There are so many ways to build your cardio routine: running, walking, cycling, HIIT, aerobics and so much more. It can be easy, however, to fall into a rut and do the same exercise over and and over again. Suddenly, our bodies are no longer challenged, and the results don’t come as quickly as before. In some cases, we may overwork certain parts of our body and wear ourselves out much sooner.
What is the best solution for sustaining a regular fitness routine? Mix it up! The more variety you add into your fitness routines, the less mundane exercising will feel. You will not only feel physically challenged, you will see results regularly and work out a broader range of muscles. So now the big question is - what can I do to add variety to my cardio routine?
Try roller skating!
What is Rollerskating?
If you’re not familiar with roller skating, it is the act of moving on roller skates: boots that have wheels attached, typically two sets of thick wheels (quads) or a line of narrow wheels (inline skates). Skating can be done on any paved surface, and indoor skating is available at roller rinks.
Roller skating is a great addition to any fitness routine. Roller skating is gaining popularity in Canada: it’s a great way to enjoy the relatively small window of pleasant weather we have, requires little equipment other than skates and a helmet, and can be done on nearly any paved surface. Whether you live in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, or Halifax, you will find a place to roller skate. You can keep your skates at home, or transport them easily in a backpack or car.
For those who love fun and fashion, roller skating is one of the trendiest activities around. A quick search on social media will reveal amazing ways you can style your skates, whether they are retro quad style or sporty blades. You will likely also come across videos of skaters doing gravity defying stunts or gliding gracefully over downtown streets - keep in mind that it will take hours of practice to get to this point!
Rollerskating is the hottest new trend in Canada. Find out where to get the best skates.
Roller Skating vs. Ice Skating
Most Canadians will be quite familiar with ice skating, which has many similarities to its wheeled counterpart. Ice skates are boots with blades attached that can be sharpened as they dull. It is a popular winter pastime, with many people of all ages skating at local outdoor rinks, indoor rinks, or even frozen lakes and ponds. Ice skating is an essential part of hockey, which is arguably Canada’s most popular sport. Other athletes figure skate, which is a form of dancing and acrobatics on the ice; other athletes speed skate, which basically involves skating around a track at high speeds.
Roller skating, on the other hand, does not have the limitation of being restricted to ice. You can roller skate nearly anywhere - do rounds on a tennis court, a school tarmac, a bike trail, quiet streets, or a roller rink if you can find one. Like ice skating, roller skaters can race, dance, or play roller hockey. While you won’t have to get your wheels sharpened, you may need to have them rotated or replaced over long use.
Whichever type of skating you prefer, you will get an amazing workout for your muscles and heart. As you can imagine, skating requires a lot of balance, so you will instinctively use your core muscles to control your movement on skates. You will also build muscles on your legs and glutes as you push yourself forward on skates. The faster you get, the more skating will raise your heart rate.
Why Else Should I Roller Skate?
In addition to fitness benefits, there are a few other great reasons to roller skate. Let’s explore the top reasons to start roller skating.
Roller Skating is Fun
The most obvious reason to start roller skating is that it’s incredibly fun. When you put on a pair of skates for the first time, you will likely find yourself gripping walls for support and laughing your way through some early falls. Soon, you will find yourself having a truly fun time gliding through parks, spinning in circles, or grooving to your favourite tunes on your headphones. You can skate with friends, or simply go solo and be in your own element. Trust us - you will have a ton of fun!
Lower Stress and Improve Mental Health
We spend way too much time looking at screens or simply digesting the daily cycle of stressful news events, from pandemics to global warming and politics and beyond. Skating provides one way to escape the noise and simply focus on movement and breath. When we skate, we are forced to put our phones and screens away and simply focus on the challenge of balancing and moving all at the same time. Experts say it takes about 25 minutes to detach ourselves from our screens - after a half hour of skating, you will feel more liberated and healthy, far away from the distractions of digital media and burning off the stress.
Socialize More
Skating can be a fantastic social activity and the perfect reason to get out with friends. For adults, it can be all too easy to gather in sedentary ways, eating and drinking to mediate social interactions. Roller skating is the perfect way to break the habit of sitting on patios and porches. You can skate slowly and talk, bring snacks for the road, or relax on the patio afterwards with a well-deserved drink - all after burning lots of calories skating!
If you don’t have friends that skate, why not join a meet up group and make new friends to skate with? You can easily find new groups online, and meet them somewhere safe like a park or a roller rink. Who knows, maybe you can start a roller derby team!
Engage with the Outdoors
Getting outdoors is perhaps one of the best reasons to take up roller skating. Canadians know all too well that our season of warm and nice weather can be limiting, and when the long cold winter rolls in it the outdoors can quickly become uncomfortable and hostile. Yes- we love our winter weather, but there is nothing quite as lovely as the sweet summer air when it arrives.
We can’t all run to the mountains or to Muskoka to take in the outdoors - and this is why roller skating can be the ultimate easy outdoor activity. You can skate in any city, suburb, or town and enjoy the brief window of warm summer, spring, and fall air while we have it. Skate through alleys, sidestreets, bike paths, lakeside, riverside - wherever there is a place to walk or bike, there is certainly room to skate! Just be mindful of pedestrians.
Try Something New
We only get to live once, so why shouldn’t we try new things? If you are unsure about roller skating, you can easily try it by renting skates at a rink or a skate rental shop. Do a quick search in your community to find the best options for renting a pair of skates, or borrow a pair from a friend for a trial. You can also find skates at a used sports store, which will enable you to try skating out at a low cost.
Not sure how to get roller skating practice in? Find out how indoor roller skating compares with the outdoors.
Which Skates Should I Buy?
You’ll need to determine which type of skates you want to purchase for yourself. You will likely be choosing between quad skates and inline skates.
Inline Skates or Rollerblades
Inline skates, or rollerblades, are usually constructed of a durable, plastic boot with narrow wheels in a line in the middle of the skate. These skates are usually more ‘sporty’ though you can certainly style them in a cool, urban style. They are ideal if you are looking to skate over long distances where the terrain may be uneven in areas or play certain sports like roller hockey. Inline skates are available at most sports store retailers. Replacement wheels are easy to find should you wear your skates down.
Quad Skates
Quad skates have more of a ‘traditional’ look and are constructed of a boot with two sets of wide wheels. These skates have become more trendy in recent years, and as a result you can find plenty of cool, vintage-inspired styles. In some ways, they are much more fashionable than an inline skate though you may not find them ideal for skating over long distances. However, if you are skating on a smooth bike path or are saving them for roller rinks you will be more than satisfied.
Where Can I Buy Roller Skates Canada?
The next thing you’ll need to start skating is, obviously, a pair of skates. So where are the best places to buy skates in Canada?
Big Box Stores
One of the first places you may want to check out skates is your local big box store: Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart are a couple places that carry skates. The benefit of shopping at a large store is that its convenient, and sometimes you may even find a really great sale. Canadian Tire specializes in sports equipment, so you are sure to find a good selection of skates.
Large brand specialty stores like Sport Chek or Decathlon are also great places to try on skates and will certainly have roller blades. These stores are very sports-focused, so if you are looking for advice the staff may be better equipped to serve you. Both stores also have online shopping available, though it is strongly encouraged to try on skates, especially if its your first time, so you can see which models and brands are the most comfortable.
Small Businesses or Boutiques
Another place you can find skates are smaller, independent skate shops. These retailers are fantastic to shop at because you will typically find a higher standard of service and expertise. However, they can be difficult to find outside of large urban centers, so if you happen to live in a large city then you will be well positioned to access this amenity. Another great reason to shop small business is that you will be supporting your community directly, as small storefronts add important variety to the economy.
Many independent skates shops will also have an online presence: while trying skates on is always a better option, you may find the style of your dreams online and you can certainly coordinate an online return should you find that the skates do not fit your needs.
Used Skates
Purchasing used skates is a great way to save money and be eco-friendly. Used sports equipment stores can be found nearly everywhere, and while you may have to contend with less than ideal style or size availability, you will likely save a lot of money.
You will also find plenty of options on buy and sell sites like Kijiji. If you take this pathway, you will save money but will have to deal with arranging meeting times and a safe exchange, so be cautious if you take this option.
The Best Places to Roller Skate
Ready to start skating? Of course, you’ll need to find somewhere good to get your skate on. Here are some of the best places to get started in skating.
Roller Rinks
Roller rinks enjoyed their heyday years ago, and while not as common as they were in the 1970s you can certainly find updated versions today. Roller rinks are indoor skating facilities with a large concrete floor for free skating or roller derbies. Many roller rinks are geared for social time, and have food and drinks for skaters. They may also have colourful lights and loud music, which is perfect if you want to skate and enjoy a setting more like a night club.
School Tarmacs or Playgrounds
For anyone looking for practice in a controlled space, you may want to check out your local school after hours. Schools often have large, asphalt tarmacs that are perfect for practicing turns and stopping. They are completely free to use, and will generally be quiet after dinner time.
Parks
City or community parks are great places to skate because they have great bike trails you can circle around on. While they can sometimes get busy, once you develop your skills you will find weaving around groups or cyclists to be rather easy.
Many communities with a riverfront, lakefront, or even an oceanfront will have long pathways that are ideal for skating while taking in the water. These are ideal places to skate and you will often see many other skaters who are also looking to enjoy gliding by the water!
Wondering what roller skating lessons are like? You might be surprised how fun skating lessons can be!
Where are the Best Roller Skating Lessons?
Learning how to skate can be challenging - you must maintain balance while moving, and know how to roll down hills and stop safely. Some people may opt for independent learning, especially if on a budget. Skating lessons are also an excellent option for the aspiring skater that prefers to learn in a structured environment with an experienced teacher.
Learning to Skate Independently
Teaching yourself how to skate is a perfectly viable option if you have the time and patience to learn at a slightly slower pace. You can start by equipping yourself with the appropriate gear, like a helmet and knee pads, and watching some beginner skater videos for tips.
Independent learners will find plenty of content out there that provides guided instruction on how to get started with skating. Watch these instructional videos before you get started - avoid holding your phone and watching while on skates, as you may drop your device! You’ll also be surprised how fast you learn by simply putting skates on and moving around your driveway. You may find yourself gripping walls to keep balanced - this is perfectly normal and you will soon be skating on your own with the right amount of practice.
As with learning anything, you will want to dedicate lots of time and practice to developing your skills. Aim at spending an hour or two every week at a minimum to skating, and you will find yourself skating in no time!
What are Skating Lessons Like?
Skating lessons will usually take place over a preset or agreed upon amount of sessions. Class size should range from 10-15 people ideally, and take place in a gym or outdoor area where novice skaters can practice safely. Your teacher should guide you through the basics of movement, from moving quickly to slowing down and stopping. Your teacher will give you personalized feedback on your movement and form, which can be indispensable if you are looking to learn quickly. You may learn to skate backwards, take sharp turns with ease, and how to fall safely to minimize injury. If you are learning to skate for a specific purpose, like roller derbies, your lessons will vary accordingly.
Will roller skating become more popular than ice skating? Find out the best ways you can learn how to become an excellent skater.
Where Can I Find Roller Skating Near Me?
Finding roller skating lessons is easy if you live in a large city or town. Many skate shops will offer lessons, or you can find skate classes for adults and kids with private schools or camps. If you live in a smaller community, or simply cannot find a skating class that works with your schedule, you will want to consider hiring a private skating instructor.
Private skating instructors can be found on Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that connects students with teachers in numerous areas, from skating to mathematics and even cooking and yoga. You can find a teacher who will work with you to achieve your skating goals, whether you are a beginner or a more advanced skater. If you have a small group, you may even consider hiring a teacher and sharing the cost!
To find a private skating instructor, simply visit the Superprof site and use the search function. You will find a selection of teachers near you, and you can contact as many teachers as you want to determine whether or not they will be a good fit. Each teacher will have their own unique profile and background information, which makes it easy to narrow your search down. You can message prospective tutors directly through the site, and even organize safe payment using the site’s digital tools.
Why delay your skating journey? Find a private skating instructor on Superprof today!
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