Rollerskating may be a new personal challenge, a way to stay in shape or have fun. First sessions are sometimes difficult for skate beginners. 

Discover our tips for skating safely and fully enjoying your skates.


We recommend that your start your practice on a smooth floor in a gymnasium or equipped pedestrian paths. Uneven ground will put you in an unbalanced situation. For maximum  safety, equip yourself with protective gear (helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards…)

 

/BODY POSTURE 

 

Skate beginners adventure begins here. You have just clipped your rolling part for the first time. Your favorite shoes become your skates. Start by paying attention to your posture! 

To become a seasoned skater, bend your legs. Many skate beginners, surprised by these new sliding sensations, stiffen their legs and bust. It is the first imbalance source in roller skating (quad or inline). Remember to relax, release the pressure and bend your knees. They are vertically aligned with your shoulders, and your heels are vertically aligned with your buttocks. The soft legs act as shock absorbers and skating is more pleasant. 

Don’t stick your two feet and therefore your two skates because its creates an imbalance that we try to avoid. Shift your feet with a good gap. This prevents two wheels from colliding and causing an almost inevitable fall. Your feet should also be made on “duck” position, your skates tip going in opposite directions. 

 

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/SKATER STEP

 

Often observed in younger skaters, beginners may try to reproduce the walking movement with their new roller skates. However, this natural movement is not adapted to this practice. To make a right “push” movement on roller skates, follow these steps: 

/Put your feet in the “duck” position
/Push one of your skate to the side with your leg
/Glide a few meters with the other skate
/Bring back the first foot that “pushed” in front
/Repeat the movements with the other leg

  

/LEARN TO FALL TO PROGRESS

 

Falling fear is common for skate beginners. First falls can be spectacular and create apprehension. Falling is not inevitable. The most important thing is to know how to apprehend them so as not to hurt yourself.  

To fall from the “lowest height possible”, continue to bend your knees. Closer you are to the ground, the more you will limit the fall impact. If you fall forward, land yourself with your knees and wrists. Backward, remember to put your head in your shoulders and protect your back by landing with your hands. Also, drop out rather than try to stand. The more you are contracted, the greater is the injury risk. 

It is not easy to think about all these tips when you fall unexpectedly as a skate beginner. Feel free to practice during your first sessions, on a smooth floor.

  

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/BRAKING

 

You’re starting to enjoy skating and gaining confidence. You are now facing a new step: braking when you are in speed situation. Whether it is to change direction, avoid an obstacle or simply regulate your speed, braking becomes essential. Note, however, that it is better to avoid hills and slopes. They make it harder to brake and control your speed.

 

/In T
Very well known in inline skating, this simple braking technique is also suitable for quad roller skating. To do this, lean forward and stretch one of your legs back (usually, the “weaker” one). Your back foot is perpendicular to your support foot. Keep both wheels lying flat - this movement will greatly reduce your speed. Be careful, if you position your wheels incorrectly, on one wheels side for example, your skates will shake strongly.

 

/With toe stops
Each quad skate is initially equipped with front stoppers. Sometimes also called “front brakes”, they are not designed for this purpose. In roller skating sports such as derby, artistic skating, skaters use it as a support in their figure. However, it is possible to use it to brake, as long as you control skating backward the roll-over while skating. We introduce you to the technique: when you skate, you turn around to roll backward, then let your toe stop drag for a few seconds. You will stop right here.

 

/With rear brake

If all these techniques may seem complicated in the first times, it is possible to install a rear brake, just like inline skates. Movement is then much simpler. During skating, simply place your foot with a rear brake on the heel. Your brake quickly dampens your speed, without you having to change your body position.  

 

Many other braking techniques, such as “snowplow” are possible in skates, which you can discover throughout your training.

 

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Learning to skate can take time. Be patient and take the time to discover each movement and their sensations. If an obstacle seems insurmountable to you, clip-out  your rolling parts and pass it on foot. You will progress over time! 

We are proud to participate in this new sport discovery. It would be a pleasure to discover your first skate session on social networks. (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).