Still Inspired to Roller Skate

It’s been almost two years since I was Inspired to Roller Skate and my love for this hobby is still going strong.

I skate at least twice a week and continue to take group lessons. For me, it’s a fun activity that’s like dancing on wheels. I’ve been learning and improving moves, building confidence in my skating abilities, and making some new friends in the process.

Things to Remember When Learning to Roller Skate

For those new to roller skating, it can be both enjoyable and nerve-wracking. There is a fear of falling and hurting yourself or looking silly. More so for me, I’d get frustrated because I wasn’t progressing fast enough, and there were moves I wished I could do more smoothly and seamlessly.

Here are some things that I try to remember that may help newer skaters:

• Admire and be inspired by other skaters, but don’t compare yourself to them.
• Be patient with yourself. Progress can seem slow at times. We’re all at different levels so don’t let it discourage you if you don’t learn as quickly as someone else.
• Keep practicing and don’t give up. Sometimes something just clicks (through practice or another skater breaking it down in a way that makes sense) and you finally get it.
• Everyone falls – even experienced skaters, so don’t let the fear of falling stop you from trying.
• Roller skate setups vary (e.g. type of boot, plate, wheels, etc.), and what works well for one skater may not work for you.
• Ask questions — most skaters are supportive and willing to help.
• Try footwork and moves off skates to learn the steps and build muscle memory.
• Get out of your comfort zone by challenging and pushing yourself to learn something new or improve upon what you already know.

Skate Progress and Personal Victories

My level of progress shifts. Sometimes I can get a move quickly, while other times, my progress plateaus or seemingly takes forever. No matter how long it takes to learn something, it’s important to celebrate personal victories. I get excited and feel accomplished when I learn a new move like:

• The crab walk. It’s a simple move, but it took time for my feet to do what my brain was thinking. It felt good when I was finally able to pivot on my front and back wheels to do the crab walk.
• Heel and toe manuals. I started out by holding on to a rail or standing by a wall to practice getting one toe up and one heel up simultaneously. Eventually, over the course of weeks, I could do it without holding on, but only while standing in place. Our instructor challenged us to do it while rolling. I was nervous and did it in steps (e.g., lifting the toe of one foot, while all four wheels on the other foot stayed down). It wasn’t until after class during an open skate that I did a heel/toe manual while rolling. My friend cheered me on, and so did I!
• Strutting. I started with crossovers. Right foot over left was easier for me. When I felt comfortable crossing my left foot over the right, I tried strutting, but added an intermediate side step for balance before crossing over. It was only last weekend that I was finally able to strut without that side step. The moment it clicked was when I shifted my weight slightly forward.

I’m excited when I level up and get closer to where I’d like to be in rhythm skating. It’s fun, and there’s even a Zen to it. I also appreciate the skate community and its teachers who help build, encourage, and support other skaters. That’s what inspires me to keep roller skating.