| When I started out skating all those years | | | | Step1, the skater needs to get into the |
| ago a friend told me that learning to skate | | | | scissor position (the term scissor in skating |
| on roller blades was like learning to ride a | | | | means to put one leg in front of the other to |
| bicycle. However looking back at my own | | | | create a stable stance with your legs |
| learning curve I now have to disagree. | | | | slightly apart, for braking you should always |
| Learning to inline skate for me was a more | | | | put the skate with the healbrake in front). |
| complicated affair. | | | | |
| | | | Step2, with the weight over the back leg, the |
| Riding a bicycle requires balance and road | | | | skater should now engage the healbrake by |
| awareness. There isn't really much more to | | | | simply lifting the front of the |
| riding a bike than pushing the peddles round, | | | | healbrake-foot up until they hear the brake |
| using the breaks, switching gears and turning | | | | scraping along the floor. |
| the handle bars to steer. Don't get me | | | | |
| wrong, riding a bicycle isn't always that | | | | Step3, the skater now applies gradual force |
| easy, but for me learning to ride a bike was | | | | to the healbrake (moving the weight slowly |
| a whole lot easier than learning to | | | | into the healbrake) until they come to a |
| rollerskate. My 6 year old son taught | | | | complete stop, putting their arms out in |
| himself to ride a bike in less than an hour | | | | front of them for stability if required. |
| after I removed his stabilisers, but learning | | | | |
| to rollerskate at a basic level (start, stop | | | | So there you have it. Learning to |
| and turn) took him weeks. | | | | rollerskate is easier when you break the |
| | | | moves down into simple steps. Once you've |
| I like to think that learning to inline skate | | | | mastered the basic moves the other more |
| is like training to dance without any natural | | | | advanced moves will be easier to understand |
| rhythm. First you've got to learn about the | | | | and learn. As you get better you'll develop |
| footwork, where should your feet be when | | | | your own unique skating style and may even |
| standing still (at the bottom of your legs? | | | | invent your own skating moves or techniques, |
| ha!), where do you put your weight when | | | | but for now concentrate on the basics and ask |
| applying the heel brake and where should you | | | | your instructor (if you decide to take |
| position your feet, upper body and weight | | | | lessons) to break each move down for you. |
| (All at the same time) when turning for | | | | |
| example. All this requires some level of | | | | Most people don't take up skating because |
| coordination, shifting your body weight over | | | | they find the learning process lengthy, |
| one leg while positioning your feet in the | | | | painful and ultimately not that much fun. |
| right place can be a real headache for the | | | | Using excuses like, "I'm not fit enough" , |
| first time skater. But if you break the | | | | "skating is for kids", "I've got week |
| moves down into smaller steps (just like a | | | | ankles", "skating is dangerous" or my |
| dance step) you will find the learning | | | | favourite, "I'm to old" are not good enough |
| experience more enjoyable and easier to | | | | in my eyes. Skating is NOT difficult if you |
| digest. | | | | get the right type of training, invest in |
| | | | some good quality roller skates and get some |
| Let's take the healbrake stop for example: | | | | lessons from an experienced skater who knows |
| | | | how to break the basics down for you. |