March 2021 – The COVID pandemic made many take up roller skating because it is fun and makes you feel free.

While roller skating is most definitely cool, strapping wheels as an adult can be an unexpected shock for a beginner. Learning correct techniques to find and maintain balance from the start will help you feel more confident and prevent falling over.

Here are 5 essential techniques to reduce fear and roller skate smoothly as a beginner.
Lacing
Most people put on their skates, grab the laces and pull. This is not right! What you should do is –

• When you put the skate on and pull the tongue, tuck it inside the outside ankle cuff of your boot.
• Using both your hands, grab the cross of your laces that is nearest your toes, and pull them tightly.
• Then move up to the next lace cross and pull. Keep moving up and feel your skate becoming tighter on the entire foot.
• Then tie your laces tight at the top.
When your skates are firmly attached to your feet, you can control them better.
Falling forward
The fear of falling creates tension in a new beginner roller skater, making you even more prone to a fall. You can overcome this fear by practicing falling forward on the grass.

• Stand in a Ready position with your hands up and in front of you.
• Bend your knees deeply.
• Bend even further and rollover your front wheels, first hitting your knee pads on the grass and then your wrist guards.
Practicing the Ready Position
The Ready Position is a critical step since this position is your ‘safe place’ on skates when you are a beginner. Use the Ready position to prepare for any movement and to recover from wobbles.

• Stand with feet parallel, a hand’s width apart.
• Look at your toes and keep bending your knees till your toes disappear under your knee pads.
• Feel your weight on the balls of both feet.
• By this time, your shins should be touching but this will only happen if your ankle straps are done up tightly enough.

Master the Ready position correctly while standing and later, rolling. This will give you stability and reduce your anxiety.
Go easy
Keep your speeds low. You can do this by gently creating ‘V’ your skates, with your heels slightly in and your toes slightly out. A more open V makes you go faster than a less open V. Start with just 3-4 V-strides and then cruise in the Ready position.

Remember patience and the right technique will help you learn faster!

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