Roller Blading

[xSuperMario64x]

So I'm planning on getting a pair of roller blades soon, possibly for Christmas. I've been wanting to learn to ride rollerblades for a long time and I would like to learn while I'm still relatively young.

does anyone here ride roller blades? If so do you have any recommendations or tips on learning? also is there a particular style (or possibly brand) that you recommend?

as a kid I would go roller skating once a while and I was pretty decent at it though I never really got the hang of it cause I didn't go often enough. I want to learn to ride roller blades because the wheels are more narrow (the wide wheels on skates get stuck on cracks and bumps in the cement/asphalt outside a lot) but I feel like it's prob a bit harder than skates since it requires more balance. if it helps, I can ride a bike really well so that might mean I can catch onto balancing pretty easily.

 

[Mariah]

I really want to learn but I don’t think it would be a very good idea with my osteoporosis.

 

[DarkDesertFox]

I don't own a pair myself, but we have been rollerskating enough where I feel pretty good at it. I prefer the roller blades over the traditional skates. Maintaining your balance is the most important thing. Don't try to lift your legs too high when you're trying to gain momentum. Small struts on each leg will get you where you need to go. Also leaning forward with both hands above your knees helps maintain your balance going forward. I'm no instructor, but these are just based on my own experiences. If you go too fast, trying to break immediately may cause you to stumble so if you're practicing somewhere with a wall to lean on that would be more preferable. I really have a ton of fun whenever we go rollerskating. I wish we could go more.

 

[Sharksheep]

I think the last time I rollerblade was in middle school. I recommend practicing near grass so you have something that's somewhat soft to fall onto especially if you don't have knee pads or against a wall to help guide you until you learn how to balance. My general advice is that you want to fall backwards on your butt. When people fall forward they tend to catch themselves on their hands which is a really good way to injure yourself.

From what I remember that they were pretty heavy. I had a pair of skates I had to return because they had a lip that bend inwards that dug into the sides of my legs. They were also from Walmart so probably don't get those.

 

[Imbri]

I haven't gone in a long time, but I did enjoy it. I used to go and skate on the school track when school was out of session.

The main things I remember are that you want to make sure the boot has good support - kinda like ice skates, and the wheels are right for the skating you'll do. Somewhere around 80-85 mm is a good size, and hardness is on a 0-100 scale. Lower numbers are softer for indoor rink skating, higher numbers for outdoors.

The best name I know is Rollerblades, and they can be pricey. I'd suggest talking to someone from a sports equipment shop after you come up with where you'll be skating and your price range.

 

[Mr_Persona]

It's a great idea! Roller blades are fun and there's places to go to so u can rollerblade indoors during winter. I would get someone you know to help you practice if u ever do get a pair. If the person knows roller blading. Also ask for a pair that are high and sturdy so they can protect your ankles if you fall. Also supports you better. One other thing to know is that they will be heavy, so get use to that because that's life with roller blades. I don't know which good brand to get, like l don't remember many brands when l was looking for a pair back then. But it's good that you have good balance because that will make it easier too.

 

[Xeleron]

Hi! Glad to hear someone on here has taken interest in roller blading!
I love inline skating but by no means am I an expert at everything skates related, I only skate as a hobby, I did try to get into competitive speed skating but the rink is a bit far from where I live so I didn't keep it up.

If it's your first time learning, I recommend you getting skates with the break/stopper in the back heel, it makes stopping easier and that sense of security can really be beneficial to your confidence while skating. DO NOT get inline skates that aren't the "boot" design as those have pretty big wheels, don't have a break and essentially, they are designed for speed skating. Skates with a good boot design and frame can help stabilize you, I would also recommend you getting some wrist guards, I know a user above recommended you falling on your butt, but even then, it's hard to consciously make your body do certain actions while falling, so I think wrist guards are a must (I use mine both in rinks and outdoors). If you're skating outdoors, then maybe you should consider getting a helmet as well (I really hate that society thinks helmets are lame and that in order to be "cool" you shouldn't wear one).

As far a learning how to skate once you have all your gear, I unfortunately don't have any tips for you, I learned how to skate at a very young age. I learned how to skate in my dads inline skates by going up and down the hallway... I was never thought how, I just learned on my own, so I feel like it would be irresponsible of me to tell you how I skate since that might not be the way people are thought. Personally, I learned how to inline skate before I learned how to ride a bicycle and I STRUGGLED to learn how to ride a bicycle, so although knowing how to balance yourself is important, I would say cycling and roller skating are two different beasts.

Skates labeled for recreational use might me worth looking into

SKATES - Rollerblade USA

Rollerblade® brought the sport of inline skating to the world and continues to perfect our singular focus: AUTHENTIC PRODUCTS FOR A TRUE EXPERIENCE. This core value is applied to everything we do:

www.rollerblade.com

I got my old skates at academy, for a reasonable price because at the time I couldn't afford a high quality model and they did the job just fine. Wishing you the best of luck with your skating journey!

 

[moo_nieu]

Hi! Glad to hear someone on here has taken interest in roller blading!
I love inline skating but by no means am I an expert at everything skates related, I only skate as a hobby, I did try to get into competitive speed skating but the rink is a bit far from where I live so I didn't keep it up.

If it's your first time learning, I recommend you getting skates with the break/stopper in the back heel, it makes stopping easier and that sense of security can really be beneficial to your confidence while skating. DO NOT get inline skates that aren't the "boot" design as those have pretty big wheels, don't have a break and essentially, they are designed for speed skating. Skates with a good boot design and frame can help stabilize you, I would also recommend you getting some wrist guards, I know a user above recommended you falling on your butt, but even then, it's hard to consciously make your body do certain actions while falling, so I think wrist guards are a must (I use mine both in rinks and outdoors). If you're skating outdoors, then maybe you should consider getting a helmet as well (I really hate that society thinks helmets are lame and that in order to be "cool" you shouldn't wear one).

As far a learning how to skate once you have all your gear, I unfortunately don't have any tips for you, I learned how to skate at a very young age. I learned how to skate in my dads inline skates by going up and down the hallway... I was never thought how, I just learned on my own, so I feel like it would be irresponsible of me to tell you how I skate since that might not be the way people are thought. Personally, I learned how to inline skate before I learned how to ride a bicycle and I STRUGGLED to learn how to ride a bicycle, so although knowing how to balance yourself is important, I would say cycling and roller skating are two different beasts.

Skates labeled for recreational use might me worth looking into

SKATES - Rollerblade USA

Rollerblade® brought the sport of inline skating to the world and continues to perfect our singular focus: AUTHENTIC PRODUCTS FOR A TRUE EXPERIENCE. This core value is applied to everything we do:

www.rollerblade.com

I got my old skates at academy, for a reasonable price because at the time I couldn't afford a high quality model and they did the job just fine. Wishing you the best of luck with your skating journey!

I second the safety recommendations here. Scraping up your hands or injuring your wrists really takes the fun out of it d: If you're not used to activities that require a lot of balance or coordination (or you're just naturally clumsy like me) i'd also recommend knee pads.

As for how to learn, I also learned really young, but I've seen people make/sell pvc walkers to push around and stabilize yourself while you learn how rollerblading feels. Also, try to find a nice area to skate, whenever I fall, it's usually because of some old gravel. Good luck on learning a new skill! Rollerblading is a lot of fun :3 one of my favorite activities (I still wear some lightly padded fingerless gloves when I go though just in case I fall)

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

I used to rollerblade a lot as a kid.. those were fun, fun times. I have been really wanting to start rollerblading again. I even know the blades I want to get, they are really cute but expensive.
The only problems are I don't know where I will practice, and my social anxiety makes it hard for me to do anything in public these days.

I don't have any advice but I imagine there are some tutorials on youtube!

 

[nightglow]

I did when I was younger and love it. Way better than skates.
I think the best way of describing it is like ice skating. I don't know if that would help you if you have never went to the ice rink.
A good place to practice is an empty parking lot that isn't used often.
And Though it may sound controversial to some people, I'll put it this way, knee pads and things of that nature restricted me more than helping. So I always chucked those to the side. Wearing wrist guards isn't a bad idea though.