Swathed in spandex and wearing gloves, kneepads and space-age helmets, the human chain zips across campus. It's the Wednesday Night Social Skate, and several dozen in-line skaters are enjoying Stanford's smooth walkways, curb cut-outs and low-volume traffic. The more adventurous break away from the group to catch air off library stairs and slalom through bollards.
Each week for the past five years, skaters have gathered at the Oval before heading off on an eight-mile trek across White Plaza, through the faculty ghetto and down Page Mill Road. Says Michael Barnes, a visiting researcher from Wisconsin: "When it comes to rollerblading, Stanford is another planet."
