Before you start inline skating in bike lanes or through town, learn the fundamentals of this sport that is accessible to everyone.
Here are a few drills for beginner skaters, including how to stand up, push off, brake and turn, and even a few tips for skating through town! Get advice from Loïc, FFRS (Fédération Française de Roller et Skateboard) instructor for the AIR ROLLER club in Bordeaux, and Amandine, FFRS instructor for CONTROIS ROLLER CLUB.
Standing up from the ground:
a/ Putting on equipment: First put on your helmet, then your knee and elbow pads. After that, pull on your skates and finish with your wrist guards so that you aren't struggling to tighten anything!
b/ Standing up: On all fours, carefully raise up on one knee, keeping your chest slightly forward to stay balanced.
Tips: For your first time, try holding onto a low wall to stay balanced
Now that you're upright, here are two drills we recommend for learning how to move forward:
1/ Spread out your feet, raising your knees high: take large exaggerated steps. Don't forget to lean forward! Then make a V shape with your feet and take tiny steps forward, trying not to make any noise. Go back and forth several times.
2/ With your feet parallel to each other, take 4 steps forward and glide as far as possible. Set a cone down where you stopped; what's the goal? Go farther and farther each time!
To steer while skating, you need to pay close attention to the position of your shoulders, hips, and where you're looking.
Stabilisation drills:
1/ In a ready position, turn 90 degrees in the same spot until you're back to where you started, once to the right and then to the left.
2/ Set down a cone (or a shoe, sock, etc, as long as you can spot it easily) and, just like the previous drill, turn 90 degrees around the cone.
3/ Set down a second cone and skate around both of them.
Braking with pads: Work up to a glide, bring your right foot forward and lift your toe to feel pressure on the break. (You can set your braking area with a cone or shoes)
Plough stop: Bring your feet together so that the front wheels are close together without actually touching so that you don't fall! Go into a lemon and lean on your heels to slow down.
Nothing helps you learn better than a game: Grandmother's Footsteps is a great option 😉
It's important that you learn how to step over obstacles from the side or head on so that you can safely skate over sidewalks.
a/ Create a line of cones (or shoes or socks or draw a line with chalk) on the ground. While at a stop, stand beside them and use your knees to step over this line, without using your feet.
b/ Repeat the drill while skating slowly, being sure not to rotate your shoulders or turn. Keep looking straight ahead.
c/ Move the line of cones in front of you and repeat the drill. Remember to lean forward to stay balanced.
Follow Loïc's advice and it will be easier than ever to stay safe while skating through town. Don't forget that, as a skater, you are considered a pedestrian; so you must follow the same rules.
a/ Rolling up a sidewalk: Use the same step over technique demonstrated in the previous video; leaning forward, one leg after the other.
b/ Rolling off a sidewalk: Pay close attention to your speed and put one foot in front of the other.
c/ Using the stairs: Bring your feet into a duck position right against the steps and slowly step up. To go down, stand parallel to the stairs and descend step by step.
Don't forget to wear the right equipment so that you stay safe while skating👌
Now you have all the information you need to start skating well, so stop making excuses! We understand that it can be hard to get started when you're on your own. Find the complete list of classes and activities near you on our Decathlon Activity website or join an inline skating club to learn in a group setting.
So how's it going?? Share your experience at the bottom of the page!
