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"Coyote is truly the first all-terrain skate that performs like an in-line skate," said David Samuels, director of product marketing, Rollerblade. "We've tried some other off-road skates but they've been more like skis, with long, unwieldy frames that make turning difficult. We wanted to replicate the in-line experience as much as possible."
Perhaps most critically, the Coyote has addressed traction and shock absorption through one of the most distinguishing features of the skate, the three six-inch pneumatic tires. The air-filled tires absorb the shocks and jolts that rough terrain dishes out, unlike traditional polyurethane wheels designed for smoother, harder surfaces. And, much like the tires on a mountain bike, the specially designed wheels offer great traction, even on major descents or ascents.
"I was skeptical at first and thought it was going to be hard to learn and a lot of work," said Cory Miller, a professional Rollerblade-sponsored skater. "But by the end of the first day, we were ripping down hills and over logs. The skates were great on almost every surface we hit. If you can ride a mountain bike there, you can now skate there. It was great!"
Braking is another major hurdle when dealing with loose dirt and gravel. Rollerblade's ABTXtreme™ braking system is specially designed to meet the challenges presented by all-terrain skating. The ABTXtreme is cuff-activated similar to the Rollerblade ABT, but the rest is quite different from a traditional brake. Once activated by the cuff, a drum is lowered between the back two wheels which slows the wheels down, allowing you to simply control your speed or come to a complete stop. The location and configuration of the brake keeps things like sand, dirt and water from interfering with its performance.
Coyote also features an integrated power strap, a cuff buckle with a "Flex" buckle protector and a thick memory foam liner with shock absorbing insole for maximum comfort. With a suggested retail price of $499, the Coyote will be available in spring 1998.
"Rollerblade is committed to giving consumers new ways to skate," said Samuels. "Coyote is the first introduction of what we expect will be several more innovative approaches to opening the world to in-lines. Just like mountain bikes started out on the trails and back country but eventually became just as prevalent in the city, we expect to see skates like Coyote used in more urban areas where there are also plenty of rough roads and bumps."
Rollerblade, Inc., headquartered in Minnetonka, Minn., is the founder and leader of the in-line skating industry.