Keeping up with the tempo is paramount; even counts are for pacing and odd counts are for slides & stomps.  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Standard issue wheels: Fiberglass or aluminum wheels. Wood (w/o jumping)

The pre-requisites 

Before sliding with intention, the skater needs to have a strong grasp on the fundamentals of skating.  This is not to say that one cannot skate sliding wheels from the beginning, it's that adding intentionality without stability/predictability on sliding wheels is a recipe for disaster.  Skating on sliding wheels requires a code switch so to speak.  Simple concept moves like snaps or pivots take on new meaning as starting and stopping have two more steps each.  This goes of every sliding move. 

The original FreeSlide (by RollsRight) requires a semi-firm boot.  Jumping into slides is commonly performed and edge slides (sliding on the corner of wheels) is frequently done.  Semi-firm -> firm boots resist torsion at 45->acute angles. Boots with strong constructions are also needed for this reason. Poorly constructed boots will delaminate at the sole due to the abnormal forces applied (even for roller skating).  Plastic plates are not recommended for similar reasons; abnormal loads at abnormal angles would have the kingpins in a plastic plate grind and loose their ability to hold firm or be fastened.

Wheel choice is pretty simple in my opinion.

Fibers all day every day.  The other sliding wheel materials have limitations in grip, angle, and force from my experience testing them on various rink floors, temperatures, and humidities.  

FoMac (FM) wheels feel like they brake early in warmer or more humid conditions.  Their edges hold well for barrow slides and material feel is consistent for the bouncing in the style.  

Wood wheels' drawbacks are in the intensity of some of the stomps and slides that can be resolved.  Since the wheels are fibrous in nature, they can split/break given intense force.  One of the dramatic elements in FreeSlide is the on-beat stomp (adopted from Cleaveland Freestyle).  Stomping with the beat to house music is also excited and encouraged (if the skater can vibe with it & others in the rink are into the beat).

A tier 1 FreeSlider works on fundamentals and single element slides.

Cornering

Since sliding wheels do not grip the floor following traditional expectations, practicing cornering is a skill in and of itself.  Eventually, FreeSliders will slide while cornering so building an understanding of how corners feel and how to clear them with speed is an important first step.  Instead of using edges, FreeSliders, like Freestylers, will start by crossing over as their base cornering skill.  Crossovers will allow the skater to keep maximum contact with the surface without approaching the slip point (the maximum applied force where static friction transitions to kinetic friction, initiating a[n unintentional] slide).

• Bending knees is highly encouraged, 

• Gaining speed from the crossover is discouraged,

• Arm on the inside of the path is typically in front for balance purposes,

Acid and Plow pushes

These are light, non-committal slides. In the FreeSlide style, they are used to build speed or shave speed (respectively) with style. 

• The acid position has the inside part of a foot pointing forwards,

• The plow position has the outside part of the foot pointing forwards (you may already know the plow stop, this is the similar foot orientation)

These steps are often chained, bouncing left -> right-> left -> right on the beat.  These slides (when repeated) do not count towards chain-link count.

Unique uses for these push slides include:

1. Building speed

2. Reducing speed

3. Counting off a beat before a combo

4. Entering a combo

5. Checking a spinning slide

6. Resetting the pace

Arm Isolations (poses)

Cheat Vine

Cheat Open/Closed Book

Power Slide

Acid Slide

"Soul"/Sole Slide