Rollerblades Archives - Medium Skate Mag

Rollerblades are annoying. You get on and they squeak, grind, or clank as you go. In an instant, you’ve gone from being able to rollerblade to being the one in a group of eight people who are stopping for no reason other than the fact that your friends think it’s funny. If you have just started learning how to rollerblade, then you probably already know that there is more to it than just going out on a skateboard and riding down the street. There are rules, techniques, and tricks that you need to know if you want to enjoy the sport without breaking any bones. This article will take a look at some of the most common reasons why people stop rollerblading for beginners as well as some tips for getting back in the groove so that your next ride is a smooth one! What is a rollerblade? So before we get into the nitty-gritty of why it’s important to stop on rollerblades for beginners, let’s get on the same page about what exactly a rollerblade is. Basically, a rollerblade is a board with grooves that grip the ground when you’re on it. There are many different types of boards that you can choose from, including fiberglass, hybrid, and carbon fiber. Typically, rollerblades are shaped like a long, skinny skateboard. The grooves are where you’ll be rolling, and they usually stick out about three inches. If you want to get technical, they’re actually called “blades,” but they’re usually referred to as “wheels” or “tubes” because they look a lot like water pipes, don’t they? (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) Why is stopping on rollerblades for beginners so hard? The biggest reason why people get frustrated when learning to stop on rollerblades for beginners is because they’re used to doing things a certain way and trying something new just makes them anxious. We all have a “comfort zone” where we like to feel most at ease, and when you try something new, you have to overcome that comfort to feel at ease with it. This can be hard because we’re used to doing things a certain way. We like to go where we’re comfortable, wear what we like on our bodies, use the things that we like to do, and think the way we think. When we start to move in a new direction, we might try to challenge that comfort zone to see if we can feel more at ease with it. How to Stop On Rollerblades For Beginners - A Complete Guide Now that you know why you might be frustrated when you first start to travel on rollerblades for beginners, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to stop on rollerblades for beginners - A complete guide. Basically, there are three types of stopping: controlled stopping, immediate stopping, and sudden stopping. Controlled stopping is when you put your foot down and just stop the board. You don’t squeeze the brakes at all, and you don’t apply the brakes at all, either. You just stop the board with your foot. This is probably the easiest type of stopping to learn, but it’s also the most challenging. Why is rollerblading for beginners so hard? The main reason why rollerblading for beginners is so hard is because you’re so used to going where you’re comfortable and you have no idea how to change that. When you start to go somewhere you’ve never been before, your body has to adjust to all of the new movements and demands that come with it. Your spine has to change directions, your shoulder sockets have to adjust to the difference in your shoulder position when you’re standing and when you’re moving, and your joints have to work to overcome the forces of gravity and the rolling of the board. Your body is adjusting to all this and more, so when you first start to travel on rollerblades for beginners, it can feel like your moving in a different space entirely. What are the Rules on Rollerblades On a rollerblade, you’ll usually find a combination of hollow plastic and steel. The hollow plastic keeps the weight of the board relatively light while the steel provides a good amount of strength. There are many different types of rollerblades with varying designs and capabilities. A plastic blade with a steel support base means that you’ll have a generally smooth ride compared to a wooden blade with a metal support base. That’s not to say plastic is bad, it’s just that steel is generally better. When you first start rollerblading, you’ll learn the basic rules for the sport. These are the same rules that apply to all forms of skating, including ice skating and snowboarding. Tips for Getting Back on the Rollers If you’ve been rollerblading for a while, you might have some good intentions when you first started. You may have tried to get back on the board a couple of times and given up in frustration because you just couldn’t do it. There are a couple of things that you can do to encourage yourself to give it another go. Try to Mentally Set a Goal First, you need to set a goal. What is your goal? Are you just going to give it a try, or do you have a specific goal in mind? If you’ve set a goal, great! But what if you don’t reach your goal? What if you just give up and decide not to try again? Set realistic expectations for yourself. Expect to make mistakes, and don’t be afraid to pull out of a ride if you aren’t feeling up to it. It doesn’t mean that you’re a bad rollerblader, it just means that you need to reassess your goals and goalsetting. What To Expect from Rollerblading For Beginners One of the most common questions that I get from newbies is “What should I expect from rollerblading for beginners?” The answer is that rollerblading for beginners is not that hard. Yes, it may be a little uncomfortable at first, but that’s normal. The key is to understand why you’re feeling a certain way and then address the issue. As you become more comfortable on the board, you’ll notice that your hips and back are more parallel to the ground. This is because you’re using your bodyweight more efficiently and you’re eliminating any excess energy that you might have been using. Your speeds will increase and you’ll start to enjoy the sport more and more. Conclusion Rollerblading is a fun, easy, and cheap way to get around. It’s not too hard to learn, and it will definitely get you moving again after a break. But, before you get on your first rollerblade, make sure that you know why you’re stopping and how to get back on.