FR UFR 90 Intuition - Black Inline Skates

UFR are newest addition to freeskating family of skates made by French brand. At a first glance, they look like older, well known FR models, with slightly remodelled heel. And this is correct because functionally, it is what they are.

The UFR have been created as a solution to lack of UFS (Universal Frame System) compatible skates and aggressive skates in the brand’s catalogue. Bear in mind that after Seba and FR Skates parted ways, the skates based around CJ boot (the only aggressive skates in Seba line-up) stayed with the former. Thus, new brand was left without a model in this segment. However, while CJ skates were an attempt to attract audience looking for high-end, carbon based skates, UFR is a more affordable, plastic boot.

It is safe to say that if you are familiar with regular FR models, you are also familiar with the new UFR. The shell is modelled around the same cast, have the same shape (apart from underside of the heel) and a cuff. Surprisingly, no UFR model comes with canting (cuff position adjustment) option known from FR1 and FR2 skates. Instead, all of them use a simple screw just like lower end FR3 and FRX. Apart from that: buckles, laces and velcros used on new UFS compatible boots are known from their 165 mm mounting (v-type, ssm) counterparts.

The liner in most UFR models is also the same as in regular FRs – comfortable, anatomically shaped and surprisingly good in terms of quality, for a stock one. The more expensive versions use Intuition liners – easily the most praised and highest quality liners on the market at the moment. It is worth to note that this particular version of Intuition Skate liner was designed specifically to work best with FR shell.

So, what’s the main difference compared to older models? The already mentioned heel area shape – there’s a thick block of material added to make both mounting points on the same level. Skates are no longer compatible with raised heel frames and will accept only ones made for UFS. Being honest here, most freeskaters will be better off if they choose regular FR – but this doesn’t mean the UFR do not have their place. These are for people with very specific needs.

The bread and butter of UFS are aggressive skating frames. This makes UFR a modern day equivalent of excellent (and sadly, discontinued) Rollerblade Fusion line of skates. Both are very solid, UFS compatible boots which can be used without soulplates and are perfect for freeskating that way. Both allow for an easy upgrade to aggressive setup – all you need to buy are soulplates, frames and wheels (assuming that you already have bearings) and the result are very solid street skates. Lets not forget about freeskating veterans. If you still hold on to your old Salomon FSK frames, the UFR boots are one of the best (if not the best) options to make use of them.

FR Skates have released six UFR skates in total – three variants for aggressive and three for freeskating. The latter come in 4x80, 4x90 and 3x110 setup varieties.

The 4x90 version is the most interesting skate out of the three. It comes with Intuition liner, which is a huge upgrade over stock one, but also sports a new frame with 1 mm rockering. It is not “natural rocker”, “progressive rocker” or “V rocker” known from other frames, but a simple “banana” rocker. Still, it makes these frames more agile and better suited for Wizard/flowskating style than FR1 90 Black, which comes with flat frame. The metal buckle on top (instead of full plastic like in UFR 80) is a nice touch, too.

The fact is that while big wheel rockered setups get more and more popular (just look how many frames of this type are on the market now), the stock, complete skates coming with 90 mm+ rockered frames are still very rare. This is why UFR 90 is a very attractive skate as it is adapted out of the box to the skating style which grows in popularity.

The new UFR range of freeskates is directed towards people who want to have an open upgrade path to street setup in the future, by having an option to mount soulplates, or ones who already have a preference for certain freeskating frames with UFS mounting.