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So you've bought these skates, but they don't do what you want them to?
Or you're not sure if skating is for you at all, but would like to try?
You can skate a bit, but don't feel any real progress from teaching yourself and from what you're friends try to show you?
Let me have a look at your basic technique, to improve your balance, control, and of course your confidence!
For beginners the key techniques are correct falling, getting up, getting moving, stopping, and basic turning - mastering this will give you the confidence to go out on your skates on your own to practice, meet people, and have fun!
You will find that Rollerblading (or Inline Skating as it is properly known) is a lot of fun!
It's a great sport, plenty of fun, and a great social activity all wrapped into one.
Skaters are very sociable, you will meet plenty of people - if you are on skates, and see someone else on skates simply skate up to them and talk to them - you're part of the same tribe!
Skating in groups is even more fun than on your own - animate your friends to have a go, too! Plus - group lessons are cheaper ;-)
by Marty Spar
Want to skate better and save money? The secret to this winning combination is to rotate your wheels.
Wheel rotation will give you a better edge to skate on, thus improving your skating capability, as well as saving you money by prolonging the life of your skate wheels.
If you are skating correctly, you are skating on the inside edge of your wheels, (the side of the wheels that is located on the inside of your feet.) Depending on the amount of skating you do, the surfaces you skate on, and your skating style, the inside edges will wear down over time. When the wear is noticeable, it may be time to rotate those wheels.
There are just two steps required in wheel rotation:
STEP 1: is to place the worn side of the wheels on the outside of your skate. This can be accomplished by either flipping the wheels over if you keep them on the same skate, or by moving them (without flipping), from one skate to the other.
STEP 2: is to rotate the position of your wheels. Wheel wear differently depending on the position of the skate. Most experts recommend wheel #1 (closest to your toe) should be exchange with wheel #3 and wheel #2 exchanged with wheel #4 (closest to your heel.)
When reattaching your wheels, be absolutely certain your wheels spin freely and the axle bolts are tight. After you've checked that the bolts are tight, CHECK them again.
All done! You have lengthened the life of your wheels and you will get more push on every leg stroke. Happy and safe rolling.
By Marty Spar
Keep your feet dry wearing a pair of 100% polypropylene socks under your regular skating socks. Polypropylene socks help to wick the moisture from your feet to the outer sweat socks, thus keeping your feet much drier than if you wear only sweat socks. They are available in many sporting goods stores and by mail order from various camping catalogs.
Do your elbows and knees sweat when wearing protective pads? Rub on some talcum or baby powder before putting on your pads and you'll be a lot more comfortable.
When skating the path to Jones Beach, taking a skate clinic in the rink or just hanging out, always take plenty of water with you. It is important to replenish body fluids long before you become thirsty.