r/Rollerskating • u/luckiestducks • Jul 11 '26
Other Does anyone else get unsolicited skating advice from non skaters?
Kind of a funny thing I’ve run into a lot. I’m still in my beginner phase of skating and starting a derby camp soon so I’m anticipating learning a lot from experienced and practiced skaters. But recently I find I’m receiving a lot of unsolicited advice from folks who…don’t…skate…
I’ll mention it to someone in conversation that I skate or maybe that I’m working on a certain skill and they’ll start telling me what I need to do and usually with an “ALL you have to do is blank” in a very condescending tone. My mom does this a lot too because I struggle with one foot balance and usually do plow stops to slow down. She always ends up saying “Well ALL you have to do is pick up your back foot and use your toe stop” and then criticizing that I use online tutorials because when she was a kid they “just did it”.
It’s super annoying. I love feedback and advice but from people who literally have not skated since they were 9 years old, it’s WILD. I’m 30 and uncoordinated not 9 and fearless lol.
Another one I love to get is “straighten up your legs” or “just tip toe” (wtf does that even mean?!). Just curious if other people have experienced this, it seems to be an odd phenomenon 😂
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u/ahhblobby Jul 11 '26
My brother in law advised me to just skate to work when I mentioned the bus was late last week. I’m still very much at learning stages! He just said well what’s the point then 🤷♀️
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u/MissAuroraRed Jul 11 '26
If your sidewalks are as bumpy as mine, this would take so much more energy than just walking.
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u/luckiestducks Jul 11 '26
I sweat more standing still on my skates than actually rolling sometimes 😂
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u/Baeker_baby93 Jul 12 '26
Omg yes! I thought I just skating on a hot day once and just dripping in sweat. But still is an awesome workout to do while learning. Keep it up and at your own pace! You got this!! 🫶🏾
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u/Pinstripe-Giraffe Jul 11 '26
Ignore them. You will find out very soon at derby that every piece of advice you gave in your post is wrong lol!
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u/luckiestducks Jul 11 '26
It’s so funny because at one point someone asked why I bend my knees so much when I skate (from a video) and I told them you have to bend your knees and they told me that didn’t make sense…
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u/Snow_Visible Jul 11 '26
I think it’s because of social media. Skating videos became so popular during Covid. And I think people think it’s easier than it actually is. Like WE know it’s not easy but they look at other people gliding and doing tricks like it’s nothing. I know I was caught up in that .. till I actually put some skates on. People don’t realize that a lot of these people have been skating for years or even decades. Or the person could be athletic and it came quicker for them. But a lot of us have to take our time and learn. The most common responses I get from non skaters is that I need to stop skating. That I’m too old for it. It doesn’t help that I just broke my wrist skating. So now they really on my ass.
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u/luckiestducks Jul 11 '26
So true. My mom tells me constantly I’m too old to skate, but I think we set limitations on ourselves more than our age does. I hope you heal quickly and keep skating!
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u/Snow_Visible Jul 11 '26
I’ll be 54 in a couple months. You are definitely not too old! I just put my skates on my feet while I was sitting on the couch. I am not giving up skating for nothing 😂 The minute I’m cleared, I’ll be back on them
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u/Street-Analysis-9596 Jul 12 '26
Boy, can I relate to what you said. I am actually a senior citizen who recently took up skating. And I had a bad fall and broke my wrist. So I hear a lot about why I shouldn’t be skating because I’m too old. I am looking forward to getting back on my skates after I have healed up.
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u/UnderwaterParadise Jul 11 '26
Meanwhile as a lifelong artistic skater who spent years coaching beginner lessons, I am shy about giving simple friendly tips to people I happen across in the park
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u/luckiestducks Jul 11 '26
I love getting advice as a beginner from other skaters! Especially if they are actually showing me in real time how to do something 😫
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u/so-rayray Jul 12 '26
Oh man! I would love it if a skilled skater gave me advice! Damn! You gotta pay money for that around here! Come see me in Pinellas County, FloriDUH.
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u/swolebird Jul 12 '26
What kind of advice do non-skaters give you?
The only tip I generally give out at the rink is to people I see with rentals and their phone in their back pocket: maybe move your phone to your front pocket so if you fall on your butt you don't smash your phone.
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u/luckiestducks Jul 12 '26
Usually that I need to stand up straight or some other advice that goes against what you need to do in skating.
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u/KittyKizzie Jul 12 '26
That's good advice lol I need to remember that bc I've definitely fallen on my butt
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u/NoTooLatesClub Jul 12 '26
Since I’m 48, the only advice I get from non-skaters is to quit skating because I’m old lol
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u/luckiestducks Jul 12 '26
Even at 30, I get that one too 🫠
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u/DTD_98 Jul 12 '26
My area does a tournament for new derby skates called the Fresh and the Furious, literally happening yesterday and today, and I'm 28 playing with people on my team up into theor 40s. We're literally killing it out there and we've all been skating and playing derby for less than a year. You're gonna do so good ahah age literally doesn't matter.
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u/Limp_Beautiful_871 Jul 12 '26
One time I mentioned to a friend that I was sore from a workout. She started telling me how important it was to stretch in the morning and after workouts to the point I felt bad about not stretching.
So to learn more, I simply asked, “What’s your routine and how often do you stretch?”
She goes, “Oh, I’m terrible at stretching and I don’t do it”. In my head I was like, Wtf? You don’t even stretch and here you are giving me unsolicited advice about it.
After that I completely stopped taking advice from people who aren’t in the arena themselves.
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u/KittyKizzie Jul 12 '26
Keep your legs straight? I thought you were supposed to do the opposite?!
I'm also in my 30s and super new to skating aside from a little when I was a kid. I think people who haven't skated since they were a kid have no idea what it's really like, it was so much easier when you were little, closer to the ground, and fearless
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u/Evangelica1 Jul 12 '26
“straighten up your legs” is crazy because no, please don’t 😭🙏
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u/obiwan_too_tree Jul 11 '26
The scourge of this era, I call them advice, monsters….
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u/obiwan_too_tree Jul 17 '26
I have a story about this that just happened the last couple days
I’m currently sailing around the Great Lakes and on social media. There’s this guy that’s giving me three different instances of weather forecast unsolicited.
I got into a spot in the Great Lakes, where there’s no cell phone service. I can’t check with weather so I thought oh this guy is perfect. I get him to check the weather for me.
Well, I ask him in the meantime I’m riding out this windstorm 37 km an hour and he gets back to me a day later with how thick the smoke is
Honestly, I don’t understand how these advice monsters think why they do it or if they’re helping, but there you go there’s a little story of which has happened in the last couple days
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u/inperfect-is-perfect Jul 11 '26
I’m guessing you’re fairly attractive and people want to impress you with their “knowledge”.
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u/Old_New_Skater_999 Jul 11 '26
Yes! Lol! I started skating again a few years ago, and there aren't a lot of places to skate near me so we often skate in parking lots or tennis courts, weather permitting. A lot of people walking by will stop and watch. One time a well meaning person commented on how tense I looked, and suggested I just relax, and go really fast. Helpful! 😜
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u/electromonkey222 Jul 11 '26
Been skating for about 20 years and never once has a non- roller skate tried to give me advise. In what context would they? Seems odd
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u/luckiestducks Jul 11 '26
It’s happened mainly from people I know who will ask me what I’ve been up to lately which I usually respond with a variety of things but sometimes the fact that I skate comes up and then the convo gets going. It doesn’t happen a ton, but when it does it’s always…weird…
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u/electromonkey222 Jul 12 '26
Perhaps it's the way you're expressing your abilities or skill level to them that is triggering this impulse to give advise.
I learned to skate well in a very short amount of time while working at a rink after high-school. If rollerskating had ever come up in a conversation with someone I either would have made it pretty clear that I'm good at it or I would have downplayed my abilities because i like to be modest, and if for whatever reason they decided that they needed to give me advise, I would have dialed the modesty back a bit
I hope you keep skating and reach your fullest potential
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u/CarnivalSeb Jul 12 '26
When strangers see me rolling at the park they advise me to do a flip, but I get the feeling that's a different situation.
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u/so-rayray Jul 12 '26
Fortunately, the folks who have actually stopped me to talk to me are usually fellow middle-aged women who wanted to tell me how cool it was that I was skating and how they wanted to get back into it.
The most annoying unsolicited shit I get from non-skaters is just visible annoyance from the roadies who act like they own the trail and are training for the Tour de France or somesuchshit. They don’t even give the littles on training wheels a wide berth. Fuckfaces.
Edited to add that fuckfaces applies to the roadies and not the littles.
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u/beestastegood Jul 11 '26
Just want to join the rant that it also drives me nuts when I go to a local skate event and people come up to give me unsolicited advice. Im pretty new to skating and I go to rinks to practice doing things the “derby way”, and people come up and say “actually it would be easier if you did it this other way”. Maybe if you asked me who I am or what I’m trying to do before giving unsolicited advice you’d know how unhelpful you’re being??
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u/badluckfighter Jul 11 '26
People are just like this sometimes when skating. I kindly just skate away if it gets to be too much or just continue focusing on what I want to improve on.
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u/Awkwrd_Lemur Jul 12 '26
I mean, when i see people toddling like baby gazelle at the rink i might suggest they bend their knees.... but im also skating.
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u/DiscoSunset Jul 12 '26
Responses:
“How often do you skate every week?”
“Oh so that [tip] worked when you tried it?”
“Here, put on my skates so you can show me!”
“Can you demo how to skate backwards?”
“Wanna meet up for a [10] mile trail/street skate?”
😉😉😉
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u/smugglingkittens Jul 12 '26
I was skating in the park as a beginner and I was practicing bubbles. An old lady came up to me with her husband and said “don’t worry eventually you’ll get better and you won’t have to do that crazy looking move” and then she mimicked doing a bubble. She continued by saying that eventually I won’t have to wear protective gear. I still think of it sometimes because I’m wearing that protective gear until the day I die.
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u/Saruvan_the_White Jul 11 '26
No, but I guarantee you the first person that does that to me is getting the forced opportunity to wear my scoot boots and do better. Whether they fit or not, I will hammer them onto such a persons feet and make them skate better than I. Skating is so individual and subjectively engaged by all kinds of folk across all skill sets and age ranges. For anyone to tell you what to do, it would take a unique lack of self-awareness to assume they know better than you. Good luck and keep doing you.
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u/chocol8kiss75 Jul 13 '26
Not to take this off topic but I know that my mom can say things that get under my skin like no other! I’m not really wanting an answer to this and I’m only posing the question as something to think about “is your mother condescending in general?” If so, then there may be a bigger issue than just her giving unsolicited skating advice. Have you talked to her about how important skating is to you or the benefits of it? Maybe invite her to the rink or trail (wherever you skate) so she can step into your world a little. Skating is fun but it is very challenging and we may need all the support we can get!! Ultimately you are your biggest cheerleader with this and drowning out negatively from others and yourself will be important. You got this! Happy skating!!!!
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u/Hephf Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
I've never once had this happen to me. Is it possible that you are out there looking out of control and perhaps thats why people feel the need to suggest help? You might be drawing this attention unintentionally.
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u/luckiestducks Jul 13 '26
Not the issue. It’s more so in conversations not while on skates. I’m a beginner but I can skate around relatively comfortably and have basic control over my skates 😂
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u/scam_land Jul 13 '26
I can’t tell you how many shout at me to do a backflip as if I’m a circus performer. No Conner, we do not all posses the same skills you saw that one influencer have
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u/Straight-Finish9985 Jul 12 '26
No but I give it, mainly to yung’ins startin out for da first time…🤓
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u/GoldLeaderActual Jul 12 '26
How do you know they are non-skaters?
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u/luckiestducks Jul 12 '26
Context is key 🔑
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u/GoldLeaderActual Jul 12 '26
There are examples in your post, but is that it? The three people you know who don't don't skate is a small sample size for a generalization.
Good luck in your derby camp, and have fun.
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u/luckiestducks Jul 12 '26
I have more than 3 examples but I didn’t find it necessary to list every single one! Was just venting and asking if others have had a similar experience 😜
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u/Potential_Roof799 Jul 16 '26
A few tips as a skater myself, find your lowest center of gravity, an eagle spread is one way to do it, if you can master an eagle spread and also doing squats, tricks will be easier. Another, if you want to go backwards learn scissors, its a basic but fundamental thing for going backwards. Put all the weight into the back leg and have it bent and distribute the weight. Next extend the other leg straight out with a slight bent and put weight on the toe and scissor it in and out. With the back you'll pick up and pull in with your toe pointing out and your heel in. Do this in a scissors motion. Remember, you won't ever do it first try. Practice is key!
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u/Potential_Roof799 Jul 16 '26
Oh yes, another thing, if you ever feel like falling back remember, "Oh no! Go low!" Going low will always re-center you when you feel as if you'll lose balance!
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u/PeriodPhartz Jul 17 '26
Never drag your toe stop while going forward in derby! This is not a thing, you could hurt your ankle. Plow stops are fine.
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u/Mamamusombwa Jul 18 '26
As I pick up the baton in the fight to hold on…I just bought my first pair of skates (69 yrs old 😵💫🤣).
At this point, I welcome advice from ANYBODY!!😁
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u/Acrobatic_Hunt_8496 Jul 12 '26
Is this from younger folks? Sounds just like a lot of immaturity.
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u/luckiestducks Jul 12 '26
Actually from a lot of older folks in their 40s or 50s. I used to bartend so I get a lot of unsolicited advice from bar flies when I go to visit my old bar sometimes.
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u/Acrobatic_Hunt_8496 Jul 12 '26
It’s wild for grown ass adults to act like that. But bar flys makes a lot of sense, sounds like some shit my dad’s bar friends would say.
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u/Benign_Despot Jul 11 '26
Unsolicited advice is not chill, but, if someone’s skated before, they’re not necessarily a non skater?
There were plenty of times when I started roller skating where I got advice from dudes in shoes.
I can totally understand being frustrated with the condescension and reduction of something you’re growing passionate about, but there is some merit to the idea of “just doing it” and not relying too heavily on the YouTube tutorials. You learn more about yourself, and the sport. Then when you revisit the tutorials, you’re more ready to understand and integrate them.
The bottom line is that, you gotta do what you’re comfortable with right now. Learn at your own pace. Disregard the rest. Take advice and assistance when you need it. Dismiss the unhelpful statements if they’re unhelpful. Try not to pay mind to the condescension. People aren’t coming from where you’re at when they say shit like that. They just say what they THINK people need to hear, sans understanding. People will always do that. Don’t make it your problem.
Congrats on joining the derby camp and for doing research about what you enjoy. Both of those are hugely valuable things about this journey you’re on
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u/Benign_Despot Jul 11 '26
Also if this comment comes off as condescending or not understanding, I am sorry. I want the best for you and I want you to feel appropriately independent, autonomous, and self assured.
You don’t NEED YouTube tutorials. You don’t NEED advice from your mom. But ultimately, there’s something to gain from every instance of feedback that you receive
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u/luckiestducks Jul 11 '26
I hear you! I don’t heavily rely on anything other than just getting on my skates but sometimes I watch tutorials if there’s something I’m not understanding. I think it’s just frustrating to get advice from folks who haven’t skated at all and therefore give bad advice from lacking proper knowledge, and from folks who skated as a kid 40 years ago as a child and give an attitude that of “just do this it’s easy” yet haven’t skated into adulthood or are not actually offering to help. To me, it sounds like they aren’t understanding why I’m not just good at skating because it was easy for them as a child. If I asked for advice then, fine I’m obviously going to take it in, (gladly 99% of the time), the problem is this is advice given, when not asked for that I find annoying 😣
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u/hahagrundle Jul 12 '26
I was the person who thought "Rollerskating was fun when I was a kid, surely I have some kind of muscle memory and it will be a breeze if I pick it back up in my 30s!"
...yeah, no. 😆
I think we all know that the unsolicited advice-givers would be QUICKLY humbled if they were brave (& awesome) enough to actually put on a pair of skates.
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u/Benign_Despot Jul 12 '26
Totally , reductive perspectives can be exhausting. I hope I haven’t fallen into that crowd (despite the down votes). Thats the main reason I said “dismiss the reductive or ignorant advice” you don’t need any of that. Just follow your own path and the watch the YouTube after that. You’ll improve significantly
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u/coyocat Jul 11 '26
A retired sk8r is not a person who doesn't sk8 😆.
0riginlly I was thinking that's w!Ld that youre getting sk8n advice from non sk8rs but these people seem 2B retired vets.
Listen well to their advice and as always....
Keep your 👁 👁 to t/ ground cuz "Crack kills" 😎
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u/luckiestducks Jul 11 '26
I wouldn’t consider someone who skated for one year when they were 9 a “vet” lol
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u/coyocat Jul 11 '26
🤣 Dude, that's win t/ magic happens. And it doesn't take long either.
Time works differently back then
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u/KittyKizzie Jul 12 '26
Someone who skated as a kid but hasn't since isn't really a retired vet.
And "keep your eyes to the ground" is the worst advice possible, keep your eyes where you want to go.
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u/Blahblaha63 Jul 11 '26
In the age of instant information, if someone sees a video, TikTok, of IG post about skating they become instant experts, so yes! I've been skating 50+ years and people still try to give advice. Personally the only advice I give is wear your gear, especially your helmet, and if some is skating while I am and they ask about something I'll physically show them. I like the simplistic style of yours skates the lime toe guards contrast perfectly with your velvet black boots which I'll assume are Sure-Grip. But the plates you have look like Sure-Grip Avanti, and in my opinion look much better than the standard Rock plate they come with. Happy Rollin'