Roller skating is one of the most popular ways to stay active right now, and it’s not hard to see why.
The sport actually originated in the 19th century, but perhaps enjoyed its greatest hey day in the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years, rollerskating has re-surged in popularity, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown where people were eager to find activities they could do safely outdoors with friends. Roller skating videos have gone viral on social media, with Instagram and TikTok users posting videos of skaters showcasing their skills. Roller skating involves racing, performing tricks, or simply moving on quad or inline roller skates. It can be done outdoors, indoors, and by anyone at any age.
Still wondering whether or not to pull on skates for the first time? Thinking about getting back into roller skating? Let’s explore the best reasons for getting into roller skating.
Interested in starting roller skating and not sure where to start? Find out everything you need to know about rollerskating in Canada.
What are the Best Reasons to Start Roller Skating?
Learn a New Sport
People who are new to skating can enjoy the challenge of learning how to skate and perhaps even engaging with it competitively. Good skaters are not created overnight, and while Tiktok videos can make it seem effortless roller skating takes strength and regular practice. Learn to roller skate by joining a club, finding group lessons, or hiring a private instructor.
Superprof.ca is one of the best places you can find an instructor to help you learn to skate. The site is set up to connect students and independent teachers: a quick search on the site will enable you to find amazing roller skating teachers near you. You can contact as many teachers as you want until you find someone who suits your learning needs best. The site even makes payment easy and safe!
Roller Skating Keeps You Fit
If you’ve got a regular fitness routine or like keeping active, you probably already know how important it is to mix up your workout so you can challenge your body in new ways. Roller skating remains one of the best activities for maintaining cardiovascular health and is a great alternative to running or jogging. Your legs will get toned up, and you will develop strong core muscles as your body works to keep balanced and centered.
Roller Skating is a Great Way to Get Around
Those who prefer not to drive and enjoy cycling or other types of movement to get from A to B will welcome roller skating as a new type of commute. Simply pack your shoes in a backpack and roller skate to meet your friends, take the dog for a walk, grab a coffee, or run some errands. Of course, you will want to practice before using your skates to get around in urban areas with lots of cars, so make sure you are aware of quiet side streets you can use or pathways you can take to avoid crowds and cars.
Get Outdoors
After a long winter and even longer 2 years of pandemic lockdowns, it's never been more important to get outside. Fresh air is important for our physical and mental health, and with roller skating you will discover a whole new way to enjoy the great outdoors. Find a local park with a network of paved pathways and experience the thrill that comes with gliding through beautiful scenery. Many Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver will have waterfront trails where you can be in constant view of the water and other scenery, or simply glide through a wooded trail. Even skating in your neighbourhood can be a great release!
Skating is Social
Skating is one of the best ways to meet up with your friends and get some much needed social time in. What could be better than being social and active at the same time? Organize skating meetups with your social circle at a local park, or meet new friends through skating meetups or clubs. You can even join skating clubs or rinks that have organized events for skating enthusiasts!
The Perfect Family Activity
Those with children know how hard it can be to keep them engaged and active, so why not take everyone out for a skate together? Make skating part of your repertoire of activities by scheduling time to head out to a local park to do some skating. Young kids will love the challenge and rewards of learning how to skate, and once they learn they will have an activity they can enjoy for life.
Skating Supports Mental Health
We live in a stressful world and being in front of a screen all day does not always help. Roller skating forces us to focus on our balance and movement, and provides a quick escape from a long day at work. Throw on your favourite playlist, slip on your roller skates and head out the door and start gliding. You’ll feel your stress melt away and your body will benefit from the movement!
Wondering what roller skating lessons are like? You might be surprised how fun skating lessons can be!
How to Prepare for Roller Skating
Skating doesn’t require a ton of preparation, but you will want to make sure you have the right gear and equipment to get started. You will want to have a helmet to protect your head - you can expect to fall while skating, even if you have had a lot of practice! Wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads can also be helpful for preventing injury while skating, especially if you plan to skate a lot outdoors where the terrain can be uneven.
Having the right skates is also key to getting started in roller skating. You will want to determine early on if you would like to focus on roller blading or inline skates, or use the more traditional and retro quad skate. Inline skates tend to be better for those who are used to ice skating, as the look and feel will be very much like a blade. Quad skates may take more getting used to but are fantastic in their own right with a trendy and retro look and feel. If you aren’t sure which one you like, try to rent a pair at a rink to experiment or try out a pair at your local sport store so see which one feels best for you.
Finally, you’ll also want to learn how to stop, accelerate, and slow down safely. This is where having guided instruction will come most handy, as it can be challenging and time consuming to learn how to skate on your own.
Can I Roller Skate All Year Round?
In Canada, where we have long and seemingly endless winters, roller skating all year round can be tough. This doesn’t mean we have to stop skating!
One way to keep skating in winter is to switch over to roller skating’s cold weather counterpart: ice skating. Ice skating is ubiquitous in Canada, and you will find an ice rink in nearly every community once the winter hits. While it takes a whole new set of gear to ice skate, it is one of the best ways to get your skate fix during the long winter months when the trails are unavailable for roller skating.
If you’d like to keep roller skating in the winter, you can always try skating at your local indoor rink - which we will discuss shortly!
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 the Best Roller Skate Rinks?
Outdoor roller skating rinks are not as commonplace as ice rinks, but the good thing is you can pretty much make one out of any paved surface. Roller skaters can use anything from park trails, empty parking lots, or empty school tarmacs as a potential rink. As long as it is paved, you can probably roller skate on it!
Rinks made specifically for roller skaters can be hard to find, but if you are looking for a unique challenge or to practice some tricks they are certainly worth the drive. Outdoor roller rinks will have pits, ramps, and rails you can use to practice tricks and stunts. Many skateboarders will also use these spaces, so be mindful of who is around you. Make sure you wear the appropriate safety gear to avoid the inevitable falls and scrapes that happen when trying new movements!
What is Indoor Roller Skating Like?
Indoor roller skating is tons of fun and can be a perfect winter activity. They are usually large spaces with floors made of concrete that make it easy for skaters to move around on. Many rinks will have a practice area for less experienced skaters and kids to use, with a larger circular area for freestyle skating or races.
Indoor roller rinks are also great because they will often have music you can dance to while skating and spaces for socializing and eating snacks. Beginner skaters will also find skate rentals, which is great if you are still contemplating whether or not to purchase your own pair of skates.
Rollerskating is the hottest new trend in Canada. Find out where to get the best skates.
Is it Better to Practice at a Roller Skate Park?
The short answer is no - because skating is an activity you can do in any area that is paved, you can get a great practice session in much more convenient locations closer to home, whether it is a parking lot, a quiet side street, or even your driveway! Should you happen to have a roller skating rink close to your home, you are one of the lucky few that can easily choose where you want to practice.
While roller skate parks and rinks are excellent places to hone your skills, you can pretty much skate anywhere as long as the weather is nice! You can get the same amount of practice in a parking lot or a bike path, without the added effort of finding a rink or paying an entrance fee.
What are you waiting for? Start roller skating today!
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