New to dance skating

Skye727 · March 8th, 2018, 05:02 PM

I grew up skating in the 70's and 80's. I went to all night skates in junior high all the time. I had art skates with nice wheels. I always wanted the derby skates and always wanted to rex. It was like the popular people had the good skates and could rex. I never got there. I bought my first pair of new skates in November. I got Suregrip GT 50's to start. I got slightly better wheels and Rollerbones bearings. I have 96a suregrip wheels that I have gotten used to. I was recently accepted into the dance group, which i'm excited about. The "leader" said I should get 98a if I want to dance. I didn't like the ones they had. They were white. So I got 101a pink ones. Bad idea! I fell doing the downtown and I think I have a hairline fracture in my elbow. So I went down to 98a. Not much better. I feel like i'm new to skating. I'm used to being one of the better skaters there. So I gave up after a while and put my 96a back on. Much better! Will I get used to the 98's? They feel like ice. Is it ok to switch back and forth until I'm used to the 98's? Or will that lengthen the learning curve?

jotson · March 8th, 2018, 10:47 PM

I was also a rink kid in the 70s/80s. Wheel hardness depends a lot on the floor conditions. To me, I like a fair amount of grip. I used the Goldie Locks method from 88a to 98a, and settled with 94a RBTs (until I found Aussie 95a). I'm sure I could do better slides and spins with a harder wheel, but if I feel the wheels break free, I get uneasy. I have my comfort level, and it's all about having fun skating. If you like the 96a, feel free to stick with them and enjoy! (while saving up for some Aussie Scotts)

larryoracing · March 9th, 2018, 07:42 AM

I have a trick you can use if the wheels are all the same diameter.

On my "dance" skates I use the harder 103A wheels on the outside and the /stickier wheels 101A on the inside (grip wheels).

You can use the same trick also. Putting the harder wheels on the outside and the stickier wheels on the inside.

To make turns easier people go to harder wheels, but if you haven't got there yet just use whatever wheels you feel comfortable with until your skill level increases.

Good Luck!

Larry O

Waywardwheels · October 11th, 2019, 11:41 AM

I am also new to experimenting with rhythm dance skating and have begun exploring wheels. My skates came with some pretty worn/ coned roll line forester wheels 90a. I wanted to try harder wheels so bought some cheap 95a aussie scott slim enforcers. Absolutely love these and they have boosted my confidence but still wanted to try harder. Was toying up between the radar varasity plus 101a and the bones 101a and ended up getting the bones as could pick them up locally. I've only used them a couple of times so far but I'm not sure about them already. I was expecting a bit of slip on corners which will take some getting used to, but what I wasn't expecting was how noisy they could be when doing turns and transitions. I was expecting to slide/glide from front to back but instead I make horrible juddery sounds unless I really pick my feet up. I've gone back to my 95a's for last skate and am not sure what to do for the best now. My local rinks are concrete and are not the best maintained and they have reputations for being slippery. Suppose I should really persevere with the bones as they prob aren't even broken in yet! But my first impressions aren't great!

March 8th, 2018, 05:02 PM	#1
Skye727 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 2	New to dance skating I grew up skating in the 70's and 80's. I went to all night skates in junior high all the time. I had art skates with nice wheels. I always wanted the derby skates and always wanted to rex. It was like the popular people had the good skates and could rex. I never got there. I bought my first pair of new skates in November. I got Suregrip GT 50's to start. I got slightly better wheels and Rollerbones bearings. I have 96a suregrip wheels that I have gotten used to. I was recently accepted into the dance group, which i'm excited about. The "leader" said I should get 98a if I want to dance. I didn't like the ones they had. They were white. So I got 101a pink ones. Bad idea! I fell doing the downtown and I think I have a hairline fracture in my elbow. So I went down to 98a. Not much better. I feel like i'm new to skating. I'm used to being one of the better skaters there. So I gave up after a while and put my 96a back on. Much better! Will I get used to the 98's? They feel like ice. Is it ok to switch back and forth until I'm used to the 98's? Or will that lengthen the learning curve?

March 9th, 2018, 07:42 AM	#3
larryoracing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lomita, Ca, work in El Segundo, CA Posts: 980	I Agree use whatever wheels you feel comfortable with! I have a trick you can use if the wheels are all the same diameter. On my "dance" skates I use the harder 103A wheels on the outside and the /stickier wheels 101A on the inside (grip wheels). You can use the same trick also. Putting the harder wheels on the outside and the stickier wheels on the inside. To make turns easier people go to harder wheels, but if you haven't got there yet just use whatever wheels you feel comfortable with until your skill level increases. Good Luck! Larry O

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

	S k a t e L o g F o r u m Closed in June of 2020	SKATELOG DOT COM: Web Site \| Blog \| Facebook \|

March 8th, 2018, 10:47 PM	#2
jotson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 432	I was also a rink kid in the 70s/80s. Wheel hardness depends a lot on the floor conditions. To me, I like a fair amount of grip. I used the Goldie Locks method from 88a to 98a, and settled with 94a RBTs (until I found Aussie 95a). I'm sure I could do better slides and spins with a harder wheel, but if I feel the wheels break free, I get uneasy. I have my comfort level, and it's all about having fun skating. If you like the 96a, feel free to stick with them and enjoy! (while saving up for some Aussie Scotts)

October 11th, 2019, 11:41 AM	#4
Waywardwheels Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Australia Posts: 11	I am also new to experimenting with rhythm dance skating and have begun exploring wheels. My skates came with some pretty worn/ coned roll line forester wheels 90a. I wanted to try harder wheels so bought some cheap 95a aussie scott slim enforcers. Absolutely love these and they have boosted my confidence but still wanted to try harder. Was toying up between the radar varasity plus 101a and the bones 101a and ended up getting the bones as could pick them up locally. I've only used them a couple of times so far but I'm not sure about them already. I was expecting a bit of slip on corners which will take some getting used to, but what I wasn't expecting was how noisy they could be when doing turns and transitions. I was expecting to slide/glide from front to back but instead I make horrible juddery sounds unless I really pick my feet up. I've gone back to my 95a's for last skate and am not sure what to do for the best now. My local rinks are concrete and are not the best maintained and they have reputations for being slippery. Suppose I should really persevere with the bones as they prob aren't even broken in yet! But my first impressions aren't great!