Riedell

Riedell

Riedell is an American manufacturer of ice skates and roller skates founded in the mid-20th century and headquartered in Red Wing, Minnesota. The company is known for serving customers across figure skating, hockey, speed skating, roller derby, and recreational skating markets, supplying equipment to clubs, schools, and professional athletes. Over decades Riedell has interacted with organizations such as the United States Figure Skating Association, USA Hockey, World Skate, and commercial retailers while maintaining a manufacturing presence in the Upper Midwest. Its product lines, manufacturing methods, endorsements, and partnerships connect it to a wide network of athletes, clubs, and events in North America and internationally.

History

Riedell was established in the aftermath of World War II by Jack Riedell in Red Wing, Minnesota near the Mississippi River with roots in regional leathercraft and footwear industries linked to companies like Red Wing Shoe Company and local manufacturing traditions. During the 1950s and 1960s the firm expanded amid a boom in recreational skating and competitive figure skating popularity driven by televised events and skating stars in the United States and Canada. In the 1970s and 1980s Riedell diversified into roller sports during the rise of roller disco and later served emerging roller derby leagues and amateur speed skating clubs. The company adapted through shifts in supply chains influenced by globalization and the North American Free Trade Agreement era while preserving domestic assembly operations. Riedell’s timeline includes product innovations, distribution partnerships with specialty pro shops, and interactions with governing bodies like USA Roller Sports and regional athletic associations.

Products

Riedell’s product range includes ice figure skates, hockey skates, speed skates, artistic boots paired with blades, and a variety of quad and inline roller skates tailored for disciplines such as roller derby, jam skating, and recreational use. Iconic or long-running models have been adopted by athletes who participate in competitions under organizations like World Skate and the International Skating Union. The company offers boots constructed from premium leathers, synthetic materials, and heat-moldable laminates used by coaches, clubs, and professional skaters affiliated with teams from leagues including WFTDA-aligned clubs and regional Junior Olympics participants. Accessory lines include blades produced to fit figure skate and hockey skate frames, replacement parts for quad trucks and wheels used by rink operators, and protective gear favored by schools and municipal recreation departments.

Manufacturing and Technology

Riedell’s manufacturing blends traditional bootmaking techniques with modern technologies such as heat-molding, computer numerical control (CNC) finishing used in blade platen fabrication, and materials sourced through industrial suppliers who also serve footwear and sporting goods sectors. The company maintains assembly facilities in Red Wing, Minnesota and coordinates component supply from regional and international partners—balancing domestic craftsmanship with global supply chain elements similar to manufacturers in the United States sporting-goods industry. Technological collaboration has linked Riedell to metallurgical advances in stainless-steel blades and polyurethane wheel compounds used across roller sports; tooling and quality-control processes reflect standards seen in manufacturing clusters in the Midwest United States and industrial practices paralleled by firms in Vancouver and Ontario that serve North American skate markets.

Sponsorships and Partnerships

Riedell has sponsored athletes, teams, and events across figure skating, hockey, and roller sports, partnering with local clubs, national associations like the United States Figure Skating Association, and community rinks to support development programs. The company has worked with pro shops and retailers that serve competitive skaters and recreational customers, and established relationships with tournament organizers and leagues including WFTDA-affiliated roller derby circuits and regional speed-skating meets. Riedell’s collaborations extend to coaching programs run by former competitors who have ties to training centers, skating academies, and collegiate clubs such as those competing in intercollegiate championships under organizations similar to the NCAA for ice hockey. These partnerships have fostered product feedback loops, athlete endorsements, and presence at trade events comparable to shows where USA Hockey and other federations exhibit.

Company Impact and Recognition

Riedell’s contributions to the skating community include enabling access to performance-grade equipment for grassroots clubs, supporting competitive athletes who have appeared at national championships overseen by bodies like U.S. Figure Skating and international contests managed by the International Skating Union, and supplying skate programs in municipal and private rinks. Recognition for workmanship and longevity places Riedell alongside historic American footwear and sporting brands noted in regional manufacturing histories of the Upper Midwest. The company’s role in sustaining domestic assembly and specialized bootmaking has been cited in discussions on preserving craft industries in Minnesota communities similar to those documented for Red Wing Shoe Company and other legacy manufacturers. Riedell remains a supplier of choice for many coaches, athletes, and clubs across North America and internationally through continued product development, athlete support, and engagement with governing organizations.

Category:Sporting goods manufacturers of the United States Category:Companies based in Minnesota