ROLLERBALL INTERVIEW !! PRODUCT INFO!! MUST READ!!
The Following is an interview conducted by Turn Around Picks, (T.A.P.) with Carl Abram, Marketing Manager for Skates and Accessories, RollerBall International Inc. concerning RollerBall Skates and their performance features. Carl has been associated with RollerBall since 1995 and has an extensive background in inline skating ranging from 10 years as Instructor, Teacher, Developer and Designer of Skates and Skating Videos, plus Sales & Marketing to the management of his own consulting company, Rollin' Ads. Carl is also responsible for the training and management of the RollerBall Skating Team, a team of professional skaters that make promotional appearances at Trade Shows, Retail Store Openings, TV appearances (GMA, CNN, etc.), promoting RollerBall skates. As Marketing Manager for RollerBall, Carl is involved in the development, testing and marketing of RollerBall's complete line of skates and accessories. Carl attended Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.
RollerBall design and development is coordinated by Arthur Dale Baker, VP - Design, Engineering and Manufacturing. Mr. Baker has over 15 years of experience in industrial design and engineering, specializing in transportation products (automotive after-market alloy wheels), POP merchandising systems and sporting goods items. Mr. Baker has been with RollerBall Intl. since its inception. He formerly served as President of the private design company, Arthur Baker Design, and was Director of Design and Engineering for Senter Engineering Corp.Mr. Baker holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts Degree from the University of Tulsa and is an alumni of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena Ca.
The Interview:
T.A.P. Does anyone else make a ball-wheel inline skate?
CARL RollerBall skates are the only "ball-wheel" skate on the market. Any other ball or spherical wheel shape would be a violation of RollerBall's patents and would be stopped by RollerBall.
T.A.P. Then the RollerBall Skate is a patented system?
CARL Yes. RollerBall International holds various utility patents in the USA, Canada, Mexico Japan, South Africa, Australia, various South American countries, the EU (The European Union) and the Company has a special utility model (type of patent) in Germany. RollerBall also has several patents pending, both foreign and domestic.
T.A.P. Is RollerBall a registered trademark?
CARL RollerBall ® is a registered trademark in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and over 16 other foreign countries, including the EU. RBI also holds various other trademarks such as: Mangia Strada®, Black Widow®, G-Force®, RB®, Attila®, GFX®, "Round for a Reason®", & Radial Skateball Technology®.
T.A.P. RollerBall makes the claim that its skates are better in terms of balance, stability, control, maneuverability, and ease of learning. Can you comment on this?
CARL I've been skating a long time on both quad, traditional inline skates, and recently (since 1995) on RollerBall skates, and I can tell you that there is no better skate or skating system for balance, stability, control, comfort, maneuverability--and ease of learning than RollerBall. The RollerBall wheel has over 300% MORE "usable" surface area compared to regular disk-shaped inline wheels and this variable maximizes balance, control, stability and ease of learning. Maneuverability is better since our skates have better lean angles (up to 120 degrees) when compared to traditional skates. Their longer "lean radius" gives RollerBall an exceptional degree of control and maneuverability. Because of these points, RollerBall is in our opinion the #1 skate for recreational skaters. And just as importantly, there is no better skate for beginners to learn to skate--whether they are children or adults. It's fun for beginners who are learning how to skate--whether they are children or adults. It's fun to skate when your knees or ankles don't buckle and when it isn't a chore to stand and skate. RollerBall eliminates ALL this anxiety associated with skating. Because of all these features, RollerBall skates are extremely SAFE, reliable skates.
T.A.P. How about speed?
CARL Our wheel diameter to wheel diameter, and bearing rating to bearing rating make the speed of RollerBall comparable to traditional disc-shaped inline skates. Rollerball does not make a "Speed Skate." That is, a skate that is especially for speed skating alone. Speed Skating represents less than 2% of the Inline market and as a consequence is not our primary positioning. We position our products to the "Recreational Skater." This market segment is over 70% of the market and it is where our skates really perform.
T.A.P. Who would buy RollerBall Skates?
CARL All recreational skaters, hockey players that play defensive and goal positions, children, skaters who are "Trier / Rejecters" that is they have tried inline skates and for whatever reason have rejected them and are not skating, and "first time" skaters or buyers. In 1998, 60% of all inline purchases were "first time buyers."
T.A.P. How about for other types of training?
CARL RollerBall skates are great for cross-training users as they provide an exceptional aerobic exercise with less physical strain on the legs and joints as well as just being easier to use, meaning more concentration on the workout and less worry about the skating technique.
T.A.P. Tell me a little more about the 60mm and 70mm ball-shaped wheels?
CARL Our 60mm and 70mm ball wheels have a larger urethane mass than comparable disc-shaped traditional inline skates.The shape and width of the RollerBall wheel "absorbs" vibration and impacts better than the disc-shaped inline wheels, giving a much smoother ride with less stress from these elements being passed through to the skater's knees and ankles. The wide bearing placement and chassis mounting locations minimize the off-axis stresses during lean angle maneuvers which minimizes sideways stress on the skater's ankles.
T.A.P. So RollerBall works better than other skates on tough road conditions?
CARL Correct. The shape and width of the RollerBall wheel allows our skate to roll over road irregularities such as grates and cracked pavement, that would be difficult, dangerous or even impossible with the thin disc-shaped inline wheels.
T.A.P. What about the RollerBall chassis?
CARL Most of our chassis are made with and feature high-impact modified nylons with glass fiber reinforcement. Some of our higher price models also have carbon additives for increased strength and physical properties and we also make a line of Aluminum alloy frame skates for hockey and fitness/recreation use.
T.A.P. What are the RollerBall models?
CARL RollerBall has 20 models at various price points and with different performance features for different levels of skating. The six brand groupings are: 1) RB®--which is our 2, 70mm ball skates priced under $60.00 retail; 2) GFX®3--3, 60mm ball skates for young skaters (sizes 12J to 6) priced under $70.00 retail; 3) GFX®4 --4, 60mm ball skates for recreational, fitness and hockey skaters priced under $140; 4) RollerBall Carbon-4, 60 mm ball skates with carbon chassis retail price under $160; 5) G-Force® Alloy--4, 60 mm ball skates with alloy chassis priced under $150 and 6) Aggressive, 4, 60mm aggressive skates priced under $150 retail. These price points offer the consumer good price/value relationships and exceptional value.
T.A.P. In conclusion, what else, Carl?
CARL We say that RollerBall skates are "Round for a Reason" that makes for "Skating made Easy." We feel they are by far the best recreational, beginner and children's skates on the market as well as the safest skates that you can ride. If you've tried to skate and failed-you haven't tried RollerBalls! Check them out! You'll be sold on these unique skates once you try them! By the way, for further information, check us out at our web site: rollerballskates.com. It's a great and informative site! Thanks, for giving me the time to talk about RollerBall.
T A P has entered a 6 month contract with RollerBall International Inc. and is being compensated $30,000 for promotional services for the first 3 months to increase consumer and investor awareness. The remaining $30,000 fee is on a contingency performance basis within 6 month contract period. For complete write-up on ROLL and other T A P companies go to T A P profile for url.
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