When we think of skating in Canada, typically the first thing that comes to mind is an ice rink. This is of course, expected in a country known for its love of hockey and contributions to the figure skating world. Canada is often a top contender in the Winter Olympics, and in the cold weather months cities and towns all over the country fill with ice rinks. Visit any sports store, and you will find no shortage of selection of ice skates for activities like figure skating, speed skating, hockey, and recreational skates.
As soon as the warm weather hits, however, a growing number of Canadians have been more than happy to ditch the ice skates in favour of wheels. Why abandon the joy and freedom of gliding when the ice melts? The concrete and pavement are the perfect surface to continue practicing those skating skills. Those that do not have a background in ice skating may even find roller skating or blading a much more interesting sport to engage in. You can slip on a pair of roller skates and start skating right outside of your own front door - something you cannot do in a pair of ice skates.
Roller activities also happen to be exciting, unique, and a great alternative or add on to more traditional warm weather activities like cycling and swimming. A quick search on your favourite social media platform will show you how trendy and popular skating has become: influencers, athletes, and fashionistas love showing their style and strength through skates. If you have an interest or love for fashion, you will instantly be drawn in by the many aesthetics of roller skaters and bladers today.
Why has roller skating re-emerged as one of summer's favourite pastimes? Where did roller skates even come from? And is it worth it to take lessons? This article will explore different aspects of roller skating and blading, and discuss the benefits of receiving guided instruction. Let's start by looking at the history of roller skating and blading.
Since so many Canadians ice skate, switching to wheels is a very natural transition. And even if you don't ice skate, you likely still enjoy the fun and freedom that comes with slipping on a pair of roller skates or roller blades and enjoying the great outdoors!
A Brief History of Roller Skates and Blades
You might be surprised to learn that roller skating has actually been around for hundreds of years! The first pair of roller skates was reported back in 18th century Europe. Typically, they were used in the performing arts. Skates were simple in design, and skaters could only move in a straight line. By the 19th century, roller skates had advanced, with French and American innovators developing the more modern skate. By the 20th century, rinks could be found all over Western Europe and the United States, where enthusiastic skaters amassed in the thousands to skate in places like Madison Square Garden and the Chicago Coliseum. Who can forget vintage videos of drive through restaurants with roller skating waiters delivering milkshakes and burgers to cars? Roller skating occupies a unique place in the popular imagination.
Roller blades were popularized in the 1980s, when inline skates were developed and made into lightweight, dynamic products that enabled athletes to move quickly and easily. Buckles allowed for easy adjustment of the skate, and soon it was commonplace to see neighbourhood kids playing roller hockey or adults skating down bike paths for a good cardio workout.
One activity that has started to become increasingly trendy with kids and teens is roller skating. Summer's answer to ice skating, roller skating is a fantastic way to enjoy the Canadian summer whether you are in the city, the suburbs or a small town.
What are the Benefits of Taking Roller Skating Lessons Near Me?
There are a lot of great things that come with starting roller skating lessons. Here are the top benefits of taking roller skating lessons.
Accelerate Your Skating Prowess
Taking lessons will accelerate your learning and will get you moving with confidence. It can be tough to get on skates for the first time, and you may not trust your ability to move without falling or getting into an accident. With lessons, you will learn how to move forward, speed up, turn, and stop safely. You will even learn how to fall in the way that will occur the least amount of injury, which is a huge benefit for your health!
Enhance your Fitness
Fitness enthusiasts take note: skating is an excellent way to stay fit and compliment your current fitness regimen. And if you are not particularly into exercise, you will find that skating is a great way to get moving! Skating requires you to use your legs, glutes, and develop your balance and coordination. You will use your core muscles to stay stable, turn, move, and stop on skates. Those that love speed will get a great cardiovascular workout by cruising down a long bicycle path or around a rink.
Spend more time Outdoors
Canadians tired of being pent up indoors after a long winter will welcome another reason to be outside. Many roller skates and nearly all roller blades are designed for outdoor use. You can bring your skates to a park, an empty parking lot, a school tarmac after hours, a skate park, or a quiet street to get some fresh air and practice in. We don't get a whole lot of warm weather in Canada, so maximize every minute you can on skates!
Reduce Screen Time
We are all too familiar with screens, and research suggests that excessive screen time can be damaging to teens and kids. Skating is a great way to tear yourself away from countless minutes spent scrolling through news and social media feeds, watching videos, or heading down "rabbit holes" of internet research. Put your phone away and get moving on skates!
Enjoy a New Way to Socialize
Skating is one of the most fun ways to socialize. Find other friends who skate and meet up with them for a glide through the park or a coffee or ice cream cone. Skate meet ups are much more healthy than sitting and talking or chatting through messaging: you can enjoy the company of friends while staying active and having fun.
Engage in Roller Sports
Sports lovers will enjoy the possibilities of roller sports like roller derby, speed skating, tricks, and roller hockey. These are quirky, off the beaten path activities that will add a whole new dimension to your skating practice. Of course, you will want to build your skills first through lots of practice and even lessons. Let's talk more about the ways you can learn how to roller skate or roller blade.
With so many international competitions and events for skilled roller skaters, you could be famous if you learn how to skate or blade well. There are many famous Canadian roller skaters that have made their mark on the world scene.
How Do I Pick My First Pair of Skates?
Picking your first pair of skates is an exciting moment - you are about to embark on a journey of skating that will bring you plenty of fun times. But how do your pick your first pair of skates? What if you discover that you do not enjoy roller skating or blading?
The first thing to figure out is whether or not you will want skates or blades. To figure out the answer, you may want to ask yourself:
- Do I want to skate more indoors or outdoors?
- Will I want to play any roller sports?
- What do I want to get out of my experience with skating?
Generally speaking, those who want to pursue skating as a sporting activity will want to seriously consider roller blades. Roller blades have a line of wheels arranged in a single row at the middle of the skate, which makes them well suited for activities that require agility and quick turns. Inline hockey, aggressive skating, and freestyle skating are some sports you can engage in with inline skates. Those that see themselves skating recreationally or want to learn figure skating moves will likely prefer traditional roller skates.It's important to note that these differences primarily refer to the traditional forms of rollerblading and roller skating. Over time, the lines have blurred, and people often use the terms interchangeably to describe any form of skating on wheels.
While roller sports seem like a relatively modern activity, roller skates actually have roots in the 18th century when the first pair was invented in Europe by a Belgian inventor. Find out more about the world of roller skating.
Another thing you will want to consider is budget. If you are purchasing for a child, it may be worthwhile to consider gettting used skates at a local trade-in store, where gently used sporting equipment is refurbished and sold at a discounted price. In many cases, you can find adult equipment too, which is perfect if you are not sure you want to invest a lot of money on skates from the beginning. Brand new skates will generally cost more, but you can enjoy choosing the colour and secure your size. Many sporting stores will allow you to try new skates on and take a spin around the store! Here are some of the top brands of roller skates and blades:
- K2
- Rollerblade
- Bauer
- Powerslide
- FR
- Razor
- Moxi
- Impala
- Moonlight
- Sure Grip
- Riedell
If you are buying new, you may want to visit a skate dealer or shop where you can learn from the expertise of staff that know roller skating and have tried skates on. Also, take the time to read product reviews online to see what customers have to say about a product. Most importantly, take the time to try both quad and blade skates to see what you prefer!
Worried that you won't like skating in the end? Fear not, because you can always sell them secondhand online or bring them to a used sports store where you can trade for another product or agree on a purchase price.
While you are shopping for skates, don't forget to purchase a helmet, knee pads, and wrist guards: you can save yourself a lot of bumps and bruises!
When you have a pair of roller skates or blades, it becomes very easy to exercise without having to go to a gym or psych yourself up for a workout on a fitness app. Learn more about roller activities!
Can I Learn How to Skate Independently?
Aspiring skaters on a budget may be wondering if they can learn to skate on their own without lessons. As with any skill, the answer is yes- but remember that it will take a significant amount of discipline, perseverance, and research to get the job done. You will also need to motivate yourself to practice on a regular basis to build confidence and build skills as a skater.
Here are some tips to start skating on your own!
1. Watch lots of How-to Videos
There are lots of advantages to living in the age of the internet, where information can be found in a variety of media forms with the quick click of a mouse or a search tool. How to skate videos on sites like Youtube will show you step by step how to wear your skating gear properly, get started in the sport, and demonstrate different moves.
2. Find a Safe Place to Skate
Remember that as a beginner, you may have a hard time controlling yourself when you put on skates for the first time. Make sure that your practice area is safe, flat, and free from cars or other vehicles. You will want to learn how to stop and fall safely before going onto a busy street or bike path.
3. Learn from Friends
If you have a friend that is a confident skater, don't hesitate to get their help. They will be able to give you feedback on your movement, show you how they move, and maybe even show you how to do turns or how to skate quickly. You can be a good friend afterwards and take them out for a dessert or drink!
4. Practice, practice, practice
Skating, like playing the piano or a sport, becomes easier the more you practice. Carve out time every week or day to be on skates, and stick to your skating schedule. With consistency, you are sure to see the results that you want.
5. Don't Get Discouraged
Yes - skating will be hard at first. You may fall a lot, move slowly and cautiously, and hold onto buildings or surfaces whenever you feel scared or nervous about falling. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, and have faith in yourself that you will eventually learn how to skate with time and patience. As the old saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day!
6. Don't be Afraid to ask for Help
While you may be determined to be independent in learning to skate, don't hesitiate to get help through lessons or a teacher. Learning how to do anything independently can get frustrating and lonely sometimes, and you may find it an incredibly worthwhile investment to pay for classes or private instruction. With a private instructor, you will maximize all the time you are putting into your skating, which may save you time in the long run.
We will discuss more about skating lessons next!
What Is the Difference Between Rollerblading Lessons and Roller Skating Lessons?
Roller skating lessons and roller blading lessons will have many similarities, though you will see the differences in terms of technique and style as you advance. Roller bladers may find themselves in athletic pursuits that involve speed, sports, and being outdoors on paved surfaces. Roller skaters on traditional squads may learn more artistic moves, such as turning and jumping.
What Will a Roller Skating Instructor Teach Me?
Initially, you will learn the basics: how to get up safely with skates on, how to move forward, backward, turn, and stop. You will also learn safety, such as how to fall to minimize injury, what equipment to buy, and the best places to skate safely. Roller skating teachers will help you get the most for the time you invest in learning, which is an important thing to keep in mind. Learning on your own can take hours of trial and error, not to mention time to watch videos and read up on how to skate. With an instructor, you will save lots of time you would otherwise spend researching and trying to figure things out on your own.
How Can I Find Roller Skating Classes Near Me?
To find rollerskating lessons near you, you will need to do a bit of research. This can be done easily using a search engine, or a map to see where there are roller rinks near you! Check to see if there are rollerskating classes or sessions available.
Finding a class can be tough, however, especially if you live in a smaller community or in an area where there isn't a rink or a rollerskating community. Roller skating lessons may take place indoors at a rink, and sometimes outdoors. You may be able to find classes for different levels or age groups. One challenge with classes, however, is that they may take place when you are busy or are in a location that is inconvenient. However, if you can find a class that suits your needs and schedule, you will have a great opportunity to learn skating while meeting new people with similar interests.
Is it Easy to Find Rollerblading Lessons Near Me?
Just as with roller skating classes, you can check to see if there are rollerblading lessons near you by doing a quick search on the internet. Rollerblading classes may differ in that they take place outdoors in skate parks or areas where there is lots of open space.
What About Hiring a Private Roller Skating or Roller Blading Instructor?
As you search for roller skating or blading classes, you may find that your or your kids' schedule does not align with that of the class. The perfect and convenient solution for this is to hire a private roller skating instructor. You might be surprised to learn that there are individuals willing to share their skating skills nearly everywhere in Canada, and that you can hire a teacher for an affordable price.
How do you find a private skating instructor? You can find a private skating instructor through Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that connects instructors with students in so many different fields, including skating. (You'll also find tutors for areas like, math, cooking, writing, languages, and more!) Through the site, you can find a local skating instructor to work with you at a time and a place that makes sense for you and your family! Use the search tool to find someone in your community that teaches skating, and message them directly through the site to see if they will be a good fit. You can have the teacher tailor instruction to your needs and goals, whether it is spinning, learning dance moves, or simply moving forward.
And who knows, perhaps you will become so good at skating yourself that you can offer your own private skating lessons one day, or start a skating class in your own community.
Find a rollerskating or rollerblading tutor on Superprof today!
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