Karen2010 - Newbie Here

[Karen2010]

Hi Everyone!

I'm a newbie here and just getting back into skating since I stopped 24 years ago. I must say, it's not as easy to get into as it was when I was a kid.

Please tell me -- does the whole balance thing come back eventually? I have taken many spills the last few times I've skated and I've signed up for lessons at my local rink. Had my first class last week and fell four times -- twice in class and twice in the free skate afterwards. I realize that I can't expect to be a great skater overnight, but the falls are really shaking me up. Currently skating on R3's with Cayman wheels.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Karen

[Reserector]

First of all, welcome to southern skater. We love newbies because that is how we grow; one newbie at a time.

I was away for 28 years and after 2 years back into it, I can say that I am better than I ever was. Maybe it will be the same for you.

Remember to keep your knees bent slightly. What sort of falls have you had?

I hear that R3s are pretty good, but the Caymens are terrible. Wheels are an easy upgrade, though.

[Karen2010]

(09-12-2010 05:34 PM)Reserector Wrote:  First of all, welcome to southern skater. We love newbies because that is how we grow; one newbie at a time.

I was away for 28 years and after 2 years back into it, I can say that I am better than I ever was. Maybe it will be the same for you.

Remember to keep your knees bent slightly. What sort of falls have you had?

I hear that R3s are pretty good, but the Caymens are terrible. Wheels are an easy upgrade, though.

I like the comfort of the R3's, but you're right, the Caymans are awful. I've only skated on them three times though. I purchased some Flat Outs with a lower durometer, but they also have the speed groove in the middle --I wonder if I'm better off with wheels without the groove.

Most of my falls seem to be falling backwards. Yesterday at the rink when I knew I was going to fall, I tried to fall to my side which I did, but I hit my head, jaw and shoulder. I have no idea how I actually did it. My shoulder is killing me and I'm debating going back to the rink tomorrow evening. Perhaps I should wear my helmet at the rink -- I'll be the only one, but oh well.

I'm just anxious to get back into a sport that I loved as a kid.

[Reserector]

The groove is just for looks. It does not effect performance in any way. Back in the woodent wheel days, speed skaters used to have wheels with grooves cut into them where a wire was wrapped to prevent a split wheel from flying apart during a race. Perhaps that was the inspiration.

Backward falls are the most common for new and returning skaters. There are a few reasons for this.
1) New/returning skaters are out of shape. There is a need to lock the knees to conserve energy.
2) Locking the knees makes one prone to falling backwards. This happens to people standing in formation in shoes, such as marching bands and military. They lock knees to conserve energy and wind up falling backward before they can unlock their knees and catch themselves.
3) New/returning skaters tend to keep their feet too close together. This makes the skater's "base" very small and it makes balance much more critical.

To prevent the above from happening, Keep your knees slightly bent, and try to keep one foot ahead of the other. It will require more leg strength, but once you build back some leg strength, it will be second nature.
It will make you more stable and better able to react.

If you skate like that and you find yourself falling, you can drop low and not hit the deck so hard.

A helmet would not be a bad idea. Wrist guards have saved ME a lot of pain. I learned the hard way that catching yourself can sprain your wrist.
Elbow and knee pads might be a consideration. As we get older, we tend to hit harder. At least that's how it seems.

[kdmosier]

Hey Karen, welcome. There are several of us here that were fairly decent when we were young, and quit for some reason. I returned this June. Also taking lessons. I have had several different instructors, some better than others. I like the ones that explain why were doing this or that, and how it will lead to something bigger and better. Ask questions. If you haven't already, watch the video Reserector made about crossovers. Practice what you can at home without skates on. When you fall, get up fast, before somebody comes by and hurts you worse. And, as you already know, practice, you'll be fine. Good Luck. Ken

[Dolly]

Hi, Karen. Welcome to the site. The people here are very helpful, especially to us "stumblers". They will even make a video of how to do something if that is what it takes. Res made a video on crossovers that is super easy to learn from. Look under "Skills", then "New Skaters".

[Billj]

Hi Karen, Welcome to our world.

When you fall backwards, it is ALWAYS because you didn't have your knees bent(unless you just ran someone over )

Try to get in the habit of keeping your knees bent all the time and you will find that you stop falling almost immediately. With stock R3's you should also loosen the trucks up a bit so you can recover more easily when you get off center. The cushions are harder than they need to be.

Hope you decide to hang with us!

Bill

[Karen2010]

Thanks for all the tips. I have my second skating lesson this evening and I'm going to do my best to keep my knees bent. I'm also wearing all my protective gear in the rink and I don't care if I'm the only one. After the hard spill I took last Saturday, I say it's better to be safe.

I still have those awful Cayman wheels -- any recommendations on a new wheel? I have some Flat outs, but they may be too soft.

Karen

[Reserector]

It is difficult to reccomend wheels for a few reasons. Everyone has different budgets to start with. Everyone is a different weight. Everyone has a different style. Surfaces differ, even when they are the same material, because of cleanliness, humidity, coating age, and smoothness.

Add up those alone, and you have a gazilion combinations of factors.

Wheels come in so many types, formulas and colors, that when added to the above, makes it impossible to find the perfect wheel.

However, if you give us some info about your approximate weight and the surface you skate on, we will make an attempt based on our personal experience with different wheels on similar surfaces. Sound fair?

Also, from what I hear, anything is better than caymans.

[Karen2010]

I'm out of shape at 200 lbs which is one reason I went back into skating. I skate on an indoor maple floor rink which I think should be covered with pillows until I get back in shape. I live in Southern California, and the weather doesn't change much around here. The surface appears clean and it's fairly flat (except in one area where there is a slight dip -- oddly enough, that is not where I've fallen). The rink gets coated once a year I believe.

My big problem is that I don't have anything to compare the Cayman's to. I have my outdoor wheels, so that's like comparing apples to oranges. I thought about taking my husband's wheels off his skates to check them out, so that's an option.