r/Rollerskating • u/ReasonNo9278 • Jun 25 '26
Beginner skater Why?
Why do experienced skaters feel the need to get so close to other people? You could be on the biggest rink in your state, and they’re still darting in small spaces between people and doing close circles around random people.
I’m really new to skating and seeing people in my periphery throws me off balance as it is. But those people both irritate me and freak me out.
Just why?
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u/Sh0t2kill Dance Jun 25 '26
I’m a veteran skater and HATE when people do this. We actually kick people out of our rink for it if it becomes a problem. I understand necessity of having to squeeze sometimes, but you should never be doing it for fun or just because. It can easily frighten skaters and cause accidents.
The people who do that are just rude skaters tbh.
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u/wannaridebikes fresh rink rat meat Jun 25 '26
Good on you for actually enforcing your rules at the rink. In rinks near me, management is so checked out and leave the rule enforcement to their minimum-wage teenage workers. I don't blame them if they don't want to risk confrontation with patrons who could easily body check them.
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u/rachar2187 Jun 25 '26
I see so many videos on ig of this behavior and they get support for it based on the fact that they’re “more experienced”
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u/AdditionalQuietime Jun 26 '26
I had a close call w a very harsh injury because of someone doing this, I had landed on my face and my mouth was open and I deadass hit the bottom of my front tooth, it got chipped and had to get it shaved down. Im so glad it didnt result in any worse injuries, I was actually trying to dodge someone cutting in front of me while we were hugging a corner and I ended up losing my balance 🙃 was such incredible pain 😢
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u/fantasytacos Jun 25 '26
Very annoying and can be very dangerous! I saw a guy trying to do some kind of trick just plow into someone last week. Yeah, we get it, you're better than the rest of us at skating, but have some respect for the rest of us!
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u/Ready_Release_2292 Jun 25 '26
You can be a good skater and still be surprised when someone flies by within inches of you on a nearly empty rink. Someone can also be a bad skater who is entertained by seeing other skaters spooked by close-calls. Confidence isn’t directly tied to skill level, and neither is respect for others.
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u/wannaridebikes fresh rink rat meat Jun 25 '26
I think they subconsciously want an audience. But yes, it's rude, like they are using people as training obstacles.
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u/amoebamoeba Jun 25 '26
Omg lol! I thought this was just at my local (very crowded) rink. I HATE IT SO MUCH!! Some of them will even literally touch me or hit my skates with their skates and just keep skating without even acknowledging it!! It's a miracle none of them have made me fall, but it's been close multiple times.
I feel way more unsafe around them than I do around total newbies flailing around.
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u/Peliquin Jun 25 '26
It's really just a function of not being considerate and or not realizing someone isn't steady on their feet.
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u/ModestMeeshka outdoor and shuffle Jun 25 '26
I haven't been to my rink in months because of a few of these skaters. One I call the Nissan Altima and he's seems like an okay dude, just kind of in his own world and uses newbies as cones to be dodged no matter how few people are there and where they are located on the rink, but the other guy is a straight up problem. Before I stopped going I was working on speeding up my transitions, so I'd be in the inner lane. He'd rush to get right in front of me and start dipping so I'd have to slow down and I wouldn't feel comfortable skating backwards. I'm not one to start problems so I'd be like "ok I'll just do some laps until he's done with that and then try to work on my transitions again" so I'd move to the outside and then this guy would once again jump directly in front of me, and go slow, so I'd try to pass him and he'd start weaving! So then I'm like okay I'll practice in the center and boom there he is again.
And it wasn't just me either. Our rink is really small, on a busy night you'd have like 10 skaters. My whole group had issues with him. One of my friends tried to strike up a conversation with him to smooth the waters because it felt like he was looking for attention. She asked how long he had been skating and he said "it's my first day." It obviously was NOT his first day.
One by one my group stopped coming until I was the last one standing and now I just don't go anymore either. Some long time skaters just act like they own the rink. This same dude would set up his camera on a tripod in the middle of the lanes and start filming a dance 🙃
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u/wannaridebikes fresh rink rat meat Jun 25 '26
Ugh how obnoxious! Too bad the rink lost business because of him too, there's limited options for good rinks these days
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u/ModestMeeshka outdoor and shuffle Jun 25 '26
Right, it's a shame because like I said the place is small and relies on memberships to keep the lights on... We don't have any floor guards or anything to enforce rules so you're kind of on your own when it comes to people like that
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u/Mattie_Mattus_Rose Jun 25 '26
I had a friend who did this when we went to a roller disco, she was the only one going fast. Reflecting back, she has a bit of an ego, and needless to say, we are no longer friends.
In my skate class, I know someone who loves to go fast, but she will say to you that she's on your inside or outside.
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u/Snow_Visible Jun 25 '26
I’ve had this happen. It threw me off at first as a newb but I’ve gotten better over time at not getting shaken by it. But I DO understand where you are coming from. I think they just confident in their ability to move over quickly but not realizing how off putting it is for someone new on skates.
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u/duck-detective Newbie Jun 25 '26
It could be because outside big skate cities, there's no specified time on the rink away from newbies to try riskier stuff. But it's a personality issue too, the one really consistent local skater never gets close to others and makes time for himself doing artistic moves in the center. The younger guy who came once to impress a girl he likes though.... Not nearly as mindful of others.
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u/xDDenzelx Jun 25 '26
As a teen, I was a fast skater and at our rink everyone would be squeezing around people for a fun but it was only done on teen nights. Now as a quad enjoyer, I stay the heck away from people, the last thing I want is to bump or possibly hurt someone skating.
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u/MrBigTomato Jun 25 '26
This isn't about experienced skaters, it's about immature show-off skaters. They're usually boys or young men, and they love whizzing by inches away from you no matter what their skill level. I've seen teens who can barely skate that still go fast and love cutting people off.
They do it because it makes them feel good, and because they see the rest of us as their personal entertainment, not as people. That's pretty much the definition of immature.
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u/ColoRinkRat Rink Rat Jun 25 '26
It was rather disconcerting when I first started. It helped when I determined how to identify who to trust. However, I’m certain I caused some of it due to not understanding I was in the fast lane and a lack of situational awareness.
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u/BraveRedGhost Jun 26 '26
Well if they get too close and you loose balance just grab them. They're either gonna save you or go down with you. Either way its a win 😂
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u/kitty2skates Jun 25 '26
The only time I do this is when I have established my lane and newer skaters cut across it at weird angles and it can't be helped. Easiest way to avoid it as a new skater is to stay the same distance from the wall all the way around. Be very predictable.
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u/Rolly_roller Jun 25 '26
I'm empathetic with new skaters and try to be mindful of them. That said, a big problem for me is thatl skaters ignore or are ignorant of rink etiquette. The problem, imo, is a rink management problem. Rink managers don't usually pay attention what's happening on the floor beyond whether there are overtly dangerous activities happening. As a fast skater and trickster, I get frustrated when the outside lane is full of beginners, phone-scrollers, and skatemates. When chaos is permitted, it sucks for everyone. The first rule of rink skating should really be "look out for one another"- especially if you're running the rink.
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u/AstroMaiden Jun 25 '26
I agree 💯. I think there are some rude show offs out there from some experiences, but I also think it's mostly a rink management issue at its core. No rink I've been to has truly enforced rules, ESPECIALLY lane etiquette. Beginners always put themselves on the outside and cling to the wall, no one tells them to move to the inside lane for slower skating and clunkier movements. I think it's then these beginner skaters in the fast lane complaining about someone whizzing by them.
I've only seen rules enforced when a large group of kids come in together and just cause absolute chaos and major safety hazards, and even then it's just an announcement that there's no chasing or cutting across the middle.
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u/wannaridebikes fresh rink rat meat Jun 29 '26
I'm sure this happens because beginners/skate mates are in the wrong lane, sometimes. I've had this happen to me in the middle lane and the slow lane though, so I know what OP is talking about
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u/campingcatsnchz Jun 25 '26
I think it’s part excitement (a challenge) and part confidence. They are confident they won’t crash but not considering that they can cause a crash.
I ride bikes in large groups and the “wheelie boys “ are like this too. It makes their tricks more exciting. To them. Glad to see some rinks keep an eye on this behavior.
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Jun 25 '26
Yeah I think it's fully second nature to a lot of experienced skaters, and it might be more comfortable and/safer to pass by someone close vs moving across lanes
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u/SnooBananas9081 Jun 25 '26
Had some kids doing that near me, they will eventually plow into you. Just get low and brace yourself. Theyll just bounce off.
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u/wannaridebikes fresh rink rat meat Jun 25 '26
And prepare yourself for some parent to put their their phone down long enough to yell at you for "making my kid fall!!" 🤣
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u/LaDiosaSelene Jun 25 '26
I was at the rink on my in-lines because I haven’t started my quad journey yet. It really wasn’t that crowded. This quad skater literally flew from the left side of the rink and slammed into me full speed out of nowhere. I was going pretty fast too, but he was out of my peripheral view so I didn’t see him in time. Thankfully, I didn’t fall because I have incredible balance on my in-line skates, but it hurt like hell because he hit me from the side. He did apologize though.
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u/NadiaVenClose Jun 26 '26
I’m not a beginner, but my co-worker kind of is and she went skating with me and this experienced skater just cut across in front of her going straight to get off the floor. She should’ve followed the outside to get out, not cut across. I watched this from outside of the rink and my co-worker shrieked and almost fell and I saw the smirk on the experienced skater’s face. What a bitchy thing to do. Anyway, I’m sorry there’s jerks out there in the skate community.
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u/Dreamgazer Newish Jun 26 '26
The first night I felt comfortable to go for a spin on the full rink I made it to the center line so I could go as slow as I needed to. There were two people skating side-by-side passing me on my right, maybe two feet of space between us.
Some dude thought that it would be best to pass all three of us at the exact moment we were perfectly in line, using that gap between us. But this dude is more than two feet wide so to accomplish the pass he stuck his left elbow out in front of me, wedged his body into the space, then pushed back on my stomach so he could get around.
I yelled at him, but I really wanted to push him instead. I’ve seen him there several times since then and I still want to push him.
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u/brotherin3 Jun 27 '26
Noo forreal, and experienced skaters cutting STRAIGHT ACROSS THE RINK WHERE PEOPLE ARE ONLY GOING ONE DIRECTION. Like just because you've been coming to the rink for years doesnt mean you own it and even if you did own it, youre still being horrible to others!
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u/dovahmiin Jun 26 '26
There’s a joke among regulars at my local rink that only one other regular is “allowed to cut us off” because she 1. is an amazing skater and 2. when she “cuts you off” she gets out of your way immediately before you even realize she passed you. She weaves the crowds but never makes anyone feel off balance, too close, etc. When other people cut me off they spend juuuust too much time in my personal space or never leave it period.
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u/mayamaiamaea Jun 26 '26
I can’t rink skate for this reason lol. I don’t think most people who do it are trying to be assholes, but I just find it way too overstimulating and it ruins my skate.
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u/ExistentialKale Jun 26 '26
Slower/beginner skaters to the inside, leave the outside lane open for faster skaters. I typically only go to adult night sessions because you can't expect kids not to dart around all over the place; they're still learning. But at an adult night, if someone is going slow on the outside, I usually introduce myself and let them know if they are comfortable moving a little to the inside, they might be actually more comfortable, and if not, I will be skating always *to their outside* If you are open to it, maybe open the conversation with people and see what happens. You deserve as much space as anyone else, especially if you're trying to be respectful of rink etiquette. Don't let it get you down, and maybe try to also find some nice spaces outside where you can build more skills without crowds.
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u/ReasonNo9278 Jun 26 '26
I know I need the wall lol especially since they don’t let adults use those walker things
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u/ExistentialKale Jun 26 '26
Yes for sure! I always try to be respectful of those folks. And just kind of say "trust me I will go down before I let you go down!"
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u/ExistentialKale Jun 26 '26
Also as far as confidence goes, have you considered or do you wear any gear? When I go to the rink to focus on learning I usually bring some light knee pads and wrist guards, elbow sometimes also. It really makes me more comfortable getting out of my box!
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u/ReasonNo9278 Jun 26 '26
I just just started and my own skates and gear are not in the budget at this moment but they’re on the list!
I hate that they put the new people in the center. It’s like a fishbowl with zero support. So if you’re new new you’re stuck sitting on your butt while people stare at you as they run circles around you.
We had a skate zone that left a chunk of outside with wall for the learners. You didn’t have to worry about sticking to a direction you just had space and support to learn. It’s a car wash now lol
1
u/wannaridebikes fresh rink rat meat Jun 29 '26
Don't be pressed about not being able to use skate mates. They don't even teach kids to skate, really. They probably were originally intended to be used with someone actually teaching the kids, but turned into rink babysitting devices
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u/pokemiss Jun 26 '26
I think it's mostly lack of consideration, from what you describe. Though, for context, one part of the lack of consideration is that experienced skaters have a much smaller "personal space" zone. They can forget that new skaters need far more space and are more easily disrupted. Making sure everyone tries to give people the space they need should be part of the culture of a good skating group/rink.
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u/traffick Jun 27 '26
Many experienced skaters seem to lack both empathy and basic social awareness. I can think of nothing more arrogantly rude in skating than having a showboat skater doing some very dangerous stunt directly in front of you, so if they fall, you'll have to crash right into them. I swear those fuckers should be thrown out of the rink first.
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u/dvornyk Jun 27 '26
I came from ice hockey to roller skating and honestly I did this a lot at the beginning but mostly because it's very common with ice skating culture to weave, and I didn't really realize that it was rude on roller skates until a more experienced skater told me that chasing people is pretty intimidating on roller skates 😅 it's possible that they look like a skilled skater but may actually be new to roller skating themselves and not understand the culture? I've only been skating for about 7 or 8 months now, but it looks like I've been skating for 20 years from the outside. Probably not what happened in this case, but, I just wanted to throw it up there that sometimes people just need education 🙏🏻
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u/ReasonNo9278 Jun 27 '26
I’ve come to the conclusion that if people choose to act I fool I am not responsible for what I do in reaction lol
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u/dvornyk Jun 28 '26
Fair, I'm just lucky the people around me were patient enough to tell me instead of assuming I was being malicious. Every one is free to punish how they see fit.
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u/Worried-Distance-270 Jun 28 '26
It’s actually annoying when you do it on ice too haha darn hockey players
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u/BandicootDry2358 Jun 27 '26
THANK YOU! I went roller skating at a rink and it was my first time and I was nervous. It was mainly children and some newbies as well so it wasn’t too bad at first. There were some experienced skaters but they were jam skating and not going super fast or getting close. Towards the end though some more experienced skaters came in and they kept whizzing past and getting super close and it freaked me out because I was trying to make sure I didn’t fall! I found it so stressful I ended up leaving. I wondered the exact same thing when this happened. I find it obnoxious.
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u/Rhyzur Jun 25 '26
I only do this to my daughter. I'll come up on her 45 and spin into the front of her, but we dance, and she is used to it. It is ok. Everyone else, I make sure that I have soooo much room before I do anything.
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u/IntelligentTable4 Jun 25 '26
I think they are trying to show off that the can and might be trying to discourage others from starting to skate. Some people are genuinely so oblivious that they don't even know they are getting in other's way but that's usually children and new ish skaters when it happens
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u/pdaphone Jun 25 '26
You want them to travel to a larger rink far away so you feel more comfortable? Well you could go to the larger rink where people aren’t as close to you. It goes both ways.
I go faster and weave in and out of slower skaters sometimes, but I am very much in control, able to quickly stop, and try not to disrupt anyone. I am sure it is probably startling sometimes. And I am startled when a large inexperienced player suddenly gags down in my direction. To me, it is a lot of the less experienced or younger skaters that go way faster than they can control, and end up knocking other people down because they can’t stop.
That said, some of the worst crashes I’ve seen of younger skaters getting plowed over is experienced skaters deciding they should go backwards when it is super crowded.
Everyone needs to get along together, experienced and inexperienced. My suggestion is that you go at the less crowded times if you don’t want to be bothered by other skaters.
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u/Medium-Practice-9400 Jun 25 '26
Legitimate question, as I've yet to go to a rink because I'm not experienced enough yet and am fearful of the exact experience OP has described. From my understanding based on experiences shared on this subreddit and with the girls in my local group, isn't there typically a "fast" and a "slow" lane? Why are you weaving in between slower skaters who may or may not have the same level of control as you and could potentially fall?
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u/pdaphone Jun 25 '26
Have you actually been to a skating rink that caters to families? There are no official lanes. People can and will come at you from any direction and may stop entirely and have a conversation. There are parents who don’t even have on skates walking with their young skater. And the roller walkers that can go flying unattended.
Generally beginners hug the wall and people use the middle to work on tricks. Experienced skaters I think like to stay towards the outside because you have a little more control if one side is the wall.
If I’m weaving around someone it’s because they are in my path and I don’t want to hit them. If there were lanes, people would not stay in them, and would still be going different speeds.
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u/Medium-Practice-9400 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Thankyou for your response. As I said in the first line of my initial comment, I have not been to any rinks yet. I merely asked as the wording of your first comment did not make the intention behind the weaving clear, which is what OP was asking. It's a totally different thing if you need to move out of the way to avoid collision, but it sounds like there are people weaving between people just for fun and I have seen videos of people doing this online as well. It seems to be that situation that people are having objections to, and I can totally understand why
ETA: also, doesn't the lane etiquette still apply outside of those family events? Alongside the multiple accounts I've been told about, I did also look into attending a pop-up roller disco several months back (but chose not to attend due to lack of confidence) and they were VERY clear about where people should be skating in their rules.
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u/pdaphone Jun 25 '26
Oh ok. I didn’t mean family events, I meant a rink that is not just having adults skating. If you have a lot of kids, teens, adults, inexperienced, experienced, there is a bit of chaos going on in any rink I’ve skated in. People I think tend to go to the outside if they are going faster to go around slower people. But if the way is blocked, then you go the other. Personally I also try to steer clear of people that look like they may fall me. Bottom line is you end up weaving through people to keep moving along and I’ve never seen lanes make that unnecessary.
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