New to Quad Skates

Question
Hi Lezly,
My friend and I saw a roller derby match and she wants to try out in the fall so we both bought skates and pads. We knew enough to get outdoor wheels but don't really know where to skate safely in New York City. I'm doing ok except for stopping (too many years of ice skates and rollerblades for the toe-stop) but my friend is really having trouble and skating on the sidewalk has presented various hazards. Any suggestions for car-free smooth surfaces where we can learn?

Answer
Vanessa,
You need more than 揷ar-free smooth surfaces where we can learn? If you saw the last bout between Queens of Pain & Manhattan Mayhem, you saw 2 of my top students, Suzy Hot Rod & Polly Gone, battle it out.
I have been training girls for Derby since the inception of the Gotham Girls Roller Derby Teams, for their tryouts. Most of the girls I have trained are on the team.

You have to learn a lot more than stopping with a toe stop. You need to learn T stop, forward crossovers, wedge stops, turning from front to back,skate backwards & turn forward again, 2 foot glides how to get deep down into your edges, running starts & more. I train my girls at Mercer Playground, on Mercer St. bet. 3rd & Bleecker Sts. in the Village an excellent venue for practice.

I have group & private classes & would be glad to train you. Go to my website & check me out.   <www.Skateguru.com>
You can call me at 212 777-3232 - my classes are what you need to have a good chance of making the team.

Roll on!!...........................Lezly Ziering (director - Lezly Skate School - estab. 1979) www.SkateGuru.com