Why am I so bad at roller skating?
Roller skating is an interesting and fun roller sport. It also has tons of health and physical benefits. Roller skating is a low-impact aerobic exercise and one of the best ways to lose weight while having fun.
It’s also a social hobby and one awesome way to make new friends whenever you visit your local roller skating rink. But here’s the kicker!
Roller skating seems easy on the surface until you wear roller skates. The learning curve can be steep, especially when you don’t have a dedicated instructor.
I feel your pain if you’re frustrated because you aren’t making progress. I was once where you are. This is why I’ve put together this guide to point you in the right direction.
So, let’s get to it!
Why am I so Bad at Roller Skating?
First things first! Why am I so bad at roller skating? You ask. You can be so bad at roller skating because you’re using the wrong roller skating technique, you’re fearful, you use ill-fitting roller skates, you’re impatient and want to learn everything at once, or you roller skate on slippery surfaces.
That’s the tip of the iceberg. Let’s break it down!
1. Fear of Falling or Doing the Wrong things
Many newbies or intermediate roller skaters are victims of fear when roller skating. Most fear falling, while some fear doing the wrong thing while skating.
Fear starts in mind and spreads to all body parts. Your brain will instruct your legs, arms, and body to freeze, stopping any form of movement.
You can’t do anything when your body is frozen to fear. Even the simple techniques become a hurdle to pull off.
It’s normal to be afraid when starting to roller skate. Every pro skater was once there. Falling and hurting yourself can be intimidating since roller skating can be dangerous.
There’s no doubting it!
2. Using the Wrong Roller Skating Technique
Roller skating is easier and more fun when you know and apply the correct technique. Some newbie and intermediate roller skaters disregard the essence of using the correct skating technique.
Some aren’t ware since they lack a proper foundation in skating. On the other hand, some know the right thing to do but choose to ignore it.
Regardless of where you fall, one thing is sure—using the wrong roller skating technique gets you nowhere. It’ll only earn you a steep learning curve.
What is the wrong roller skating technique? You’re probably asking. Using the wrong technique when skating involves not bending your knees correctly and widening your feet beyond shoulder length.
3. Using Ill-fitting Roller Skates
Why are you so bad at roller skating? You’re probably using ill-fitting roller skates. And what are ill-fitting roller skates, you ask?
Ill-fitting roller skates are either too tight or loose. Too tight roller skates can be uncomfortable to skate in. They also cause foot blisters and shin and ankle pain.
Concentrating and doing the right thing when uncomfortable and in pain is hard.
On the other hand, too loose roller skates cause foot wobbling. The last thing you want to skate in roller skates that don’t fit your feet well.
You’ll spend the better part of your skating session adjusting your roller skates than using it to learn roller skating techniques.
4. You’re Impatient and Want to Learn Everything at Once
Watching experienced roller skaters do more advanced skating drills can put pressure on you instead of motivating you.
Falling into this pressure trap is more harmful than you can imagine.
You’ll want to push yourself to do more advanced skating drills instead of focusing on the basics. Ultimately, you waste your precious time with little to no progress.
5. Roller Skating On Slippery Surfaces
There are plenty of roller skating surfaces out there. You can roller skate outside or indoors, depending on what works for you.
You can roller skate on asphalt, rubber, plastic, concrete or wood.
But you also want to ensure the surface is dry and not slippery. It should also be without obstacles like pebbles, soil, and twigs since they get in your way when roller skating.
Overall, unfriendly skating surfaces shift your focus and attention from roller skating to how to avoid falling.
Preoccupying your mind with fear only deteriorates your learning process.
How to Get Better at Roller Skating
The trick to getting better at roller skating is to skate more. That’s the sure way to improve and move from average to a pro roller skater.
But you need to put in the work to realize the desired results. Below are more cool tips on how to get better at roller skating!
Wear Protective Gear to Gain Confidence
First, you should always wear protective gear to protect yourself from possible head, elbows, palms, wrists, knees, and butt injuries.
Falling is inevitable, and you should prepare yourself for it. This is why protective gear goes a long way.
Wearing them helps restore your confidence. This way, you concentrate on getting better at roller skating instead of avoiding falling.
The must-wear protective gear for roller skating includes; helmets, elbow pads, knee pads, and wrist guards.
Here are some awesome protective gear recommendations. Feel free to check them out on Amazon!
- S1 Lifer Helmet for Biking, Skateboarding, and Roller Skating
- 187 Pads Elbow Pad
- 187 Killer Pads Moxi Skate Knee Pads
- Triple Eight Wristsaver Wrist Guards
- Triple Eight unisex-adult Bumsaver Skate
Use Properly Fitting Roller Skates
The solution to ill-fitting roller skates is to find properly fitting roller skates. Correctly fitting roller skates are snug fit, so they should be neither too tight nor too loose.
They’re your best shot if you want to learn roller skating first without having to worry about feet, ankles, and shin pain.
Below are some cool roller skates you can try out. Feel free to check the latest price on Amazon!
- Moxi Skates Lolly Roller Skates
- Moxi Skates Beach Bunny Roller Skates—best for beginners
- Moxi Rainbow Riders—Best budget
- Impala Roller skates Impala Quad Skate Skates for Women
- Sure-Grip White Fame Roller Skate—best for rink skating
Learn and Master the Correct Skating Posture
Learning and mastering the correct skating posture goes a long way if you want to flatten your learning curve. What is the proper roller skating posture, you ask?
The correct roller skating posture involves;
- Knees bent over the toes
- Feet should be shoulder width apart
- The roller skate tongue should support Shins
- Body weight concentrated on the footballs.
You aren’t using the correct roller skating posture if you aren’t doing any of these.
Be Patient and Train More
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and good things take time. The same applies to roller skating. It’s crucial to be patient with yourself as you learn roller skating.
So, you want to take it slow by learning the basics first. After you’re good and more comfortable, you can move to more advanced stuff like cross-over, jumps, back skating, heel-toe, and spins.
Roller Skate with Others
The benefits of roller skating with others can not be over-emphasized. Roller skating is a social hobby.
It’s more exciting and fun when you do it in the company of like-minded people.
This way, you can learn from more experienced roller skaters. You wouldn’t know if you’re doing anything wrong unless someone was watching.
This is why it’s recommended to have roller skating buddies.
Get a Dedicated Trainer
Lastly, find a dedicated trainer to help you learn first. While you can do it alone, having a dedicated trainer by your side moves the needle by far.
You can find one online or at your local skate park. A simple online search is what you need in case you’re sourcing for one online.
Why am I so Bad at Roller Skating?| FAQs
How can I get better at roller skating fast?
You can get better at roller skating fast by strengthening your core, glutes, thighs, and leg muscles since they’re the most used during skating.
Strengthening these muscles gives them more power to push and glide for fast propulsion.
You should also practice the double push skating technique since it helps cover more distance with a single push.
Wearing properly fitting roller skates with fast rolling wheels and bearings also goes a long way if you want to achieve more speed roller skating.
Does roller skating get easier?
Roller skating gets easier with time after mastering the basics like the correct skating posture, push and glide technique for propulsion, skating fast, slowing down and stopping.
But you must put in the effort by practising at least once a week for 1-2 hours.
What is the trick to roller skating?
The trick to roller skating is mastering the correct skating posture. The correct skating posture helps with body balance, stability and coordination.
It involves staying low with knees bent and over the knees.
The shoulders should also be above the hips. This body posture transfers body weight to your toe balls and helps prevent falling on your back.
Why is roller skating so hard?
Roller skating is so hard since you have to learn how to operate shoes installed with rolling wheels.
This requires you to learn to balance and maintain body stability, which can be daunting at first.
Your body coordination of legs and hands must be top-notch during push and glide motions for propulsion. Lastly, stopping on roller skates can be a hassle and frustrating for beginners.
Why am I so Bad at Roller Skating?| Wrapping Up
Why am I so bad at roller skating? You suck at roller skating primarily because of using the wrong roller skating posture.
Your body weight should be concentrated on your toe balls. This helps with stability and pushing and gliding for propulsion.
Achieving any of these is a hassle if you use the wrong skating form. That’s it. I hope you found this guide helpful.
