To want to talk about roller skating!

[squashedalmondcroissant]

Not an aibu (sorry!) but posting for traffic as I don't know where else to post!

Anyone else into roller skating?

A friend of mine took me to a rink with her for her birthday and I loved it! It's very scary but I'm so keen to learn more and have just treated myself to a beautiful pair of skates that were on sale 😁

I'd love to find some like minded people who are getting into it like me, or even some more experienced people who can reassure me that I will get better and lose the bambi legs eventually 😂

Show me your skates! 😁😁

Hello 👋🏻
I bought my skates when I turned 40 (3 years ago). And I'm ashamed to say that they've stayed in the cupboard since then. Just not brave enough to risk any falls or broken bits.
I should sell on eBay. 🫣

I'm the same age as you @UserError012345!

It would be such a shame to not get any use out of them, I've only been out on mine once so far and it was terrifying but I'm just watching a tonne of YouTube videos for tips, wearing safety gear and taking it very slow 😂

You can do it!

Mine and my daughters skates. Mine are purple.

I skated years ago and picked it back up a couple of years ago. DD (9) wouldn't listen to me so I got her booked into lessons. She's now a fab skater. Think skate forwards, jump and spin mid-air, land backwards and carry on skating. I'm just happy to go forwards and nattering with friends.

You will get over your bambi feelings, but if you can find some lessons somewhere then your confidence will grow much faster.

I also accept I don't want to go backwards etc. I'm happy to just love my couple of hours going around to decent and cheesy music.

Tones your legs epically too.

Happy Skating.

Out of all the safety gear to wear, never ever go without wrist guards. I still make DD wear them even now (even though I actually don't 🙄🤦‍♀️).

Yes @Ratbagcatbag, I second that! I have a full set but I think I'll be wearing them indefinitely at the moment, I'm way too scared to go without 😂 I'm actually thinking about getting a helmet too just to give me a bit more confidence.

Unfortunately there is no where locally I can go for lessons, even finding a place to practise is tricky but I'm going to keep trying as best as I can. The Instagram people make it look so easy but it really isn't!

I find backwards really difficult so I'm just going to worry about going forwards for now.

Ooooh they're lovely sparkly skates. :)

if you ever make it to the East Midlands I'd be happy to meet up for a skate at one of the rinks around here.

Its getting your balance that I used to hate. First couple of laps I still have to adjust to it.

Me!!! I'm over 40 and bought some skates on ebay a couple of weeks ago.

I've been out twice and love it - tried to figure out going backwards yesterday at the local park.

I never had my own skates and they make me so happy! Great exercise too.

Check with your local leisure centres - sometimes they will do a roller disco at the weekend. Much easier to learn on a properly smooth and flat surface. I'm probably close to @Ratbagcatbag in that I'm in the East Midlands and have a purpose built arena near us - DD goes to lessons there and loves it. She sometimes drags me long to public sessions and I really enjoy it (the parts I'm not being made to help her stay upright while she trying something new anyway 🙈)

I skated again today! Not that much as my town is a bit too slopey in places and I'm not that good at stopping yet but I do feel happy that I got out and tried it again 😁 Need to find somewhere nearby and flat. I managed to work up a real sweat!

There is a local group that sometimes hires out a leisure centre hall near me but I'm always working when it's on 😭

Hi, just going to skate now with my son.(I'm waiting for him) I searched skating and found your thread.
I did not skate as a youngster but my kids did (just outside self taught)
I got skates a few years ago and never used them. I've been out a few times this week. 😁

(I'm 55)I'll post pics later

I got skates for my 40th last year! I joined a roller Derby 'learn to skate' group which was so helpful. I'd love to practice regularly somewhere nearby, though - just need to get up the guts to do it in public on the local tennis courts or something!

Annoyingly I have some tennis courts near me that look perfect to practise on but they are private and you have to pay £20+ an hour to hire them which I can't afford 😭

Still on the hunt for a proper space to practise but in the meantime I might just keep trying on the rubbish streets to get some skate time in 😂

I love roller skating, used to do it loads when I was young and am now easily the oldest person at the leisure centre sessions but I couldn't care less. The only issue with these sessions is they are usually packed so learning to skate backwards is nigh on impossible; I've done this in my kitchen and in local car parks when nobody is around. I love that there are always so may new skills to learn if you want to and it gives me such a wonderful feeling of freedom; keeps me in great shape as well!

Arh used to love skating as a teen.

Dd (6) is getting into as we have a roller rink near by. Going tomorrow actually.
DH will be the one skating round with her though..... Lol

Here you go!
I'm lucky enough to have a park with great paths!

@Rollerbird those are great paths! I'd love to skate there 😁

I managed to find a little bit of a path that was reasonably flat and smooth so I went out for my first proper skate today! It was so much fun! I had to really be brave and push myself because I'm still pretty scared of falling and just generally being rubbish but I did quite well.

Got my bubbles pretty good and I'm working on crossovers. Still need to smooth them out a bit but they're a lot better than they were. My slaloms are really quite good and I'm halfway to being able to do a snakewalk already! I had a go at cannonballs and heel/toe manuals, which need a lot of work but still, it Boosted my confidence a lot to have tried 😊

Backwards it still a real issue. I just cannot get it. Turns/transitions are also, I fear, going to be really awkward for me, I just keep catching my feet at a weird angle which makes me trip and puts me off trying again 😭

Overall still a good day and I'm really happy with my progress. Going out again tomorrow!

Hey well done @squashedalmondcroissant !
I went out this afternoon and was working on backwards which I improved on but isn't smooth at all. I'd like to be able to go all the way round the track backwards one day. I find it hard to look behind me too!
I find heel toe manuals very impossible at the moment. I can do a cannonball which is fun! My crossovers are also very one sided!
I'm loving it though.

I got some when I turned 30 a few months ago but haven't been brave enough to take them out yet! I'm so worried about breaking a bone, even though I've bought all the protective gear!

I am too @JauntySpider8 I watched this https://www.instagram.com/reel/CdYtlb8qQDg/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= today
I found it helpful to practice 'falling' on the carpet

My dd got roller skates for her bday and ive been tempted to get my own. I used to roller skate and roller blade up until i was about 22. I still ice skate so im hoping it will be an easy switch.

@JulesCobb do it!!

You've done it before so you should have the muscle memory already, from what I've heard there is a lot of similar/transferable stuff from ice skating to roller skating and visa versa 😂

Ah no I don't but I love this!
What are best to get,roller skates/blades or heelys?

What do you fancy @purpleme12 ?
What sort of skating do you picture yourself doing?
Out and about outside ? Round a rink? Skate park? Disco dancing? Speed skating?
You could maybe go to a rink and try both types?

@JauntySpider8 this was my preferred stopping method today... Running onto the grass. 🤣