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Did you know that skating is also a fun way to get that exercise you've been meaning to get?
	Studies have shown that roller skating provides a complete aerobic workout and involves all of the body's muscles, especially the heart.
	Roller skating is equivalent to jogging in terms of health benefits-caloric consumption, reduction of body fat, and leg strength development.
	Roller skating is recognized and recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) as an aerobic fitness sport.
	Just one hour of moderate roller skating burns 330 calories for a 143-pound person.  If that same person roller skates vigorously, he or she will burn up to 590 calories in an hour.
	The number of calories burned per hour while skating at 6 mph is 350 and 600 while skating at 10 mph.
	According to a study conducted at the University of Massachusetts, in-line skating causes less than 50 percent of the impact shock to joints compared to running.
	If someone roller skates one day, bicycles another, and swims or runs on another, the person will be getting all the fitness benefits that aerobics can offer.
	During a 30-minute period, on the average, in-line skating at a steady, comfortable rate expends 285 calories and produces a heart rate of 148 beats per minute.
	Here's some more fun facts about rollerskating.
	A 1999 survey of roller skating center patrons across the U.S. showed:
	The main reason why patrons go skating is because "it's fun." Following in a close second was "my friends go."
	70% of those surveyed said they have had or have attended a birthday party at a skating center.
	A little over half of the respondents said they own rollerblades, while 41 percent own roller skates.
	2% of those surveyed said they also skate outdoors.
	According to National Sporting Goods Association Statistics:
	An estimated 2.5 million people participated in roller hockey (more than once) in 1999, an estimated 8.2 million in quad skating, and an estimated 24.1 million in in-line skating.
	In-line skating was ranked at the top of the list of sports with the greatest growth from 1993 to 1998, with a 118% increase in the number of estimated participants (ages 7 and older) in that time period.  Roller Hockey came in second with a 106% change in the number of participants.
	The number of youth ages 7 to 17 who in-line skated in 1998zwas 15,944 (marking growth of nearly 600% since 1990).  Bicycle riding was the sport most participated in by youth ages 7-17, with an estimated 17,899 bicycle riders.  Basketball ranked third with 14,519 participants.
(This information from the  Roller Skating Association International website.)