A few recent news items got us to pay a bit more attention to Heelys, the sneakers fitted with wheels in the soles that allow kids to zoom around smooth surfaces with out changing into roller skates.
First, the Denver cast of “The Little Mermaid” is using the shoes to glide across the stage as if swimming. Second, about 15 percent of Heelys are sold to adults. Third, over a 10-week period this year, clinical investigators at Children’s University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, recorded 67 injuries – broken arms and hands and dislocated elbows – that occurred while learning to use Heely shoes or Street Gliders, which strap to the back of sneakers.
We did the math and looked to Heely expert, third-grader Stella Brown, for how-to advice before we tried them ourselves. Here’s what she suggests:
Heelys are great because you can get to places faster, it’s fun and you can go down big hills.
Learning to use Heelys is very tricky. You have to learn how to have very good balance. When you first start, you will fall back. When that happens, just put your foot down on the part of the shoe without a wheel.
Stopping is the easiest thing to do. You can slow down by pressing your heel down lightly, but you shouldn’t, because it wears down the wheel.
You really have one speed. If you want to turn, you have to move the front part of your foot the way you want to turn and your heel will automatically follow.
It’s really fun to go backward, but you shouldn’t try it right away because it takes a lot of practice. Great places to practice include the mall, the airport, the zoo and stores like Costco and Target. (Sidewalks have really big cracks and are not so much fun because you have to stop every time you get to a crack.)
Some people get frustrated in stores because people tell you you can’t ride Heelys. If you are wearing your Heelys and someone says you can’t, use them when they aren’t looking.
Always keep your eyes openwhen you are using your Heelys, especially on sidewalks or in parking lots. You can hit a big rock or a small pebble and have a bad accident.
If your wheels aren’t going very fast, put WD-40 in.
Try not to wear your Heelys where there is water because it can really mess up your wheels.
Heelys are great. You really should try them. Kids, tell your parents to wear them:they will look really funny.
Stella Brown attends Eisenhower Elementary in Boulder and is not not allowed to ride Heelys to school.
