“I’m proud of you” - Doesn’t come close Let me introduce to you one of the most significant students I’ve ever taught. On Instagram he’s @northislandking and his name is Minzaw. This is him skating backwards at the London Halloween Skate recently. He’s been off-skates...
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Why do experienced skaters remove the heel brake?
Q: Hi Asha, I am certainly skating, and your online course, as well as other videos that you have posted online, have been invaluable. I have been going now for over three weeks and I’m improving every time. What’s more, I’m finding the...
What’s the best way to practice skating?
Let's begin by addressing some questions related to your inline or roller skatingpractice: How many hours per week do you dedicate to your inline or roller skating practice? Do you have a specific weekly time goal for your wheels? Are you able to skate more frequently...
Why is inline skating still a minority sport?
There are many reasons why inline skating hasn’t grown worldwide to become a well known sport. There has been huge growth globally since the pandemic but inline and roller skating still don’t attract the numbers of other sports such as cycling or football. Let’s look...
Inline Skating in Winter: My Top Tips
If you are about to face your first skating winter, then welcome! You are a true skater if colder weather hasn’t put you off. There are some advantages to skating through the winter, namely most skate spaces are much quieter without the summer crowds and this allows...
Best way to stop on inline skates for beginners
Learning to inline skate without a heel brake is NOT the best way to become a good skater quickly. "What are you doing skating with that brake? Take it off, it doesn't work, it'll only get in the way." This (and other versions of this) are the mantra and industry norm...
Making slow progress in your skating?
Feeling stuck & feeling frustrated with slow progress in your skating? When adults start skating (on rollerblades or roller skates) there’s a HUGE variation in rates of progress from one person to another.We can say that new adult skaters fall into one of 3...
Wings & Wheels Skateblog 2: Houston
Pt 2 in a series of posts by our instructor (and airline pilot), Sabine 23rd March, 2023 London Heathrow - Houston, Texas Flight time 9h 47min Time difference 6h After weeks of rain, wind and freezing temperatures in the UK, it is so nice to spend a few days in warmer...
Wings & Wheels Skateblog 1: San Jose
Pt 2 in a series of posts by our instructor (and airline pilot), Sabine February 2023San Jose, CaliforniaFlight time 10h 23Time difference 8h Waking up in my lovely room in San Jose, the local time is 4am. One glance at the clock tells me to go back to sleep, no jet...
Skating on slopes: excitement or fear?
How do you feel when you are out for a skate and then you see a downhill slope approaching or you simply notice that you have started accelerating? If it's a gentle downhill slope and you can see when it flattens out, then perhaps you feel some excitement as you know...
Practice makes Perfect. True or False?
Have you ever practiced a skill for several weeks or even months and STILL not been able to do it Many people experience this with many new skills they want to learn.If practice did make perfect, then no one would struggle with new skills after some ‘practice’.I see a...
“Skating helped me dodge a bullet…” – Mark’s Story
Back in 2005 I started teaching Mark to skate at age 57. His doctor had told him to get some aerobic exercise and to lose weight and he was scared because his father died at age 60 of heart disease. All his life he had always wanted to skate but never had. He hated...
Should I remove my heel brake or not?
I recently received this question from a student using the Skatefresh Beginner Online Course. I think so many wish they’d asked this question but “heel brake shaming” is still so prevalent it’s probably why they didn’t ask. “I want to become very skilled at urban...
What is Wizard skating and how close is it to artistic skating?
Wizard skating is the new name given to a style of freestyle skating popularised by Canadian aggressive skater @LeonBasin and his friends from @Mushroomblading. They came out of the skate park and started using “flat ground” for tricks, transitions, jumps and flowing...
Learning to skate when you’re older: the top 4 advantages
“When I started to skate aged 69, I think my friends and family were as surprised as I was that I could. I only heard encouraging things from them, along with amazed laughter: those who felt otherwise didn’t say anything.” - Edwina (now 74) This kind of reaction is...
How to Ease Pain in the Hips & Glutes after Skating
https://youtu.be/lQCv0FK5OLQ How do your hips and glutes feel after you've been for a skate? Most people report to feeling more open and energised in the hips and glutes due to the added muscular load that skating puts on these muscle groups. They can feel tired,...
How To Ease Feet and Ankle Pain After Skating
https://youtu.be/L4VfLduKkvQ In the northern hemisphere the weather is getting colder and darker and I can feel this change in my joints…. I need a little more time to warm up and stretch after skating so I don’t get stiff and achy.Do you have any pain after you...
Skating in Uganda – December 2021
My father has lived in Uganda for over 25 years and after not seeing him for almost 3 years due to the pandemic, my 3 siblings and I decided to spend Christmas 2021 with him. We had a fabulously relaxing family holiday together, spent mostly at my father's lakeside,...
How to skate backwards on quads & roller-skates – Part 2.
At some point in your roller skating journey you will want to try and skate backwards. It’s fun, it’s different and looks kinda cool. At Skatefresh we try to show and help skaters of all ages and abilities how to learn new skills efficiently, without trial and...
Back pain after skating? Moves to make your lower back happy
How does your lower back feel right now?How does it feel after a skate? So many skaters feel some kind of discomfort or ache in the lower back and it can become an issue if ignored and not explored. I've had a huge number of interactions with skaters over the...