Roces 5th Element 2019 Inline Skates

Roces company was founded in year 1952 in small Italian city Montebellunar, 50 km from Venice. The brand initially made leather trekking and skiing boots, in time adopting new technologies and possibilities brought by plastic revolution. In year 1978, Roces has made world’s first ice skates with plastic moulded boot. Several years later, Vasco Casavin, already a second generation of company’s owners, meet Scott Olson, a founder of Rollerblade at Los Angeles trade shows. They’ve struck a deal and so begins Roces journey with inline skating – initially limited to making skates for Rollerblade.

The first Roces boot mold is named PRO – the very same shell as the now legendary M12 boot, which is still made today. After a decade of cooperation, two brands split ways and Roces releases their very own skates range in 1994 – showcasing them to general public on trade shows in LA, once again. This was a major surprise for the industry – Rollerblade was already a very strong and well known brand, but few were aware that Roces were behind making their skates.

Roces had perfect timing with the reveal, seeing that inline skating popularity has exploded in mid 90’s. In year 1996, Roces has released the very first „true” aggressive skates, built from the ground up for this demanding style, with low and reinforced frame  – namely, the Majestic 12. The brand’s history is closely tied with aggressive skating from that point. It is worth to note that even when Roces had joined forces with the inline skating legend, Jon Julio, to create Valo brand, which lasted for about a decade, the M12 skate never went out of production.

Other styles were as much influenced by Roces as aggressive. They were the first brand to offer a wide range of inline hockey skates and in year 1995 they have released what now can be called an ancestor of freeskates – Roces Sydney, coming with supportive hardboot, strong aluminium frame, rockering option and 76mm wheels. Back then, Roces already had carbon speedskating boots in their catalogue. In year 1997, Big Cat hit the market – one of the first off-road skates and precursor of modern roller skis. In the same year, Mexico City 5 was released for downhill enthusiasts – the very first harboot skate to come with 5 wheeled frame, stock.

During 60 years of their history, Roces has been setting the trends and actively supported skating scene. They are one of foundations of our favourite sport and their influence cannot be overestimated. Roces skates are result of years worth of development, knowledge and experience.