How to Fall Safely in Roller Skates

by admin Recreation

Roller Skating is a hobby and sport that people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy. However, if you have only recently taken up the pastime, there is a solid chance that you will end up taking some spills as you learn the activity. Learning how to fall safely in roller skates and inline skates is an essential part of being as safe as possible when you are skating. It can save you a lot of unnecessary pain before you are able to rollerskate with more skill.

How to Fall Safely in Roller Skates

There are several different effective—that is to say, safer and less painful—ways to fall while wearing roller skates. Learning some of these techniques can reduce your chance of incurring a serious injury while participating in this activity. The type of fall that you will want to use is contingent on the type of protective gear you have on, as well as the type of terrain that you are rollerskating on. Common falling techniques include:

Rockstar Fall

The Rockstar Fall is so-named because of its resemblance to a move that a rocker might pull at a concert. This type of fall is useful, but only if you are wearing knee pads. Also called a knee slide, it can break your fall if you feel like you are falling forward. If you lower your body slightly before performing a knee slide, you will increase your chance of success and minimize bumps and bruises.

Knee Tap

A knee tap is a type of fall that is highly effective for situations where you temporarily feel like you are spinning out of control. However, it is also only effective when you have knee pads on. During a knee tap, the skater simply briefly grounds one knee to regain equilibrium before standing again.

Side-Body Fall

Falling on the side of your body rather than the front can also be an effective way of minimizing the pain from a fall. This type of fall is best employed when a skater is not wearing protective gear. Falling on the side of the body will typically result in a less serious injury than falling forward or backward.

Embracing the Fall

This is another falling technique that can be highly beneficial, if somewhat difficult to embrace. Falls are bound to happen in rollerskating and often can happen in ways that make it hard to anticipate and respond to. In some cases, it becomes better to embrace the fall and focus on attempting to minimize the impact on your wrists and elbows.

Ways to Avoid Falling

Just as there are effective ways to fall while wearing roller skates, there are ways you can avoid falling altogether. One of the most common mistakes that beginner roller skaters make is that they treat skating like walking. That is, they want to move their feet forward and backward rather than from side to side.

Attempting to rollerskate in this fashion will make you more likely to fall. You can counteract this tendency by utilizing the following techniques that can assist you with keeping your balance:

  • Bend your knees: Bending your knees while you roller skate can help you remain steady and grounded.
  • Shift your weight: Shifting your weight while skating can increase your sense of balance and reduce your chance of falling. Be sure to shift weight naturally, in time with the movement of your skates.
  • Keep your arms at your side: Beginning roller skaters may be tempted to pinwheel their arms to keep balance. However, this often has the opposite effect. Instead, you should attempt to keep your arms at your sides to maintain optimum balance.

Your Best Friend in Rollerskating

Crazy Skates Australia is a trusted outlet for all things rollerskating, as well as other sporting goods and hobbies. If you are interested in learning more about roller skates and inline skates, visit our website.