Powerslide entered the inline skating market quite late. Its beginnings date back to second half of 1990s, when the company mainly focused on aggressive skating equipment under the USD brand. This means that Powerslide never really left its mark on the history of inline skates in the same way as longer-established companies like Rollerblade and Roces did.
Riding the wave of the retro trend that took world by the storm in recent years, becaming a mass phenomenon, Impala skates were created. It's not the time or place to go into detail about their history. It's enough to know that the manufacturer took a widely available boot design from the 1990s, made a few changes, and released skates in cool colours at a low price.
Impalas started selling like hotcakes, but they are not equipment for demanding individuals. It is still worth considering buying them, but every product have its’ use scenario. Keep in mind that they are intended for complete beginners and for occasional, leisure ride.
Another company that followed suit was Roces. Their "1992" model, which is basically a reincarnation of the Roces Street, gained significant popularity. Rollerblade couldn't capitalize on nostalgia for one simple reason – their skates from the late 1980s and early 1990s were actually produced by Roces, to whom the designs belong. Tough luck and ironic that a company which basically sparked a whole new sport is not able to capitalise on its’ past.
One might think that a brand like Powerslide would have little to offer in this area due to never having true "vintage" skates.
However, our German friends released a collection which nails down that nostalgia feeling and looks fantastic, while offering more than competition!
Retro-inspired Zoom skates – stunning style!
When it comes to skates inspired by the style of the late 1980s and 1990s, the appearance is just as important as the technical specifications. We'll get to the latter aspect shortly, but for now, let's focus on the former.
One undeniable advantage of Zoom is the shell, which somewhat resembles the USD Throne model. Those were among the best and most recognizable aggressive skates in the late 1990s, but of course not a mass-market product targeted at casual skater. Thus, we have a touch of the "vintage" style here, it is simply not as easy for people to make that connection. The boot features a hockey-style lacing system, reminiscing the old Roces and Rollerblade models.
Zoom has been present on the market for several years, offering both basic and advanced versions. In the 2023 season, we received three new colour variants of the basic model. Each one looks fantastic!
The yellow-white-pink version catches the eye with vibrant colors, just like its' name: Neon Yellow. If you like a joyful, sporty style of dressing, you will certainly like them.
The appearance of the pink-white-mint variant perfectly matches the name given by the manufacturer: Cotton Candy. The colors here are more subdued and pastel.
Those aiming for the absolute classic should be interested in the black version. It has only a few white accents. It's known that black goes well with any colour, so it's worth considering getting a set of colourful wheels and laces in the future, for some additional style points.
A significant advantage is that all these skates come in a full size range. There is also a previously released version with a blue shell, but it is made only in sizes up to 41-42.
Why Powerslide Zoom skates?
Let's start with the shell. Powerslide manufactures their skates using plastic reinforced with fiberglass, giving them high durability and stiffness. You certainly won’t be bending your ankles to the sides in Zoom’s boot.
The shell would be nothing without the liner. The MyFit Basic model is made of thick, anatomically shaped foams. It's truly hard to find a foot that wouldn't get along with it!
Let’s stop here for a moment and explain why the size range is dual, such as EU41-42. You must know that hardboots’ shells never have individual sizes. There is always a jump every two or, in the best case scenario, one and a half boot sizes.
Most often, when reaching for skates in size EU41, you receive a EU42 shell with a marginally shorter liner (or even only insole). Powerslide has discontinued this practice. Their skates come with inner boots with a neoprene front, which provides stretchability. This not only allows them to adapt to the length of the foot but also makes it easier to choose the size.
As befitting freeskate skates, the Zoom skates feature an aluminium frame. It’s riveted to the boot like in old-school inspirations, but better performing than plastic frames found in them because of stronger, lighter and more rigid material. It provides tangible benefits in terms of better movement and energy transfer during push-offs. As a result, the skates are easier to control, and you can go faster!
And, do we need to mention that an aluminium frame will serve you way longer than a plastic one?
Powerslide Zoom - more than just recreational skates
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And here we have the biggest advantage of Zooms. Despite looking like other skates trying to ride the wave of everything retro, they are based on a proper freeskating model. Therefore, they allow you to do much more than simply cruising pavements!
Their sturdy construction will easily withstand urban skating, including jumps and slides. Thanks to the short 243 mm frame with 80 mm wheels, you can even start learning freestyle slalom with them.
This is the reason why it is really worth getting a pair of Zooms – they are not simple hardboots for recreation. If you start your journey with this sport using them, they will serve you for a long time without limiting your skills development possibilities.
And yeah, they do look good!
You can find all Zoom skates available in our store here.