Frustrated with his job and shaken by a bitter divorce, at age 42 Roger Adams decided to quit his psychologist practice and spend some time at his beach house. There, sitting on the steps, he watched kids on their inline skates and skateboards go back and forth and it reminded him of a happier time in his life, when his family had owned a skating rink. On a whim, and as a way to vent frustration, he began tinkering in his garage and came up with the Heely, a sort of shoe skate. Each shoe has a detachable 36-mm urethane wheel and micro-bearings under the heel. Founded in 1998, by the end of 2001 Heelys had racked up more than $20 million — and two U.S. and six international patents.

Heelys
1205 Venture Court, Suite 109
Carrollton, TX 75006
Shoes $50-$110; wheel replacements $20-$40, depending on the style of shoe; wheel bag $6; sole saver heel plug and removal tool, $6
866-433-5464
www.heelys.com