Editing Inline skates (section)

=== UFS frames ===

{{multiple image
 | direction = horizontal
 | total_width = 500
 | image1 = Inline Skate-Hard boot-Rollerblade-Lightning TRS-1988-IMG 5703-FRD.png
 | image2 = K2 Fatty Pro-2nd gen-EU edition-1997-Aggressive Inline Skates-A Schneider-IMG 9496-Profile-bg.png
 | image3 = Roces 5th Element-1998-Aggressive Inline Skates-A Schneider-IMG 1922-Profile-bg.png
 | caption1 = Rollerblade TRS
 | caption2 = K2 Fatty Pro
 | caption3 = Roces 5th Element
}}

{{multiple image
 | direction = horizontal
 | total_width = 400
 | image1 = Rollerblade-Lightning TRS-Team Rollerblade Series-1988-IMG 5722-bottom view single-FRD.png
 | image2 = K2 Fatty Pro-2nd gen-EU edition-1997-Aggressive Inline Skates-A Schneider-IMG 9500-Soulplate frame n wheels-bg.png
 | image3 = Roces 5th Element-1998-Aggressive Inline Skates-A Schneider-IMG 2834-Soulplate frame n wheels-bg.png
 | caption1 = TRS
 | caption2 = K2 Fatty Pro
 | caption3 = 5th Element
}}

The ESPN X Games introduced aggressive inline skating in 1995, propelling the sport into the spotlight. As its popularity grew, more enthusiasts took up aggressive skating, prompting companies to develop their own specialized skate lines to meet the rising demand.<ref name="x-games-history-official-page"/><ref name="bladeville-ufs-universal-frame-system">{{cite web
|url=https://bladeville.com/blog/what-is-ufs-system
|title=What is UFS - Universal Frame System
|date=2022-03-10
|website=Bladeville
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831003740/https://bladeville.com/blog/what-is-ufs-system
|archive-date=2022-08-31
|access-date=2025-02-21
}}</ref>

In 1996, K2 released the Fatty, a legendary skate that integrated the wheel frame into its soulplate for the first time. In this early stage of its evolution, the soulplate still consisted of two separate sections, a design inherited from riveted boots with separate toe and heel mounting platforms, as seen in the Rollerblade Lightning TRS. However, the K2 Fatty reduced the height difference between these mounting platforms, and eliminated the hollow between these two platforms. It frame was now shaped like a solid rectangular bar.<ref name="back-to-blading-origin-of-UFS-and-mounting-standards"/><ref name="bladeville-ufs-universal-frame-system"/><ref name="back-to-blading-k2-fatty-past-and-now">{{cite web
|title=What Happened to the K2 Fatty? // Aggressive Inline Skating
|others=See video transcript on discussions on origin of K2 Fatty, prototype/sample of Fatty Pro, and 2018 Fatty.
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knv-S-OXrL0
|website=youtube.com
|publisher=Back to Blading
|language=en
|format=video
|date=2018-10-05
}}</ref>

In 1998, Roces too, released an aggressive skate featuring a combined soulplate and frame: the 5th Element. This design not only incorporated a rectangular frame without distinct mounting platforms, but also featured a completely flat soulplate with no height difference between the front and rear sections. This flat sole significantly improved soul grinding and was soon adopted by other skate manufacturers. Additionally, the 5th Element’s integrated soul/frame unit could be easily removed from the boot by loosening just three screws.<ref name="back-to-blading-origin-of-UFS-and-mounting-standards"/><ref name="bladeville-ufs-universal-frame-system"/><ref name="vegter-roces-5th-element-history-n-2020-model">{{cite web
|first1=Ivo
|last1=Vegter
|title=Review: Roces 5th Element
|others=See video transcript on history of Roces, relationship to Rollerblade, 1998 Roces 5th Element, and 2020 version of the 5th Element.
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaEWIBxcBiM
|website=thisissoul.com
|publisher=This is Soul
|language=en
|format=video
|date=2022-05-08
}}</ref>

{{multiple image
 | direction = horizontal
 | total_width = 500
 | image1 = Rene Borel-Salomon-US6648346-2001-UFS mounting standard-patent drawing-FIG 4.png
 | image2 = Razors Shift Jeph Howard 2-detached-UFS frame n boot-bottom view-IMG 6175-bg-FRD.png
 | image3 = Razors Shift Jeph Howard 2-detached-UFS frame n boot-soulplate view-IMG 6193-bg-FRD.png
 | footer = UFS patent drawing (left). Razors Shift - UFS boot and frame (right).
}}

In 1999, Salomon, along with USD, Razors, Kizer, 7XL/Able, and Fifty/50, collaborated to establish a standardized mounting system for aggressive skates: the '''Universal Frame System''' (UFS). This standard capitalized on the emerging trend of flat soulplates, requiring a single, flat rectangular mounting surface 41mm wide and long enough to accommodate two mounting holes spaced 167mm apart. In 2001, Salomon introduced the Aaron Feinberg Pro Model, the first skate to feature the UFS mounting standard. The model quickly gained popularity and set a new industry benchmark.<ref name="back-to-blading-origin-of-UFS-and-mounting-standards"/><ref name="bladeville-ufs-universal-frame-system"/><ref name="le-roller-en-ligne-on-le-norme-UFS">{{cite web
|url=https://www.rollerenligne.com/materiel/la-norme-ufs-universal-frame-system/
|title=La norme UFS (Universal Frame System)
|date=2018-08-22
|website=Le Roller en Ligne
|language=fr
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222021127/https://www.rollerenligne.com/materiel/la-norme-ufs-universal-frame-system/
|archive-date=2025-02-22
|access-date=2025-02-22
}}</ref><ref name="us-patent-6648346-Borel-Salomon-UFS-standard">{{Cite patent
|country=US
|number=6648346
|fdate=2001-02-09
|pubdate=2003-11-18
|gdate=2003-11-18
|title=Frame for a sport article (UFS standard)
|inventor1-first=René
|inventor1-last=Borel
|assign1=Salomon SAS
}}</ref>

Unlike other mounting systems of the time, UFS eliminated built-in heel lift, positioning the heel level with the toes for the first time. However, most brands followed Salomon’s lead in incorporating a thick shock absorber at the heel. This provided better impact support for hard landings from high jumps, but accidentally reintroduced a small amount of heel lift.<ref name="back-to-blading-origin-of-UFS-and-mounting-standards"/><ref name="bladeville-ufs-universal-frame-system"/><ref name="vegter-everything-about-frames-companion-video">{{cite web
|title=Into Detail: About Frames
|others=This is the companion video of the article on "Everything about Frames"
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b69Su4Nx-o
|website=www.thisissoul.com
|publisher=This Is Soul
|language=en
|format=video
|date=2020-10-18
}}</ref>