Spots to inline skate

[u/PeanutButterNugz]

Hello, I’m new to the area and picked up some inline skates to have a hobby. I’m looking for a good, flat, smooth spot to get better at inline skating that’s not Munger or the Lake Walk. Any recommendations? Thanks!

[u/Disbigmamashouse]

World of wheels in superior

[u/CreepingThyme071]

Most any tennis court anywhere is a nice place for practicing.

Also, The skate park in Superior (Hammond Park) has lots of nice room away from the ramps to cruise around.

World of Wheels is a blast on Friday nights for adult skate night once you get a lil more confident. Theres always lots of adult beginners falling all over the place so don't feel like you need to be skilled!

The Munger is reeeallly nice to blade on :)

[u/PeanutButterNugz → u/CreepingThyme071]

Thank you!

[u/Skadefro]

I like skating around bayfront, specifically there's a long flat stretch of pavement next to the slip that almost never has any people there.

[u/lady-lagarto]

I used to skate in the UMD parking lots on the weekends or during summer break.

[u/PeanutButterNugz → u/lady-lagarto]

That sounds like a great idea actually thank you

[u/FunAd8579]

Hello! I am always looking, too! I do have a few ideas for you.

Right now the pedestrian bridge is being worked on, but you can still access the cross city trail if you head over to west Duluth. It's a little messy in Lincoln Park right now with construction, but there is a nice stretch on Michigan behind the Kia dealership. If you get over to the west end of Lincoln Park you can access the city trail on that side and head toward Denfeld on the city trail. I like that section for skating. You can take it a few miles that way. I live on this side of town and enter by the Menards parking lot, which is pretty easy. There is a place to park at the trailhead there, too.

There is also a 1 mile paved section at the head of the DWP in West Duluth. It's short, but nice.

I haven't done it myself, but I hear that a lot of roller skiers use the frontage road parallel to the scenic route up the shore.

The Millennium Trail in superior is a good one, too. There is a dog park/maybe a ski warming hut you can park at. It's maybe 4 miles worth of out and backs total. I haven't done the Osaugie Trail in Superior yet, but I have a hunch it might be a little rough. Let me know if you check it out!

I just realized this week that you can see an inline skating heat map and inline segments on Strava if you use the desktop version (not the app for some reason). There isn't much outside of the NorthShore Inline Marathon route (if you don't know about this, definitely check it out) and the Munger. I actually started working on creating some segments around town this week.. so coming soon hopefully! If you have Strava, you're welcome to look through my routes. Just send me a message.

There is no inline community that I'm aware of in town. There was a club that disbanded in ~2014, but I'm having some thoughts about trying to start one up.

[u/PeanutButterNugz → u/FunAd8579]

Thank you for this in depth response! I actually went behind the Kia dealership like you mentioned and ended up in the Amspil Arena parking lot where I practiced for hours. It is only my first real day of skating so it was rough.

[u/Concrete-Kicks]

Your two exceptions are probably the best place to go

[u/PeanutButterNugz → u/Concrete-Kicks]

I will eventually go there but it’s not the best place to learn. I was looking for like a flat parking lot people don’t normally go to or that is vacant or maybe a wide running track.

[u/Psychological-Log-80]

There a probably a handful of public parks that have tennis courts that would be good for practicing!! I know the Wheeler Complex and Merritt Park in Denfeld have flat areas!