How To Inline Skate? [A Must-Read For The Beginners]

If you are just a beginner in skating and want to start because it is fun, you must be wondering about how to inline skate? Your mind may be full of thoughts like “Can I do it?” “Is it too hard to inline skate?” or ‘How can I start inline skating i.e. Rollerblading?”

We are here to help you. No matter how hard you think it is, if you are passionate about learning skating, you will definitely learn quickly for sure. And once you cross your beginner stage, you will love it a lot to skate. This is how fun skating is!

A piece of previous knowledge about things related to beginning with inline skating will help you a lot. So, let’s start learning about inline skating for beginners.

Basics Of Inline Skating

First, you need to know some terms related to inline skating. Then, you can start learning to inline skate.

• Skater practices some basic stretching or moves before he starts his actual practice of skating, this is known as ‘warm-up’
• Backward skating is known as ‘Fake’ in general.
• Spin is the rotation in terms of degree.
• When a skater performs any moves with his weaker side of the body it is known as a switch. That means if you usually use your right side to make your moves or to stop, then doing anything with your left side will be known as a switch.
• Airs are referred to as jumping in the air while skating
• Wallride means to skate on a wall

Not only these are the only inline skating basics, but also you have to read the below guidelines to know about how to inline skate for beginners.

Buying Inline Skate For The First Time

The first thing you need if you want to start skating is skates. As a beginner, you need skates that are good to maintain balance. Not necessarily speedy, but must be of the right size.

While buying, carefully check the skates, try them, and try to understand if you stand up whether they will be able to help you to maintain balance. Buy skates that will cover your ankles. However, sometimes it happens that you have got the best skate but are not feeling comfortable yet. Then follow a few tips to make your skate comfortable.

Video Tutorial on Skating Basics

Inline Skating Lessons

Inline skating is different from walking. When you see a good skater skate you may make mistakes thinking they are similar, but that’s not the case. Inline skating requires passion and practice. Your different movement practice will help you to be a better skater. Let’s learn about different inline skating drills for beginners.

• The first step to being a skater-Standing Up: When you are trying to skate for the first time, It will be a little tough to stand up wearing skates. You may fall down in your first few attempts but don’t be hopeless. Try at your home first or in a flat place and it will be better to take help from any skater. To stand up, sit beside someone or beside a wall. Take support from the person or the wall, gently try to stand up with your feet at ‘V’ position and a few centimeters’ gaps between them. You can keep your knees bent. Place your feet carefully. Keep in mind that you don’t need to stand up fast, but your goal is to stand up perfectly. 
• Taking A Step forward: Try to take your first step with keeping your feet at ‘V’ position and toes pointing forward. Try to keep your knees bent. Bending knees will help you to fall down backward You may have a feeling of falling down but don’t be afraid. Don’t rush. Just slowly and steadily try to move forward keeping your balance.
• Gliding: Now when you are able to take your steps forward confidently, you should start gliding. Take a step forward, transfer some body weight to the foot facing front. Keep the other foot pushing inside. You will gradually move forward. Practice, practice, and practice.
• Taking a break while skating: This is probably the most important trick of skating that most people find difficult. To stop skating you just need to practice more and more. First, slow down,  then put one skate forward, lift the frontal part of your foot, let the brake pad stop.
•  Learn other tricks and practice:  once you comfortably move forward and can stop, you should practice more and more to improve these skills. Furthermore,  you need to learn new skills. Start with easier tricks then try newer and comparatively difficult tricks. The more you learn new moves and styles, the better your inline skating will be. And it will be really fun to skate with new skills.
• How to Inline skate backward?: Skating backward is a bit challenging for new skaters. Here are some tips and tricks for you to skate backward.

• Try on a flat surface. Just because you can skate forward comfortably doesn’t mean you will be able to easily move backward. 
• Stand steadily. Don’t lift your feet from the ground.  
• The part of your body which is stronger than the other part should be moved backward at first. 
• Balance your body weight.
• Shift your body weight to the other foot and move back one more step
•  Try more and more. 

If you can cope up with all the lessons stated above, then I can say you are near to learn some inline skating tricks for beginners.

Skating Downwards

While skating downwards, the challenging part is to slow down your speed. Moving downwards will gradually increase your speed dangerously so that you may fall down and get injured. If you can jump the downward area off then it will be the safest and easiest way.

But if you can’t do it because the slope is lengthy,  you need to be skilled. Try to balance your center of body weight. Try to put your body weight in the back foot. Don’t change foot until your speed slows down and you need to increase again. 

How to Turn Inline Skates

• As a beginner, start slowly
• In turn, you need to cross one foot over the other while you get going with balance.
• Just try to walk in this style first, then you go for faster once you get the balance.
• Then, you push off, push legs to the point where you need to turn
• Keep this moving in a circle motion

Detail here with Thomas’s Video.

How Long Does It Take To Learn Inline Skating?

The more you practice the faster you can learn inline skating. Be prepared to spend 1-2 hours per day at least. Do not try to ingest all tricks together. Learn slowly but perfectly. 

Is It Hard To Learn Inline Skating?

In comparison to ice skating, inline skating is easier. It’s not hard for a passionate person. But even if you are passionate you have to give your time and struggle to be good at skating. You need leg strength and balance. It requires practice and time to gain these skills.

Advantages of Skating

Maybe you just want to learn to skate because you love to see others skate and think it is fun. But you will be amazed to know that skating has many benefits. Such as:

• Rollerblading can help you to flatten your stomach.
• Skating is a good form of exercise that will improve your leg strength.
• Inline skating can help you to lose weight
•  Inline skating is an amazing form of aerobic or cardio exercise. 
• Skating helps your muscle formation and makes your joints stronger.
• For those who have joint pain,  roller skating will be good for them exercise. 

A more in-depth article on skating benefits is here.

Also, don’t miss what Inline Skating Resource Center says about skating benefits.

What Do You Need For Inline Skating?

You need some tools to save yourself from injuries. Such as

• Helmet
• Gloves
• Mouthguard
• Knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards.

Dangers Of Inline Skating

Most people face wrist injuries while skating. Some people may have head injuries. But hopefully, you can prevent it by using a helmet. You may face some fractures while skating. You will be injured if you skate recklessly. Take every safety measure. You can avoid injuries in this way. 

How To Skate Safely?

Safety should be your first concern to beginning skating. You don’t want to be seriously injured while skating. So follow the following rules

• Consider learning from a professional 
• Check the space before skating.
• Never skate in wet weather
• Try not to skate in crowded areas to avoid injuring others.
• While skating in the park, obey the rules.
• Know your limits, do not try to try something new like the pro skaters. 
• Know your local rules. In some places skating at night is prohibited. 
• Do not skate in a dark place. 
• Do not skate with headphones on.
• Try not to look down while skating.

Falling Without Getting Hurt While Skating

You have to accept the fact that falling down is part of skating that you can’t avoid.  But there is a way to fall down safely. You must learn the tricks to fall down safely if you are beginning skating. If you do not learn to fall, you probably will not keep up skating.

Most people fall because they don’t have control over their skates while stopping. The perfect way to fall is to roll on. You probably have seen footballers to roll on and stand up. You can sense your falling just a few seconds ago. Just after sensing it, you need to fall down voluntarily, with your body weight on your arms, and roll smoothly.

As you will wear shoulder and arm pads, You won’t get hurt. But you need to practice this rolling a lot. Another thing you can do to prevent injuries while skating is to sit down. When you sense that you may fall, bend your knees and sit in the ground keeping them bent. As you will wear knee pads, you won’t hurt your knees this way.

Rollerblading at 40

You may wonder if your age is suitable to start rollerblading. If you are around  40 or have crossed 40, you may think that you can’t skate at this age.

But let me tell you, it’s never too late to start skating. Rather It’s good if you are thinking about giving it a try at this age. As previously written in this article, skating is an excellent way to exercise and weight loss. If you are a diabetic patient, it will help you to control your blood sugar level. Moreover, skating is way more fun than just walking or running. So start today. No worries. You really can do it. 

The Final Words 

Both Inline skating and roller skating need almost the same skills and techniques. If you are interested in roller skating rather than inline, here is the learning guide.

You have learned some basics of inline skating from this article. But keep in mind that real-life experience is the most important thing for a skater. Practice is the key to being a good skater. 

Again, consider your safety while skating. Keep every point in your mind that we have written down here. We gathered this information on how to inline skate to help you. Now It’s your turn to help yourself. Go ahead and enjoy skating!

Read also: Why Rollerblading is becoming popular again?