A month or so ago we published a post called “Still Skating? How and Where to Buy Inline Skates“. However, we know there are a lot more of you out there who are not skating than are, so we thought we would post about how to get into (or back into) inline skating.
We have been running inline skating tours since 1997 and, at one time, this was all we did. I personally was on the board of the International Inline Skating Association, all our guides were certified skating instructors, and we often attended marathons and other skating events around the country.
A lot has changed in the skating world in terms of participation and exposure. But not much has changed in terms of the activity itself.
Inline skating has its plusses and minuses, like most sports. On the plus side, skating works the major muscle groups in your legs, buttocks, and back; provides excellent aerobic exercise; can be extremely social if you skate with others; doesn’t cost much; and is low impact, which is perfect for ex-runners. Most importantly, avid inline skaters will tell you it is also fun, which means you enjoy exercising.
On the minus side, braking is not easy unless you actually receive professional instruction; falling hurts; and perhaps most importantly in terms of participation numbers, skating requires a smooth, relatively flat, auto-free trail for the greatest enjoyment.
If you are interested in taking up skating, it helps to get a good pair of skates and good information on where to start. We really love the website at Inline Warehouse, which not only has a huge selection of skates and other equipment but also has an excellent Learning Center that teaches you all about equipment selection and maintenance.
If you do need a lesson, you can try to find an instructor via either the Skate Instructors Association or the Inline Certification Program. Unfortunately, there are a lot fewer certified instructors than there used to be. Videos can be helpful and we recommend this heel stop video by an expert instructor and our friend, Krista:
Ready to Start (or Re-Start) Inline Skating (Rollerblading)?
| by: Allan
great post. thank you!