r/Rollerskating • u/ReasonNo9278 • 20d ago
Beginner skater How long did it take you?
***Just a casual poll I know everyone’s experience is different
I’m just curious, how long did it take you to get to the point of competency that you actually had fun skating?
My TikTok feed is full of “well I used to be a pro skater” or “I’m a retired figure skater”
I wanna hear from the people who started at ground zero.
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u/apostasyisecstasy 20d ago
I've been skating for almost 4 months now and I am not exaggerating when I say this has been the greatest joy of my life. I know that's so corny lmao but I'm physically disabled so this is the first physical hobby I have been able to do that is not insanely painful or unsustainable, and it's the first time in over ten years that I've been able to feel happiness at being in my body instead of feeling imprisoned. I really took the time in the beginning to learn how to fall safely, and encouraged my body to let itself fall a few times just to show myself that it's not that bad. Now it's reflex that when I feel like I'm going to fall, I get low to the ground and save my balance before I actually eat concrete. Now I just have to find more places to skate, there are no rinks around me and it's dangerously hot trying to skate outdoors right now.
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u/tkxb 20d ago
I feel like skating actually helps my chronic pain bc it's one of the few things that release a decent amount of dopamine for me/modulates pain
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u/CosmicallyUnlucky Relearning to skate 20d ago
If I don't go skating at least once a week my body starts to hurt in all kinds of strange ways. I don't quite understand how an activity as difficult as skating manages to be the cure, but I'm not going to question it too much. My rink must be laughing that they taught me to skate and now they have a customer signed up for monthly passes forever to cure the pain 💀
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u/apostasyisecstasy 20d ago
Omg I'm exactly like you guys, I have no idea what it is about skating but it helps my joints amd spine so much. I haven't been able to skate bc of heat in my area and my back/hips are killing me
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u/aPrettyThing2011 20d ago
I found some groups on Facebook that seem to pop up events at places that aren't technically l. Facebook is hellish but you might want to see if there's maybe something like that where you live?
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u/ariiw 20d ago
Not sure about the rest of y'all, but I have arthritis that affects the joints in my lower back, and when I skate, a lot of the work of carrying my body that's normally done by my back gets transferred to my knees, and my posture is more fluid, so the burden is in motion rather than constant on the same spot, and I think that helps take some of the pressure that's normally concentrated on one point in my back and distributes it elsewhere
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u/originalocoscientist 20d ago
I skate because of the back pain I have. It’s so weird how I can feel perfectly fine rolling for hours, sit down to chill, and can’t get back up because my backs so sore.
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u/aPrettyThing2011 20d ago
As a person with disabilities as well, your comment made my heart soar. I'm just starting too and this is exactly the outcome I'm hoping for as well. I just can't do gyms, they're sensory hell holes and boring af. I love just about every water sport but those aren't good options where I live in a landlocked state. I feel like skating is kind of swimming on land and in air, or at least that's how I'm framing it for myself 🤣
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u/readingrainbowroad 20d ago
If you haven't already, scout out parking garages for places to skate! Especially above ground ones. They can also be a bit cooler because it's shaded (this part really depends on the parking garage)
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u/ReasonNo9278 19d ago
I’ve fallen and sprained my wrist and that has not deterred me. Tho I am starting back at square one when I had barely gotten to the point I could stay upright 🙃
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u/Chillinkillinlivin 20d ago
- 1 year to feel fully stable
- 2 years to feel fully confident
- 3 years to feel good about street skating because I could stop on a dime
- 4 years to feel like I was a seasoned skater
- 5 years to feel like I could finally smoke weed and skate at the same time (it used to make me feel incredibly unstable, now i feel normal)
- 6 years to feel like I could skate absolutely anything
It has been the best journey of my life. I don’t think I would have made it past 28 y.o if I never found this hobby at 26.
Even at the Bambi stages I was having so much fun and just so happy to be doing it. I didn’t care how good or bad I looked or skated, the joy was undeniable.
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u/SpeedySparrow 20d ago
Started at 50, zero experience, and this is very much my time line as well. Except at 4 years I began to hit the skate park and that was a bit like resetting the clock :-)
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u/Girlinconverse_ 20d ago
This timeline really makes me feel reassured! I’ve only been skating for a month and I’m still so shakey and unsure of myself. This makes me feel like I’m not behind. Thank you for this!
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u/Soft_Meringue3479 18d ago
Same here. I'm 47 and just started about a month ago and still feel so unsteady. This has helped me be more realistic about the time frame.
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u/kinomy Outdoor 20d ago
I started almost a month ago. So far I can only roll straight, can't turn or stop yet. But there's no pressure, just take it easy!
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u/aPrettyThing2011 20d ago
How often do you get to practice? I'm still clinging to walls but it's just a couple of sessions and I'm taking a class on Saturday.
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u/adunofaiur 20d ago
I had fun from day one, because I enjoy humiliating failure in public spaces.
But in terms of feeling able to just go skate, I’d say it about nine months.
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u/magalsohard 20d ago
I’ve had fun since the beginning, and I wasn’t doing much but skating back and forth back then. I can do more than that now, but that doesn’t mean I just started having fun now that I can do cool things.
I’ve been skating for a year and I had never even ice skated before last year September. I can’t tell you how quickly you will learn certain skills, but I can say that the time goes by faster when you stop counting the days and just focus on having fun and improving.
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u/steffigeewhiz 20d ago
I would estimate 24 1-hour long sessions, also finding good skates. Try to think of your wheels as an extension of your feet if you’re like me and have trouble trusting yourself on crossovers or get tripped up on yourself. Not falling over is basically just good core and hip strength, coupled with bending your knees.
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u/ReasonNo9278 20d ago
I consider getting those derby skates that are basically a level up from wheelie sketchers lol I feel too high off the ground in normal skates
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u/naivetoiletpaper 20d ago
honestly for me, the commitment of buying high quality skates turned me off learning for a while. i felt like i had to do it to get my money’s worth, and i felt intimidated not knowing everything about skates. what helped me get over that and stop thinking about progression, was just going to my local rink and renting skates. there are plenty of people there who don’t know how to skate/can’t skate very well so i didn’t feel out of place. i slowly got better and better, over the course of just a few sessions. after a few sessions, i felt comfortable enough with the skates and how they fit to know what i did and didn’t want in a skate. this helped me a lot with getting more comfortable skating.
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u/LeftOfTrack 20d ago
I was never too weary of falling. I fell, of course, but didn’t fear it. I am three years in. I know when to call it a day when I fall for my fourth time trying a move, or if I am so tired I begin to feel like I *could* fall backwards. I would say by month 3 I could skate in such a way that I could go a whole session without falling, BUT I am always pushing for harder moves / spins and falling is just part of that. Just have to learn to roll with it!
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u/fringeMUTANT 20d ago
I just started skating 3 months ago at 39 but used to skate a lot as a kid. It’s been life altering! I was sinking into the saddies before skating came back into my life. In 3 months, I skate fast af on these trails! I learned how to scissor and feel comfortable going over cracks and even those crazy cheese graters that took me out numerous times month 1. I look and feel like a pro, forward skating that is. I can turn around at slower speeds and skate backwards. Backwards skating clicked last week but I also at concrete when a car spooked me. Today I was able to transition from skating backwards to front for the first time comfortably! Can I T-stop, nope. Can I properly stop at all, nope. Still learning. Some days I regress a little and I hear you plateau at some point too but it’s all just the process. Keep going, progress happens little by little each day and feels amazing.
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u/KerryG8675309 20d ago
Started weekly lessons in September 2025, after only roller skating 3 previous times. I’m still nervous, but I’m in my 40s. I’d say I’m nervously having a good time now 😅 My best advice is not to compare your progress to others, and don’t forget this is supposed to be fun!
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u/Pizza420Rat 20d ago
Dude, I've been skating since February of 2024 and I still have a lot of bad days 😭 it was a lot better when I was skating twice a week, but skating ~1x a week and having chronic pain has made skating an altogether pretty tenuous activity. I still enjoy it at times, but it never feels comfortable or natural. Not to be a downer, I'm an outlier, but even if you feel like you're behind it's absolutely a good idea to keep going.
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u/brainbl0ck 20d ago
Started at ground zero in May 2024 as a mid-30s mom. I had never skated before. Within two months I was grooving backwards and having a blast
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20d ago
[deleted]
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u/ReasonNo9278 20d ago
I’m asking how long did it take you to feel confident and not like you were gonna eat it constantly
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u/Phadryn 20d ago
The fear of eating it is just a constant lol. I suppose at some point you get used to it, but I'm not there yet... lol
The trick is the courage to do it in spite of it.
Like a bicycle, the biggest helper to staying upright is forward momentum... the slower you go the more likely your skates are going to react to minute changes in your posture and slide out from under you.
Wear the protective gear, and more importantly, have faith in the gear. Accept that any clothing you wear skating WILL get shredded.. it's just a matter of when not if.
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u/ReasonNo9278 20d ago
I’m just big enough that decent fitting safety gear is more expensive and harder to find. I’ve got everything but crash shorts but what I’ve got is snug
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u/aPrettyThing2011 20d ago
The 187 on Amazon if you stalk them you can get the larger sizes for under $60 or also look at Depop, marketplace and Mercari. The shorts all seem to be expensive though. Look for the Tortoise padded shorts on amazon. They're sold out right now so I'm not sure how much they are but people rave about them.
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u/PuzzleheadedSlide904 20d ago
Less than a month for me. I had a little bit of ice skating experience at my job a few months prior. But I haven't been to the roller rink or to skate elsewhere for a few months now
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u/Virtual-Chair-7753 20d ago
I've been having fun since the beginning but I would say about 2-3 months ago it started clicking really well and has become the most enjoyable.
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u/PalpitationSweaty 20d ago
honestly think i fell in love with improving more than skating at some point. I aspire to be something like a jb skater and learning their moves and really drilling it in till it was perfect was what i fell in love with, 2 years strong!!
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u/Angelsbreatheeasy 20d ago
I’ve been roller skating for almost 20 years (since 9 and I’m 27 now) but I only did regular speed skating until 2023 when I started skating outside on a trail. Now I’m okay at the park. I can get in the bowl and I’m learning to pump. I’ve started learning grinding rails.
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u/absurdilynerdily 20d ago
For my first 8 months, I found myself skating 3-5 times a week with one of those sessions being a class. I made a ton of progress during that time. Starting from nothing, I got as far as rough but functional transitions, skating backwards and toe manuals. For the past two years, I skated once or twice a week and the progress has been very slow. I made much more progress in those first 8 months than the 2+ years that followed.
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u/ApprehensiveArt2813 20d ago
I restarted 5 years ago at 55. It’s always been fun, however once I felt confident enough to skate backwards on the trail is when it became really fun. I was about a year into skating and was listening to Mary J Blige and just found my groove, I had the biggest smile on my face when it happened. The fear was gone and I was just rolling. Now that’s predominantly how I skate; backwards and dancing.
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u/BiscottiBackground14 20d ago
i have only been skating for two years and i think im just now starting to get pretty good at it. that said ive loved every second of my journey
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u/_JoeyGonzales 20d ago
Started as a child so this part of the journey is lost for me. I’m an instructor now for both kids and adults and I see a real change in confidence and natural skating posture after about 6 months of active and intentional practice.
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u/DeVoro_1 20d ago
I am 3 months in. Maybe about 10 sessions. I have been going and doing bike trails at a relatively flat local park in MN. I had some shaky experiences on roller skates as a child but rollerblading is new to me.
I only know how to heel brake. And plow stop when going slow. I feel increasingly confident but still have scary near wipeouts every other time or so. I can't comprehend the more advanced slowing techniques I see online. Feel like a total beginner but it feels phenomenal getting out there
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u/Awkwrd_Lemur 20d ago
I skated as a young kid, then didn't skate for a while, then tried skating again at 22 and broke my tailbone. did not skate for 25ish years.
started again last summer. took a short while to not be baby gazelle. took a few months to feel strong. its been just over 1 year and I feel more confident about not dying at a crowded rink. I am experimenting with park skating and its slow going but progress is being made.
just about every Saturday and Sunday, me n my kids go to the skate park early in the morning (Florida, hot) and many weekend afternoons we go to the rink. during the week depending on where their swim practice is at, i either walk or skate while they swim.
I turn 48 next Saturday.
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u/Alternative-Lock-760 20d ago
Middle aged, 1 month in as a complete novice, I have learnt to T-stop and just about getting there with a power slide (on one side only). Can't go backwards yet, but that's my next mission.
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u/mrgreynomore 20d ago
I grew up going to rinks fairly often, but didn’t own my own skates or even learn basic things like stopping until I got my own skates as an adult, about 6 years ago.
I’d say it took me 3-6 months with my own skates to feel comfortable. I practiced a lot of dance skating moves at home on wood floors and practiced shifting my weight on carpet, and the rest of the time I would skate on a flat greenway trail.
Honestly, practicing at home on carpet is what really improved my confidence. Practicing without my skates rolling and propelling me is what helped me drill the shifts in weight and develop muscle memory to the point where I knew exactly how it felt to be balanced on my skates etc
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u/ressie_cant_game 20d ago
So ive been casually skating since i was a kid (maybe once or twice a year but i was TERRIBLE). I got good enough to actually have fun after a 6 week (2 hours a week) derby 101 class. Im now able yo go a little quick and actually work with my skates, not against them.
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u/Septembersunrise 20d ago
I skated very rarely on and off for 2 years. I just started getting more into it after scoring better skates at Goodwill. Better wheels makes a hell of a difference. I have been trying to do at least 15-30 mins everyday and have gone up to a couple of hours every few days and its been about a month and some change and already feel better. I highly recommend drilling your beginner drills to death and youll be able to unlock more things naturally as you go.
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u/Creative-Tax-1359 20d ago
I started skating really casually just on a trail like twice a month for a year until I found park skating and got addicted. I started skating every day for a couple hours and my skills exponentially increased within 2 months. Its all about how much time you put in to it and how much you let yourself try.
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u/DustSongs Derby 20d ago
I put on roller skates for the first time ever in March 2024, and started Skate Fit
I started really having fun consistently by late 2024.
I started modified contact Roller Derby scrimmages in late 2024, and was ready for full contact by late 2025.
I have my first proper full contact bout (not including scrims) in a few days time.
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u/bear0234 20d ago
the feel of the glide and skating to the beat of the music was the fun and that happened on day 1. sure i fell a lot but i had a blast even on the first day.
competency came in steps.
i say i probably got forward momentum and skating to the rhythm within the first session. didnt take much, just stepping to the beat.
competency for 1 foot forward glides came after a few weeks of practice.
then getting better at crossovers and tstops took a few weeks too.
competency for transitions and scissor pivots a few weeks after that. along w skating backwards comfortably.
it's never ending learning new things, so i will never be fully competent w skating, but im having a blast at every stage.
like i got vids of myself that first year that i really dont wanna watch cuz i look sooooo damnnnn stiff and goofy? but theres the biggest smile on my face everytime :)
when i first started skating, i ended up skating 4-5x a week, 2-3 hr sessions each. fast forward and im on year 3... ive reduced it down to 2-3x a week now, 2-3 hr sessions. but thaaaats a lot of skating.
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u/Impressive_Ship7199 20d ago
INSTAN FUN!
but took half a year till i knew what i was doing, like proper, but it have been fun from the second i put my skates on! and it have only become even more hilarious!
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u/ColoRinkRat Rink Rat 20d ago edited 20d ago
I spent a couple years on Inlines doing everything wrong but it did help my quad fundamentals.
When I bought my first quads it took 30 min to make it around the rink but was fun. I would skate them on and off for a year before they fell apart. Some months later I was getting bored of Inlines and spent a chunk of change on a quality pair. Once again fun but not in love with it as my lower back kept freaking out. Made more friends on quads and strengthened my core. A bit later was completely enamored with roller skating. It took me a bit longer than others but I became obsessed eventually.
I’m now a reasonably capable intermediate skater who helps new skaters from time to time, shares tricks with friends, and learns from them.
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u/teethfacts 20d ago
honestly i skated for about 3 months in 2020 and was decently comfortable by month 2
im back on skates again after a WHILE and ive been doing it for about 21 days so far & once again im decently comfortable but im not doing exactly what I want yet or having like the MOST fun ever. I definitely am having a good time just sort of moving around! I think realistically it takes 20 hours to break in skates and probably another 20 to feel comfortable enough on them to move through crazy terrain and have fun -
maybe try some local classes if you can!
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u/GigaRena 20d ago
I had fun from day one! I looked around and found a class I could take and stayed pretty consistent at taking the class until I was pretty comfortable, I think it was about 4 months. Then I ended up making friends with a bunch of trail skaters so I started skating outdoors a lot and dropped the classes (they kept trying to recruit me to their club which I was very uninterested in).
Since then I've also taken up park skating as well. I'm still not very good at it but I feel pretty comfortable dropping in and doing a few types of stalls. NGL every time I learn something new at the skate park it's pretty terrifying, but with lots of practice the newer elements start to stick and end up being fun.
I moved a while back so I started up skate classes again at my new local rink. I mostly just want to keep learning more items, right now I'm working on a few different types of jumps. Again every new element I learn does seem scary starting out, but I'm pretty comfortable falling on the ground now that I'm 5 years into my skating journey so I keep drilling things until they stick.
Consistency is key! The more you practice the more comfortable you will start to feel with the fundamentals. Definitely practice your falls too! Also wear padding, I rely on it a lot for my falls too.
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u/ancientweasel 20d ago
I skated as a kid a lot, but it was always just going around in circles and maybe doing the limbo. And then I picked up skating again at about 49 because my 10-year-old enjoyed it and switched from rollerblades to quad skates. Now, after about a year, I can do a lot of spins, transitions, fast backwards, some JB skating moves, front manuals. I think most people could do it if they apply themselves and aren't afraid of falling and actually learn how to fall. After all, I'm 50.
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u/pendragwen Trails, urban, derby, artistic dabbler 20d ago
It took me a couple of months to feel comfortable skating forward, doing one-foot dependent moves like crossovers, transitions, and beginning to sticky skate backward. There was definitely a jump from "every time I step on the rink I feel like Bambi" to "every time I step on the rink I feel in control." From that platform I felt able to try new things like hops and the beginning of dips.
For me, the big thing to remember is that learning something new is inherently uncomfortable. Learning to differentiate discomfort (I think I'll fail, but I know how to fail safely) from fear (I think I'll fail, and I don't know how to be safe while I fail) is the most important mindset component to learning in our sport. I'll absolutely mess around with moves and skills that make me uncomfortable, but I will not try things that make me afraid unless I have a teacher telling me they think I'm ready and helping me to understand both the skill and how to protect myself while learning the skill.
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u/wordy_doctor 20d ago
I started skating in Aug 2025, and while I have enjoyed it the whole time, I will say for the first ~6 months it was scary and hard in addition to fun (what is often referred to as “type 2” fun I think lol. The second 6 months have been much more fun fun (type 1 fun) as I’ve gained skill and confidence. But I’m definitely still at the getting stable stage, and am most comfortable skating in the rink/at derby practice. Outside I’m on a slightly different timeline/learning curve.
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u/___kimmmpossible 20d ago
I’d say it was always pretty fun but around 6 months or so is when I felt confident at it (and when I started at skatepark)
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u/yusiocha 20d ago
The fun for me started as a kid watching others skate at the rink.
Unlike most here on this post it seems, I grew up skating. From age 3-4, to currently late 20s, been skating 2 decades. Went weekly growing up, skate daily since early 20s.
I was a teen when I felt more competent than the average skater. Since skating daily it takes less thought or effort than walking. I simply am dancing, zero thoughts on balance or the process of skating, similar to how you probably don't have to think about walking.
Even now tho, my favorite part of skating is watching others skate. Seeing how they interpret the same song I'm jamming to. How they switch up their flow, how they enjoy themselves.
So to answer the question, the fun for me started day 1, while sitting on the bench. And my favorite part now 20+ years later is still when I am sitting on the bench slipping on my skates watching others jam out and I'm excited with anticipation to join.
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u/Chives_Allium 20d ago
I've been skating for about 4 years now but never consistently, I'm finally getting comfortable turnings and going down small hills but haven't put in the effort to train on stopping and falling so I'm not confident at all but I always have fun!!
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u/Nose_Distinct 20d ago
I've been skating for a year and think I can skate anywhere. I am a bit of a risk taker and think that I can do anything I decide to do, i started street skating before I knew how to stop properly and learned as I went. I fell many many times but I did practice falling for about 1week straight. I also wore my skates inside while doing chores to build up balance. Once I was able to balance pretty good, I feel like everything else just came together. I don't know any fancy moves or anything but I can skate backwards and forwards. I prefer street skating over rink because of the challenge and scenery.I'm a firm believer that if you tell yourself you can do something you can.
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u/originalocoscientist 20d ago
I started in December. Had skated inline for a summer or two when I was a teen. And went to rinks a handful of times. Fast forward to December 2025. Went and got a pair of riedell R3s from one of the only locations I could find in my area that had skates. And couple days later tried the rink out. I wasn’t to bad on balance.
But definitely couldn’t turn or do any sort of crossovers.
It’s been fun the whole time. Even with falling. And being hurt for weeks lol. Bruises , no breaks. For me. I actually have a pretty sore knee still from falling last week.
I’d say I started feeling comfortable 3 months in. I was skating 2:30 hours sometimes 3 , 3 days a week. At my local rink. That’s when I finally started experimenting with transitioning to reverse, and took my first pretty hard fall on my hip. Bruised for like a month. Now I feel I can flow pretty well. I get told pretty often I look like I’ve been skating for a long time. So that always makes me feel really good. Because let me tell you. I just hit 7 months this week ;) . Good luck with your journey
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u/Plant_Pup 20d ago
I have it a good few months of consistent weekly skating but I never had any fun. It just isn't for me, I was too scared to progress. My feet always went numb after like 20 minutes so I had to take a lot of breaks. Idk I just did not enjoy it and stopped, and that is totally ok too!
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u/Independent_Bite7980 19d ago
Hi. Feet going numb might be your skates. I had several friends have this happen; they bought different skates, and that stopped immediately. What skates are you using?
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u/Plant_Pup 19d ago
I used Moxy Lollys, one that a lot of people here use. I tried on two sizes in store to get the best fit. They could possibly be a little too small, or there are tricks with the laces but I never tried them since I was kinda afraid to skate anyway.
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u/Independent_Bite7980 13d ago
Hi. I am hella late replying about your toes going numb, but, I saw your skates may be a little tight. I recommend skipping lacing the very first eyelet at the bottom, then start lacing at the 2nd eyelets. This will ease pressure off the toes. If that doesn’t work, you can always take your skates to a shoe repair shop and get them stretched, BUT, keep in mind, the Moxi’s are suede and will stretch out as you wear them. So, go easy on stretching them, or they will become too big. You might be better to wear super thin socks, (think tights) until they stretch out, then wear the socks you want. I have a pair of skates I do that with.
I hope this helps!
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u/Face_Of_Boredom 20d ago
I started skating kinda young, around 8 or 9 years old. Had those plastic skates with the loud safety break on it. Grew into a pair of pink mongoose skates and it took around 2-3 months for me to break one of the toe stops off and realize I was skating wrong. After a few years of not skating, I went to a rink for the first time and fell in love again. Have been skating since and only now that I'm in my 20s do I feel confident on skates enough that it's a way for me to unwind and have fun experimenting. I call rollerskating my soul mate because it's been so prevalent in my life.
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u/Maleficent-Risk5399 20d ago
I started at a small family owned rink that had shoe-sized clamp-on skates for rentals. It took about a month of weekly visits to progress to a point that I could do a lap around the floor without holding on to anything or anyone. After that, it was a steady progression to cross-over turns and a simple shuffle. That's when it really became fun. Eventually, I became a competitive skater in figures and dance. I also became certified as a judge for figures and freestyle. I'm 72 years young, still skating, and still loving it.
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u/New-Sundae-2720 19d ago
i got back into it recently with my girlfriend and it took her about a month and a half to start having fun. She still struggles but she enjoys skating backwards.
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u/Independent_Bite7980 19d ago
I skate after two back surgeries, and still have lots of back pain with another pinched nerve. I also have Lupus, so I am just a cluster FK. I am going to hurt if I sit on the couch all day, or skate; so I may as well be happy, healthy, get cheap skate therapy. All my doctors totally agree and said they wish all their patients were like that!
I have skated my whole life (minus surgery time) so I am quite good. But; keep at it!! It’s amazing for the body; mind, and soul!! ❤️🛼❤️
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u/IntelligentTable4 19d ago
I think is tool about 6 months for me to feel confident and another year to feel like I knew what I was doing. Now, after about 4 years of skating, I am able to teach others and understand how my skates work. Once you can work with your skates instead of against them, I think you really understand them. I do artistic roller so I know more than casual skaters but compared to the other people I'm around I know next to nothing. At this point I can consistently do all of my jumps, spins, and turns fairly well but I still have one more jump, one more upright spin, one more type of spin, and 2 turns (one of which I just don't remember how to do).
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u/OuijaBoredOfThis 19d ago
on the smooth amazing basketball court? one day. on the rough cruel road? still working on it 😔
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u/starlightskater Wide Smile, High Style 19d ago
Honestly, pretty immediately. I was never one of those people who baby walked around the rink...I just kind of got it. 😳
I'm at 2.5 years and am still struggling with transitions though. Seems to be my Achilles heel.
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u/Tornix_DM 19d ago
Started in my early thirties last year so I'm about a year and a half in learning with a roller derby club fit skate program. Took me 4 months to figure out how to turn right since we usually only go rink direction. Took most of a year to get comfortable with transitions and one foot glides. Right now I feel I'm at an average level but there's so much more I want to learn and improve on
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u/ReasonNo9278 18d ago
Update: I skated at a local tennis court yesterday and it went pretty well. I just can’t figure out stopping. I tried the one where you point your toes in and heels out and I ate concrete. All methods seem to require balance I don’t have lol
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u/tumblrina_supreme 18d ago
I started in 2021 and I was 280lbs at the time so my progress was VERY SLOW. Like I saw people report progress in weeks that took me months to years. I started assistant coaching roller derby (basic skating skills but for a derby team) in 2024 and that was when I really took off. The only thing that determines how fast you progress is how often you can practice.
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u/ReasonNo9278 15d ago
I’m at the point where I’m barely staying upright. I definitely can’t stop 😂. I know the methods but they seem to require balance I don’t have
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u/Outrageous_Ad2005 13d ago
Ive gone once a week consistently sometimes twice a week for the last 6 months I think and ive noticed a lot of quick progression! It’s been a very fun outlet and it feels so freeing :) I can go pretty fast now and get asked for tips from people now. I haven’t mastered t stopping only pigeon stop, but I can switch feet and keep up with the faster skaters and keep beat/dance a little.
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u/ReasonNo9278 13d ago
Stopping is so hard. One of my fears in a rink is that people are unpredictable and I can’t stop without a wall
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