SURE-GRIP International, previously known as SURE-GRIP Skate Company, was founded in 1936 by John L. Wintz.
SURE-GRIP was first known for its rubber inlay wheel it invented for conventional roller skates in 1937. The wheels were manufactured from gear fiber called phenolic, a common material used in the mechanical industry where an abrasion resistant material is needed.
The fiber gave the wheels long wear and the rubber inlays gave them grip. It revolutionized the skating industry by replacing the often slippery wooden wheels.
Therefore, SURE-GRIP became an appropriate name for the company and the wheel as it literally gave the user a “Sure Grip.” The wheels were so successful that it gave the company its introduction into an industry in which it would later prove to become an innovative leader.
