When you think of the 80s, the bright colors, funky patterns, and big hair might immediately come to mind. While some of these trends have died, you can still embrace the nostalgia through roller skating!
Whether you’re looking for a fun new way to exercise or you want to take up a new hobby, roller skating may be perfect for you!
If you’re not sure where to start, be sure to keep reading for some of the best roller skating tips to help you feel confident and enjoy your new hobby.
Find Your Skates
Before you can hit the rink or road, you’ll need to get wheels!
Finding the right pair of roller skates is crucial to your comfort and safety. If they are too small, they can cause discomfort and pain, while a pair too big can lead to injury.
There are different factors to consider, like a soft or hard boot and the types of wheels. You can check out https://www.rollerskatedad.com/10-tips-for-buying-the-perfect-roller-skate-wheels/ to help you find the perfect wheels.
A traditional roller skate has two pairs of four wheels, while roller blades have four wheels in a straight line. Always be sure to try on your skates before purchasing them to make sure they fit correctly.
Gear Up
Next, you’ll want to invest in safety gear. If you’re on the hunt for roller skating tips for beginners, this is one of the most crucial tips!
You’ll likely hit the ground as you get the hang of skating, so ensuring you have a proper helmet to protect your head is essential. Roller skating won’t be fun if you get a concussion your first time out!
Other equipments you can invest in are knee pads and wrists guards. The knee pads will protect your knees from scrapes and bangs, while wrist guards can help protect your wrists from jamming if you fall on your hands.
Find Space to Practice
Next, you’ll need to find space to practice. This helps you get the basics down before you can progress with your skating.
Though you may be tempted to hit the rink right away, you’ll want to have the basics down first. This helps prevent you from injuring yourself and others. Some rinks will have practice areas where you can spend time preparing.
You’ll want to practice on a smooth, hard surface. Whether this is outside on sidewalks and walkways or inside at a rink, practicing on the proper surface is crucial.
Just be aware that there are different kinds of wheels for various surfaces, so you’ll want to choose based on where you plan on skating most frequently.
Stretch and Prepare
Once you arrive at your practice location, you’ll want to take the time to stretch. Though this may seem silly, you’ll use a lot of different muscles to skate, so stretching can help prevent injury.
You’ll want to stretch your legs with lunges, calf stretches, and hamstring stretches.
You can also warm up your muscles with quick aerobic activities. These include squats, jumping jacks, planks, and crunches. You’ll be surprised by how much you use your cor to balance!
Embrace Falling
When skating, you’ll likely hit the ground multiple times. This can be scary, but it’s a necessary part of learning how to roller skate.
As mentioned before, the proper safety equipment can keep you safe and reduce injury. You may also feel more comfortable skating knowing that you’re protected, easing any anxiety about skating.
As you’ll learn, there are tips to make your fall easier and less painful. The lower to the ground you are, the less any potential tumbles will hurt. Try not to tense up as you’re falling, as this can cause more pain.
Proper Posture
Once you’re ready to roll, you’ll need to get familiar with the proper posture. This ensures that you’ll use your body to propel yourself the correct way.
You want to ensure that your feet are no more than shoulder-width apart and keep your shoulders, hips, and knees all in a straight line. This will require a bit of core strength, so don’t forget to train off-wheels!
To stop, you may find yourself bending forward. However, you want to squat as opposed to hingeing at the hips to keep your weight balanced and prevent you from flying forward.
Learn the Basics
After you’ve mastered the correct posture, you’ll be able to start with the basics.
One of the best beginner roller skating tips is to try to walk on wheels. This will help you get used to the feeling of being in motion.
Next, you can progress to “duck walks.” You’ll put your feet in a “V” position, and extend your arms out to help balance. You can begin moving by transferring your weight from foot to foot and feel yourself glide.
Once you learn how to move, you’ll need to master stopping. How you stop depends on where your break is. For most, the skate’s break will be on the toe of the boot, however, some are on the heel.
To stop, you can lean your foot on your toe or heel, depending on where the break is, and apply pressure until you stop moving. Be sure to only stop with one foot, as breaking with two feet can cause you to fly forward or backward.
Roller Skating Tips to Help You Rock the Rink
Though you may have started this article by wondering, “is roller skating hard?” you’ll be pleased to find that this activity is easy with practice, of course.
Remember, everyone has to start somewhere! Don’t get discouraged if it takes you a while to get the hang of skating. Just keep practicing!
If these roller skating tips have you ready to lace up and get rolling, you’ll want to check out the rest of our website for more great lifestyle content.
