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Inline Skating - Fundamental Techniques
For inline skating, mastering techniques like maintaining a stable stance, safely stopping, executing smooth turns, and safely falling are essential. This guide provides beginners with all the necessary tips for honing inline skating skills.
Whether you're big or small, young or experienced, inline skating is an activity for everyone. Just acquire a pair of inline skates, some protective equipment, and find a traffic-free smooth surface, and you’re ready to start practising. While you might find the initial phase challenging, noticeable improvements come after a few hours, so persevere!
Inline Skating Stance
Achieving proper balance on inline skates starts with bending your knees, bringing you closer to the ground and enhancing your balance.
Ensure your feet are parallel and facing straight ahead, not pointing inward or outward.
Maintain a stable and balanced stance by keeping your knees bent, feet parallel, and an upper body leaning slightly forward.
Check out our instructional video, How to Skate on Inline Skates:
Stopping Techniques for Inline Skates
Braking on inline skates can be performed using either the brake pad or the T-stop method. Detailed explanations are provided in our video, How to Stop on Inline Skates:
Brake Pad Usage on Inline Skates
To use the brake pad, push the skate with the brake pad forward and lift your toes so the brake pad makes contact with the ground, reducing speed. This technique allows you to adjust your rolling speed or bring yourself to a full stop. Beginners should familiarize themselves with the brake pad to maintain control.
Inline Skates' T-Stop Method
To perform a T-stop, position one foot behind you and drag the wheels across the ground perpendicular to the other foot, creating a T shape until you halt. Balancing on one foot while rolling is necessary for this technique.
The T-stop on inline skates lets you slow down without a brake pad, providing a significant advantage since brake pads can sometimes be cumbersome. It's advisable for beginners to learn the T-stop to master control while skating.
Turning on Inline Skates
While turning on inline skates, maintain bent knees and a slight forward tilt. For a left turn, move your left foot a little forward, doing the opposite for a right turn. Shift weight to your intended turning side, leaning into the turn with your upper body. Looking in the direction of the turn greatly aids the process.
Focusing on your turning technique avoids typical beginner errors and is beneficial for learning more advanced turning methods, such as cross-over turns, as you progress.
Safe Falling on Inline Skates
Preferably, aim to fall forward if necessary, thus managing the fall and avoiding impacts to the head or tailbone.
If balance loss seems imminent on inline skates, consider these steps:
- Stay low by crouching and leaning forward, minimizing fall impact. Regaining control might even be possible.
- Using protection can absorb falls. Utilize knee, elbow, or wrist pads to bear impact rather than yourself. If falling at a high speed, try sliding on these protectors to prevent scrapes.
These methods help reduce the risk of injuries that might otherwise hinder your inline skating progression.
Selecting Optimal Inline Skates for Learning
New and seasoned skaters alike should choose inline skates that fit snugly and comfortably. Beginner skates should include a heel brake and provide strong ankle support. Opt for wheels between 76A - 84A in softness, and sizes not exceeding 84 mm for adults with larger feet; children should aim for sizes beneath 70 mm.
For further details, consult our guides on purchasing inline skates:
