Scott Olson had played hockey in high school in Bloomington, Minnesota, and began tweaking the design of existing inline skates in 1979. Unsatisfied with their performance, by 1980, he introduced several important innovations, such as bouncy urethane wheels, plastic boots to support the ankle, and the heel brake to help stop the skater safely—a feature especially important for beginners. He founded the Rollerblade Company in 1982, which came to dominate the market becoming synonymous with inline skating itself. Although originally marketed to hockey players training in the off-season, the popularity of inline skating quickly exploded in the 1980s, becoming one of the era’s hallmarks. Olson was able to use new materials, introduce innovative features, and persuasively market a product to achieve a more popular and fluid skating experience.