Answers to New Skater Questions
So you got the skates, HECK YEAH! Now what? There’s a ton of content on the internet with people who are mind-blowingly awesome at skating but everybody has got to start somewhere. Here are our tips for getting started:
Where can I practice roller skating?
Finding a place that you feel comfortable practicing in is arguably the most important part of getting started. You may find that after purchasing skates you’re suddenly ecstatic over fresh pavement or weirdly smooth flooring – that’s normal and it happens to us all. If you have a sturdy open space in your home to skate, that’s ideal. For anyone else who is looking to take this outdoors, keep your eyes peeled for a smooth parking lot, street or (if you’re lucky) a tennis court. All you really need is a level, flat and relatively smooth surface.
Check out our other pages for map locations around the Island that are good for skating. In return, we ask that you keep us up to date on your local skate spots so that we can check them out too!
Will I get hurt if I roller skate?
Alright, so this is a loaded question – lot’s of factors here. First off, do yourself a favor and get a helmet, wrist guards, knee pads and yes, elbow pads too. You may feel like the Michelin man at first, but trust us when we say that it’s for your own good.
Those of you who have previously had broken limbs, surgeries, injuries etc. should definitely speak with a doctor or physical therapist to learn about ways you can work to protect those particularly sensitive parts. We’re no doctors here, but knowing your limits is important so you can protect yourself.
Lastly, it is a guarantee that you will fall roller skating. It’s inevitable. So with that in mind, learning to fall is key. There are a ton of great tutorials out there about how to roll towards your side and whatnot. The least you can do is just tuck and roll, but again listen to your body and wear your pads 🙂
What if I feel like a baby giraffe on skates?
This is another thing that in hindsight just feels like a right of passage. These are the moments you’ll look back on months from now and be like “awww, remember when….”. Until then, bend your knees and focus on where your center of gravity is. If you have a slightly wider stance with your feet staggered and knees bent, you’ll have a more stable center of gravity. Use your arms for balance. If you watch artistic roller skaters or ice figure skaters, you can see how they really use their outstretched arms for control and stability. Just practice on breaking in your new skates and getting comfortable moving forward. From there, you’re curiosity will show you what to learn next.
Bonus Tip for Beginner Skaters:
BEWARE OF THE PEBBLES! They are small but mighty and can cause some gnarly damage. Many a skater has eaten some pavement after a nasty encounter with a pebble.
