inline skater needs to learn quads fast

Question
Hi Pat,

I need to get up to speed rapidly on quads, for a scene in South Pacific that I'll be performing in about two weeks here in Boston. I am an expert-level inline skater, but never quad skated. I went out tonight for the first time and found it a bit awkward. This may be partly due to being on rentals while I'm waiting to get my own skates. I wondered if you could offer any tips for an inliner to transition to quads? I plan to take a lesson or two, but need to absorb from as many directions as possible. Also, do you know of any good online technique pages (I couldn't find any)?

Thanks so much for any help!

Phil

Answer
Hi Phil,
   Off hand I don't know of any web sites with skating tips or techniques.
   
   Since you rollerblade you can use some of the same techniques.  The only difference with roller skates is you have to stand up straighter.  And yes, having your own skates makes a world of difference.  Rental skates have a mind of their own because they're not adjusted to "you".

    First....stand up straight, hold your arms still and bend your knees to push.  From a side view  your posture should be....your shoulder over your hip, and your hip over your ankle.  Try to keep the main weight over your ankle, not the ball of your foot.  

    To edge....keep your nose over your toe.  If you want to curve to the right and your're standing on your right foot....lean and make sure your nose is over your right toe/skate etc.   The upper body tells your feet what to do.

    Keep in mind...if you're leaning and nothing is happening, you need to loosen the trucks and adjust them to what works for you.  If you try to edge and it takes off on you uncontrollably, tighten the trucks.  It takes a little trial and error when adjusting the truck action to find what works for you.

    New skates will be stiff till they are broken in.  To give you a little more freedon right away....lace them snug at the toe area but skip the loop where your ankle naturally bends.  To stay over your skate  you need freedom to bend at the ankle so skip that loop/eyelet on each skate for a while.

    Posture is #1.  Then to push turn your toes out slightly.  When you take a strong push it's natural to allow your shoulders to lunge forward.  Don't let the happen....bend at the ankle, keep your shoulders back and send your hips with the skate....not your shoulders.

    Then to edge....just get the feel of the skate and start leaning slowly till you know where the skate will go and how much you need to lean.   

Everything you do has a forward motion, with a lean.  That's the key to roller skating.  Just because you want to edge to the right, don't twist and try to go to the right.  Lean, push forward and wait for the edge to take hold.  Twisting only makes you lose your balance.  

  It's very close to inline skating but you don't have to lean forward as much.  Every time you bend for a push, think that you're scratching your back down a wall, then take the push with a slight lean.  Keep the weight off your toe as much as possible.  Keep your eye level up high, this will help prevent you from tipping forward.

   Backward skating?   Again, posture is #1   Keep your eye level up high, pitch your toes slightly in and push just as you do on your inlines.  Use the face of a clock as a reference.  If you're facing 12:00 let your feet push out to 10:00 & 2:00.  That will get you going.  

    Hope this helps a little bit.  If you need info on turning to backward etc, let me know and I'll be glad to help.   It's just like anything else....practice, practice, practice.  <g>

    If you plan on taking  couple lessons, make sure you go to a local rink and ask for a certified coach.  They can help you get where you want to be quickly.  Don't take a lesson from just anybody.   

     Good Luck....wish I lived closer to see your performance.
   Pat