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Is Ice Skating Like Rollerblading? | {the Ultimate Comparison}

Is ice skating like rollerblading? The truth is, there are many more similarities than differences between the skating disciplines, as you'll see below. This is the ultimate resource you don't want to miss. So, keep reading.

Is ice skating like rollerblading? Ice skating is like rollerblading because they share many more similarities than differences. For example, both ice skating and rollerblading work all body muscles, use the same skating position, help burn calories in the body, use similar protective gear, have the same cardiovascular and aerobic benefits, are safe on joints, and can be done both indoors and outdoors.

Ice Skating vs. Rollerblading| Is Ice Skating like Rollerblading?

But this is only the tip of the iceberg. I’ve put together a comprehensive comparison between ice skating and rollerblading to help you understand the two disciplines better. So if you want to discover all there’s to know about ice skating and rollerblading, I invite you to read on.

So, let’s get to it!

Similarities between Ice Skating and Rollerblading

Below are the similarities between ice skating and rollerblading.

1. Work all Body Muscles, Especially the lower Body

Rollerblading is an intensive sport that works all body muscles, especially the lower body. The main muscles rollerblading works include Glute, the Core, Quadriceps, Hamstrings, and the Adductors Muscles.

Since ice skating shares the same skating posture as rollerblading, it’s also an intensive sport that works similar muscles. Muscles play the important role of holding the body and the skeletal system together.

Rollerblading and ice skating develops all the muscles in the body and gives you a robust body with adequate control and balance. Also, the two sports help tone muscles and burn belly fat. This is because the belly is located in the core muscles, which benefit the most from skating.

2. Skating Position, Posture, and other Techniques like Stopping

What’s the correct rollerblading position? You could be wondering. It’s recommended to stay low with knees bent and above your toes. Also, your shoulders should be over your hips while your feet should scissor not far apart from each other.

This position and posture help transfer body weight to the toe balls, thereby preventing backward or forward falls.

This is the same recommended position and posture when ice skating. You have to bend your knees, and they should also be above your toes. Your shoulders should be parallel to the icy surface and over your hips.

Apart from the common skating position and posture, ice skating and rollerblading share some similar stopping or braking techniques. These include Snowplow braking, Power slide braking, soul slide braking, Power stop braking, and falling when you have to.

3. Help to Burn Calories

Both ice skating and rollerblading help burn excess calories in the body. Studies show that, on average, a person burns between 573 calories and 1067 calories for every hour of rollerblading. The number of calories burned also depends on factors like weight and terrain.

Similarly, a person burns between 640 calories and 840 calories per hour when ice skating. Like rollerblading, this depends on body weight and terrain, especially when skating outdoors on natural ice.

So, if you want an exercise or sport that helps burn calories while having fun, I believe both ice skating and rollerblading will make a good fit.

Related Post: Why Does Rollerblading Burn So Many Calories? Revealed!

4. Protective Gear and Equipment

Protective gears are essential equipment when rollerblading or ice skating. The last thing you want is picking injuries while having when, especially when you can prevent it. It will help to protect your head, elbows, knees, and wrists when doing both sports.

Therefore, a helmet, elbow pads, wrist guards, and knee pads come in handy for rollerblading and ice skating.

Related Post: Inline Skating Gear: The Must-Have Complete Gear for Skaters

5. Cardiovascular Benefits

Both rollerblading and ice skating offer cardiovascular benefits to those participating in the sports. The two sports are intensive and rigorous, especially when skating fast in inline speed skating and ice speed skating.

This keeps the heart actively engaged in pumping blood to all body cells. Also, this blood is oxygenated and has nutrients needed to generate energy for the body. As a result, an active heart is healthy and isn’t susceptible to heart diseases.

Therefore, some cardiovascular benefits from rollerblading and ice skating include improved heart health, low blood pressure, improved blood circulation, and low cholesterol levels.

6. Aerobic Benefits

Rollerblading and ice skating have the same aerobic benefits. When engaging in either sport, your body produces enough energy to keep you moving. However, more energy is needed when skating on rough or steep slopes, meaning the body produces more energy during this time.

If you’re wondering how it happens, this is where aerobic respiration comes in handy. It is the process by which the body produces energy in the cells in the presence of oxygen. Besides oxygen, the process also needs sugars in the form of glucose which is converted to energy.

Therefore, the main aerobic benefit of ice skating and rollerblading is converting excess calories to energy, thereby helping to lose weight.

Anaerobic respiration also takes place in the muscles to supplement energy production. This tones the muscles, thus helping to burn muscle fat and develop the muscles involved.

7. Safety on Joints

Rollerblading is safe on joints like the knees and the ankles, and so is ice skating. The two sports are categorized as low-impact aerobic exercises, meaning they’re rough on calories and fats but gentle on body joints.

Because of this, rollerblading and ice skating are suitable for people with bad knees, making it one reliable way for burning calories and losing excess weight without feeling pain in the joints.

Related post: Is Rollerblading Bad for Knees? Best Aerobic Exercise Revealed!

8. Skating Venues

Ice skating and rollerblading can be done indoors or outdoors at a skate park, rollerblading rink, ice skating rink, frozen lakes, rivers, urban parks, pavements, bike lanes, and parking lots.

Related post: Where to go Rollerblading | 9 Amazing Places for Inline Skating

Differences between Ice Skating and Rollerblading

Below are the differences between ice skating and rollerblading.

1. Skating Surface

The skating surfaces differ significantly in ice skating and rollerblading because of the types of skate shoes. Therefore, you can go rollerblading on dry and hard surfaces like asphalt, concrete, plastic, and dirt when doing off-road skating. On the other hand, ice skating is strictly done on wet, icy surfaces.

2. Skate Structure and Design

Ice skates and rollerblades (inline skates) have different structures and designs. While rollerblades have a wide wheelbase fitted with between 3 and 5 wheels, ice skates have a shorter blade base fitted with a blade.

Ice Skating vs. Rollerblading History

Ice skating is much older than rollerblading, aka inline skating. Ice skating started way back in 1000 BCE, according to a report by Britannica. On the other hand, rollerblading started in the 1760s but gained popularity in the 1980s.

Inline skating became popular in the US and the world after a massive campaign and marketing by Rollerblading Inc. Since then, the sport is known by many as rollerblading, while the actual name should be inline skating.

Related post: When Did Rollerblading Start? 5 Amazing Questions Answered!

Is Ice Skating like Rollerblading? Wrapping Up

Is ice skating like rollerblading? The answer is a big yes! The two sports share more similarities than differences. They work all body muscles, have the same skating posture and techniques, help burn calories, use similar protective gear like helmets, have similar cardio and aerobic benefits, are safe on joints, and are both done indoors and outdoors.

The main difference lies in the skating surface. While rollerblading is done on dry and hard surfaces, ice skating is done on wet and icy surfaces. I hope you found this article helpful!

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Navick Ogutu
Navick Ogutu

Navick is a full-time freelance writer, blogger, and internet marketer. By day, he creates content for multiple sites including inlineskaterstars.com. Over the weekend, he goes out skating with friends.

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