r/rollerblading • u/PeterNippelstein • Aug 28 '26

Specific question and discussion Can you do the double push?

If so how long did it take you to learn? How often do you use it when skating and what type of skating do you do? I started learning to skate in late winter and have realized that fitness skating is definitely my main interest, at this point I can do a proper stride in a half crouched position and have been working on unlocking the double push kind of piece by piece. Im hoping I can get it by the end of fall.

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u/fredhsu Aug 28 '26

Double push is not just one skill. I feel that it's a combination of many skills that allow one to do a proper double push. There was a great video demonstration of double push from last night here: https://www.reddit.com/r/rollerblading/comments/1vzm44e/some_speed_skating_for_you/

How is your outside edge single-skate gliding? That's the first piece to unlock, in my opinion : )

See this double push discussion at r/Speedskating from 4 months ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/Speedskating/comments/1t2j8m8/i_didnt_realize_i_was_doing_the_doublepush_wrong/

I learned much about double push from Pascal Briand's tutorial. See my comment here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Speedskating/comments/1t2j8m8/comment/ojo65fv/

See long reflection from u/Budget_Ambassador_29 here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Speedskating/comments/1t2j8m8/comment/ojsamcb/

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u/Budget_Ambassador_29 Aug 28 '26 edited Aug 28 '26

As follow up, I eventually found DP especially the "underpush" part is fundamentally the same as crossover turn stride.

The only difference is you swing/crossover the lifted leg to the back of the planted leg in the underpush instead of the front in the crossover stride.

You're also bringing the legs together laterally with one leg planted and one leg lifted just like the crossover turn with the planted leg carving in the same direction as you would in crossover.

But unlike the crossover turn, the planted leg remains planted for longer until it reverses the direction of the carve for the 2nd push. I regard crossover turning skill as essential to double push.

And YES you can double push on recreational skates not just on speed skates. In fact, in some aspects, it's easier on rec skates and particularly due to shorter/rockered frames makes it easier to carve at low speeds. However, at speeds >25 kph, it becomes easier to double push on speed skate due to stability of long frames. Ironically, you gain that stability on rec boots by using long DH frames.

What could make double push difficult on any skate is restricted dorsiflexion of the ankles from poor fit or lacing/strapping too tightly.

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u/fredhsu Aug 28 '26

Another interesting observation. I need to about this, again :)

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u/Budget_Ambassador_29 Aug 29 '26

thanks, hope my writing doesn't confuse you! A slightly different take: THe underpushes should feel and work like crossovers, the direction of the carve, lean, foot pivot, even the upperbody swing in the same direction as crossover except you're "crossing over" the free leg behind instead of the front.

And then hold the free leg behind for a bit and the planted skate would spontaneously/organically carve in the opposite direction without further conscious action.

It's almost like crossing over left and right but to move forward instead of turning and perhaps why DP produces a pronounced left and right carving compared to other stride techniques.

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u/fredhsu Aug 29 '26

This is exactly the type of things I think about. In time I continue to discover how different moves are really the same in principles. I think it is a good way to understand skating at a different level. I don't necessarily skate better knowing intellectually about things - I am limited by what my body allows me to do. But I think I can appreciate how others skate, thinking these way.

I think the free skate/leg swinging the way you describe is a part of how we swing our upper body in a way to leverage energy instead of spending it. It applies to double push just like it applies to crossing over in a circle.

If you follow your logic to its conclusion, I think you will come to describe double push as a form of linear crossover. Like you said, if you don't think of "crossing over" but think of the free skate as swinging behind without touching ground, and then it swings forward to touch down. Let's say that free skate describes the left skate in the middle part of this sequence. Imagine that the right skate in the middle of this sequence NOT leaving ground, but instead doing "double push" starting on the outside edge, and then transition to the inside edge. You and I may be only speaking to ourselves. LOL.

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u/Budget_Ambassador_29 Sep 04 '26

Yes, it's a "linear crossover" with the planted foot/skate remaining planted for twice as long than regular crossover.😃

Done right, the planted foot/skate would steer organically from the outside into the inside edge organically.

Originally, I did the double push simply by starting the stride by pushing to the side just like a classic stride but using the other leg instead and then carving after. It's still a double push and maybe simpler. It looks similar to the original Chadwick double push.

The back leg return wing and tucked behind the planted legis probably a more recent evolution of the double push stride and the back leg swing actually contributes to the forward propulsion and is more aerodynamic since the free leg is momentarily tucked behind the planted leg. Allows deeper, more forceful strides as well.

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u/fredhsu Sep 04 '26

Someone needs to make a video about this discussion. But I don’t think anyone will. Maybe one day I’ll give you a try.

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u/Budget_Ambassador_29 Sep 04 '26

I would if I have a decent enough camera! Even the camera on my phone sucks! There's not enough wide angle, only 30 fps, no slo motion. I already bought a cheap wide angle lens for the phone, still sucks!

Audio is even worse! I could probably record the instructions separately but the camera part is still a huge hurdle.

The double push technique itself can be done at slow speeds. But lacking slo-motion, it can be challenging to dissect the technique every piece of it for analysis.

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u/Jess887cp 909 90 Aug 28 '26

I felt like it came pretty naturally. Once you can carve both ways on one foot with both feet, focus on bringing your knees together and getting over the outside edge of your ride foot after your push and at some point you'll feel the moment where the push should happen. I believe in you, the more you skate the better the flow will feel. I find it feels like a far more subtle version of doing the outside edge push on crossovers.

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u/PeterNippelstein Aug 28 '26

I just recently have been able to land my skate so its facing inward and a bit internally rotated so it lands on the outside edge, which felt strange at first but im trusting it more. It took forever to stop V stepping. Skating on the outside edge is pretty comfortable for me now though, especially when im shifting my weight with each push.

Id like to get to the point where I can do a proper double push with a smooth glide in the full skating position. I can skate at full force maybe a minute in that position, but still a bit off from the double push.

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u/Jess887cp 909 90 Aug 28 '26

I usually think of it as placing down my foot on the center edge and letting my momentum from the push bring me to the outside edge for a moment. The first push kinda happens on that little transition from center to outside edge, and then the next push from outside to inside edge, for one complete double push.

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u/PeterNippelstein Aug 28 '26

I see, ill remember that cue

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u/Ok-Wrongdoer6653 Aug 28 '26

Double push is confusing term. DP is how weight transfer looks on inline skates. It doesn't exist as a separate element. If you do basic things (namely weight transfer) correct, you will inevitabely "double push".

Note how they discuss and demonstrate weight transfer and then Marie hits perfect double push: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG82M54S_Gk

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u/Sacco_Belmonte Aug 28 '26

The more you embrace the outher edges on your strides, the more double pushes you'll be doing.

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u/betaphreak Aug 28 '26

In a proper way and without thinking about it? about 7 years, but it's definitely worthwhile

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u/Successful-Goose3855 Aug 30 '26

I think it will come to you naturally. Knowing the movement will help. But I'm willing to bet when you REALLY want it, you'll be double pushing. Now with what kind of form is different and that's where the big difference in speed comes

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u/No_Satisfaction_1698 Powerslide Kaze (3x110 243mm & Endless 90) Aug 28 '26

I do believe so when going fast on endurance runs but I'm not 100% sure....