An in-line skate which includes a plurality of wheels mounted to a frame
each having a primary contact surface which contacts a skating surface to
support the skater when the skate is in a generally upright position, and
at least one secondary rotatable contact surface disposed at a level
above the primary contact surfaces when the skate is in a generally
upright position and positioned to contact the skating surface only when
the in-line skate is inclined beyond a selected angle from the vertical.
The length of the wheelbase formed by the secondary contact surface is
shorter than the length of the wheelbase formed by the primary contact
surfaces. By effectively changing the length of the wheelbase of the
in-line skate when the in-line skate is at a certain angle from the
vertical, a tighter turning radius may be achieved.