learn to roller skate

my body hurts but thats okay LOL, I was finaly able to get the idea of keeping my feet in a V shape and within an hour was zipping arround the floor! This was something I was wanting to do for a while since I was 5 so this is def nice.I’m gonna try the skating lessons on sat. afternoon since I got a free pass LOL

I know the basics. Sort of…

I need to learn how to stop. And then be able to skate while delivering orders. I work at Sonic and they have a new requirement that one person per shift has to skate.

I can do this. I’m getting better. But I need to check this off my list soon!

I just bought some skates today. I’ve been skating in my dorm room between my closet and desk for the past half hour. haha. Tonight: The hallway. Tomorrow: some random building with tile floor.

My husband taught me how to do this. That’s one thing he has done right. Go David.

On page 14 of a book on online skating.

I’ve got my skates; now I’ve got to get round to going to the roller disco!

For community service (as part of APO), my friends and I roller skated with underprivileged kids at The Shack in Morgantown, WV. As expected, I fell multiple times. When I wasn’t “skating”, I sold food at the concession stand (corn dogs, s’mores, pretzels, nachos, etc.).

Somehow as I teenager I faked it. Mostly by just hanging on as my date towed me around the rink. Never learned to stop. Expert wall crasher. When my oldest son was younger I took a few lessons with him. Still not confident. All I learned was to stay away from blades and go old school. Took my kids to a rink recently and it was so frustrating trying to support my little girl while barely being able to hold myself up. And there were no walls at this rink! The one thing that I was proud of was making up my mind to just breathe yogo style and not tense up. If I fall I fall. I won’t go again without lessons. And maybe I can find some helpful videos online.

Ok, so tonight, I was in the big rink… and I was able to leave the wall. The floor in the big rink is so much different than the one in the kiddie rink… I was able to leave the wall without falling but I was VERY slow haha.

I’m proud of myself, I think I’m doing very well. I still really don’t want to fall for the fear of not being able to get back up :P

I decided I wanted to tryout for the roller derby team a few months ago. The only problem? I didn’t skate!

I went skating maybe 5 times a kid and never got more than arms length away from the wall. So at the first new girl practice, I was the girl barely standing on skates as others whizzed by me. I wobbled as I slowly made it around the track, never lifting my feet. Fast forward two months and I’m one of the fastest new girls out there!

So how’d I do it? Practice. And lots of it. I’ve been skating averaging 8hours a week skating for the past two months.

My tips…

1. If you’re worried about falling, get pads. They’re required for roller derby. You can get a cheap set for $20 at Target. Wrist guards and knee pads are the most important. You may look a bit dorky at the rink, but not having a broken wrist is pretty fantastic. Plus, if you’re not worried about falling as much, you can get better faster.

2. Start slow. Do what you can at first. For me that meant doing a lot of what we call watermelons until I was comfortable on skates. Keeping all the skates wheels on the ground and making a D-shape with your leg on each side.

3. Push yourself. Make yourself try things that are a little beyond your skill level. If you’re an absolute beginner. Start picking up your feet a little. Even if it’s just once around the track. Make yourself do it. Once you get comfortable skating, start doing crossovers on the corners. For me that meant not quite crossing over at first, but picking up my right leg and moving it toward my left leg. Then, I eventually crossed it over. Then finally after a lot of practice picking up my left leg too.

4. Keep your knees bent. It helps keep you balance. Just don’t lean too far forward or you’ll fall over.

5. Don’t be afraid to fall. Oddly, if you’re not falling, you’re not learning. Falling happens when you’re trying something new. It happens to everyone. Get back up. Keep skating. Note: Falling also happens when some 8 year old zips in front of you. But the same advice applies.

6. Keep trying. Most people aren’t born knowing how to roller skate. They spent a lot of time learning.