Goals for Beginners

[Oicusk82huh]

Thank you so much. I really liked the Skate U.K. Basic Skills Program. This is actually almost exactly what I do with the kids now but I cater it for the inline skates, so cones are important. I think we'll do an informal warm up, maybe 20 laps clockwise and counter.

Currently, once they have the basics down, I usually start taking their heel breaks off. This is when they get excited, because they know it means they achieved the "next level." Then we usually start with toe-toe and heel-toe tricks and go from there. I'll focus more on edge work with the quad skaters. Last week the quad kids were so adorable, they learned trains and basic dances with the new adults. We've been having a blast. I never thought so many people would be interested!!!

I've been working informally with these kids for so many years now that our local roller rink has become an amazing place. Currently our rink is closed for a couple weeks, so we've all been showing up to other local-area rinks and teaching new faces. We have some new recruits. It's going swimmingly.

[zebra1922]

Originally Posted by MissyPatch

No worries, I know it's probably easy to onsell wheels but yea, would be great to try them out, you know.....

.....

I suppose the main problem with this is if you do not buy them, the shop now has a used set of wheels which no-one will buy (well, not at full price anyway). There are so few skate shops, most are small and a) cannot stock a full range of wheels and b) cannot finance a trial set of each wheel in stock (you could be talking £80-£100 a set). You could add a c) that you find you like them but buy them at skatesrus.com instead of the shop, who now take a double hit!

[Monkeybeaver]

Would like to learn a bit of slalom, but there is no where near me to learn. The local roller rink is as when I was a kid, still a local school sports hall with converted cupboard for skate hire (even though I now live over an hour away from where I grew up). It’s only open on Saturday nights & is full of teenagers going too fast for their skill level, not a great environment.
Have bought some cones & planed to practice on my local park but every time we get time to go I always end up helping my 8 year old with hockey drills.

[Oicusk82huh]

Agree, it's always been hard to find a good place to set up cones. When I used to set them up outside, there were no other skaters around. Since the local rink got new owners, they let me set them up regularly. It's a great way to improve balance, agility, and become more disciplined. It's a good training tool.

[MissyPatch]

Originally Posted by Oicusk82huh

Agree, it's always been hard to find a good place to set up cones. When I used to set them up outside, there were no other skaters around. Since the local rink got new owners, they let me set them up regularly. It's a great way to improve balance, agility, and become more disciplined. It's a good training tool.

Do you do them on one or 2 skates? I'll have to have a look at you tube.... might be some thing I need to do.

[Monkeybeaver]

The local park is actually really good for practice, we have an enclosed multi use sports area with nice smooth tarmac. I’m determined to get some slalom in at some point, found some good tutorials on YouTube. I think it would be good for my little hockey player too, bit of skating variety & the control slalom takes can only be a good thing for the rest of his skating.

[JerryR708]

Returner on quads after 35 years. During that time, mostly in my late teens, we went to Skate Depot in Cerritos Ca. and Cal Skate in Grand Terrace Ca. Never progressed passed anything beyond going forward in circles in rentals. For me, it was about the outing and not the skating. Family and friends would take me about five times a year.

RollerBlades had just came out and my girlfriend and I bought a pair from Sport Chalet in Cerritos, Ca. I had learned to speed skate, jump and crossovers counter clockwise, but nothing beyond that before hanging them up 25 years ago and have not worn a skate since.

Started back up again September 28 2018 at Holiday Skate Center in Victorville Ca. ( going on two months )
I picked up on quad skating again like it was yesterday and ordered a pair of Riedell Raven's September 28 2018

My PROGRESS REPORT so far:
*Forward crossovers C.C.W. ( fast ) 5/5
*Forward crossovers C.C.W. practice circle ( moderate ) 2.5/5
*Backward C.C.W. ( moderate speed ) no crossovers 3/5
*Backward C.C.W. practice circle ( moderate ) no crossovers 2.5/5
*Transitions forward to backwards ( slow ) easier, need work 1.5/5
*Transitions backwards to forward ( slow ) harder, need work 1/5

[Mort]

Originally Posted by JerryR708

Returner o
My PROGRESS REPORT so far:
*Forward crossovers C.C.W. ( fast ) 5/5
*Forward crossovers C.C.W. practice circle ( moderate ) 2.5/5
*Backward C.C.W. ( moderate speed ) no crossovers 3/5
*Backward C.C.W. practice circle ( moderate ) no crossovers 2.5/5
*Transitions forward to backwards ( slow ) easier, need work 1.5/5
*Transitions backwards to forward ( slow ) harder, need work 1/5

Does that rink ever do clockwise(opposite direction) skates? Backwards opposite(C.W.) and forwards normal (C.C.W.) have the same crossover step.(right foot crossing over).

Also, you can do both rotational directions with your transitions. From forwards to backwards, spinning cw and ccw. As well as backwards to forwards. Also in normal or opposite direction of travel on the rink floor.

There's so many things

[JerryR708]

Originally Posted by Mort

Does that rink ever do clockwise(opposite direction) skates? Backwards opposite(C.W.) and forwards normal (C.C.W.) have the same crossover step.(right foot crossing over).

Also, you can do both rotational directions with your transitions. From forwards to backwards, spinning cw and ccw. As well as backwards to forwards. Also in normal or opposite direction of travel on the rink floor.

There's so many things

I have been going to Holiday Skate Center for about 2 months now and never had we gone Clockwise, Backwards, Couples, Adults, speed, or anything special. Most skating rinks I've been to in the distant past had real disc jockeys with elaborate systems. They would announce the style/direction of skating and play the vinyl records and mix the sounds accordingly.

If the jockey announced couples, he would play slow love songs. If he announced speed skating, he would play rock/metal and etc. You were forced to learn all of the directions and styles and ask a girl to skate with or you would have to sit out on the bench quite often.

Without that variety, there is little incentive or hurry to want to learn and even if you wanted to, it would be like driving in the wrong direction against traffic and you would piss people off or get into an accident and get your license suspended.

The atmosphere is free for all where kids are going in all directions and bumping into you while they play tag on skates. PVC trainers are going from center-to-wall and wall-to-center. Candy booby traps get tossed on the floor along with lots of chewing gum. I have learned how to fall and tumble really good and hard and ruined a pair of nice new Riedell Ravens with upgraded 220 boot. PVC Trainers connected at the same area forming a wall across the rink where I had to jump over head first to avoid colliding with two 5-6 y.o. girls. Me and my skates got beat up pretty bad.

[Mort]

Request an opposite direction skate.

Originally Posted by JerryR708

.

The atmosphere is free for all where kids are going in all directions and bumping into you while they play tag on skates. PVC trainers are going from center-to-wall and wall-to-center. Candy booby traps get tossed on the floor along with lots of chewing gum. I have learned how to fall and tumble really good and hard and ruined a pair of nice new Riedell Ravens with upgraded 220 boot. PVC Trainers connected at the same area forming a wall across the rink where I had to jump over head first to avoid colliding with two 5-6 y.o. girls. Me and my skates got beat up pretty bad.

Awe, ya just gave them some character it's all good. I kinda tend to scoff at people with perfect looking skates

My boots are pretty beat up. Recently polished them up with black shoe polish and they look pretty damn good. The color was GONE. Wish I had before and after pics.

[fierocious1]

Originally Posted by JerryR708

I have been going to Holiday Skate Center for about 2 months now and never had we gone Clockwise, Backwards, Couples, Adults, speed, or anything special. Most skating rinks I've been to in the distant past had real disc jockeys with elaborate systems. They would announce the style/direction of skating and play the vinyl records and mix the sounds accordingly.

If the jockey announced couples, he would play slow love songs. If he announced speed skating, he would play rock/metal and etc. You were forced to learn all of the directions and styles and ask a girl to skate with or you would have to sit out on the bench quite often.

Without that variety, there is little incentive or hurry to want to learn and even if you wanted to, it would be like driving in the wrong direction against traffic and you would piss people off or get into an accident and get your license suspended.

The atmosphere is free for all where kids are going in all directions and bumping into you while they play tag on skates. PVC trainers are going from center-to-wall and wall-to-center. Candy booby traps get tossed on the floor along with lots of chewing gum. I have learned how to fall and tumble really good and hard and ruined a pair of nice new Riedell Ravens with upgraded 220 boot. PVC Trainers connected at the same area forming a wall across the rink where I had to jump over head first to avoid colliding with two 5-6 y.o. girls. Me and my skates got beat up pretty bad.

Wrong way skaters get the crap scared out them.... hard T stop with my wheels will scare just about anybody within 50ft.

[JerryR708]

Originally Posted by fierocious1

Wrong way skaters get the crap scared out them.... hard T stop with my wheels will scare just about anybody within 50ft.

I tried the T-Stop a couple of times just to learn another stop variation. Afterwards, I was at home cleaning my wheels and noticed flat spots on them. I discovered it in time to prevent my wheels from getting worse. I get it, wheels are cheaper than damaged boots and broken bones when the emergency stop is needed.

[Mort]

Originally Posted by JerryR708

I tried the T-Stop a couple of times just to learn another stop variation. Afterwards, I was at home cleaning my wheels and noticed flat spots on them. I discovered it in time to prevent my wheels from getting worse. I get it, wheels are cheaper than damaged boots and broken bones when the emergency stop is needed.

When you T stop make sure you drag the foot at an angle less than 90 degrees. If you slide a skate perpendicular to your line of travel, the wheels will stop rolling. So I usually "T stop" at about a 45 to 60 deg angle. The braking power is the same, if not better than doing a 90 deg, because you aren't giving up your strength for body positioning. You'll want to pull your arch of your braking foot toward the heel of your gliding foot.

Too many people try to teach skaters to make a perfect T when doing the stop and it's not needed at all.

The same angles of attack apply to plows and hockey stops(a hockey stop is just a T stop and a plow stop at the same time

[zebra1922]

To reinvigorate the thread, I’ve been to lessons and have now achieved my main aims (crossover CCW and CW, skate backwards, backwards crossover but only CCW os far, a few transitions back to forwards). Teachers at the rink area moving through some dance steps, even tried a spin last week. They make it look soooooo easy, but then I suppose they’ve skated and practiced a LOT.

And there’s the key, practice, practice, practice. I only get to the rink once or twice a week but try and get outside once or twice a week too. Much tricked outside (and it hurts more when you fall!) but it’s all helping.

Single leg turns here we come....

[Dazzler]

I'm so jealous of those of you who get to do classes. I'm improving bit by bit with practice and youtube but not like I would if I had a teacher. I have to be careful too, to actually do all the foundational stuff and not get excited and try to do things I'm not ready for. I've already got two different skating aims as I love dancing/artistic skating in quads at the rink and have a long term goal of doing an inline marathon. So I'm doing my best to ensure that both types of skating are complimenting each other. We mostly skate CCW at the rink, so if I'm doing short loops of a park, I'll always make sure to go CW. EG, I focus more on edge training drills in my inlines as the differences are more immediately obvious but it's improving my edge control in my quads. I focus on long, long glides on one leg in the rink where the stability of the quads gives me better stability and that helps increase my leg strength and control so I'm automatically gliding much farther on each leg on the lines.

[zebra1922]

Originally Posted by Dazzler

I'm so jealous of those of you who get to do classes. I'm improving bit by bit with practice and youtube but not like I would if I had a teacher. I have to be careful too, to actually do all the foundational stuff and not get excited and try to do things I'm not ready for. I've already got two different skating aims as I love dancing/artistic skating in quads at the rink and have a long term goal of doing an inline marathon. So I'm doing my best to ensure that both types of skating are complimenting each other. We mostly skate CCW at the rink, so if I'm doing short loops of a park, I'll always make sure to go CW. EG, I focus more on edge training drills in my inlines as the differences are more immediately obvious but it's improving my edge control in my quads. I focus on long, long glides on one leg in the rink where the stability of the quads gives me better stability and that helps increase my leg strength and control so I'm automatically gliding much farther on each leg on the lines.

Sounds like a good approach. In lessons and general practice I'm focussing on edges, inside and outside, for turns. Inside edges I have a problem with balance at the moment as I keep falling inwards (not completely, just have to put my inside skate down). All about the upper body and arms I'm told, just not quite got it together yet. Once I've got those mastered I think other stuff gets easier as you're basic balance in various stages of manoeuvres is all set up.

Depending on how big your rink is you might be able to do a little it of CW work towards the centre of the rink. I'm very lucky to have 2 rinks within 10 miles of me, one is very large so although it's a constant CCW rink there is plenty of space for 90-180 degrees of CW work here and there.

[Dazzler]

Originally Posted by zebra1922

Depending on how big your rink is you might be able to do a little it of CW work towards the centre of the rink. I'm very lucky to have 2 rinks within 10 miles of me, one is very large so although it's a constant CCW rink there is plenty of space for 90-180 degrees of CW work here and there.

It's not the biggest of rinks but when it's reasonably quiet with mainly regulars it's possible to go CW or do figure of 8s in the centre. It's literally one of 3 rinks in the country and is just a few minutes from my house so I consider myself insanely lucky. It's also got lovely staff and a really nice group of regulars, so it's just an extremely pleasant place to be. And while there are no classes, there are lots of more experienced skaters who are happy to help out when learning new stuff or with skate maintenance.

[Dazzler]

Finally managed to get the CW crossover feeling reasonably natural. It still takes thinking about and I have an occasional stumble but it's getting there. Finally managing to do mohawk turns and turning back to front at something other than a snail's pace. Can't do it at a normal speed yet but I'm working my way up. The movement feels nice and natural, so it's 100% a mental block but I'll work my way past it. It helps massively when the music playing is something I can move in time with because then I'm just dancing rather than over thinking it. Can nearly get into a decent-ish arabesque on my left leg now, I judder all over though. Can go pretty much the whole way around the rink on a right leg arabesque. So I'm working on going from arabesque to shoot the duck to arabesque in one movement.

T-stops are getting better. Starting to do hockey stops in my inlines. I really want to improve those so I can take the back brake off my inlnes as I find them very unwieldy. My longest skate route is pretty hilly though, so it will be a long time before I risk it. A long, longer term goal is to move up to tri-wheel skates but I'll have to feel extremely confident in my stride and braking before I'm able to do that. I'd also like to completely remove the toe-stops from my non-derby skates as I can't skate on my toes in them with the stops but they are generally much easier to do certain dance steps in because wide wheels can get in the way of some movements.

[Dazzler]

So I didn't know this was a goal I had, but my son wanted to try out the skate park and we finally made it this morning. I'm still on an absolute high!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-USOfg_PCLM

[zebra1922]

Nice work at the end on the bench thing! Now do it all backwards!