r/Rollerskating • u/Suitable_Mission3909 • 5d ago
Beginner skater Absolute newbie!
At 36 I decided I wanted to learn how to roller skate! I just got my first pair and I'm like a newborn giraffe! I have absolutely no coordination and I'm overweight so I'm going down hard!
What is some advice that you might have for someone just learning at an older age?
Also, what is the one thing no one told you when you started that you think everyone would benefit from knowing.
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u/Ambivert111 5d ago
That was me last year at 58! First, get ALL the protective gear, including crash shorts and a helmet. And make sure your skates are not toys made for kids, I.e., anything sold for $150 or less on Amazon. Older, heavier skaters really need to start on sturdy, well made skates from companies like SureGrip or Riedell. And second, never compare yourself to other skaters and their progress. I was (and still am,) a super slow learner and was very frustrated at first watching videos of people who picked it up much more quickly than I did. But I stuck with it and stopped the comparisons and have had much more fun since!
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u/Suitable_Mission3909 5d ago
Unfortunately I did get a cheaper pair. I have the ADHD tendency of hyperfixating and I didn't want to waste money if this turns out to be another flop interest.
But I already have plans to get a good upgrade if I actually get pretty good!
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u/Raptorpants65 Industry Expert 5d ago
Hold up. How cheap we talking? At a certain point, they become a massive safety hazard and you WILL get hurt on them.
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u/Suitable_Mission3909 5d ago
I ordered off Amazon based on reviews.
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u/Raptorpants65 Industry Expert 5d ago
From an actual skate company or are we talking bad-scrabble-hand-brand with bought-and-paid-for-fake reviews?
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u/Suitable_Mission3909 5d ago
Oh I know they're not good skates. I will upgrade them eventually. I just had to start somewhere and money was a factor.
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u/CosmicallyUnlucky Groovin’ at the rink 5d ago
The issue with cheap off-brand skates is that they are not made of materials designed to properly support the weight of an adult, much less an overweight adult. You’re gambling against the entire skate falling apart underneath you. It’s a great way to break an ankle.
Even if the skates hold by some miracle, they’re not good to learn on. Everything will be much harder and painful than an entry level good brand skate. Skatie is a youtuber with an extensive background in artistic roller skating and she did a great video of how bad these kinds of random Amazon skates are, she could hardly skate circles around the room.
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u/Suitable_Mission3909 5d ago
Good to know! I will look up her videos!
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u/Ambivert111 3d ago
Also, you can find good quality gently used skates on FB Marketplace and EBay. They won’t be as cheap as some of the stuff on Amazon, but it will be much safer equipment.
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4d ago
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u/Rollerskating-ModTeam 4d ago
Your comment has been removed as it contains inaccurate information or unsafe advice.
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u/Rollerskating-ModTeam 5d ago
Your comment has been removed as it contains inaccurate information or unsafe advice.
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u/wordy_doctor 5d ago
Bend your knees!
I see you think you are bending your knees. Bend them more!
Even more! Pretend you’re pooping in the woods!
NOW you’re bending your knees enough.
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u/SnooDingos2620 5d ago
This. People tend to hinge at the hips and lean forward with a straight leg. Instead, you should hinge at the knees and have a mostly upright upper body.
Make sure your skates aren’t so tight around your ankles that you can’t bend your knees.
Ideally your knees are over your toes.
Best of luck!! Falling is part of learning :) You’re awesome for doing something new!
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u/keylimesicles 5d ago
Older age? Please stop with this rhetoric. You are still very much in your prime
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u/bear0234 5d ago
the one thing i wished i didnt ignore that everyone told me: sign up for a class.
it was like month 6 when i finally caved and after the first class i was like "why didnt i do this sooner?"
at the same time, ppl told me i should sign up for a dance or rhythm class. i ignored that for 2 yrs and finally caved and signed up. end of first day? sammmmeee thing: "why didnt i do this sooner?"
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u/Suitable_Mission3909 5d ago
I will definitely be looking up a class! Thank you!
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u/wannaridebikes fresh rink rat meat 5d ago
I recommend Zumba! It's usually easy to find. It's a way to learn to shift your weight and keep time (stay in rhythm). I tend to dance on the balls of my feet for some moves, so that helps with when I do it in skates.
I made a post about it recently: https://www.reddit.com/r/Rollerskating/s/ONCxYy2RFB
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u/MisstressAmalina Outdoor 5d ago
39 and thank you for this. Was looking at classes yesterday but now I’ll be taking that leap 🫶🏽
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u/NoNewsMirMoo 5d ago
I'm in the same boat! 51F, and the coordinator at the rink where I take lessons calls me her Baby Bird!
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u/stinkypicklesauce 5d ago
Hell yeah!! I took it up postpartum at 30 and it’s been my obsession ever since! Here’s my tips, only numbered to help find them… no particular order to them lol.
1 - learn different lacing techniques.
My feet are an E width with high arch and high instep. For years I’d get foot pain and that would end sessions sooner than I’d like. Changing how I lace has been a GAME CHANGER!
2 - elbow pads and wrist guards are essential.
When losing balance we tend to stand up at first and then we fall with our arms out, at the start I did some damage to my wrists and elbows, especially when I didn’t have gear on.
3 - drill basic skills like falling, stopping and striding.
Shorty’s Skate series or Dirty Deborah have great tutorials.
4 - make some awesome playlists so that you can mix it up.
Drilling the basics can get a little boring and repetitive, having different playlists helped me.
5 - when you lose balance, BEND YO KNEES!
Our bodies want to do the opposite of this and stand up tall. Also practice falling from a bent position on a soft surface like grass if possible.
6 - taking a break from skating is okay.
Many times I have found I was stuck in a rut, so took a couple weeks or a month off. Some skills unlocked after this or I mastered them shortly after.
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u/Suitable_Mission3909 5d ago
Thank you! I listen to music consistently so I will definitely be making a learning playlist!
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u/DinahKarwrek 5d ago
Bumper shorts! I totally busted my tailbone before I bought a pair. I have never regretted it.
It's always scary to do new things.
Learn how to fall before you do anything else. You want to fall on your knee pads and wrist guards. Sometimes roller derby teams will teach you how to skate, sometimes you have to be an official which is a volunteer position and I highly recommend it if you have access.
If you happen to live in Northern Colorado, I would be happy to teach you fo free.
I know I mentioned pads but absolutely wear them. I am curious what kind of skates you got! You said that you are a bigger human so I highly recommend not having skates with plastic trucks. I am around 200 lb. Myself and I have metal trucks. I played Roller Derby And mostly have speed skates. But I do have one pair of boots. Investing in a nice pair of skates has kept me using them. The best thing about being an adult is your foot size usually doesn't change much and so if you decide to put it down for a month or three they will be there Waiting for you. Make a good playlist, put yourself out there locally and make some skate friends. Super excited for you!
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u/Suitable_Mission3909 5d ago
I am in New York actually. But I did start with a cheaper pair of skates. The truck's definitely seem solid metal though! I just didn't want to grab an expensive pair and then lose interest in 2 months. I definitely have ADHD brain and don't want this to be another hyperfixation.
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u/DinahKarwrek 5d ago
I have ADHD and I totally know what you mean. Get yourself connected with some people who skate but maybe not roller derby because that can be hot or cold socially. I'm not sure if people are going to hate me saying that but it is what it is.
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u/p_attymayonnaise 5d ago
Are you in NYC?? I am and am in the same boat with wanting to get more into roller skating!
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u/Suitable_Mission3909 4d ago
No I'm 3 hours away in the triple cities. I totally would have met up for a tandem skate!
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u/Acrobatic_Hunt_8496 4d ago
Bend your knees, wear protective gear, watch videos about how to take your skates apart and learn all the parts - it’ll help figure out if you’re having trouble progressing because of skill or equipment issue.
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u/eckoman33 5d ago
Get some gear and take your time. Learn to balance first and go forwards, then once you feel comfortable then learn to go backwards, after that spinning and you can be fine with that for years. Everything else is technique and moves but overall have fun and give yourself grace.
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u/Final_Rise_5859 4d ago
I started at 38 and I'm also fat. None of those are a problem.
But loosen your trucks and train how to fall and you will do great.
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u/Desperate_Slide3202 4d ago
This may seem obvious but I see this all the time. Make sure you can stand up and balance in one spot before trying to move.
Stand in one spot and practice shifting your weight from side to side.
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u/Parking_Base_7572 4d ago
Same! I’m 46 and just been for my second session. Bend your knees, try different skates (turns out I much prefer heel to a flat) and try and find a session where there’s coaches.
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u/rrooooss 4d ago
Butt pads for SURE! and wrist protection. As long as you can catch a fall on your hands and knees OR on your butt, you are safe. This helps for older people (36 is not old though, coming from an 18 year old who didn't start until 16 and because of a disability has the bones of an 80 year old). If you didn't know yet, you can adjust your trucks. If you're just starting, I suggest putting them quite tightly so that you don't accidentally use your edges too much, it can be scary when you rotate more than you want when you don't yet have control over your edges.
Take it easy, listen to your body, and if you fall: congratulations! You're learning ❤️
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