No two people are alike. Likewise, no people are on the same fitness level either. We all like to be pushed a little in our workouts, but we don't want to be left on the side of the road for dead. The Masterbladers have developed four standard weekly skates. These skates are described below. Each skate meets at the same time, on the same day of the week, all year long. Skates are only cancelled if it's raining, snowing, or the roads are wet because of rain or snow earlier in the day. Check the schedule to find the meeting places.

Winter skates are usually smaller for two reasons;
1.- It's dark because of shorter days and Daylight Savings Time.
2.- It's cold! Some of the tougher skaters brave temperatures down to 20°F.


Saturday Skate:
a.k.a. the instructional skate. Our instructor, Becky, will teach you how to stand, start, brake, and develop confidence on skates. This instruction will progress as slow or fast as the group necessitates. This skate always meets at Cherokee Park. It is the only skate that meets at the same location every week. Did I mention that it's free? Before the lessons, there is a recreational skate around the park and possibly surrounding streets. This skate is 15 to 17 miles, but it can be as short as you want it to be. The skate starts at 11:00am. The clinic follows around 12:30pm. For online instructions, visit the International Inline Skating Association website.

Thursday Skate:
a.k.a. the recreational skate. After you graduate from Becky's class (or maybe you didn't need it), we recommend you start skating with the group on Thursday nights. This is our social workout. We travel about 12 to 15 miles, making frequent stops to insure that nobody gets left behind. This skate is a great way to spend an evening.

Tuesday Skate:
a.k.a. the fitness skate. This skate is typically the same distance as the Thursday skate, but it could be a little longer - 14 to 18 miles. We skate at a faster pace, and take fewer breaks to keep the heart rate up. Don't expect too much sympathy if you fall behind, but we'll make sure you're okay.

Sunday Skate:
a.k.a. the cross-country skate. Because of the light Sunday morning traffic, we like to get out on some country roads and enjoy the beautiful scenery. These roads can be hilly at times, but nothing a fit skater can't handle. This skate is typically the same pace as the Tuesday fitness skate, 15 to 20 miles.