Read the excerpt from radrollersports.comThe history of roller skating goes back a lot further than you would think. Back in 1743, actors strapped wheels onto their shoes in a play, attempting to show that they were ice skating. These weren’t the quad, or four-wheeled, roller skates you see today; those weren’t invented until 1863. According to the National Museum of Roller Skating, James Plimpton not only invented quad skates but also made them popular. Then, as they say, the rest is history! Roller skating remains a popular pastime today; it is a relatively inexpensive, fun exercise that requires no special equipment besides the skates themselves. You don’t need a team, either—just you and the sidewalk, and you’re participating in the sport. Although it is technically a solo activity, there is no other sport that fosters friendships like skating; the skating community is a bonded group of people who have unbridled passion for the same thing: roller skating.