quad skating

Question
hello, i just joined up on a roller derby team, and i was wondering if you could give me some good instructions about skating on quads, backwards, stopping and turning. i have been practicing alot, but i think it would be very helpful to get some pointers.
thanks.


Answer
Hi,
  Congrats on joining a rollr derby team.  I'm not sure where you're from but it's popular in the Chicago area too.

  Skating backwards just takes time and practice to feel comfortable with.  Until your comfortable just take small pushes with your toes turned inward with pressure towards your big toes.  You need to keep them turned in for traction.  Give yourself a constant rhythm when pushing and when you become comfortable start taking larger pushes.  And for now it would help to stand up straight so you don't tip forward and fall over.

  As for turning backward?  One direction will always feel more comfortable than the other but practice both directions because I'm sure you will need them down the road.   

  If your turning to the left:  Put the weight on your right foot and move your right shoulder and hip to 12:00.  That will turn you around.  

  If you want to turn forward:  Put the weight on your right foot again and bring your right shoulder and arm all the way across the front of you so you can feel a twist in your waist.  That will turn you to forward.

  If you want to turn to the right:  Put the weight on your left foot and move your left shoulder and hip to 12:00.

  If you want to turn forward the same direction:  Put the weight on your left foot and bring your left shoulder and arm all the way across the front of you so you can feel a twist in your waist.    Always let your upper body tell your feet what to do.  

   Stopping:  Again you will have a favorite foot so use that one to stop.  You can drag your toe stop if you have one.  Just bend your knees and send one foot back while picking up the back wheels.  That will ease the toe stop down so you can stop.  The harder you press the toe stop down, the faster you will stop.

  You can also do a T-stop.  That's where you stand on one foot and turn the other one out at an angle and drag the wheels to slow you down.  Try to drag all 4 wheels if possible. If you drag only the 2 inside wheels you'll eventually wreck your wheels.

  One thing you might want to practice is spinning and staying in control.  If someone knocks into you and you start to spin you have to know how to control it.  Skate forward and then go into a spin.  You can spin the same way that I mentioned above for turning backwards.  Just don't control it so much.  Once you start to turn, keep your heels in sort of a V shape and it will allow you to spin.  Just keep your head up while practicing.

Good Luck and stay safe.  If you need anything further, feel free to write me again.

Pat