Rollerblading / Inline Skating Tips

Australian Rollerblading / Inline Skating Online Magazine
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Disclaimer: Try tricks at your own risk! You skate at your own risk so use your common sense before acting on what you read here. We suggest you always wear protective equipment when skating. Also consider taking a lesson.

Etiquette - Protocol

Today's tip is the most important of all and believe it or not, its not a trick.
This is one where if you don't follow some of these rules you could turn into one of those skaters that go to the local skate park to drink and start fights. I've seen it many times before and unfortunately it seems to be quite easy to fall into this trap of basically being an idiot!

Its a power trip, an attitude where you begin thinking you're better than everyone you see starting out trying their hardest to get into the sport and think "what a loser, I'm better than that and I don't even try" but that's exactly it. Its hard to learn but very easy to criticize.

For example you're down at the local skate park and the whole crew is skating well. After a while a little kid turns up on a scooter, skateboard or BMX bike and starts to ride the park. He's not at the stage where he can drop in but he is having a great time just rolling from transition to transition and on the ramp/s for a long time because it doesn't take much energy. This is a scene I know well... The kid is getting in the way of the whole crew now, getting a little more confident and using more of the ramp/s and going for longer. People are beginning to lose their patience. What do you do?

I've seen skateboarders throw their boards, bike riders and inliners intentionally run into helpless little kids because they're in the way. I know it can be frustrating but is it SO hard to talk to the kid? Given that some kids may be too young to reason with, in this case they should have parents around. Let the kid know that you're using an area and if they're in the way they'll get bumped into. In response to this most kids I've seen will sit down and watch what you're doing because they wish they were as good as you.

That's how it starts with simple bumping into people, then people trying to stand up for themselves when they shouldn't be. This country, as everyone says, is a free one and most parks are government or council funded so they're free too. These kids have just as much right to be there as anyone else and if you help them they may become just as good as you.

It can be very hard for kids starting out, not knowing anyone, or anything about the sport. I was one of those kids and at one point so were you. I was lucky and found a group of guys that were at a similar level to me (some better some worse) and we helped each other improve.

My friends and I have come a long way teaching kids to skate in skate c linics. You'll realise that with a little effort and communication even the smallest kids learn the basics and the rules very quickly.

The Unwritten Rules that bind skaters:

- Don't drop in if someone else is in the ramp unless you're sure that you're not in their way.
- Watch out for people in the ramp going fast. You'll find that when most skaters are practicing they'll practice one line over and over again trying to master it and they'll keep doing this line faster as they become more confident.
- When people are skating line they may not go the way you'd expect, so get to know skaters' favourite lines and if you see them practicing remember which way they usually go next to see if you're going to be in the way.
- If you fall and you're not badly injured get straight back up and out of the way.

They are just some of the protocols of skating.

Some tips for beginners

Find a skate park where other people are at the same level as you or a little better. That way you'll learn from skaters who are better than you and yet tend not to feel left out if you're better.

Don't do runs that last longer than the other skaters on the same ramp. Don't gloat about your tricks. Too much talk or being too friendly is not good either. Its better to let your skating do the talking when it comes to what you can and can't do.

DON'T BE A LOOK BACK! To many people do this one, even after skating for years. Its where you do a trick and as soon as you finish it you look at other people on the ramp to see if they are watching or clapping. It's like you're insecure, searching for praise. If you're doing something that everyone knows that you may not have done before... then people will notice and if they are good friends you'll get praise. If not, don't look for it, look for new friends.

Practice the basics until you can practically do them with your eyes closed. It's called muscle memory. When you can do a trick without even having to think about it and it's easy after you practice enough. That's how some people make it look so easy.

Once you can do a trick, try it switch. Even if it seems impossible, because one day it won't be impossible and that day will be sooner if you try it now instead of waiting for your confidence to catch up with you.

Practice the tricks you don't like to do because you think they are hard. Before you know it they will be easy and you will have more confidence.

The faster you go the better it looks.

Don't just go back and forth on a ramp. CARVE. This is when you go around the ramp in an oval or circle as if you were going for a grind even if you don't want to grind you should carve. Use the whole ramp or skate park and don't restrict yourself to just one area.

Grab everything, every trick that can be grabbed, GRAB (this is where you grab your feet in certain positions to style a grind or air or spin)

Wear pads. This is a tough one. I have been skating for more than 10 years and pads have saved my knees and shins thousands of times. I learned the hard way (by chipping my knee cap) that pads save you a lot of pain and if you learn to skate with them, they don't feel too bulky. You don't need to wear huge pads, in fact I wouldn't wear huge pads. Mine are small capless knee pads I wear beneath my jeans so they don't rip and my knees don't get as hammered. Also when it comes to rails or grinding of any kind... shin guards are a life-saver too. Its a good idea to wear a helmet at all times. For learners I highly recommend wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet. Wear them until you're confident about falling and when you do fall you wont hurt yourself as much because, YES, falling is an art... and falling safely is the hardest lesson to learn.

Most importantly have fun.

This tip was provided by Iain Smith.

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