9 Rollerblade Tricks for Beginners: A Step by Step Guide

Every rollerblading enthusiast will agree that the real fun of skating is in the rollerblading tricks. However, performing tricks right away can be a tricky endeavor for beginners.

Conducting rollerblading tricks at the very onset of your training can be risky and certainly not devoid of nasty falls. With that said a little effort in the right direction and consistent practice can really take you to the next level.

So, how should you perform the rollerblade tricks when you are a beginner? Well, all you need to do is gear up correctly, master the stance, learn basic techniques, and keep practicing your lessons.

Never forget to exercise to maintain the physical strength and endurance required for the sport.

The article will provide a step by step guide for beginners on how to perform tricks while rollerblading.

In no time, you can enjoy your favorite thrilling sport to the max with this quick beginner’s guide to performing skillful rollerblading tricks.

Get the Right Gear

It is extremely essential to select the right gear for rollerblading. You cannot enjoy the thrill of the sport unless you acquire the most appropriate protective gear. Choosing the right gear can be a challenging drill for beginners. Consulting someone experienced or a professional in the field may help you buy the right piece for a good start.

Plus, a good pair of rollerblades, can help you perform any tricks harmlessly. You should look for the following when purchasing your very first pair of boots [source]:

Check for the style of your roller skates. You should know that skating is done in various styles such as slalom, downhill, freestyle, and recreational. All these different styles may require certain specifications in the respective skates used for the sport to get to the depth of every technique.

As a beginner, you must figure out your skating style and purchase a pair of boots accordingly that is most appropriate for your particular style. For example, skates with speed style wheels, low ankle support, and wheel spin bearings are best for speed skating or jam skating. However, it is advisable to opt for high-top boots for recreational skating as they offer better support to your foot and ankle.

Again, if you intend to perform tricks, you should look for a pair of the best aggressive inline skates that are comfy, provide ample support, and help you maintain the right balance and achieve better speed. In a nutshell, your pair of boots must match your ability as well as the style of skating you perform.

Consider the price and quality. The next big thing on your checklist while purchasing a pair of rollerblades to perform tricks must be the quality and price. As a beginner, you may not want to spend much on your skates and may look for a low-priced unit. But a cheaper unit means you will have to compromise on quality. This is a common biggest mistake made by most beginners.

If you ever intend to perform tricks with your skates, you should never compromise on quality, even if that means spending a few more bucks. As a beginner, you can invest in adjustable skates. But eventually, as your skills get better, you will require a more reliable and easily maneuverable pair of boots. Your equipment must be durable and sturdy enough to hold up the quick flip overs and jump shocks.

You should know that you may fall and topple over many times while learning new tricks. Your rollerblades must be able to withstand unexpected scratches and nasty falls. Make certain that your rollerblades are comfy, durable, and easily maneuverable. Also, check them over time for regular maintenance.

Buy the correct size. One of the most important elements to consider while purchasing a new pair of skates is its size. Beginners often make the mistake of purchasing the wrong size, which is either one-size small or one-size larger. Remember, if your skates are loose, you are more likely to fall. Again, skates that are too tight can compromise comfort and maneuverability. Buy an appropriate size depending on your shoe size.

Measure your feet before you enter a store for purchasing your rollerblades. Also, it is a good idea to wear them once and test in your feet before you finalize a pair. Never go after skates that look better or promise to offer better features. Check them appropriately for comfort, durability, and maneuverability. You should remember that rollerblading tricks involve a lot of jumping, and flipping. Therefore, you should get a pair you can easily handle while performing tricks.

Comfort is essential if you ever intend to perform tricks on your rollerblades. For this, you will certainly require a good pair of boots that are comfy and do not bite your toes. Further, your boots must have a suitable kind of sole. Maintaining balance on your skates can be more challenging if the sole is extra high or extra flat.

Make sure that you always purchase high-quality skates because rollerblading tricks involve a lot of jumping and skipping. This implies every time you land on your boots, you will experience a sudden shock. Your boots must serve you and support you in the best possible ways throughout your ride.

Our TOP pick for protective gear Triple 8 Saver Series Safety Gear Equipment

Examine the Setup and Check for Maintenance

Once you find the right pair of boots, you should thoroughly examine their setup. This should be a primary check when you wear your boots. Look for signs of wear and tear after and before every skating session. If your skates are new, you may skip this step. However, after one or two uses, you should make it a habit of checking your boots for regular maintenance.

As a beginner, it is extremely necessary to check that the bearings and wheels are tight enough and roll freely to help you maintain balance on your skates. Again, regular maintenance of your skates is extremely important especially after skating in the rain or multiple use over time.

Once you have mastered the basics and learned to maintain balance on your skates in motion, it is time to get into action and perform tricks. This is when your skate wheels and bearings suffer maximum wear and tear, and therefore require proper maintenance check.

Make a Habit of Wearing Your Protective Gears Every Time

Many rollerbladers do not care enough to purchase protective gear or wearing them while performing tricks. No wonder, they end up breaking ligaments and bones or suffer severe injuries.

One thing you should note is that protective gear is not only meant for beginners. Every rollerblader that performs tricks involving jumping and flipping, is equally prone to a nasty fall. Therefore, you must purchase high-quality, durable, and comfortable protective equipment including a safety helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads.

Develop a habit of wearing your protective gear every time you hit the streets. Your gear will prevent broken bones and severe external injuries that you might suffer while performing tricks. Further, you will notice a gain in confidence when you wear protective gear while attempting new tricks.

Take It Slow and Enjoy the Process of Learning

Once you are all geared up with the essentials, you may want to join the fun ride. It is not new for a beginner to get extremely excited about performing tricks during early training sessions. Do not immediately begin with high-end drills. The tricks may be risky when you do not know the drill and you certainly don’t want to end up with a broken limb or injured ligament.

Never rush to perform risky tricks too soon. Enjoy the process of learning. Take it slow and gradually switch to advanced skills. Start your training sessions with short flips and low jumps. Performing advanced tricks may be difficult when you are a beginner. It is easy to lose balance. But eventually, as you get better at the basics with regular practice, you can switch over to advanced tricks as well. Master all the basics of performing tricks before you move onto the next level.

Find a Suitable Place for Training

Rollerblading is not something you can perform at home or in the backyard. Whether you are an amateur or a professional in the field, you should look for an appropriate place to perform rollerblading tricks. Experts often recommend skate parks as a suitable place to perform simple to advanced tricks.

The skate parks are suitably designed and well-maintained for the purpose. They are suitable for both beginners and experts. You can find the necessary elements for training such as low-height obstacles and trails to attempt downhill skating.

Alternatively, you can learn new tricks using the street stairs or over the park terrain. Do not select a place that is crowded with people or has too many obstacles, under any circumstances. Malls and crowded places offer too many distractions. You do not get the personal space you need to learn from previous mistakes and over and over.

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Master the Basics

The very first step to learning anything new is to master the fundamentals upfront. With the right place for the sport, you can master the basics of rollerblading in no time. Focus on maintaining your balance while pushing and rolling. Learn all the basic skills.

Spend enough time to practice regularly to master them well. Eventually, you will find yourself making quick turns and controlling the speed. Once you do, you should know that you have learned the key elements to perform thrilling tricks.

Start With Some Basic Tricks First

Now that you know the basics of rollerblading, you can try your hand on some simple tricks. Here is a step by step guide to help you perform basic rollerblading tricks [source]:

Heel Toe

This is the very first trick to help you get started with more advanced skills on your rollerblades. In this trick, you glide forward using the front toe of one and the back heel of other skate. The key is to maintain balance on both skates with your feet scissored and one skate gliding slightly ahead of the other. Keep your front leg straight to naturally elevate the toe and let only the heel wheels touch the ground. Bend your back leg as you glide forward to push back your rear foot so that the rear wheels are elevated, keeping only the toe wheels touching the ground.

Fishtail

The next simple trick to try is the fishtail. This trick requires you to maintain optimum speed before you allow your trailing skate to wiggle on the toe wheels. Complete the trick by moving your rear foot in and out. You can cover a wider arc by keeping more weight on the toe wheels to steer the movement.

Flat Spin

It is again one of the most common tricks admired by professionals and beginners alike. This trick involves a spin of 180 or 360-degree. For this trick, keep you feet shoulder-width apart as you tread forward and gently twist your upper torso in the direction of spin.

As a result of the twist, your upper body will naturally take a 180 or 360-degree spin. Keep your movements smooth and slow. Avoid turning with a jerk as you may run out of balance. In this trick, your forward skate serves as a pivot point while your rear skate offers stability for the spin.

Wavers

Wavers is another fun trick for beginners. The trick is simple but requires the right balance on the skates. For this, you rapidly push out and pull back your feet repeatedly. In other words, your feet move in and out in a wave pattern.

Never perform this trick at a high pace as the waving movement may cause you to easily lose balance and control. Further, applying too much pressure or movement with a jerk may hurt your ankle. Go as smooth and as easy as you can. Try to maintain natural movement at a controlled speed.

One-foot Skating

This is not only a good trick to train but also to increase your balance. Mastering this trick can help you with many other. Training is the key to mastering this simple trick. All you need to do is to get your body rolling on one of your skates.

Take small steps and get onto motion. Then, gradually lift one foot and maintain balance on the other. Maintain the position for as long as you can without losing balance or placing back the other foot on the ground.

Maintain optimum speed, neither too slow, nor too fast. It will be difficult to maintain at a slow pace and a faster speed can easily make you lose control.

Backward Skating

As simple as it sounds, the trick is not as easy to learn. Backward skating does not mimic your foot movement as in forward skating. In this trick, you push one foot away followed by the other. The motion can easily cause you to move in half circle. You need to wiggle side to side to get a better hold on your movements.

Once you master the trick and try it in public, learn to look behind your shoulder so as to not hurt someone or bump into something in your path. This trick will help you tremendously improve your balance and get a good hold on other difficult tricks.

Barrel Roll

This is a slightly advanced trick also known by the names drunken man or windmill. In this trick, you perform a circular maneuver by combining sequential motion with body rotation. For this trick, push forward on your left skate. Use your right skate to gain speed. Gently rotate your upper torso counter-clockwise as you move forward and pull back your left skate. The motion will cause your skates to point heel to heel.

Gradually transfer your weight on your left skate while you lift your right skate. This will cause you skate backwards. Now, as you turn your upper body, put down the right skate back on the ground and repeat the transition by pulling your left skate backwards. Turn forward to complete the spin.

Slalom

This trick is not only fun but also a great exercise for fitness. For this simple trick, you simply need to wiggle your body side to side. The trick will be easy if you know how to turn. You need to continue motion by turning left, right, left, and right again.

You can practice motion with some cones or chalk markings on the ground. Draw wider marks in the beginning. Create closer marks to increase the level of difficulty. You can do slalom in many different ways by keeping your foot in parallel, in line, one behind the other.

You can also try backward slalom or single foot slalom. However, you will need ample practice and great balance with proper control over your skates. Never switch to more difficult versions until you are comfortable with normal slalom, else you may hurt yourself by moving out of balance.

Crossover

This trick can help you make sharp turns easily and quickly. All you need to learn to perform this simple trick is to cross your outer skate over the inner one. The motion will cause you to move in a wide circle. You can perform the trick by turning left or right, whichever feels more comfortable.

Mastering the trick requires a lot of practice. Start by walking slowly in a circular motion. You can improve your skill by sculling, a technique where you use the inner foot to move. Maintain your weight on your inner foot and push away. Cover a wider circle. With proper balance, you can do crossovers easy and fast.

Rollerblading is an amazing and thrilling sport. Performing tricks on the roller skates make it even more fun. The sports attract many game enthusiasts who want to perform rollerblade tricks. However, many beginners get injured or break their gear in an attempt to move quickly and try difficult tricks.

The best approach to learn rollerblading tricks for beginners is to get the basics right and work step by step before they rush to perform advanced tricks. Start your journey with the skates by getting the right gear and learning the necessary skills. Perfect your ride and comprehend tricks basics to finally switch to more high-end tricks.