Learn to rollerblade

Now all I need is the safety gear so I don’t crack my head open!

Wanted to do Camp Rollerblade but it was 230 bucks – yikes. The skates arrived the other day. I opened the box, put them on, and tried skating around the living room and kitchen. Surprise, surprise – I wasn’t that wobbly. I think I’m finally gonna be able to do this!

I went skating with the kids and was tempted to ask for rollerblades rather than the four-wheel variety of skates. But given that it had been years – perhaps decades – since I was last on skates, I decided baby steps would be more prudent.

I did good! Just like riding a bike, once I got out into the rink and did a few laps it all came back to me and felt/worked in a familiar fashion. I even got to the point where I could make a stop, something I’d never done very well when I’ve skated in the past.

The kids’ dad got rollerblades, repeatedly fell alternately on his arse and face, then turned the blades in within a very short time. So maybe it’s good I didn’t feel a pressing need to get the cool skates…I skated through the last song!

Side note: What’s up with the awful music they play at skating rinks these days??? Yet another reason to rollerblade: they’re good on paths and sidewalks, where there are none of the skating rink “accoutrements.”

My girlfriend is my age and does it. Of course, she’s been a rollerblader all along. I figure I should just get really, really good wrist and knee pads, serious knee support, suck it up and wear a goofy-looking helmet, then go for it. My friend is back home so she won’t be holding my hand : (

I think rollerblading would be a fun way to stay in shape and – once I’m confident I’m not gonna die doing it – easy to do because the equipment is smallish and portable. I have had some lower back problems, as well as knee problems, so that’s what might make it kind of insane for me. But once those muscles were more conditioned from blading it’d probably be good for me.

I just have to figure out somewhere I can practice that’s fairly safe but not too humiliating!