New things to try

[ballerinaonwheels]

Hey everyone! My name is Victoria. I've skated on inlines for years, but I totally outgrew my inlines, and I decided to switch to quads. It wasn't really hard for me to switch, but now I'm looking for new things to do!
Basically, all that I can do now is skate forward. I want to master backwards skating (I noticed a thread on that-I'll check it out), but does anyone have any suggestions/ideas for other things that I can try?
Thanks in advance!

[masmojo]

I think the beauty of Quads is there are always more things and techniques to learn! I know there are folks who can rock In-lines, but for the most part, I see a limited repertoire! With Quads I am constantly seeing people doing things I have never seen done or adding some flourish to an existing move! Just seems more expressive! Many of the basic moves are ones you should already know if you have bladed much, T-stops, Crossovers, etc. then as you said skating backwards! Urgh! I am wrestling with that right now, but one you master that it opens a whole range of possibilities!!!

[ballerinaonwheels]

Yeah, I'm working on going backwards. It's not that it's so difficult, it's just that it's so unnatural. But whatever. I'm getting the hang of it.

[Myuu]

Best of luck to you on quads, but what made you decide you'd outgrown inlines?

[sk84luv]

There is more good advice on quad skating technique here, than anywhere on these forums. http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/...isplay.php?f=9

Since you are a ballerina, artistic skating should be very natural to you.

[Reserector]

I would suggest shuffle. That's where you propel yourself by crossing your feet alternately, pushing outward and pulling inward with the turning skates to create the drive.
It is typically done to the rhythm of the music, and you can add so many other moves to it.

[ballerinaonwheels]

Originally Posted by Myuu

Best of luck to you on quads, but what made you decide you'd outgrown inlines?

Ooh, my phrasing must have been bad on that one. No, I had physically outgrown my inlines-they didn't fit!-and I decided that I wanted to try something new (so I got quads).

[kg4fxg]

I think you would enjoy artistic skating. Just look up videos of artistic rollerskating on You Tube.

Yes, you can still take lessons in it and even compete. You can do anything you see them do on ice!

All the best.....

Bill

[Elysarian]

Welcome to the "Dark side"

Only suggestion I have on top of the excellent ones above would be to have a go at "sidestance" skating (rolling sideways with front skate facing direction of travel and trailing one opposed), I have somehow mastered this whist remaining completely incapable of skating backwards

[ursle]

May sound simple but I don't move an inch without music...
Etymotic Research http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er4.aspx
makes in the ear-earphones that are excellent.

No sun no fun
No music no move

Get some wrist guards and put in some hours

[sk84luv]

Originally Posted by Elysarian

Welcome to the "Dark side"

Only suggestion I have on top of the excellent ones above would be to have a go at "sidestance" skating (rolling sideways with front skate facing direction of travel and trailing one opposed), I have somehow mastered this whist remaining completely incapable of skating backwards

What you are describing is a Spread Eagle. Try doing it in either direction with pressure on the inside edges of your skates. Then try doing it in either direction with pressure on the outside edges. In that position you will be leaning backwards.

[ballerinaonwheels]

Wow, thanks everyone! These are really great suggestions and I hope that I can eventually perform some of these skills.

As for artistic: I love it. It's gorgeous, but there's only one complication: I don't live near any rinks. There's one in a not-so-nice neighborhood (and they don't offer lessons), and there's another (I'm pretty sure it's a really good rink), but it's pretty far away. Anyone have any suggestions?

[JamSkateAddiction]

Welcome to the dark side we have cookies! Ok maybe I lied. But we do have some awesome skate swag here.

You could give jam skating a whirl. Not the most disciplined skate style but any practice for any skate style can make you a skater better. I have videos on YouTube of trick lessons and stuff if you would like to check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/user/JamSkateAddiction

[Nostalgic]

There are several good artistic rinks in the L.A. area. Skateland Northridge, Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, and Fountain Valley (whatever the name is, I don't recall. ). I think that Holiday in Orange is still open as well.

[ballerinaonwheels]

@Nostalgic-ooh, that's actually not that far away! Thank you.

[Banzai]

Now this is what you really wanna learn!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szq0e...os=nroBHfmU-yA

no really the guys AMAZING =)

doesn't matter how you do it art speed jam jb shuffle it's ALL GOOD!

[MANY_SkatingDave]

Hi

Which one: Outdoors or InDoors?

It is similiar yet not the same.

Yours in Skating, MA/NY Skating Dave

[ballerinaonwheels]

Originally Posted by MANY_SkatingDave

Hi

Which one: Outdoors or InDoors?

It is similiar yet not the same.

Yours in Skating, MA/NY Skating Dave

At this point, it's somewhat of a split between the two.

[evilzzz]

Plonk some cones done. Do a bit of slalom, then check out some Youtube vids of top freestyle slalom. Or alternatively find a speed team, get kitted up in lycra, and work your way to a sub-1:20 marathon. Or howabout becoming queen of the rollerdisco and learning to skatejam with the best of them?

There's always new stuff you can do on wheels. The possibilities are quite literally endless.

[MANY_SkatingDave]

Hi

Well since both In and Out you can try the Forwards

Front Cross
and
Back Cross

Inside on Flooring they each should be a tad easier.

Yours in Skating, MA/NY Skating Dave