European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 1, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday april 12007 scene stars and stripes Page 19 above Olson the Man responsible for rollerblade a finishes the North Shore inline Marathon in Duluth Minn in september 2006 below Olson tests the Row Bike a fitness product he is considering marketing on his farm in Waconia Minn rollerblade inventor living his dream to the handful of skaters who noticed him Scott Oison was the bronzed and shirtless Guy who sailed Over the finish line of the North Shore inline Marathon few of the thousands who attended february race in Duluth Minn the nations largest gathering of inline skaters realized that Olson was directly responsible for them being there in 1979 he introduced rollerblade a praised by time Magazine As one of the 100 coolest products of the 20th Century alongside computers cell phones and posit notes now 47 and living in a Funky Waconia Minn barn the puckish Olson is preparing for a second time to unleash his next Cool thing the Row Bike and the sky Bike perhaps the lunar bed and maybe Kong Pong too business disappointments failures and betrayals have sometimes followed his playful innovations but winning several multimillion Dollar settlements for rollerblade royalties helped Olson regain his Boyish optimism and fund his imaginative lifestyle i got Lucky Olson said a lot of inventors never see any rewards Olson was almost one of them in 1979 he was a Young professional hockey player looking for a fun Way to train in the of season when he picked up another inventors take on an inline skate he bought the Patent tinkered in his parents basement to make it better then used his plentiful Charisma to Hook friends and relatives on the new sport by 1985 roller Sades were becoming an International hit but the company finances were a mess local investor and Minnesota wild owner Robert Naegele or took Over the business and eventually bought out Olson but nor without ill feelings several court Battles for royalties ultimately landed Olson millions in settlements but Olson or As his friends Call him Olie Short for Olie the goalie Hast spent much time feel ing sorry for himself Hes kept himself biceps deep innovating other fanciful products switch its a combi nation skate a folding Golf bag plastic Penguin Lawn ornaments that lunar bed thing Olie is kind of the Steve Irwin of fitness said his longtime Friend Steve Arundel anything creative and crazy that he can do hell do it Olson could be a Posterman for the value of vigor Ous physical activity he flings his shirt off whenever feasible hate to exercise with my clothes on he and who could complain Hes As Buff at 47 As he was at 17 exercise is the Central theme in Scotts life said Row Bike user Dave Oison a 60yearold computer Engineer who become both Friend and adviser to Scott he has this Mission he wants everyone to be healthy and fit and have fun doing it Dave Olson is himself a convert Olson no relation to Scott was a self described Couch potato with a bad Back when he started using a Row Bike four years ago now Hes 50 pounds lighter far More muscular and has no Back problems the Row Bike is exercise it int just a leisurely ride said Dave Olson its work but its fun photos by Minneapolis Star Scott Olson who helped bring rollerblade a to the masses is always on the Lookout for the next fitness product he can Market when Scott Oison bought his Home 14 years ago he barely noticed the spacious and comfortable House that sits on the property Hes never lived in the House he saw the massive classic barn and adjoin ing wetland Pond and deemed both perfect he is at peace on this 40 acres surrounded by fun movement and nature soaring decks jut from the 40foottall barn overlooking a Yard filled with Over sized toys and a menagerie of animals a Friendly sheepdog greets guests while a pair of miniature donkeys Romp with the resident Goat and Llama colourful chickens Are cooped for safety but Guinea hens ducks and swans roam free i always dreamt id be on a farm somewhere Olson said away from the City the people the noise his father a schoolteacher and Carpenter helped him turn the barn which came with 50 cows into habitable space Olson added fanciful features to personalize the place a tractor seat swing in the living area a 40foot climbing rope in his work space gymnastic rings that hang from the rafters the barn initially was olsons office and work space but became his Home too after his divorce several years ago Olson said he and his a wife Kerry Ciardelli Olson Are still Good friends and devoted parents to their 11yearold daughter Maddy since Maddy came into his life Olson said he no longer has time to organize the Al night Golf tournaments he was once famous for but he always finds time for fun Scott is completely Happy with where he is said Mellesmoen he enjoys every single minute he surrounds him self with the things he loves in life Hes worked with some unscrupulous business people in the past that would have left most people very jaded but he int d q cd d cd o in n
