I’ve been following FreelineSkates on Twitter for the past couple of months. One of the most interesting posts that I’ve seen was a post on Nov 27th, in which Ryan foreshadowed the release of Freeline Skates “Grom” – a simpler model of Freelines for beginners.

Well, they are finally here as you can now buy them on the Freeline site for an introductory price of $119.99.

You can definitely notice that this version is a cheaper, less professional alternative. It is missing the reinforced swing arms and it is no longer a single piece aluminum construction. However, what makes it an ideal practicing tool for beginners is a little hole between the weeks. Why, you ask? Simply because that’s where you can insert your training wheels:

Yep, that’s right. These look just like a set of extra wheels on your first bicycle. In fact, they serve the same purpose – you learn the basics without being afraid to kill yourself by falling.

Overall, while this new version of Freelines will never replace the original highly durable model, it’s definitely a good start for people who wish to learn. The only downside is that “Grom”s still cost almost as much as the originals and the training wheels are not even included in the price. Personally, I don’t think I will try the “Grom”s out, since I already consider myself a pretty skilled rider. However, if you do, you are welcome to let me know your experience, so I can post it here.

As a bonus, watch his video, which goes over Ryan Farrelly’s trip to China to make the “Grom”s: