Roller skating question - expect lots of falls?

[bonhomme]

Hello,

I tried roller skating today - never did it a a kid but went along to a 'beginners class' which unfortunately did not cater for people who need help to stay vertical on skates and was more focused on techniques when you can skate basically.

I fell over hard 4 times on my rear and now it is aching like crazy.

Is that to be expected as a first timer and any tips for the best way to learn?

I'm actually a skating instructor, so hopefully I can help!

If you're falling backwards it's because you haven't bent your knees enough. Bending your knees is basically the most important part of learning to skate - it makes everything so much easier. You want your knees bent far more than you expect (and even when you think you are bending them a ridiculous amount, you could probably benefit from bending them more). This means that when you do fall over - which is inevitable - you'll fall onto all the bits that are covered in pads (and if you're not wearing pads, definitely wear some! Knees and wrists are essential, elbows and a helmet not a bad idea). Most people when they feel off balance try to correct by standing up, which when you have skates on your feet is the wrong way to go.

Did the class at least show you the ready position? I would say you want to spend some time getting really comfortable with that. Go to the park or wherever you're skating and hold the ready position, skate a few strokes (and in case the class didn't cover this, you push directly out to the side, not back) and then get back to the ready position. Did you cover breaking? Again, that's something that's really helped by bending your knees, as if you're too straight you can't get the correct pressure on the break and you'll end up either not stopping / spinning oddly / falling over.

Grammar fail - that should obviously be braking and brake. I blame lack of coffee.

Hello, thanks Merrow. No, they didn't show me any of that.

I haven't skated before but the instructor told me there is no wrong way to skate and then proceeded to ask us to 'snake' and various other moves, when I couldn't even stand up vertically for very long.

It sounds as if I had a really bad instructor. As it happens, not long after the falls, I developed a massive headache and now have to go to the GP this morning to get it checked out. I think my roller skating days are sadly numbered ...

Totally agree with Merrow on the knees. It sounds like a beginner class that doesn't suit a true beginner. Don't give up (if Dr says you're ok), skating can be such a pleasure. Can you find a different instructor?

You have to just practise! :)

Bend your knees, and keep your back straight as Merrow said :)

Get a good set of pads (Elbow, knee and wrist if possible)

If he's a decent instructor, one of the first things he should teach you is how to fall safely :/

Where is it you live? I might be able to get you a recommendation for a better instructor, because the one you went to is awful.

If he's ICP certified (which I would expect most instructors in the UK to be) part of what is examined is you teaching a class of beginners, and literally the first thing that should be done is showing the ready position. There's loads of fun moves you can do on skates, but there's correct ways to do all of them - there is definitely wrong ways to skate, as you found out to your detriment! And the snake should never be taught at a beginner class, that's absolutely ridiculous. I wouldn't expect a beginner to even know what a scissor position was, never mind be comfortable in it.

The first image here shows a good example of the ready position - although I'd probably have the hands higher (more like typing position). Feet are about hip width apart, knees are bent, back straight, arms out. This is basically the ideal stable position, and it's what you return to when things go wrong! When I started out, as sad as it sounds, I used to practice in front of a mirror without my skates on so I could see how far I needed to bend my knees and how that felt, because you really do feel it when you first start.

I hope this doesn't put you off skating, it is really fun!