There is no doubt that Montreal is one of the most exciting cities to visit in Canada. Therefore, to many, exploring Montreal without roller skating is like having a piece of cake without icing on it. In this article, you'll learn how to roller skate as a beginner in Montreal and discover whether roller skating is safe at old age.
How Do You do Roller Skating for Beginners in Montreal?
If you want to try skating and don't know how to go about it in Montreal. Below is a step-by-step guide to roller skating as a beginner in Montreal. Learn about rollerblading in Calgary.
- Get your roller skating equipment
Get yourself a fitting roller skate. They come in different sizes and are normally the same as shoe sizes. Since you're a first-time user and need to protect your head, knee and wrist, it’s best to use a helmet, knee pads and wrist guards.
- Presume the right posture
The next thing to do is retain balance in the right posture. You can keep your two feet apart in your shoulder line and then move forward by bending your knees a little while lowering your backside. That way, you gain balance.
- Move like a duck
In that case, point your toes outwards as you keep your heels close to each other. Let your right toe face your right diagonal side and your left to face the left side. Then start moving with your right foot ahead, as the left follows. Continue moving as you focus on exerting pressure at the center of your feet, not heels!
- Glide on
Start by pushing the skate with one foot while keeping the other foot steady. Then place one foot sideways and push it back a little so that your other foot glides automatically. You may now decide to stop or instantly switch legs. You can keep switching legs after gliding with one leg while exerting pressure a few times.
Are you interested in rollerblading lessons in Vancouver? See where to hire a coach.
- Practice how to stop
To stop, slow down a little, then push your toes downwards. Try to make your legs parallel for a good body balance, then lean forward in the squatting position. Now glide the right leg forward and lift the toe of the right leg a bit. Then press your toes on the ground to press the brake and stop. Your left leg will stop simultaneously.
- Skate backwards
Do the reverse of moving like a duck, where you position the toes together so that the heels face outwards at the back. Stay in a squatting posture to glide backwards, then glide with one leg, the other being steady. Exert pressure on the steady leg and lift the other leg. Glide the lifted leg backwards. Do it slowly and glide only a little.
- Learn heel-to-toe movement
Choose your strong skating leg, place it in the front and lift your toe. After that, raise the heel of the leg on the backside so that your front leg is relying on the heels and the back leg is standing on the toes. Continue moving forward this way as you alternate the position of the heel-toe.
- Practice the crossover turn
Before you change direction to the left, you have to cross the right leg over the left one. Swerve slightly to the left and let the right leg push off a little to the left. The right leg would enable you to move to the left. You need to bend your knees a bit to gain balance. Practice this step again and again.
This guide could help you learn roller skating fast.
- Learn to jump
Jumping is essential as a roller skater. Before jumping, glide for about 2 minutes, then try to hop. Jump a little and then come to a stop on the ground. Maintain a squatting posture while landing by putting pressure on the middle of your feet. Jump a little and try to maintain balance while landing. Keep doing this until you become good at it.
- Practice at a rink
When you've understood the basics of roller skating, make sure to practice until you become used to it. Then you can use the rink. Practicing in the rink will give you smooth ground to skate on. Practice all the techniques in the rink so you can move like a professional.
Can I Teach Myself How to Roller Skate in Montreal?
Following my guide above, you can teach yourself to roller skate in Montreal. Irrespective of age, everyone can learn roller skating.
In addition, skating can be tiring, so prepare your mind for all the falls and muscle cramps as a beginner.
For most beginners, thighs can get pumped and painful. In this case, you have to stop. In one week, you can learn what you must do; you will be able to balance yourself and learn other movements. However, if you want to skate well, you need good posture and speed, which will require a lot of time.
It requires ample practice before you do gliding or other tricks like a professional roller skater. Having a roller skating coach in Montreal to instruct you, observe you, and correct you is invaluable. However, you can learn how to roller skate by yourself too.
Is Roller Skating Hard for Beginners?
It depends on the person. The quicker you balance your skates, the better you become at roller skating. For some people, it took days, while for some, it was a few hours. Once you're good at balancing your body, every other thing comes easily.
The first step in learning to skate is to simply train your body to move when you are on your roller skates. And the fastest way to accomplish this is to practice daily.
Even better, you can also purchase a low-cut skate that is almost like a sneaker. These provide minimal to no ankle support but offer enough flexibility. They’re great for roller skating at the rink. See what to expect from a roller skating class in Toronto.
To keep your roller skate rolling smoothly, make sure to adjust the nuts on your wheels when necessary. Often, roller skates come with nuts that are tight; as soon as you flick the skate's wheel while holding it up, make sure the wheels are loose enough to spin freely.
Roller skating might seem hard for a beginner and requires good balancing and strength. But with my step-by-step guide, you can learn roller skating basics in a matter of hours.
How to Roller Skate at Home?
People often ask questions like, "can I roller skate at home?" "Is it safe to roller skate at home?" "How can I roller skate at home?"
Yes! Yes! Yes! It is safe, and you can roller skate at home. If you can't go to a rink, you can still roller skate at home. You will learn the precautions to take during practice time at home.
Before you roller skate at home, make sure to perfect your posture. Your posture is a vital aspect of roller skating, so take some time to get it right. This is important to remember if you want your home to look like a natural skating rink.
Learning to get up from the ground without using your hands. As a roller skater, falling is unavoidable, so learning how to get back to your feet is important.
It's never a good idea to put your hands down while skating on the floor so as not to get your fingers run over by another skater’s wheels.
Most people also fear that their roller skates will damage their home floor. The good news is that roller skate wheels are safe for home floors as long as they are of high-quality skate wheels– flooring materials are made to withstand wear and tear.
Can I Learn Roller Skating at 40?
Yes, you can learn roller skating at any age. Generally, the human body is more viable and flexible at a younger age and recovers a little quicker when hurt. That's why it's always advisable to wear skating accessories to protect the head, wrists, ankles and knees.
Nevertheless, learning how to roller skate at an older age comes with a lot of benefits, some of which are;
It Improves Body Balance
Age can influence how you sit, walk, jump, and navigate your vicinity. However, roller skating can minimize your energy level when doing these routine activities– sitting and walking. It also helps combat fatigue and fine-tunes your center of gravity.
It Burns Body Fat
Regardless of your age and body type, it is a fact that the right dieting, physical activities and sleep routine can make anyone lose body fat. Roller skating is among the most efficient means of cardiovascular disease exercise. It helps with calorie loss.
It Strengthens the Heart
Heart diseases like strokes and heart attacks may cause unexpected death. Roller skating strengthens the heart as it's one of the most effective aerobic workouts. According to the American Heart Association, a moderate roller skating session will enhance the heart rate from 141 to 161beats/minute.
Roller skating is not only fun but good for mental health. It also builds confidence while maintaining balance.
You can learn roller skating in Montreal with this step-to-step guide. Visit a rink and explore the best out of roller skating.
Learn more about roller skating in Windsor.
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I really want to try roller skating even if I never did before. I learn pretty fast so I hope that I will learn how to roller skating without any problem.