Skating tips
note:
we recommend skating in skate parks
and taking a skating course with an
instructor.
first attempts
Initial position:
Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and bend
your knees slightly to avoid falling backwards.
accelerating:
As a beginner, start by taking small steps
forwards with your toes pointing outwards at
an angle.
Rolling:
If you take a few steps in succession you will
then have enough momentum to place your
skates next to one another and roll. Bend your
knees slightly while doing this.
How to fall
Important! Practise falling initially onto a
soft surface using protective equipment without
your inline skates. Always try to fall forwards,
and never backwards! Fall onto your protective
knee pads. Then catch yourself using the elbow
and wrist protectors. Spread your fingers in
order to avoid injury.
Mastering curves
at low speeds:
Shift your weight as in riding a bicycle. Move
your weight onto your left foot for a left curve
and onto your right foot for a right curve.
at high speeds:
Cross your feet as in ice-skating (figure B)
braking techniques
note:
Practise various braking techniques
on a smooth surface without traffic or
pedestrians. avoid slopes until you are
confident about braking.
12
GB
Heel brake (figure C):
If your inline skates are fitted with brakes then
remember to use them. Lift the point of the skate
where the brake is mounted and push the brake
into the ground. Shift your weight forwards
slightly and bend your knee. The braking effect
can be intensified if you bend your knee more
and shift your weight further forwards, while
increasing at the same time the pressure on the
skate you are braking with.
t-stopping (figure D):
If your inline skates are not fitted with a brake
or if you have removed the brake, then we re-
commend using the 'T-stop' technique. However
this is only suitable for advanced skaters! To
brake using the 'T-stop' technique, shift your
entire weight onto one foot. Now move the
other skate behind the front skate at a right
angle. Then shift your weight from the front to
the inside of the rollers of your back skate and
brake with increasing pressure.
Removing the skates
Prepare the skates for wear
following delivery
Important!
ensure that your inline skates fit
correctly. the outer boot should not
become deformed when you close the
quick-release fastener. Do not use force
to close the quick-release fastener.
If your outer boot is deformed then this
is either a sign that the tension is
incorrect or that you may have
purchased inline skates in the wrong
size.