Pros:
Good aerobic exercise. Inline skating burns more calories than bicycle riding and almost as many as jogging
Good form of cross-training for other sports.
Causes less impact on joints. Compared to running, inline skating causes less than 50 percent of the impact shock to joints.
Offers younger children a way to get around
Equal opportunity. According to the NGSA, about half of inline skaters are female.
A lifetime sport for the whole family. In-line skating is a sport you can enjoy along with your child and participation can last a lifetime.
Low cost: Entry level skates now cost less than $20 per pair, a 10-fold decrease in the past decade (although MomsTeam recommends against buying cheap skates)
Cons:
Injuries. The good news is that, by getting proper instruction and using safety gear, the injury risk is actually quite low.
Shortage of safe places to skate. The shortage is especially acute for "aggressive" skaters, although the construction of skate parks has seen explosive growth in recent years