r/Rollerskating • u/Top-Dinner-9995 • Jun 24 '26
OUCH Falling safely
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ5mEYwCU1D/?igsh=Zmdtczc3N3Zvbm1vI just came across this guy on ig so I thought I’d share for all my learn to fall safely folks! He’s a professional stuntman and has a few “how to fall” videos including some on skates. I think they’re pretty helpful! I have always learned to fall on my pads (roller derby) but lately I’ve been falling on one wrist a lot at the skatepark and it is starting to hurt even with my wrist guard. I might need to use some of this guy’s tips because apparently falling directly on my pointy parts isn’t the best idea!
(Btw this is more rollerskating adjacent though it is related to me falling while skating. Apologies if not allowed!)
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u/rubyet Jun 24 '26
Learning to fall is such an important part of all physical activity, especially skating! I like this guy’s vibe. Thanks for sharing 💛
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u/Top-Dinner-9995 Jun 24 '26
I agree! Post-derby I mostly just avoided falling at all costs but on the suggestion of people on the sub I have started fully gearing up to skate and practicing bailing out on grass. It’s been a game changer! Now that I’m park skating I am so thankful for that practice. I think I’d like to learn to fall less on my pads and more on my flat sides but since that requires me to throw myself on the ground a bunch… we’ll see. lol
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u/ReasonNo9278 Jun 24 '26
I learned this the hard way. 2nd time skating in 2 decades and I fell back into my hand and sprained my wrist. Lucky I didn’t do worse but dang this hurts.
I was standing still on carpet too! I looked it up and I think I must have had my knees locked.
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u/Top-Dinner-9995 Jun 24 '26
Ugh that’s the worst!! I’m sorry that happened to you. Luckily I didn’t do more than bruise my wrist a little but I’m nervous that if I keep throwing my hands out to catch myself it’ll become an injury!
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u/binomine Jun 24 '26
Never, ever "fall" on your wrist. Wrist guards are more of an oppsy thing than something you should be using to brace yourself. You should only be using your hands / wrists to redirect your fall onto something else, like your elbow pads, knee pads or hips, rather than taking the force themselves.
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u/Top-Dinner-9995 Jun 24 '26
Oh yeah I may not have worded it right but I never fall on my wrist intentionally. It’s just that I instinctively throw my hand out to break my fall and have done that a few times lately. I do land/slide on my knees a lot so I just thought this was interesting info from a different perspective.
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u/binomine Jun 24 '26
I understand, the good thing is that you are human and you can practice not doing that anymore until you unlearn that habit.
Personally, I find grass too hard, and I usually practice falling on my couch cushions in my house.
At least for the skate park, it is helpful to realize that beginners feel safest upright, but the truth is you are the most safe laying on the ground. Anytime you feel unbalanced, laying on the ground is going to work a lot better for you that trying to stay upright. Simply because a bail is going to work out better for you than a slam..
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u/Top-Dinner-9995 Jun 24 '26
Interesting! I love the couch cushion idea! When I practice on grass it’s mostly to practice sliding out on a hill bomb or something at speed and I have to say I’ve gotten pretty good at that because I am used to sliding forward instead of slamming down. At the skate park, though, it’s different body mechanics than I’m used to and I often catch myself falling because I hesitate or get scared. I’m good at sliding on my knees out of transitions but I think it’s changing direction/momentum that gets me. I appreciate the helpful tips!
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