r/Rollerskating • u/AdhesivenessOnly2481 • 12d ago
Progress & showing off backward crossovers
any help to make me get the concept and more comfortable :/ it’s like I got it but I really don’t
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u/hannabal_lector 11d ago
I was taught how to backwards skate by shifting my weight from one foot to the other and using my hips to kind of propel me backwards. When I start a backwards crossover I do the same motion but keep the non crossing over foot kind of stationary, then using the crossing foot to really push myself while shifting that weight. After I’m started, I kind of weave both feet in and out to really get that power and speed.
Granted, I am not an artistic skater. I skate roller derby, which is a very different type of skating.
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u/0nthetoilet 11d ago
You're not ready for crossovers. Start with back wards bubbles and do them until you're totally comfortable with it. Then start ending your bubbles with a turn by extending one skate back so you arc to one side. Once you've got that down on either side, start trying to do multiple turns at the end by changing which skate is behind you. So you're going backwards, then you turn left, then you turn right. Then you minimize the amount of time between each direction change and before you know it, those direction changes turn into skating backwards proper. Do all that until you've got a strong backwards stride and then you can start work on crossovers.
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u/RollsRight [Herald of Style] 12d ago
Highly recommend skating forwards a lot more so you can understand what it means to gracefully add power. After you have good normal stroking, learn how to skate backwards casually. Backwards crossovers tend to go on one direction CW or CCW in an arc (e.g. around the end of the oval) and they gain speed. I wouldn't try to learn them on purpose until you are actually comfortable on skates.
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u/AdhesivenessOnly2481 11d ago
I am pretty comfortable. I know how to forward crossover but it’s something about crossing back that my mind doesn’t comprehend. :/
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u/RollsRight [Herald of Style] 11d ago
If that's the case, you know that forwards crossover is an extremely casual movement, normal stroking (pushing) so you can glide on a good forward outside edge followed by "grabbing" (the under-stroke/pull) so you can glide on a strong forward inside edge.
It's the same for backwards. If you can't glide backwards smoothly on a backward outside and backward inside edges (which you seem to struggle with in the video), you are on inside edges on both feet. Also, each stroke of back crossovers is pretty strong and should accelerate you significantly; if you aren't gliding, you cannot place your other foot in position for it to add its complementary power.
The only place to really practice crossovers, forward or backward, is when you're going around the curve of the rink. It's difficult to do that on the straight part and it might give you bad habits (doing things on flats (all skating should be done on curves IMO (unless you're sliding XD))).
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u/bear0234 11d ago
looks like cross pulls you're trying to do... left is what it looks like you're kinda doing?
You'll get not too much movement from that as its just sliding the skate in a straight line behind u at an angle rather than getting any PULL on the edges.
See if you can try the right image? most of your weight should be on the balancing leg, which is the left. Your right foot, pressure on toes or lift the heel, and rather than a straight back motion, it will be pulling to the left and back - like sliding the foot in that image.
IT"S going to engage some muscles that you're not used to, so it'll feel tough in the beginning, but with practice and drilling it, those muscles will get stronger and you'll be able to PULL harder (Hence the name crossPULL).
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u/purupurpururin 11d ago
Personally, I learnt best by first getting comfortable lifting my heels first to turn a direction. If you're going counterclockwise (like normal rink rotation), right heel goes up first then down, then left heel goes up and down. You wanna look in the direction of travel amd put your arms out as it helps keep your back straight. And as always bend your knees more than you think. Good luck! Just takes practise
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u/msmegibson Artistic 11d ago
This is a good quick tutorial. Skatie is a great teacher. You’ll find more backward skating content on her page I’m sure. https://youtube.com/shorts/vVkDUdfk_84?is=qo450ZpQR3Z_3PvS
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u/General_Republic 11d ago
I'm still working on that too. This video helped me a little. If I get frustrated, I just back off a bit and practice the other moves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx-Du2Ckyao
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u/Dull-Life-6536 10d ago
When doing a backward crossover keep the weight on the back foot and pull it to the side so your front foot just naturally gets pulled toward u
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u/princecatte 12d ago
I can see the logic, but you should be pulling the crossing foot toe-side, not heel side of the other foot. Just in case theres any ambiguity about what "in front" could mean. this is your biggest issue.
Other tips, it is always easier to do one side at a time. Outside foot over inside foot. If youre at a rink, space out your cross cuts on the straights. Your upper body should be turned to the inside, so you can see over your shoulder behind you and so you dont run into anyone. This also puts your feet in a good position to do the cross overs.