Abstract: Roller skates (10) having an improved appearance and function as walking shoes by providing at least one skate wheel (210) that can be pivoted by at least 60 degrees up inside the sole (100) of the skate to facilitate walking, and/or providing a skate with user replaceable, friction operated side brakes (410). Preferred skates have multiple such pivoting wheels coupled by a common, pivoting support arm (230), and provide a mechanism that positions the wheels substantially coplanar with the sole of the skate while in the walking position, and substantially perpendicular to the sole of the skate while in the skating position. It is also preferred that the skate wheels pivot about an axis passing through a portion of the wheels.

Abstract: A system for anchoring a binding to a ski by incorporating a backing plate within the laminated structure of the ski. The backing plate has holes formed therein to receive internally threaded inserts therethrough and each of such holes is countersunk in a configuration to rotationally lock the insert in position. The binding is attached by engaging the appropriate inserts with threaded fasteners.