help me learn

Question
hi!

i love rollerblading and want to learn. tried it twice and i fell down many times. i do not wanna giveup. please help me learn how to get the balance and some tips. also i am old 30 years.

thank you  

Answer
Hi Pinky,
   Getting started can be a little tricky but when you go out to practice.....skate on a level surface.  Avoid hills until your balance is a little better.  Or better yet, if you have a roller rink close, go skate there or perhaps sign up to take a few classes.

   Keep you feet close to each other and start by just standing still.  Give yourself a rhythm like, step, step, step, step etc.  and just lift the skate alternting feet.  

   Once you have the rhythm, turn your toes outward and you will start to roll.  Keep the steps small and keep your feet close together.  Don't look at your feet, as it will make you tip forward.  If you start rolling to fast, just put your feet together and coast till you slow down.

    The toes must point outward for traction.  Don't try taking big pushed until you can feel where your balance point is.  

    Because most roller blade boots are stiff, you will have a tendency to lean forward when trying to push.  Just be careful that you don't lean too far forward.  

    Balance comes from having your hips directly under your shoulders and your ankles directly under your hips.  Any part of your body that gets out of line will cause you to lose your balance.  So try standing up as straight as possible and bending your knees to push.

    Keep taking the small steps that I described above until you start feeling confident.  When you're ready for a long push keep doing the same small steps with your toes pointed outward but now try staying on one foot a little longer.  This will allow you to start taking a longer push.

   Keep in mind, each time you push you have to shift your weight over to the non-pushing skate by changing your lean.  This may sound funny but always shift your nose and belly button over the skate that is not doing the pushing.  As you take these small step, step, step pushes it will feel like you are rocking from one skate to the other.

   Stopping:   Stop pushing and just coast with your feet close together.  Bend your knees and send the skate with the brake on it to the front while lifting your toes slightly up.  The more you lift the front end of the skate, the more the brake will grab.

  Good Luck and be patient.  Take it slow and focus on keeping your feet under you with smaller step pushes.

   If I can help with any thing else, feel free to write me again.   

Pat