Rollerblade rollerblading, also known as inline skating, is an outdoor recreational activity that is loved by many people. Almost the same as ice skiing, inline skating is done by sliding using shoes that are attached to a row of wheels underneath. When you first start practicing, rollerblading rollerblading is very challenging because you have to keep your balance as you step or slide on a row of wheels. However, once you master the technique, this fun game can be a chance to exercise while having fun anywhere.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Practice Maintaining Balance
Step 1. Prepare personal protective equipment
Before training, wear a helmet, knee pad, and elbow protector to prevent bruising, cuts, or abrasions. If you can't keep your balance, wear wrist guards so you don't hurt yourself if you fall.
Wear personal protective equipment (especially helmets) when rollerblading
Step 2. Put on roller skates
Insert the sole of the foot into the shoe, then pull the tongue of the shoe toward the ankle. Tie the laces attached to the front side of the shoe and the paired holes on the top side of the shoe. Once the laces are tied, make sure the shoes don't feel loose, but the feet are comfortable.
- Shoes are still loose if the wheels can be moved sideways or shifted to the side of the sole of the foot. You're tying your shoelaces too tightly if your feet are stiff or tingling.
- Wear roller skates that fit the sole of your foot. The size of the roller skates is usually the same as the size of sneakers and other types of shoes.
Step 3. Stand up slowly
Before you skate, make sure there is a place to stand on, such as a wall, chair, or railing. If there is no place to hold on to, kneel on the floor and put one foot forward (eg right foot). Place both palms beside the sole of the right foot, then stand up slowly while maintaining balance.
- Be careful when standing so that your feet don't slide forward or backward.
- Before practicing on a concrete floor, try learning to stand on grass or a carpeted floor to keep the wheels from turning.
Step 4. Spread your feet shoulder width apart
If you can stand up straight, adjust the distance between your feet so that you can stand while maintaining balance. Make sure the wheels are upright and the ankles are not bending left or right. Point your toes forward. You can fall if the sole of your foot is pointed inward or outward because your foot will move in the direction of the sole of your foot.
- When playing roller skating, the balance of the body is influenced by the ability to adjust the position of the soles of the feet and ankles to remain stable on the wheels.
- Pay attention to the direction of the foot when sliding. Remember, the wheel will slide in the direction of the sole of the foot.
Step 5. Learn how to do leaning, pivoting, and crouching positions
This exercise gets you ready for a variety of movements as you learn to spin and increase your glide speed. Bend your knees slightly and make sure your hips and ankles are comfortable and relaxed. Once you're able to do some of the basic movements to get your feet into position, alternately lift your legs while maintaining balance.
When rollerblading, you need to bend down so that the center of gravity is slightly lower than when walking
Part 2 of 3: Learn to Glide
Step 1. Continue practicing on a concrete or paved path
Once you're able to maintain your balance, find a practice area that's flat and wide enough to slide on. Concrete or paved roads are perfect for rollerblading because the wheels can spin smoothly. If possible, practice near a wall or fence so you can hold on for balance.
- Sidewalks, car parks, and car garages are great areas to master the basics of rollerblading.
- Make sure there are no pedestrians, passing cars, or other people in the practice area when you start learning to skate.
Step 2. Step slowly
Lift one leg, then place it in front of the other leg. Do the same movement by stepping forward alternately. Slowly move your feet forward and not too wide apart. Make sure the wheels are upright as you move forward. You can practice gliding if you can walk while maintaining balance.
Challenge yourself to walk a short distance to a certain point without falling
Step 3. Move your feet forward as you slide slowly
Instead of just stepping forward, try rolling the wheel as you move forward. Transfer your weight to the front foot to slide. Lift the back leg, then move it forward while taking advantage of the momentum so that you can slide forward with the other leg.
- Point the sole of the back foot slightly outward so that you can press the foot down to have the strength to slide forward.
- You don't need to lift your leg at all if you can glide smoothly.
Step 4. Adjust the position of the upper body to maintain balance
As you begin to learn to glide, spread your arms out to the sides and adjust your posture once you feel unsteady. When you can maintain balance, position your arms like you're jogging. While gliding at high speed, alternately swing your arms in line with the movement of your legs as if you were in a sprint.
Do not raise your arms higher than your head or cross your arms in front of your body
Step 5. Set the glide speed
If you want to go faster, move your legs the same way, but faster. Lean forward, bend both knees, then alternate legs forward while sliding. Try to position the soles of the feet to form a sharp V.
- Make sure you can control your speed as you slide. Remember, the higher the speed, the more difficult it will be to control your movement.
- Glide speed can be increased by extending the stride. You can increase your speed by slowing down your foot movement and sliding further or moving your foot faster and sliding a short distance with each step.
Step 6. Practice to the best of your ability
Make sure you stay safe while practicing. Don't jump straight at high speed. Be careful when practicing with slow glides until you master the correct and safe way of moving. You will continue to progress and feel comfortable rollerblading if you practice diligently.
- Decide on the moves or techniques you want to learn for each training session. For example, tomorrow you just practice sliding and stopping, the next day you learn to turn or turn around.
- Take time to practice every day even if only for a few minutes.
Step 7. Learn how to land safely in the event of a fall
Once you feel unstable, lean slightly to the side so that you fall slowly, but make sure your head doesn't hit the floor. This way, your buttocks and thighs will absorb the impact when you land. Avoid falling on your stomach or on your back as this can lead to serious injury.
- Be prepared to react quickly because you could fall suddenly.
- Be prepared to fall many times when you start learning to skate. The fear will decrease if you fall a few times so you can focus on improving your skills and enjoying the game.
- Don't rest on your palms when you fall because there are lots of tiny bones in your palms that break very easily if you land the wrong way.
Part 3 of 3: Turn and Stop
Step 1. Lean to the side to adjust the glide direction
When you want to turn, reduce the speed of gliding so that the body is more stable and align the soles of the feet. If you want to turn right, shift your weight to the right side of your feet or to the left if you want to turn left. Bend both knees and ankles slightly. The circular force created as you adjust the direction of the wheel makes you turn right or left.
- This technique, known as the "A-frame turn", is most often used by roller skaters.
- First, practice turning at an obtuse angle. You can turn like the letter L if you have mastered the technique well.
Step 2. Move one leg forward while practicing your first turn
If you're having trouble changing your glide direction, apply the following tips. When you want to turn right, turn your right foot to the side in the intended direction and let your left foot follow your right foot or vice versa. Usually, this move is quite complicated for beginners, but is especially useful when you want to practice turning while gliding at high speed.
- When turning your foot to make a turn, lift the rear wheel so you can maintain balance. Do not lift the front wheel.
- Once you can rotate your feet without difficulty, try practicing the A-frame turn using the momentum of the glide to change the position of the soles of your feet so that they form an A.
Step 3. Learn to cross your legs for sharp turns
Lift one leg, then place it in front of the other leg, but slightly spread out to the side. Lift the leg behind you, position it in the direction you are going, then press the other leg to move forward. Repeat this motion until you have finished turning.
- You can form a sharp angle quickly if you cross your legs while turning.
- Don't let your feet touch each other. Be careful not to fall because this move makes your legs cross for a moment.
Step 4. Learn how to stop sliding using the heel brake
If you want to slow down your gliding speed, straighten your knees and align your feet to maintain balance. Bend your knees, then lift the front side of one foot while pressing the brake onto the floor to slowly reduce speed. You may fall if you apply too much pressure on the brakes.
- Rollerblade brakes are made of plastic, look like bottle caps, and are attached to the heel of a shoe.
- Usually, only one rollerblade brake is on the right heel, but certain models are equipped with brakes on both heels. Rollerblades for extreme sports are not equipped with brakes.
Step 5. Increase the intensity of the exercise by learning to do the "hockey stop"
This technique that demands the dexterity of moving quickly is usually applied by advanced skaters when they want to stop sliding. To do a hockey stop, point your feet straight in front of you, then stretch one leg out to the side (such as your left leg) as if you were doing a side lunge. Move your left foot in front of your right foot in a circle while rotating 90° so that the soles of your feet are parallel. You will stop immediately because a sudden change in direction takes away the momentum.
- Make sure that most of your weight is on your legs stretched out to your sides and that your upper body is leaning back slightly so you don't fall over.
- This movement must be done quickly so you can stop. Otherwise, you will continue to spin in a circle.
- Hockey stops are a high-level technique when rollerblading. Before practicing to master this technique, make sure you're good at sliding, turning, and stopping using the brakes on the heels of your skates.
Tips
- Playing roller skating is one of the most beneficial ways of exercising. This activity works all muscle groups like running, but puts less stress on the knees and other joints.
- Before skating on the highway, take time to warm up and stretch your muscles to increase flexibility.
- Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt to prevent blisters if you fall.
- Everyone can rollerblade rollerblading. If you can walk, you can skate.
- Practice regularly. Skating may seem difficult for beginners, but you'll get better at it if you practice diligently.
