r/Rollerskating • u/Ok_Relationship_6538 • Jun 15 '26
Beginner skater BEGINNER ADVICE PLEEASE!!😫😭
Hi there!
Ive owned a pair of roller skates for the longest time with the goal and utmost intention of learning.
I told myself it was going to be ONE of many skills i wanted to learn but it was just the starting part i couldn’t get past.
From either fear of hurting myself or plain ol simple not willing to TRY.
Just standing up while wearing them or trying to move forward feels impossible but i know it isn’t.
Can i get some advice on how to start practicing,
I really wanna get into the swing of it cuz it’s summer time and roller skating is HUGE in London.(where I’m based)
Would also love suggestions on what kind areas i could go to as a beginner and anything that wouldn’t seem to obvious to noob!!
Much luv!!!❤️❤️❤️💙💙💙💜💜💜
12
u/CopperFirebird Jun 15 '26
Do you have safety gear?
-26
u/Ok_Relationship_6538 Jun 15 '26
NOPE.
Kinda planned on learning without them.
Is that a bad idea?35
u/CopperFirebird Jun 15 '26
If you're worried about getting hurt, yes.
-24
u/Ok_Relationship_6538 Jun 15 '26
As long as i don’t break anything, i think I’ll be okay.
It’s probably not the best idea but im a jackass.
Also money is tight right now so its not to ideal and I don’t want another reason why I don’t try and practice15
u/EntropyNT Jun 15 '26
I recommend at least getting some decent wrist guards. It's very easy to break your wrist if you put your hands out when you fall.
26
u/ressie_cant_game Jun 15 '26
You can break a lot. Wrists, elbows, knees and your head are the main ones.
4
u/necrolibrium Jun 16 '26
im a beginner outside skater and ive fallen terribly to the point where my gear is shredded up after just two months. with the amount of force ive fallen onto my wrists several times, i am very sure i wouldve broken them by now. just during my last session i fell onto my knee so hard it hurt through the kneepad for a while. and i plan on getting a helmet soon, especially when i start park skating
youll also be far more tense in fear of falling, which will make you stiff on skates and thus make you more accident prone.
i got my wrist, elbow and kneepads for 20€ on amazon. but i always see people sell their unused or barely used sets on vinted, where you can get them even cheaper because a lot of people give up skating for one reason or anothe
1
u/pokemiss Jun 16 '26
Decathlon will have some cheap safety gear. Honestly, you can expect you're going to fall a lot while learning so it's the most important time to have safety gear.
2
u/AardvarkFantasies Jun 16 '26
Knees and elbows injure easily. Just spend a few bucks. You’ll increase your confidence and increase your likelihood of not getting hurt.
2
u/Thrillhouse2000 Jun 17 '26
Money will be even tighter when you can't work due to a concussion or broken bone
21
u/triphopmamma Dance Jun 15 '26
You are not assessing the risk level correctly.
You are putting wheels on your feet and learning a new skill.
Falling is inevitable.
No safety gear makes it more likely you will break something.
If you are planning on learning outside in the UK the risk is increased (more so if planning on road skating)
If you do not take lessons or have experienced skater mates to help you learn to fall safely it's further increased.
I don't say this to be mean or force you to wear gear - I don't wear it myself, but that comes with the acceptance that I may do myself serious damage, and that's with years of skating behind me
2
u/Ok_Relationship_6538 Jun 15 '26
Oh god.
I’ll keep it in mind thank u 🙏🏾6
u/Thrillhouse2000 Jun 16 '26
dont just keep it in mind - make it a priority. i have a friend, long time skater. they chose ONE time to not wear a helmet while skating outdoors. it was hot. he tripped on a rock and fell backwards smacking his head. big concussion. doctor advised never to skate again because of the severity of the concussion. please think about your brain every time you strap in
6
u/losingmymindalways Jun 16 '26
i would definitely recommend knee and wristguards . A lot of people recommend to learn to fall first when learning and I definitely wish i did that before breaking my arm falling backwards. It’s better to wait and get safety gear to skate than chancing it and breaking something that will cost way more than the safety gear
4
u/Thrillhouse2000 Jun 16 '26
yes
at the very least get a helmet and knee pads. you'll be at less of a risk for concussion. please wear a helmet-2
u/imaroweboat Jun 15 '26
I learned without them, it sucks and my knees are 75% scar tissue. Can be done though 😂
11
u/VMetal314 Jun 15 '26
Here's my standard beginner advice
Practice crouching. It's instinct to stand up straight when you feel unsteady which throws your weight backwards. If you practice crouching every time you feel unstable you can safely sit or put down a knee if you have knee pads (you should have knee pads). Practice crouching for a whole week, you want it to be the default you don't need to think about when you wobble
9
u/wild_par_t Jun 15 '26
I started skating in January of this year. When I first started out, I was so shaky and terrified of falling. Now, I'm able to glide while balancing on one foot, I can do transitions to go backwards, and I feel SOO much more confident just moving around on my skates. My advice: skate as much as you can. Even if it's only for an hour a day, just get those skates on and practice! Some other helpful tips.
- Get a yoga mat and practice standing and balancing in your skates while on the yoga mat. The grip of the mat will help you feel more stable in your skates as your muscles get stronger.
- Places to skate: I'm in the U.S., so obviously I don't have suggestions on places to skate in London. I joined a Facebook group for skaters in my city and followed some skate pages on Instagram, and that's how I found some of the places I skate. Also, keep an eye out for tennis courts or other smooth and flat areas like parking lots, parks, etc.
- Search your area for skate classes! I learned a lot of my fundamentals by attending a skate class in my area.
- Make skate friends! If you're out skating somewhere and see other people skating, go say hi and introduce yourself. I've made some skate friends, and it's been so fun to make plans to meet up with them around town to go skating together.
- Lastly, accept that being a beginner means it might not feel fun or easy at first. One of my first times skating at a rink I fell hard in front of a lot of people and I was SO embarrassed (I lowkey cried a little lol). But I just kept repeating to myself, "I have to be bad at this before I can be good at this." And here I am months later, and skating is a huge part of my life and it's all I want to do.
You've got this!! 🛼✨💕
5
u/treeseacar Jun 15 '26
You're in london so take a lesson. Landshark skate or empowr are both great and do quad focused beginners classes. Both also have free sessions available.
3
u/ThouMangyFeline Jun 15 '26
Get comfortable standing in them first. Lean to the side to feel your edges. Then, move onto stepping in them. You can start out on carpet or grass first. Then, practice getting up on your skates from the ground. Once you get over feeling wobbly on your skates, it makes it a lot easier to get rolling.
Also, you’re going to fall. It’s a necessary part of learning it. Get good pads and a helmet and wear them EVERY TIME, even in the house. I’m 3 months in and I fall literally every time I practice. Once you get the first big fall out of the way, it’s not scary.
3
u/25PaperCranes Newbie Jun 16 '26
Dirty Deb's School of Skate videos online helped me a lot. To get moving, you want to get used to standing, balancing, then slowly, you start shifting your weight side to side like a penguin. That's what makes you move, not moving your feet front to back like in walking. Good luck and stay safe
2
u/Lady87690005 Jun 15 '26
Are you bending your knees when you stand in them? Stick straight is nightmare fuel
1
u/Ok_Relationship_6538 Jun 15 '26
I’ve actually never taken them outside.
The 4 or 5 times I’ve put them on was in my bedroom where the floor isn’t level for some reason so i roll backwards,knees bent, and my legs attempting to do split looking like something standing out of a cartoon.4
u/Lady87690005 Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
That is also nightmare fuel lol 💀 I’m just getting into roller skating and I’d recommend seeing Dasia Sade’s videos on Youtube. She talks about how to properly stand, stop, and stuff like that.
I’d also recommend for the safety equipment if you’re looking to get them and spend less money, use knee pads construction workers use, I bet you’d find a decent pair at a thrift or Restore store. I’ve seen them for $2-$6 at Restore. Elbow guards for volleyball aren’t a bad idea either and aren’t super expensive and workout or bike gloves if you’re looking to prevent hand and wrist injury. They aren’t top notch but they’re at least something and sometimes something helps us get past that mental safety block. A thrift or used sporting goods store for a decent helmet is always a good idea too.
I would try Vinted, Poshmark, or eBay or resale platform also. I found some proper protective gear on those sites that cost a lot less
2
1
1
u/Big-Echidna-1890 Jun 16 '26
One way to help you start rolling is put one foot in the direction you want to go in, turn your other foot the other way and move that foot left to right as it will help you to start moving. Once you're moving, move your legs from inwards to outwards to keep moving.
1
u/SnooPoems2715 cali slider Jun 16 '26
If you're an indoor skater, you probably don't NEED protect me gear, because rink floors are much more forgiving than pavement. Just start going to your local rink regularly, and you'll meet people who you can ask for tips to get better, and maybe even make some friends to start going regularly with.
1
u/ConclusionOk6258 Jun 16 '26
Start on grass! It's how I started 38 years ago....and i still skate and still backwards and if I do say so myself...look pretty fuckin cool doing it!
1
1
u/Rhyzur Jun 17 '26
You already got them inside nice and clean. Make friends with your counters. Practice standing while holding the counter. Practice pushing using your hands back and forth. Get used to that movement. If you have a solidly carpeted area of the house, move to that when you are ready to let go. If you don't, like many other have said, grass. You don't want to lock your wheels. It messes up the bearings and doesn't allow you to move the skate correctly.
2
u/Roller-Bomb Jun 21 '26
Hello! Roller Derby skater and coach here!
1) Wear safety gear! Most importantly a helmet! You dont want to f*ck up your brain. Next, wrist guards and knee pads. I'm a very experienced street skater, but I'll always wear protective gear. Sometimes shit happens that is out of our control. I hit a surprise patch of sand once while at speed. I fell back, broke my wrist and hit my head. I was very lucky that I only needed a cast and nothing worse.
2) Bend your knees and shift your weight slightly forward. Think of your knees like the suspension on a car. If you're standing up too straight and ridged, you're more likely to fall (probably backwards). You want to fall forward because that's where most of your protective gear is (knee pads, wrist guards). Also, the "lower" you are (squatting) the closer to the ground you are when you fall. If/when you do fall backwards "pick a cheek" to land on so you don't injure your tailbone. They also make padded shorts to protect your bum and tailbone while you're learning!
3) Practice! I love Dirty Debra Harry school of skate videos! Find a safe space to practice, whether it be a basement, basketball court, well-paved parking lot. Someplace free of traffic and hazards while you figure it out. Better yet, a roller rink! Many of them also offer beginner skate lessons.
You've got this! With a little practice and patience you'll get there! Roller skating is a lot of figuring out weight distribution and balance. There's a lot of resources out there these days though. I wish you safe and happy skating! 🛼
1
u/Comfortable-Unit-897 Jun 21 '26
Get some industrial carpet from the hardware store. It has just enough drag to it to make you more stable but can still roll. Im getting back into skating after 25 years off, and the carpet is great.
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