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Heelys athletic shoes with stealth wheels in their heels were invented in 2000 by Roger Adams who started skating when he was nine months young! These vehicular sneakers allow users to transform from skating to regular walking without changing shoes. Many hardcore Heelys users have been able to perform a variety of complicated athletic maneuvers while wearing the "heel skates" thereby spawning fans to viewing Heelying as an extreme sport.

Heelys has eight United States and international patents. They are sold in sporting goods stores and department stores across the United States and in fifty countries throughout the world. But despite Adams' and his Heelys' success - Heelys can be dangerous.

Parents purchasing Heelys for their children at Department Store shoe sections often don't realize the safety concerns involved with heelying. They sometimes think that because Heelys are sold among the "regular" shoes they must be regular shoes as well. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. Heelys are not only "Not" regular shoes, they are sports equipment and their use should be accompanied with the same precautions that any type of skate, skate board or bicycle use requires.

Hazards of heelying without protective wear have caused injuries from scrapes and bruises to sprains and concussions. For these reasons, several schools and malls have placed bans against Heelying in their establishments. Many of these establishments have slick floors that are fun for heelers because they can glide across them with minimal effort. At the same time, however, the slick surfaced floors can send a heeler head over heels with one miniscule wrong move.

Heelys is concerned for its patrons; and to help instill safety first attitudes in its heel skate wearers the company provides the public with free seminars in which young heeling experts demonstrate heeling safety at parks and stores nationwide.

In addition, Heelys are sold with instructions regarding safety, proper use, and Heelying tips. This same information along with visual aids including videos is found at heelys.com. Some of the maneuvers performed on the Heelys video are conducted by skilled professional adults who do Not wear safety gear. So the company displays a precaution for viewers to read before watching the video. Some retailers also show videos regarding correct Heelys use and safety precautions in their stores.

Basic Heelys instructions on preparing the shoe skates for proper use are:

* Heel Plug Removal *

To use

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