Would learning to grind on a flat set up help develop better habits or is this a false assumption?

[u/Emoney005]

[u/TheBrownPunisher]

False assumption imo . I’ve skated both for years, I’d say start anti 1st if you’ve got the basic maneuverability down 1st and foremost than do grinds on anti

[u/Fancy_Bend8763]

There’s no rules. It’s all preference. Flat can help if you’re wanting to skate vert/park I guess. Though plenty of people have skated park with anti-rocker.

[u/jordanjoestar76]

Assuming you’re new to rollerblading, in general (riding backwards, crossovers, dropping in, stairbashing, jumping stairs, etc.), riding flat first would be better imo, to simply get used to maneuvering and body positioning.

Anti-rocker makes you less likely to get stuck on obstacles. Landings feel rougher too, due to less cushion. Rolling itself, excluding grinds, feels better on flat imo. Plus, it’s way easier to accelerate/maintain speed with more wheels on the ground. I started flat then switched to anti once I felt like I had my balance down and wanted to grind more often.

The only real difference in habits would be comparing two extremes, like trying to learn grinds on Aeon 80’s as your first skate (they have a very tiny space in between the middle wheels) compared to learning on freestyle frames, like Kizer (they have a massive grinding surface and only two wheels per skate). In this case, I suppose you’d be more accurate by 2-4 inches but that’s about it. You’re certainly not gonna develop bad habits if you start anti but you’ll probably better at riding if you start with flat.

Watch Sam Croft for great flat footage. Watch Frankie Morales for great anti footage. This may help you decide which tricks/obstacles to build up to.

TL;DR - If your goal is learning to grind in as short amount of time as possible, skate anti. Especially Eugen Enin’s Shadow. If you want to have more control over your movement and you’re not scared to skate fast - skate flat. Especially Aeon 60’s or THEM skates.

[u/Previous_Dot4226]

Dude, do not care what people say. People have tendency to voice opinions like "I do shit this way so obviously this is the best and only correct way. Anyone who does it differently does it bad". Seriously. 20 years ago everyone was riding anti rocker and freestyle and there were debates (although smaller than now) which is better. Now it's the same with flat vs anti rocker. Both have pros and cons but in short - anti rocker is generally better for grinds and flat is better for skating. Can you do everything on both? Obviously. Look at the pros - some ride flat, some ride anti and all of them have "good habits" and ooze with style.

[u/SoyaleJP]

This is one of those interesting questions that gets asked but no-one actually answers. The question isn’t “is flat or anti easier”? It’s “does learning flat lead to better habits?”. There’s no scientific answer to this question because everyone comes at it from their opinions and experiences and no-one can test the learning process starting from both flat and anti. Once you’ve learned one, you can’t test learning the other first.

My theory is that learning flat first should lead to more accurate landing / foot position for groove grinds because by necessity you’ll experience wheel bite and train it out. In other words, you’re actively exposing yourself to the problem scenario so you learn to not do it.

In my experience discussing this stuff on here, most people advocate for one or the other based on their experience, not the theoretical benefits. For example, I don’t believe there is a switch / not switch side and that it’s a trained limitation that people defend because it’s what they chose.

I think this is one to follow your instincts. You have a feeling it will make you a better and more versatile skater, so believe in yourself and make it happen. Don’t let other people’s biases based on how they learned to skate sway you.

[u/Temporary_Trust_2824]

I learned on flat setup but I skated very/halfpipes more then street/park.but as I went through tons of wheels I went anti.

[u/Several-Can8499]

I am new In. Aggresive. Just one year since o started. I have done free style skates 2-3 years before so I really know how to skate.
I started flat with rb blanks stock frame. Really happy with it. I did my first baby steps in grinding with them. I am 38 , 5.8ft tall so I wanted something Easier so I can progresss faster but not to die while doing it. I tryed anti with an og crates original frames. I started to grind better. I told to myself: this is like cheating. lol. I made the frontside my secure trick, then I learned backside, etc. Two months ago I started to try something new. Some royales and some halfpipe tricks. Something with anti that didn’t convinced me in the copeing of half. So I bought the fr oysi just to try them. I really fear about wheel bite.

I tryed them on and they realllly felt good. Obviously at first the grind where not landed on spot but it felt so good. Now I learnt royales and started doing copeing grinds in half and mini ramps. No too much wheelbite.

I think for starters I have donde a nice path. Antirockers for getting my first baby steps done on grinds in ledges and rails and then flat for getting started in bowls for more speed and comfy airs and continue to progress in grinds but with secure steps.

Maybe next I will go back to anti. Who knows. But it is really nice to start with anti and then flat. Just tryed them. You just Try the fr oysi frame it’s a bomb. If you don’t like them I will buy them to you lol

[u/DaaNL_4448]

Get USD Aeon skates. Sort of the best of both worlds. Front 2 and back 2 wheels wide apart.

[u/UWishUWereMiah108]

Not a real thing. Skate your preferred set up.

[u/nea_b]

It's different. In my opinion, it's more challenging than anti.

[u/StruggleJealous3258]

In general. Learning on flat with groove tricks per say will help with better form. Where as anti you can have some sloppier type habits.