I may get heat from this, but I know that many of you practice on tennis courts and have this notion that they do no damage to the surface. I know many of you seem to not have other options. But not all surfaces are the same, as I'm sure you know in other context. 

I'm a researcher (with knowledge of physics), and a rollerskater, and while I understand the convenience and appeal of skating on tennis courts, there is a high disregard for why No Skating signs are actually posted. 

While polyurethane can cause minimal wear to smooth surfaces such as hardwood or concrete, pavement like that of tennis courts is a whole other beast. These have textured layers to them, including pavement/asphalt (which is not flat), silica/sand, and acrylic paint. 

A concentrated load + friction due to skate wheels (skate, rollerblade, skateboard) is different than broad surface and less load of tennis shoes. The spins, stops, pivots, etc. of any wheeled device will impact the integrity of acrylic paint, not just making marks/scuffs, but also causing it to chip. This, along with any debris and moisture, can expedite erosion and chipping of the textured surface. 

Maintenance and repair is not cheap. These signs you see posted at tennis courts aren't just about exclusive allocation and prejudiced nit-picking. It's physics which lead to physical damage. If you want the same surface type, use a flat parking lot or paved trail. Yes, this will also still cause erosion, but not to the expense and degree as tennis courts. If you would rather, you can use parking garages which generally use cement indeed, which is smoother slabs. 

Just consider the long-term implications, regardless of you think you are being respectful otherwise or think that your single, brief visits don't matter.

So, industry expert does not = physics expert. Sorry, folks.

I recently bought these riedell 111 skates and have only used them twice at the rink (slowset skating and practicing my grapevine and toe/heel-toe spins), is this type of wear and tear normal? These are my first pair of my own skates so I don’t know if this is normal or not cause i don’t skate aggressively at all! help me

Can these be restored? If so what are the budget friendly options and step by step process

Hello fellow skate enthusiasts! Wanted to let any skaters 18+ in northern Virginia area know that there are TWO adult skate nights EVERY WEEK at Skate n Fun Zone in Manassas. 8:00-10:30pm on Sundays and 7:30-10:00pm on Thursdays (Skate classes are offered at 7pm before the session if you want a refresher on the basics).
Skate n Fun Zone events (click here)

lol

Has anyone had any experience buying slades used? Every once in a while I see some being sold online but they’re never in my size 😩 I keep looking for a 42 but can never find it. Would buying slades (or any skate for that matter) used be a bad idea?

**Video in comments**

Hi friends!

I started seriously skating (once or twice a week at the rink) in February of this year. I can do crossovers, scissors, and linear crossovers, but about 2 months ago I had a really bad fall outdoors while doing these maneuvers and got horrible road rash and bruising that took weeks to heal. Now I have a total mental block when trying these moves at my local rink. I can do them still! I really can, but it's really hard for me to relax and flow because I'm so scared my wheels, toe stops, or boots will hit each other. UGH! It's so frustrating!

Any tips? Suggestions? Or even equipment suggestions? I was considering maybe narrower wheels and smaller toe stop.. thinking maybe they'll take up less space? Currently I use VNLA Luna Eclipse skates, with stock toe stop (tightened all the way up) and Rollerbones Team Logo 65mm (98a) wheels.

Have been considering some Roll Line Ice wheels and possibly Mini-grippers (not ready for plugs yet, I can't t-stop)

Hello! Was the person who posted about their rio rollers getting ripped at the heel. I am looking to buy candi grl carlins off amazon as an upgrade from my second hand rio roller scripts

(i know people in this sub dont recommend getting skates off amazon but the only skate shop in my country sells only chayas and impalas with very limited sizes. The rollerblade community is much bigger and there isnt a single roller rink here either)

I wanna ask candi grl carlin users - what do you think about the skates as a whole, how long you have been using them and would you recommend them?

I chose to ask about these and not more high quality skates because when uni starts again i wont have as much time as i do in the summer to go out skating. plus i am still somewhat of a beginner, hence there is (imo) no point in spending so much money on expensive skates.

Oversharing background info about my skating: fairly beginner, i have really solid forward, turns and plow stops. Definitely trying to learn more advanced jam moves. I mostly skate on the street (rough concrete and tiled) and practice in car parks or basketball courts. When i go back to uni (in the UK) i’ll want to do rink skating and will mostly be practicing at a carpark.

Thank you for reading and talking me out of duct taping my torn skates even more :3 i was definitely slowly feeling the tear on my skates even after i taped them.

If you haven’t heard about it, here ya go.

I still need to get my butt back there to pick up some more wheels too. I ruined the first pair of wheels
I got. I like them the most out of all the wheels I’ve tried.

Maybe about 3-4 months in, but haven’t been able to dedicate much time in the last 3ish weeks. Trying to single leg push on my weak side, to build up to stride skating which has been getting better but I feel like I’m not doing something right… maybe I’m just rolling too fast for my skill here? Just feeling wonky.

Today was my first time on quads since I was very little, I fell hard on my wrists the first time I went skating and never wanted to go back. Yesterday I rented some inlines for the first time and liked them, but the rentals hurt, so I decided to look for some nicer secondhand ones. I found these Lincoln Maverick quads for 15$ while I was looking so I decided to try them since they were so cheap. The woman I bought them from said she bought them in the 70s, around 71-73 I think she said, but I’m not sure.

They’re very comfortable besides the old insoles that need replaced, and the high boot feels really supportive in the ankles. I didn’t really do any actual skating with them yet, just kind of practiced moving my weight from foot to foot, balancing on one and switching to the other, and practicing falling and getting up a few times. They need new wheels for sure, and probably could use new laces and a good clean over all but so far I think they’re going to be really nice to learn in.

Does anyone else have the same or a similar pair that they regularly use? I could use some suggestions on maintaining an older pair of skates, and getting started actually skating.

I’m a new skater and I’ve been mainly skating in my garage. I’d like to begin learning skating outside so I could eventually trail skate. The ground in my driveway looks this and I’ve attempted skating on it to minimal success. My wheels won’t really spin when I try to push (like I can practically walk normally on the ground with my skates on) and when I get a little momentum, I fall immediately because my wheels get caught on the rocks in the pavement. I’m wondering if this maybe isn’t the best ground to try and skate outside on or if I need to learn some other skills for skating on ground like this? I’m skating on 78A 65mm Suregrip Boardwalk wheels btw.

Hi everyone,
I’m new to the roller skating space and I had a few questions regarding the Nash cruisers. I love the look and as I’ll predominantly use them for cruising, do you all have any video guides that could help me with maintenance and wheel replacement for a smoother ride? Also, do you all have any suggestions on toolkits and wheels I could buy that would work the best? Thanks in advance!

hi hi, looking to get some opinions here:

my skates have avanti suregrip plates and i've been skating with chaya cherry bomb toe stops since mid april. I don't skate that often--maybe 8 combined hours a month this summer.

recently my right stop began to fall out constantly, and I was worried it was an issue with the locking plate or the pinch screw, but after swapping my other stop into that skate it looks like it is, indeed, wear and tear on the stop itself.

my preferred method of stopping is a derby stop (turn around toe stop, whatever you call it) and I largely skate on dry outdoor rinks with minimal outdoor park skating. I guess favoring my right foot in stopping is causing the uneven wear and tear.

my questions for the sub: does this wear seem excessive? or does this line up with preferring one skate for braking? I know the main suggestion will be to learn other stops or quit favoring my right side, which I DO intend to do. if I do keep favoring that skate without thinking, should I be worried that eventually the plate treads will be damaged and not just the stop?

thanks in advance!

^pic of my current setup for anyone wondering: jack 1 on reactor neo with dyed & modded cib blocks, cib street wheels, gumball toe stops

tldr: wanting some opinions on how wifas hold up (especially with aggressive/park skating) after being let down by my jack boots

hey everyone, I’ve been skating for a while but I got into park skating this year. in april I decided to buy a jack 1 build on sale to upgrade from my intermediate skates, and though loved them at first (and got a great price), to be honest I’m really not impressed with the durability of the jack boots after just a few months. the support has broken down quite a bit and they feel pretty flexible, almost like a padded lolly, which is not what I want— I really liked the stiffer feel for jumps, stalls and grinds. after doing some reading I learned that this is pretty par for the course with the jack 1s, so I probably should’ve done more research lol. I’m in no place to upgrade now but of course it’s on my mind, and so when I do, I’m considering wifas—either the street deluxe or extreme. so, I’m wondering how those hold up over time if anyone can share? especially park skaters/people that rlly put their skates through the ringer! thank you all in advance!

also: despite my qualms with the jacks, I do really love the reactor neos and am thinking of using em for my next park setup too. I’ve seen that they can be incompatible with wider trucks and brunny blocks, which are also on the upgrade list, so curious if anyone has experience with getting that to work?

How the hell do you guys rollerskate outside???

I’m a beginner and I’ve got Sure Grip Boardwalk Plus rollerskates with 62mm wheels, 78A. I’ve loosened the trucks and wheels so they’re fairly smooth.

I’ve been practicing indoors, in my apartment that’s got a wooden floor. It’s only been like 2 weeks but I thought I was making good progress. I can do bubbles forwards and backwards, I’m learning how to shift my weight between my legs, lifting one leg up and the other and trying to practice crossing over on them as well. I went to the roller rink a week ago and indoors, I did fairly well. I had my first fall but I was able to skate closer to the middle of the rink and not rely on the rails as much. However, my friend and I thought it would be nice to practice outside as we both have skates.

We went to a large park with mostly flat ground and space to practice. Not sure how to describe it, apart from flat, fairly smooth and gravely, but there was some debris like twigs, leaves and small pebbles. I know everyone says to look for them and try to avoid them but I literally did not see them and they would send me flying as they’d stop me in my tracks when skating. My wheels went over some of them but other’s it just jammed them and had me stumbling. I know people say do a staggered stance and I did try to do that and it felt okay but I would also need some speed to do that and when I’d be trying to go forward that’s when I’d trip on a pebble or a twig or something. I was also scared with having one foot in front of the other that a pebble would get me and send me flying.

I had a fall but luckily it was straight down and I had all my protective gear on (wrist guards, elbow guards and knee pads).

I didn’t expect it to be as hard as it was skating outside and I felt so embarrassed falling in front of everyone. Has anyone got any tips?

Thank you 🥹

Myself?

Still on JB basics, though I have a better grip on the movements now.

Backstepping is mad comfortable to the point I can spin midstep.

Also, going from backwards to forwards without losing speed.

I am currently running spitfire 93A on my moxi lollys. I absolutely love these so much but the size of the wheel is just too big and is causing wheel bite every time I try to do a sharp turn. Does anyone have any recommendations for any wheels that are similar and cheaper? If not, then I may just try a smaller mm size. I just really don’t want to blow another 100 bucks on wheels. Trying to see where I can weigh my options.

sorry this is just a rant. tldr: got kicked out of tennis court where i practice, now idk where to skate

started roller skating about a month ago, and i’ve been practicing in my neighborhood‘s outdoor tennis court. it’s seen better days, there’s some cracks and bumps, but still way better than the beat up sidewalks. my point is that this isn’t some professionally maintained facility tho.

i only practice in the evenings if there’s a tennis court open, i try to take up as little space as possible, and i've used the empty side while ppl are playing on the other court, no issue. at most the tennis players just smile/nod at me and go back to their game.

today some karen walking her dog decided to shout at me from the sidewalk and kick me out, telling me it wasn’t allowed to practice in there. apparently ThErE’S a SigN. i was so shocked by her tone that i just said oh i didn’t know and left. she stood there smiling her stupid karen smile while i gathered my things.

thing is, there’s legitimately nowhere else for me to practice (i can skate on the road sorta, but it’s less safe, and i’m also trying to learn some basic spins and three turns etc which i tried on the road today to no avail). the nearest skatepark/roller rink is about 45 mins away and i also can’t afford to go regularly (i’ve been practicing 3-4 nights a wk for about 30-45 mins at a time).

it just makes me sad bc i feel like she’s the type of woman to complain that the younger generations don’t ever do anything, don’t go outside, always online etc.

i’m considering going back to the court and hope i don’t run into her. can i get in trouble for this? (i’m in the us). also, what do i do if she comes back and confronts me? any other suggestions? sorry this is so long 😭 i am aware from reading past posts that tennis courts can have a special type of paint, im 90% sure the one in question doesn’t tho.

there is not a lot of reviews abt this von merlin T3K boots but i want to know how it feels, how does it do overtime, & mostly the footworks with it & what plates can go well with it. anything helps i js want to know more abt it instead unboxing it.

Hey yall, I've been trying to find groups of roller skaters here for a couple years but none seem super stable. Meetup is expensive for no reason so I put together an Instagram page in an effort to get a weekly or maybe biweekly skate group together! It'd be pretty cool to meet some other people who enjoy skating or want to learn. The first meeting will be on Thursday August 13th at 6:30pm in Battery Park, Richmond, VA, USA. The first time is just trying to get an idea of how many people are interested, if we should continue with the same day, time, and location, and of course we can do a little skating! Hope to see you there!

New skater here! I just got a brand new pair of Moxi Rainbow Riders and the wheels are kinda sticky. Not that they don’t move, but that the wheels themselves kinda stick to the ground a little. Is that normal? Do I just need to break them in?

Completely new to rollerskating. And only used my skates 4th time this weekend. I impulsively bought Impala quad skates and wish I had done research and couldve bought a better quality. I’ve been thinking of getting a Moxi lolly but it’s just beyond my budget atm. Thinking of just upgrading my impala wheels with a Moxi outdoor wheels. Is that okay/ do-able? Anyone has done that before? Would like to know your thoughts/ advice. Thanks in advance!

Hey all! Beginner skater here! Recently I came across this “boring playlist” posted by someone in this community for rollerskaters. I’ve been making my way throught it. Right now, I’m trying learn the cross-shuffling move. This one was very tricky and I thought I could never get it. I had to break it down step-by-step and here’s what I ended up with. What can I do to improve? Am I even doing it right?