My Roller Hockey Saga (Part Nine)

Question
Okay, I'm really sorry to pretty much keep asking the same question over and over again, but I was wondering if this time you could explain it in the most minute-nit-picky detail that you possibly can.  I just can't seem to make tight turns at all.....and no one can tell me what I am doing wrong.  Any time that I try the staggered-skate coasting turn (thing), I can only make a very wide turn, if any, and at most I can only go 90 degrees.  I'm just wondering because I see people rollerblading who can do what I think is the same thing but they can make such tight turns and can go like three times aroung in a tight circle before having to take another stride.  I know I probably sound like a whiny little kid, asking this question for about the third or fourth time, but I just really don't understand what I am doing wrong.  I think I have gotten too much in the hang of always stopping to change direction, and I think that these tight pivoting turns would be a really fundamental concept to add to my skating repertoire, so anything would be helpful.  Also, I've been having trouble with my backwards to forwards transition.  It always seems like after I make the transition, I'm pretty much stopped in place, and I usually fall forward.  Is it normal to have to take a few small steps immediately after switching to forward, or am I probably just doing something wrong again, lol.  One more thing, since trying these tight turns has been the focus of the last couple of weeks, I have noticed a decline in the speed of my progress, and I was wondering what my next goal should be looking towards.  I know that I only know a handful of basic concepts, so if you could inform me of the next topic that I should look at, I would be very appreciative.  Thanks again for all of your help!

Answer
Hey Andrew......good to hear from you.

Well, as for making a tight turn?  One thing you have to remember is that the people you see doing these turns have probably been skating for quite a while.  It takes time to gain complete control over your skates.  

To make a tight turn you will have to cross your feet  Inlines don't have the same quick turning action as roller skates so crossing one foot over the other helps you curve.

When you want to turn lean into it.  If curving to the left....Try bringing your right arm forward (to 12:00) and keep it there until you are done crossing and turning.  It's my guess that your body is leveling up and your right side is pulling backward which would stop you from making any kind of turn.  I think you have the right idea, just make sure you lean into the turn like you would if you were riding a bike around a corner.  Go in a circle and keep trying to make the circle smaller.   But remember to lean and keep your right arm at 12:00.  Just push, then cross, then push, then cross.  

You'd be amazed how much your upper body effects what your skates do.  So make sure you stay leaning to the left.  Make sure your head is also leaning to the left.  That should help.

To practice, pretend your body is like a compass.  You know the kind you use to draw a circle on a piece of paper.  Your left hand will be the part that would stick into the paper.  Meaning hold your arm out and keep it at 9:00 and don't move it. Feel as though it's stuck to the center of the circle that you want to create.   Lean to the left then try to skate around your left hand. While doing this remember to keep your right arm at 12:00.  


About your backward to forward:  If you are leaning forward at all before you turn, you will be leaning forward twice as much once you turn forward.  Leaning forward will also make you slow down so that might be why your stopping after the turn.  Or perhaps you weren't going fast enough to begin with to continue to roll after the turn.  Try to pick up your speed...balance on your right foot......bring your right hip and shoulder forward till it turns you around.  Keep your shoulders and head pulled back so your up straight by the time you are forward.  That should help.

You asked if it's normal to have to take a few steps after turning forward.  It depends on how fast you were going when you did the turn and it could also depend the quality of your wheels and bearings.  If your wheels normally roll well and continue to roll after pushing, then it's not the wheel or bearings.

You wanted to know what was next to learn.  I would say nothing for now.  The things we have discusses are the things you need to continue to work on.  Those are the basics.  Skating forward with speed and longer strides, backward with speed and comfort and cross overs in both directions.  That's pretty much it until your very comfortable and good on your skates.  

Watch the hockey games on tv if you can.  Take note of the maneuvers that they do and make a list.  Those will be for future use.

Never feel funny about asking questions or asking for a different explanation.  Some things take several explanations in order for it to make sense.  That's true of everyone.

Take care and let me know how it goes.

Pat