ROLLERBLADES: IF YOU'VE NEVER TRIED THIS COMBINATION ROLLER/ICE SKATE, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE

It's a roller skate. No, it's an ice skate. No, it's Rollerblade, able to conquer paved parking lots and walks in a single bound.

Over the past four years, the use of these in-line skates that are a cross between roller and ice skates has dramatically increased. You may commonly know these skates as Rollerblades, which is the name of the original manufacturer.

On Friday, Cape Bicycle and the Human Performance Center at St. Francis Medical Center will sponsor a Rollerblade demonstration that is free to the public. The demonstration will be held at the St. Francis Auxiliary on Route K, in the parking lot during the day.

Troy Tritschler, store manager of Cape Bicycle, 1802 Broadway, said the demonstration is being given to make people in the area more aware of the skates.

Tritschler said: "This is really not a demonstration as an exhibit, but it's more a demonstration centered around participation. There will be 96 pairs of skates, all of different Rollerblade models, available for people to try. Safety equipment will also be provided. It's basically a chance to see and try these skates free of charge."

Tritschler said that Rollerblade is responsible for bringing the show to Cape Girardeau. He said that two people from the company will assist in the demonstration.

"Rollerblade does this free of charge all over the country for businesses that have bought a certain amount of skates a year.

"What's unique about the demonstration we're having is that we didn't meet the published requirements for sales Rollerblade sets up to give a demonstration. I feel we are real fortunate to have this even though we didn't make the mark."

What may have helped Cape Bicycle is that they are the only licensed dealer of Rollerblade in Southeast Missouri, said Tritschler. He said that the store started carrying them in October.

Rollerblade is a Minnetonka, Minn., company that first originated the skates. Tritschler said that two ice-hockey players invented the skate as a way to train during the summer months.

The costs of a pair of the skates runs from $100 to $350. The three popular models that Tritschler sells range from $160 to $370. He said the more expensive the skate, the more highly specialized it is.

Since Rollerblade was the first to make in-line skates, Tritschler said they are also the best quality skate on the market.

"When most people think of bikes," said Tritschler, "they think of Schwinn. The same applies to Rollerblade.

"It's hard to say if the price will come down on them because the more they cost, the more people will buy it for its status value.

Tritschler got the idea to carry Rollerblades at Cape Bicycle after he had spent some time in St. Louis.

"When I used to live and work in the city," said Tritschler," I would always see people on Rollerblades all over Forest Park. When I came down here and started working, I thought that they would make a perfect addition to our store.

"It took a little while to sell Eric (Gooden, owner of Cape Bicycle) on the idea but he eventually saw that they could fit in."

Sales of Rollerblade skates have increased over the past few years. Tritschler said that in 1987, only $2 million worth were sold and that 200,000 participants were involved with them. Now, projected figures for 1991, he said, are estimated at $150 million and approximately 3.5 million participants are involved.

As far as Rollerblade popularity around Cape Girardeau, Tritschler said that they are not as popular here as they are in Carbondale.

"I think the community of Carbondale is a little more progressive than here," said Tritschler. "Carbondale has a lot more college students and they seem to be the ones really using them up there.

"Cape college students have never really had an impact on our overall business here. Many Southeast students go home every weekend and they usually buy things like bikes or Rollerblades there. We are more a community than school business and that makes a difference.

"I do think that the popularity around here will pick up because there are a lot more TV commercials using in-line skates as a theme."

Tritschler said the demonstration is not really intended to be a sales demonstration.

"This demonstration," he said, "is more than just a sales opportunity. We probably will not generate that much sales off of it, actually. The demonstration will act as a publicity tool to make people aware of these skates and where to get them."

Tritschler said that on instinct, he believes in-line skates will be popular for many years to come.

Cape Bicycle's number is 335-BIKE, if you wish for more information on the event.