[Allan Wright is President of Zephyr Inline Skate Tours and a board member of the International Inline Skating Association.] Alternative views are good and the web is a great place to air them. I appreciate that Lanny Totton did not have a good experience at his recent Inline Certification Program and believe every word he said. However, that is just one perspective... and perspective is in the eye of the participant. I became certified as an inline skating instructor through the ICP in 1997 and found it invaluable. The detail, rote learning, and repetition are there for a reason. In my job as the president of Zephyr Inline Skate Tours, I interact with skaters of all ability levels. I have raced in five marathons, placing in the Advanced division for my age group in three. On the other end of the spectrum, I have taught skaters of all ages brand new to the sport at our Learn-to-Skate Camps. The certification program that Lanny attended is designed to teach inline skaters how to teach the basics to beginner skaters. The course does not cover speed skating and most people learning to skate will never become speed skaters. When teaching beginner skaters, it is necessary to discuss equipment and safety. I also find it necessary to start skaters out on the grass and teach them to "walk" before they can roll. I certainly find it necessary to teach in my recreational skates as my speed skates have no brakes! It is difficult to teach proper braking without a brake on your skates. In my experience, which covers thousands of skaters and countries all over the world, most recreational skaters have poor braking skills and poor skating technique. Bad skills lead to falls and, quite simply, not having as much fun as one should have while skating. The point is the Inline Certification Program of the International Inline Skating Association is entirely appropriate and extremely valuable for someone who wants to teach beginner skating. The inline skating industry in North America has declined significantly in recent years. Adding more speed skaters would be great but the real path to a strong industry is in convincing people across North America to try skating as a recreational hobby. To do this, we will need instructors willing to spend the time to learn how to teach the basics to people who are justifiably nervous. If you are at all interested in teaching beginners to skate, I can heartily recommend the IISA Inline Certification Program. Just make sure this is what you really want to do. Allan Wright