BY JANET WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In-line skating and skateboarding have been popular pastimes nationally for more than 10 years. But around 1992, the popularity erupted into a craze when "aggressive" or trick-skating surfaced.
The most recent survey shows the number of serious in-line skaters, those who skate more than 25 days a year, skyrocketed to nearly 8 million in 1996, according to Chris Hannemann, public relations director of Aggressive Skaters Association (ASA), Marina Del Rey, Calif. That is the worldwide governing body of aggressive in-line skating.
"That's a 316.8-percent increase since 1992," Mr. Hannemann said.
In comparison, one of the country's biggest amateur soccer organizations, the U.S. Youth Soccer Association, has about 3 million registered members.
Of the nation's skaters, 38 percent are ages 11-17, 26 percent are 18-24, and the balance are older than 25. About 71 percent are male.
California has the most in-line skaters and Texas is second. They're followed, in order, by New York, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Illinois, Mr. Hannemann said.
The sport has become so big that many national events draw thousands. Some are televised, such as the ESPN "X" (Extreme) Games, an alternative-sport showcase.
