a 512 memory card, half I use for MP3’s and half I save for taking pictures. So that gives me 3 – 4 hours of music and room for 200+ pictures or 50+ 30 second 15fs movies.

Movies are great to use to review your skating technique. We take short movies of each other and then review how we are doing. (I need to flex a lot more) And it is also fun to take a short video . Almost all the videos on this web site were taken with this camera.

Pictures are also a great way to remember great spots you have been. And of course there is my favorite reason to have a camera with me. When I get really tired, rather than be embaressed and tell my mates I am bushed, I pull out my camera and think about the "shot" for awhile. I catch my breath and sometimes get some good shots.

The best thing about this device is it is small, tiny, and yet it still has all three functions. And Battery life is very good.

For listening the headphones I use are the Sony fuzzy ones that sit over the ears, not the ones that go in the ears. I understand these do not provide as good sound quality as in-ear noise reduction earphones – which are what I use on the airplane, these provide pretty good sound, but still let me hear street sounds, cars and such. I feel this is a necessary feature so I can hear what might be coming up from behind.

Timex Ironman Speed & Distance System

My newest bit of really fun (if perhaps unnessary kit is the Timex Ironman Speed & Distance System. It is so much fun. In Hong Kong it does not always work it best, especially when trapped in the valleys of tall buildings that make up a lot of the city. But otherwise it is fun. It gives you all kinds of good information. Below is the info from a vendor.

• Two-piece wireless system uses Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology to continuously calculate and monitor speed, distance, and pace.
• GPS tranceiver (not shown) clips on waist or straps onto arm.
• Information is displayed on multi-function watch, which notifies the user of how to change a workout to achieve set goals.
• Continuous odometer.
• Indiglo® illumination.
• Memory storage functions.

Features

Contemporary Ironman® Triathlon® styling

50-lap or 100-lap memory recall
Countdown timer
Chronograph
2 time zones
Alarm - Daily and Weekend
INDIGLO® night light
All Day INDIGLO® display
NIGHT-MODE® feature
Water resistant to 50m

Speed and Distance Functions:

Current speed/pace
Average speed/pace
Maximum speed/best pace
Automatic time setting
Workout distance
Continuous odometer (miles traveled)
Target speed alarms (100-lap only)
Target distance alarms (100-lap only)
Metric or English measurement units
Maximum speed displayed: 450 mph
MPH with one tenth MPH display
KPH with one tenth KPH display

Package Includes:

Ironman® Triathlon® watch
GARMIN® GPS tracking system
3 AAA batteries
Elastic arm strap with hook and loop fastener
Belt clip
User's manual
Reusable storage package

Pads

The Best Pads I have are RollerBlade, hands down. They are really built for street skating. Mine have survied many falls. They are great. I have used others, but most have not survied too many road spills. I have more than one other kinds burn holes right through.

Disclaimer

All material included in this Web site is for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current developments, nor does it promote physical activity of any kind. The authors are not professionals and should not be interpreted as being such. They are not offering instructions, but are sharing of personal experiences, that should not be construed as advice, instruction, or best practices. This information should in no way be taken as an guarantee of future results. As such, the material contained herein is not offered as official advice on any particular matter. The contributing authors expressly disclaim all liability to any person in respect to actions taken or in respect to the consequences of anything done or omitted, and which may be done wholly or partly in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this Web site. Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, a relationship between us and the user or browser. No reader should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any matter contained in this Web site without seeking the appropriate professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue. Nor are we responsible for any third party contents which can be accessed through the website

Reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than for individual use only and may not be recopied and shared with a third party. The permission to recopy by an individual does not allow for incorporation of material or any part of it in any work or publication, whether in hard copy, electronic, or any other form.