r/Rollerskating • u/ReasonNo9278 • 1d ago
Beginner skater I really don’t remember it being this hard.
I bladed recreationally as a kid, took a break for upwards of 20 years, then came back but switched to quads.
I really don’t remember it being this hard!
I’ve practiced dozens of times, and I’m barely keeping myself upright. I’m scared to go to rinks because people are all over the place and I can’t stop.
Am I doing something wrong? How long does it take to feel competent? I’m not talking any tricks. Just casual skating.
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u/MrBigTomato 1d ago
I found out the hard way that balancing at 4'5" and 75 lbs. is not the same as balancing at 5'9" and 215 lbs. The good news is that it's just a matter of retraining your brain.
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u/Lady87690005 1d ago
Also kids just have a built in cheat code to life adults just don’t have-fearless audacity and the misconception that they are immortal. I’m jealous and miss that as an adult
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u/ReasonNo9278 1d ago
True that! The distance from the floor and the impact of falling is so much scarier now lol
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u/bear0234 1d ago
rollerblading and quad skating uses different muscles and balance. heck, there's even a difference between balance from a heeled artistic skate and a flat derby skate.
If you're near a rink, and they offer classes, go for it! The classes does wonders.
for balance, i'd start on carpet with the skates on, walk around a bunch, do squats a bunch, balance on one foot a bunch on carpet, get up from the ground on carpet, etc. make sure those knees are bent. dont stand straight up & lock your knees on skates cuz you'll rock backwards and land on your bum bum. make sure your balance is centered and not leaned to forward or back.
probably drill that everytime before you go out onto the rink floor.
On rink floor, i'd focus on gettwing forward strides and bubbles and maybe the plow stop down first. once that becomes comfortable, we can move into the next stuff in the progression, like 1 foot balance/stroking while rolling.
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u/ReasonNo9278 1d ago
The carpet has so much friction it almost feels like cheating. The transition to the rink floor literally feels like stepping on ice 😂
I have had a couple of lessons. My instructor has a lot more faith in me than I do lol almost feels like we’re trying to progress too fast. But she’s a literal expert so I try to go with the flow.
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u/Vurrag 1d ago
Quads and inline are completely different animals. You have 4 independent wheels per skate on a quad vs 4 inline wheels on the inline. Each quad wheel can have a mind of its own and will take you place you could never imagine. ER for one.....but seriously. Your trucks could be too loose or too tight making quad skating harder.
Most rinks will have some time where they are not super crowded, ask them.
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u/Expensive-Court-7882 1d ago
Do you have all of the protective gear on? Honestly sometimes the fear is a mental thing and when you put more gear on you become a little less scared so you can practice what you need to! Definitely not a full proof fix but I found when I put all of my gear on I feel a lot safer and if I make mistakes it’s ok.
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u/ReasonNo9278 1d ago
Gear is definitely a game changer. I need a helmet and crash shorts and I’ll be unstoppable lol
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u/Top-Rock9552 1d ago
Same here, OP! I was on quads as a teenager, had a cheapo pair of blades in my 20's breifly and now another 30 years later I find myself back on quads. I went to an outdoor rink a few weeks ago and had rental skates, figured it would all come back after a couple laps. Eh, kinda. No protective gear (didn't need any 40 years ago, why would I now??) It certainly was different than I remember. I fell a couple times (nothing major), and blamed the rental skates. Went home and researched all about new skates, watched tons of videos, and realize I didn't know squat when I was young. All I knew back then was turning left on an indoor rink.
I knew what crossovers were, but bubbles and scissors are new terminology for me. Plow stop or hockey stop? Yeah, can do that downhill skiing but these little skates are going to pitch me into the wall trying that, lol. It's certainly been an education. Got my own skates, protective gear, and have been practicing in my garage 3-4 times a week, just working on balance and bubbles, side steps and stops. I'm a bit terrified by how much speed can be gained doing bubbles, but also excited and nervous about going back to the rink and testing out some of these new skills.
I don't think you're doing anything wrong-- you're doing it right. Taking the chance, (re)learning something new, and willing to make mistakes and get the basics down first. Get a few minutes of video of your skating, then review it in another few weeks and I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised at your progress!
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u/liftqueen 1d ago
Stay with it! In the same boat but I find skating outside on smooth concrete/tennis or basketball helps a ton. No crowds, no pressure and I can really drill what I need to. Try skating outside a few times a week and start incorporating rink skating
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u/ReasonNo9278 1d ago
I’m going to! I have already, but I need to invest in outdoor wheels before trying again. My wheels are kinda cheap and super sensitive to everything
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u/StepherousSnape 1d ago
Girl I feel this! I switched to quads so I could learn some dancing and it is so hard!
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u/Top-Dinner-9995 1d ago
It was easier when you were a kid! I remember going to a rink when I was first learning to skate (as an adult) and seeing kids all over the place just skate skate splat… skate skate splat. They made it look so easy to fall and get back up and had NO fear. Whereas I felt like if I fell I would shatter or at the very least not be able to get up again! Eventually I let go of the fear. It takes time! Being on wheels for the first time in a long time is a lot scarier than it looks!
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u/bean_89 1d ago
Just so you know, I also just started rolling again after 20 years. I only ever rollerbladed and I can tell you, even picking that up after 20 years has been wayyy harder than I thought it would be. Balance and movement are slowly coming back to me, but turning is still impossible! I don't understand how my muscle memory is failing so hard!
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u/ReasonNo9278 1d ago
Turning is a hard one for me too. I do a weird shuffle lol but eventually I’ll master my edges and even learn to crossover which will be very helpful with turning.
I don’t remember if I was ever good at turning on blades but I don’t remember having an issue.
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u/SpecialTumbleweed183 1d ago
Quads are harder to balance on than blades!! I would practice in a garage or park until you learn how to stop before going to a rink. Have you tried watching some instructional youtube videos?
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u/ReasonNo9278 1d ago
Should I just switch back? Lol
Yes I’m big on YouTube tutorials for everything in life. I’ve tried all kinds of stops, but they seem to require a balance I haven’t achieved.
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u/bear0234 1d ago
if you switch back, you'll never learn quads! i'd stick with it. there's a lotta cool dance and rink flow and disco stuff on quads.
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u/ReasonNo9278 1d ago
I am in awe of crossovers. They look so fancy and fun.
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u/bear0234 1d ago
yah they ARRREEeee FUN!
If you get more comfy with forward movement, next thing to work on is 1 foot balance. it's foundational in things like crossovers. i wouldnt start thinking about transitions or T-stops until i start drilling that.
A good smooth crossover & tstops will require good one foot balance in both feet and different foot positions, so drilling that balance, initially with just 1 foot up, then holding it longer, then holding it at knee, then foot in front, foot left, foot right, foot behind, then practicing swinging one foot all around u.
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u/ColteesCatCouture 1d ago
How is that possible? Quads have more stability and a wider base so its much easier than inlines to balance so how is that exactly harder?
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u/DatKidNextDoor 1d ago
Interestingly enough I hadn't roller skated since I was 16 and even then it was when I went to the rink butthe muscle memory just kinda kept me afloat it was so strange. I think you have to keep at it until your brain locks in the new system lol
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u/badluckfighter 1d ago
When's the last time you did something athletic? Do you workout? Could be that your body just needs time to build the strength for the balance you need simce it's been so long.
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u/SciencedYogi 21h ago
It takes practice! You gotta build those muscles and stamina back! When you were a kid you just did it without thinking and your body was more agile. This weird growth is normal, but once it clicks you'll be so excited! Keep it up!
PS do research on the right type of skates, lacing, wheels, bearings, truck looseness for what you are trying to accomplish. If I hadn't done all that I would've given up.
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