Is roller skating or ice skating easier? Both roller skating and ice skating are cool skating disciplines with tons of benefits. When done right, skating can improve your health.
You’ll also interact with skaters from different backgrounds. This helps build a robust social circle of trusted and reliable skating buddies.
The only problem is settling on either roller skating or ice skating can be daunting. So if you’re wondering which one is easier between the two, here’s the thing!
From experience and extensive research, roller skating is easier than ice skating. Roller skating offers more stability and body control than ice skating. It’s also easier to stop on roller skates than ice skates, especially for beginners. Lastly, pushing and gliding are easier on roller skates than on ice skates.
This is only the tip of the iceberg! I cover more details in the rest of this guide, and you don’t want to miss out. This is why I urge you to keep reading. So, let’s get to it!
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Why Roller Skating is Easier than Ice Skating
Why is roller skating easier than ice skating? The response to this question varies from one skater to another. But from my experience and extensive research, I believe roller skating is easier than ice skating.
So, let’s dive in to see how roller skating and ice skating compare!
1. You have more Stability, Body Coordination, and Control when Roller Skating
First, roller skates run on four wheels attached to two axles—one in the front and another at the back. This is unlike ice skates which use a thin metallic blade.
Thus, roller skates cover more surfaces than ice skates. Consequently, you’ll have more stability, body coordination, and control when on roller skates than on ice skates.
More stability is crucial when skating because you can easily fall without it. In addition, you can get hurt if you fall the wrong way and without protective wear like a helmet.
Pronation and supination are common in ice skating because of how ice skates are designed. These two will cause your feet to wobble while skating, especially when you have ill-fitting ice skates.
You can easily find yourself on the ground when you lose balance after tripping. Also, ice skating surfaces are made of ice and can be slippery.
Balancing on them while wearing ice skates with thin blades can be daunting. Overall, it’ll take you longer to learn how to balance your body in ice skating than in roller skating.
2. You can Roller Skate anywhere with a Smooth Surface
Both roller skating and ice skating require smooth and flat surfaces. But it’s a little different in ice skating because you must do it on an icy surface.
This can be outdoors on frozen water bodies like ponds, rivers, and lakes or indoors in artificial rinks. Ice skating outdoors means waiting for winter. Also, ice skating indoors can be hard if you don’t have the money.
On the other hand, you have plenty of options for roller skating. So, you can roller skate on asphalt, concrete, and plastic surfaces. The best part is you don’t have to wait forever for the roller-skating season.
Overall, it’s more convenient to opt for roller skating because it’s easier to find plenty of roller skating venues. So, you can go roller skating at a local skate park, on the roads, streets, bike lanes, etc.
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3. It’s Easier to Stop on Roller Skates
Stopping is crucial when roller skating or ice skating. If you can’t do it, you’ll always find yourself on the ground with bruises.
You can apply several stopping techniques when roller skating or ice skating. However, the most beginner-friendly are the t-stop and plow stop.
These stopping techniques are the same whether on ice skates or roller skates. The problem is that they can take unusually long to master.
Luckily for roller skaters, there’s an easy and quick way to stop, especially for beginners. Most roller skates have an in-built toe brake for stopping.
Sadly, ice skates don’t have an inbuilt braking system, so stopping on them can be a hassle if you don’t know the plow and t-stop.
4. Pushing and Gliding is easy in Roller Skating
Pushing and gliding are easier in roller skating than in ice skating because of the different skating surfaces and skate shoes.
Ice skating uses bladed ice skates that cut through the ice while pushing. Therefore, it’s necessary to sharpen your blades appropriately for smooth ice skating.
This is because too sharp blades dig deep into the ice and can slow you down. On the other hand, too blunt blades don’t hold deep into the ice and can be hard to attain stability in.
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Overall, you need more power and force to push and glide smoothly when ice skating. This isn’t a big deal in roller skating because you ride on four wheels instead of a thin blade.
Is Roller Skating or Ice Skating Easier? Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easier to ice skate if you can roller skate?
Ice skating and roller skating share similar techniques, making it easier to ice skate if you can already roller skate.
Typical skating techniques used by both skating disciplines are staying low, pushing and gliding, stopping and turning.
Which skating is best for beginners?
Roller skating is best for beginners because it’s easier to balance on a roller skate. Also, roller skates have an in-built toe brake for stopping in case of emergencies.
This is unlike ice skating, which uses a thin blade where stability is a hassle for beginners. Ice skates also don’t have built-in braking, making it hard for beginners to stop easily in emergencies.
Does roller skating help with ice skating?
From experience and research, roller skating can help with ice skating since they share similar skating techniques.
For example, you only need to learn the basic skating position and posture in roller skating, and you can apply it to ice skating. This makes roller skating a perfect off-season training option for ice skaters.
Is Roller Skating or Ice Skating Easier? Wrapping Up
From experience and extensive research, roller skating is easier than ice skating. But don’t just take my word for it. You’ll probably get another contrary opinion if you ask for another opinion.
This is why nothing can beat your experience. It will be best to get personal experience by testing both skating disciplines before settling on your preferred discipline.
But there’s also a challenge to this because you may not have the time to try out both roller skating and ice skating. However, if you can set aside at least two hours every week, you can pull this off!
You only need a session of 1-2 hours to decide whether you’re going forward with roller skating or ice skating. Once you decide, you can put in more effort to improve your skills.
