Inline skate

Inline skating is a sport practiced widely internationally. Inline skates typically have 2 to 5 polyurethane wheels, arranged in a single line. The in-line design allows for greater speed^{[citation needed]} than roller skates and better maneuverability^{[citation needed]}. The in-line wheels coupled with boots designed for skating of various obstacles. Inline-skating is practiced and performed using inline skates designed for race tracks, skate parks, Urban areas, and off-road.

Disciplines[link]

Aggressive inline[link]

In addition to speed, fitness, artistic, or recreational skating, some skaters prefer to skate aggressively. Aggressive skating is referred to by participants as rollerblading, blading, skating or rolling and includes a variety of grinds, airs, slides and other advanced skating maneuvers. Types of aggressive skating include Park, Vert and Street.

Park skating refers to doing tricks within a skatepark. Street skating specifically refers to tricks performed on non-allocated obstacles (i.e. not skate parks). Vert skating involves doing airs and tricks while in the air such as flips, on a large halfpipe known as a vert ramp.

There are three major types of aggressive inline skates: hard boots, soft boots, and skeletal skates. Hard boots are very rigid and often heavy compared to speed skates and recreational skates. Soft boots offer more flexibility and comfort than hard boots, and are extremely light. However, they are not very durable. Skeletal skates are mostly produced by the company Xsjado, and use a system similar to snowboard bindings. Specially designed shoes called footwraps are worn inside of skeletal skates.

Aggressive inline skates can also be fitted with small, hard, plastic wheels, used in place of the two middle wheels. These small wheels, or "anti-rockers," are used to help lock onto a ledge or rail when grinding. Anti-rockers allow a larger split between the 2nd and 3rd wheels, allowing a skater to more easily grind wider objects. While some prefer a flat wheel setup, in this case meaning all 8 wheels touching the ground, others find this wheel configuration limiting due to the body control needed to assume a lower center of gravity so as to avoid the 2nd and 3rd wheels, made of urethane, touching the grinding surface.

Aggressive inline saw a sharp decline in the late 1990s, but during 2000-2003 found a major resurgence for the sport when street skating became increasingly popular. At this time professional skaters including Brian Shima, Franky Morales, Chris Haffey, Dre Powell, Brian Aragon and Aaron Feinberg, among others were pushing unseen boundaries in performing seemingly impossible and dangerous stunts in mostly street settings. In addition, the IMYTA (I Match Your Trick Association) provided a venue for skaters to demonstrate these tricks. The IMYTA held contests at a street location and the skaters would have to match each trick in the first round of skating or be eliminated. The progression continued with the pool of skaters dwindling and more dangerous and difficult tricks would then be performed and a winner declared. Competitions such as the IMYTA encouraged skaters from many different countries to set up their own local real street competitions. Sadly, the IMYTA series grew too large and was riddled with legal difficulties when several hundred to a thousand inline skaters would show up to a contest, drawing a strong interest from local law enforcement officers wanting to see permits.

Currently, the aggressive inline industry is struggling in many ways. The two largest print publications, Be-Mag and ONE magazine, have dramatically scaled down production schedules due to rapidly decreasing ad sales. With internet marketing a much cheaper alternative to print ads, aggregate skating news sites popping up and closing down seemingly overnight and a well meaning, but largely unorganized competition series ranking system known as the World Rolling Series, money seems to be hard to come by without larger corporate sponsorship not seen in the industry since the 1990s.

Some Aggressive inline boot manufacturers are Valo, Remz, Razors, USD, K2, Shima Skate Manufacturing, Xsjado and Rollerblade.

Freestyle skating[link]

Freestyle skating is a form of inline skating performed on flatland and refers collectively to the disciplines for which competitions are organized by the International Freestyle Skaters Association. ^[1] Currently the IFSA has defined three disciplines which must be offered by any competition they sanction: freestyle slalom, speed slalom, and free jump. Two optional disciplines, high jump and jam, are also defined, but are at present considered optional.

Hockey[link]

Hockey performed in a special ring on inline skates

Speed Skating[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Look up roller skating or blading in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Skate manufacturers:

• The Conference
• K2 Skate Co.
• Shima Skate Manufacturing
• Razors
• Remz
• Rollerblade
• Valo
• Xsjado

Retail stores:

• United States
  • Rollerwarehouse- Largest mail order skateshop

• Europe

• Asia
  • Inline Skates Manufacturer and Skating School in Singapore, Malaysia skateshop

Print/Online media:

• Balance Rolling Magazine
• Be-Mag Rolling Magazine
• Clac Magazine
• Edit Mag
• Eight Up
• How to be Unpopular (Podcast)
• One Magazine
• Rolling Revival
• Wheelscene

Other links:

• Aggressive.com
• Skate Setup
• World Rolling Series

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2010)

Kyle Wood (born (1989-06-18) 18 June 1989 (age 23)) is a rugby league footballer, playing at club level for Doncaster, Sheffield Eagles, Huddersfield Giants, Castleford Tigers, Batley Bulldogs, and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, as a Scrum-half/Halfback.^[2]

While with Huddersfield Giants, Kyle was on a dual-contract with the Batley Bulldogs.^{[citation needed]}

References[link]

External limks[link]

• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Super League 2012: Dave Woods' guide

Chen Cheng 陳誠
General Chen Cheng
Nickname	Little Generalissimo
Born	January 4, 1897 Qingtian, Zhejiang
Died	March 5, 1965(1965-03-05) (aged 68) Taipei, Taiwan
Allegiance	Republic of China
Years of service	1924 - 1950
Rank	General
Unit	11th division
Commands held	18th Army 11th Division
Battles/wars	Northern Expedition Encirclement Campaigns Battle of Shanghai Battle of Wuhan Battle of Changsha Battle of Yichang Burma Theatre Chinese Civil War
Awards	Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
Other work	Politician

Chen Cheng (traditional Chinese: 陳誠; simplified Chinese: 陈诚; pinyin: Chén Chéng; January 4, 1897 – March 5, 1965), was a Chinese political and military leader, and one of the main National Revolutionary Army commanders during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. After moving to Taiwan at the end of the Civil War, he served as the Governor of Taiwan Province, Vice President and Premier of the Republic of China. He represented the Republic of China in visits to the United States. He also helped to initiate land reforms and tax reduction programs that caused Communism to become unattractive in Taiwan, where peasants were able to own land. His good reputation endures even to today. His alias was Chen Tsyr-shiou (traditional Chinese: 陳辭修; simplified Chinese: 陈辞修; pinyin: Chén Cíxiū).

Early life[link]

Born in Qingtian, Zhejiang, he graduated from Baoding Military Academy (保定軍校) in 1922, and entered Whampoa Academy two years later. It is here where he met Chiang Kai-shek for the first time, Then Commandant of the Academy. Chen later joined National Revolutionary Army to participate in the Northern Expedition.

Rise in the military[link]

During the Northern Expedition, Chen displayed his excellent leadership ability. Within a year of conquest, he was promoted from commanding battalions to divisions already.

Later after the expedition, Chen became active in the wars against warlords. His successes in these battles allowed him to be promoted again, this time to the commander of the 18th Army.

Anti-Communist campaigns[link]

Beginning in 1931, Chen was assigned the task of suppressing the Red Army. In various campaigns searching for the main force of Red Army, Chen's units experienced heavy casualties. In the fifth campaign against the Communists, he finally managed to defeat them, forcing the Red Army to launch their epic Long March.

Campaigns against the Red Army came to an end after the Xi'an Incident, which Chiang and his staffs were forced to agree in cooperation with the Communists against the invading Japanese Army.

War against Japan[link]

During the Battle of Shanghai he was one of the top military assistant of Chiang Kai Shek, it was his idea to seek a decisive action in the south rather than confront the Japanese in Northern China where nationalist troops were in poor condition and lacking transporting vehicles. After the fall of Shanghai and Nanjing Chen moved to Hubei to command the Battle of Wuhan during the year of 1938. Wuhan was the provisional headquarters of the Chinese Army. The Japanese however, managed to defeat the Chinese albeit suffering heavy losses and captured Wuhan on October 25, 1938.

In latter years of the war, Chen went on to command the Battle of Changsha, Battle of Yichang and Battle of West Hubei. In 1943, he was appointed the commander of the Chinese Expeditionary Force in Burma theatre until he was replaced by Wei Li-huang due to illness.

Civil War[link]

After the Second Sino-Japanese War, Chen became the Chief of the General Staff and commander-in-chief of the navy. He followed Chiang's orders and began to raid the "liberated" areas by Red Army which launched the Chinese Civil War.

In 1947, Chen moved to Manchuria to command the Nationalist force against the Communists in that area. He made the crucial mistake to dissolve the local security regiments, because they served in the Manchukuo Imperial Army, as result the total nationalist strength in Manchuria fell from 1.3 million to less than 480,000. He also dismissed some of the most capable nationalist commanders, such as Du Yuming, Sun Li-jen, Zheng Dongguo and Chen Mingren. As a result he suffered a series of major defeats and Chiang Kai-shek replaced him with Wei Lihuang as commander-in-chief of Manchuria and Fan Hanjie as deputy commander-in-chief and director of Jinzhou forward command center. Chen took a sick leave in Taiwan to treat his chronic stomach ailment.

In Taiwan[link]

Chiang appointed Chen as the Governor of Taiwan Province in 1949 to plan that Taiwan will be one of the strongholds of the Kuomingtang. After the Nationalist force retreats to Taiwan, Chen went on to hold key civilian government positions such as Vice-Executive of the Kuomintang, Vice President and Premier of the Republic of China.

In his years at Taiwan, he introduced various land, economic reforms and developed the reconstruction of Taiwan. He kept Taiwan off communists where farmers actually owned land they tilled. The original landlords were issued stocks from enterprises which belonged to the government. He was also credit to launch several earlier construction projects. One was the Shimen Reservoir which reduced the flooding while increased rice crop production.

He was one of the popular governors. Chen died of hepatic tumors in 1965. His cremated remains were moved to Fo Guang Shan, Kaohsiung County (now part of Kaohsiung City) in August 1995. His son who tried to run for Taiwan President hopeful was in education and politics.

Family[link]

He married Tan Xiang, the daughter of Tan Yankai, daughter of former Chinese Premier. Chen and Tan's eldest son, Chen Li-an, also became a politician and ran unsuccessfully at Presidential elections.

See also[link]

This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

• History of the Republic of China
• Military of the Republic of China
• Chiang Kai-shek

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chen Cheng

• Dupuy, Trevor N. The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography, New York, 1992
• http://www.generals.dk/general/Chen_Cheng/_/China.html
• Ministry of National Defense R.O.C [1]
• US Naval War College
• http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/bjorge_huai.pdf

v t e Vice Presidents of the Republic of China Li Yuen-fung · Feng Kuo-chang · vacant (1917–48) · Li Tsung-jen · Chen Cheng · Yen Chia-kan · Hsieh Tung-min · Lee Teng-hui · Li Yuan-tsu · Lien Chan · Annette Lu · Vincent Siew · Wu Den-yih

v t e Heads of government of the Republic of China Premiers of Cabinet Tang Shaoyi · Lou Tseng-Tsiang · Zhao Bingjun · Duan Qirui* · Xiong Xiling · Sun Baoqi* Secretaries of State Xu Shichang · Lou Tseng-Tsiang* Premiers of State Council Duan Qirui · Wu Tingfang* · Li Jingxi Prime Minister of Restored Qing Imperial Government Zhang Xun (under restored monarchy) Premiers of State Council Duan Qirui · Wang Daxie* · Wang Shizhen* · Qian Nengxun* · Gong Xinzhan* · Jin Yunpeng · Sa Zhenbing · Yan Huiqing* · Liang Shiyi · Zhou Ziqi* · Wang Chonghui* · Wang Zhengting* · Zhang Shaozeng · Gao Lingwei · Sun Baoqi · Wellington Koo Vi-kyuin* · Huang Fu* · Xu Shiying · Jia Deyao* · Hu Weide* · Du Xigui* · Pan Fu Presidents of Executive Yuan Tan Yankai · T. V. Soong Tse-ven · Chiang Kai-shek · Chen Mingshu · Sun Fo · Wang Jingwei · H. H. Kung Hsiang-hsi · Chang Ch'ün · Weng Wenhao · Sun Fo · He Yingqin · Yan Xishan · Chen Cheng · Yu Hung-Chun · Yen Chia-kan · Chiang Ching-kuo · Sun Yun-suan · Yu Kuo-hwa · Lee Huan · Hau Pei-tsun · Lien Chan · Vincent Siew Wan-chang · Tang Fei · Chang Chun-hsiung · Yu Shyi-kun · Frank Hsieh Chang-ting · Su Tseng-chang · Liu Chao-shiuan · Wu Den-yih · Sean Chen Chun * acting