How To Roller Skate For Beginners!

Roller skating is hands down our favorite form of transportation, entertainment, exercise, and art (all rolled into one!) Not only is skating one of the most interesting ways to spend your time, it’s one of the best ways to meet new people, get out of your comfort zone, and feel the joy of being a kid again. We know that trying new things (or jumping back into old things) can be challenging which is why Pigeon's Roller Skate Shop is here to help you get rolling with this step-by-step guide How To Roller Skate For Beginners. Grab your skates, throw on some comfy clothes and let’s get ready to roll :-D

Before you start, triple check your equipment and safety gear. Do you have your helmet?  Are your knee pads on nice and snug? Do your wheels spin (that’s a big one!) Are your toe stops nice and TIGHT and laces tied? Alright skater, it looks like you’re ready for take-off!

Chances are you put your skates on sitting down so let’s get comfortable with standing up. Some people start by trying to put their feet in front to stand up but this might put you back on the ground. Instead, get on all fours, put one leg up so you are in a lunge with your skate directly under your knee then push your hands on your knee to stand up.

Once you’re up, keep your knees bent and put your feet in a V-shape to keep from rolling. If you feel like you’re gonna fall, drop it low.  This is called “super skater” and it will really save you from serious spills!

To get back down to the ground, repeat the previous step: squat down, put your knee on the ground, then hands down and twist to your booty.

When you’re ready to get rolling, keep your toes pointed out and start lifting one foot at a time--if you feel like a duck, you nailed it ;-)  Be sure to keep your weight *on top* of the rolling skate by reaching forward as you roll. 

Keep your knees bent and keep a little bounce in your step. Newer skaters tend to stand up straight up and get stiff--we call this Franken-skating.  Instead, stay low and mushy, keep your center over one foot at a time, and get really comfortable sitting down on the ground and standing up again!

PRO TIP! If you feel like you're about to fall, just drop it low and assume the super skater position!

Now that you’re rolling, how do you stop?! To stop, keep your weight centered over your rolling skate and gently tap your toe stop behind you (this is called a “t-stop”).  Be sure to keep your weight forward and bend your base leg more if you feel wobbly.

You’ll definitely want to practice getting down on one knee with as much control as possible. This is a great skill to get comfortable with because a gentle knee-tap is the best way for beginners to stop when they feel out of control.

The most important part is to have fun! Check out this full episode How To Roller Skate for more tips and tricks on how to skate :)