My Roller Hockey Saga (Part Eight)

Question
Yep, it's me again, here with another question.  Okay, now I know that you've explained this to me several times already, but I think I might finally understand what I'm doing wrong with my turns.  So...my skates have this thing like a strap on them near the top of the boot that you pull over and ratchet around to keep it tight.  I think I have been taking a little too much advantage of this and I have neglected to tie up my skates each time I put them on.  I just kind of keep them loose enough to where I can just slip them on or off, and then I just ratchet the strap thing until it's tight enough.  I don't know if that is okay or not, but I'm wondering if it provides enough ankle support when I don't lace them more tightly.  You see, from my ice-skating experience I remembered how much my ankles bent in the skate, so I tried paying attention to that with my rollerblades.  It was almost the opposite, in that I can't skate on the inside or outside of the wheels, instead of keeping the wheels perpendicular to the ground.  I don't know if this makes sense, or is even relevant, but I was wondering if this might have to do a little with why my turns weren't working very well.  So, my question is: when you are making a turn, and "leaning" into it, do you also lean in your skates, so that the wheels are no longer perpendicular to the ground?  If so, than that may be my problem, because it's almost as if I am afraid to lean on one side or the other in my skates.  If I'm just wrong about all of this and I have just been rambling on for twelve sentences or so, then I think I am in even bigger trouble, lol.  Otherwise, is there some way that you can angle your wheels to the ground while keeping your ankle straight?  Kind of like, angling your whole leg with it, or do you have to bend directly at the ankle, because I have tried that, and it is VERY uncomfortable.  This is where my question about how tight the skates need to be came into play.  Well, I just realized how whimsical and incoherent all of these questions have been, so I hope that you can make sense of what I have said and give me some more of your great advice!

Answer
Hi,
  I see your point to wanting to slip your skates on and off but you really need to lace the skates up and use the ratchet strap.  You need a snug fit for quick maneuvering and ankle support.  You want the skate to feel like it's part of your foot and should fit like a glove.

  If the skate is to loose  you will have a harder time getting your feet off the ground and have a slower response to any maneuver.

  You asked if lean with your skates.  Yes you do.  Your whole body will lean slightly, including the skates and wheels.  I think once you tighten up your laces you'll feel more comfortable about leaning.

  If you lean to the left  you should notice that the left skate will be more towards the outside of the wheels and the right skate will be leaning towards the inside wheels.  It doesn't lean a lot but the wheels should definitely not be perpendicular to the ground anymore.  Skate forward, bend your knees then lean.  

   Try this "with your skates on", to get the feel.  Stand about a foot or so away from a wall. Then slowly let your whole body lean and fall against the wall.  You'll notice that the wheel are now on a different angle.  That's what they do when turning.  

  Of course when you skate it won't be that noticable but this will give you an idea of what you have to do.

Keep going......you'll get it.   Talk to you soon
Pat