Ellie Soth's favorite place to wear her Heelys is in the Capital Hill Mall because the floor's surfaces are smooth.

Heelys, although introduced in 2000, have become what many young people in Helena are hoping to receive as birthday or Christmas presents as they are becoming increasingly popular. The wheeled footwear allows those who wear them to transition from walking or running to skating by shifting their weight to the heel.

Soth, 7, says styles of shoes like Heelys aren't the kind she typically likes to wear because they are big and clunky, but she tolerates their size and shape to be able to wear the mobile shoes.

Soth says the shoes aren't uncomfortable and it only took her about two weeks to get good at riding them.

"It's kind of like wearing high heels," she said about walking in them while not using the wheels.

After falling pretty hard three or four time while learning how to navigate, Soth generally wears helmets and pads, at her mother's request.

The Heelys' Web site, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends wearing protective gear-- helmet, wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads-- whenever wearing them.

Helena pediatrician Nancie Nordwick says Heely wearers "must wear helmets at all times."

The AAP conducted a study last summer after collecting data of all roller shoes injuries referred to the department over a 10-week period. The study found that 67 children have suffered orthopedic injuries while using Heelys or Street Gliders, the majority of them girls. Upper limbs were the most common location of injury and the children's mean age was 9.6.

Injuries from Heelys still pale in comparison to bicycle-related injuries, with nearly 690 children under age 14 injured every day on their bicycles, and about 140 bike fatalities in that age group, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, a group focuses on prevention of injuries and deaths among children.

An even ground free from rocks and pebbles is key when using roller shoes because the smallest of debris can cause the wheels to lock up, sending the wheeler crashing to the ground.

That is exactly what happened to Brendan Kjorstad.

Kjorstad was rolling on his Heelys when he got a tiny rock stuck in the wheel, flipped over and fractured his arm, says brother Stephen.

All four Kjorstad children own Heelys. Stephen likes to wear his while delivering The Adit.

"I wear them when I know I'm going to use them," he said. "Everyone asked us where to get them. Lots of people have heard of them, but don't know where to get them."

Heelys sell for about $70 up to $100 and are available at Big Sky Board Sports and Bob Ward and Sons in Helena. Kristopher Lance, BSBS employee, says Heelys are one of the store's most popular items since it began carrying them last spring.

Mike Staffaroni, CEO of Heelys Inc. in Carrollton, Texas, isn't surprised that the wheeled shoes are just now gaining popularity in Helena.

"I wouldn't think Helena is the fashion leader of the country," he said with a chuckle.

Heelys sold at a high rate in Southern California, and then grew in sales in Florida and up the East Coast, Staffaroni says. Today, they sell coast to coast including over 70 international countries, he said.

Heelys was founded in 1998 by inventor Roger Adams, a skateboarder from a young age who grew up in the skateboarding business in Tacoma, Wash., where his family had a skateboarding company.

Staffaroni wears them to work sometimes, as do many other of the about 50 employees.

"The guys who really love them are in the warehouse and it's great to see them zip from one end of the warehouse to another," he said.

The shoes are available in adult sizes, but Staffaroni says 85 percent of sales are to those between the ages of six and 14.

Staffaroni says if used properly they are completely safe.

"According to the data we've crunched, you are 50 times more likely to hurt yourself on a bicycle, which is accepted by American culture," he said. "Whenever a new product like ours becomes part of American culture we want to be sure people understand it is sporting equipment and not a toy. Please take the time to read safety instructions and understand the fundamentals and you have a very safe, very enjoyable skating experience."