For most people, the love of roller skates started when they watched their peers blaze down the streets. There’s a lot of excitement, and you feel the urge to experience it firsthand. Before you borrow your friend’s kit and seek the steepest hill you can find, here are some tips you should know.
Kit Up
The first step to enjoying any experience is being prepared for mishaps, that’s why Dad brings the bug spray on the camping trip. As a newbie skater, the chances of you falling are the same as the sun rising every morning. We are sure you get the gist.
It’s a common misconception that being properly kitted is uncool and shows a lack of skill. The only reason this is commonplace is because experienced skaters are more comfortable with their abilities. But this doesn’t make them invulnerable, in fact, their bravado often leads them to suffer the worst injuries.
Knowing you have little to no skill, being safe is the best way to ensure you can skate the next day. A properly kitted skater would have a guard for the elbows, wrists, and knees. You’d be falling on your backside a lot, so try to wear something thicker than your hello kitty shorts.
Avoid Unnecessary Risks
You just got your new skates and no longer fall every 10 feet when in motion. It’s at this point most think they’re Tony Hawk. Remember the steepest hill we talked about? They’ve also located that, and are preparing for a full send.
Your friends edging you on is to be expected, when you see someone with a stunt bike you expect tricks. It’s up to you to be realistic about your skills and not fall into the hype. In the end, the only person that gets hurt is you, besides apologies, there’s nothing more anyone else can do.
It takes a minimum of 6 months for most people to get fully acclimated to roller skates. Even though it’s not written in stone, if you’ve not been skating for this long it’s best to stick with safer programs. Remember, when you go home uninjured, you get to skate again the next day.
Lonely Roads Help You Learn Better
The last place to be as a beginner is the skate park, unless it’s deserted and good luck with that. While people around might generally be helpful and polite, the truth is you’re no more than an obstruction on the road.
You need to be able to move and balance to some degree before hitting the park, this way you don’t become a walking target. This is why your first practice spot should be lonely streets and roads without any vehicle traffic. Familiarize yourself with the new movement mechanics and remember to avoid slopes until your balance gets better.
Conclusion
Roller blades are fun to use if you learn properly. It’s normal to be clumsy and disoriented at first, this is all the more reason you should take things slow. Protect yourself with the right kits, don’t take unnecessary risks, and make sure you get home in one piece. That way you can hit the roads the next day.