How To Improve Your Inline Skates Stride
Good health and fitness are goals for many people from all walks of life. More and more individuals exercise to prolong life or have fun, from sports to gym training. Some are even starting early with games intended just for play that can lead to a better lifestyle for kids as they grow up.
One of these outdoor activities is inline skating. First developed in the 1980s, inline skating used to be only a pastime for most, but now you’ll see professional skaters and casual skaters showing off cool tricks in public.
Kids, in particular, are fond of this sport and learn it quite quickly. Others may take a little time to master it. You or your child doesn’t need to struggle to improve their skating technique. Read on to learn some tricks of the trade and stride on skates better.
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Mind Your Posture
Like any sport, posture matters. Moving around while your body is in the wrong places will result in short or long-term pain. The younger they are, children are flexible. But teaching them the proper posture ensures safety while skating and striding.
Four elements make up the skating stride — push, lateral push, glide, and regroup. The center of your body’s mass must be over your support leg, which is the leg on the ground. This one shouldn’t move sideways with your opposite leg. Instead of using your whole body to make that push, use your leg to push yourself forward. You’ll find yourself to keep pushing ahead faster when the force comes from your foot on the ground while the rest of the body follows.
Sometimes, ill-fitting skates can also cause improper posture. Kids’ feet, especially, grow fast and won’t stop until they’re 20 or 21 years old. You’ll need to change their skates from time to time so they won’t complain about tightness around their toes while playing. Always choose high-quality inline skates that fit snugly but still have enough room for the feet to breathe.
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Keep Your Eyes Forward
Driving instructors will tell you to keep your eyes on the road on your first time behind the wheel. It’s the same with inline skating. You or your child will be skating in public with other people around most of the time. By keeping your vision forward, you’re less likely to bump into someone or trip over a crack.
When you’re a skating newbie, staring in the front while gliding and striding will let you focus on moving. Distractions are not your best friend. You could risk a scrape or much worse. Proper posture also comes into play here. Bend your knees slightly and lean forward a bit to maintain the center of gravity. Swaying your arms will also help you manage your weight as you move.
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Exercise At Home
One other way to improve your skating strides is to take off your inline skates for a moment. While your feet are on stable ground and not impeded by wheels, you can focus on building your body strength.
Some exercises you and your child can do together at home include:
- Crawls
- Knee-to-chest stretches
- Lateral bounds
- Side lunges
- Sprints
- Squat jumps
- Wall acceleration drills
These exercises are proven to improve your body condition to make better inline skate strides. They also don’t require heavy equipment and too much space, so they’re child-friendly and perfect for smaller homes. Doing this also allows you to create a home gym for you and your family to use during the weekends or when the weather is not conducive for outdoor play.
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Work With The Wind
While skating outside, you’ll be fighting against a few elements, be it sunlight, crowds, or of course, the wind. If you know how to work the wind to your advantage, you’ll notice your strides getting faster and better.
Be careful when skating with the wind, though. You never know if the breeze picks up and pushes you forward at an uncontrollable speed. Steer clear of inclined, steep slopes during violent storm days. As much as possible, stay on the leveled ground while you’re still a beginner.
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Wear Light Clothing
Your strides won’t be smooth when you wear a mountain of clothes and accessories. As a skater, you only need to wear protective gear like elbow and knee pads and a helmet. Unless you’re playing hockey, that’s all you need.
Heavy clothes will pull you back and slow you down when you’re trying so hard to pick up speed on your inline skates. Activewear will let you move freely and faster when going out for a skate. Ensure your helmet is as snug as your inline skates and your pads are secured so that they don’t slip and slide as you glide.
If you’re worried about your kids injuring exposed parts, you can have them wear a mouthguard while playing until they get used to balancing by themselves. It’ll protect their teeth and jaws in case of impact on the hard surface if they stumble.
Off To The Skate Park
Kids and adults alike love inline skating for the thrill and excitement. Even if you don’t know any stunts or are too afraid to do any, skating can still be fun and a great way to stay fit outdoors.
By following these tips, you or your child will continue to enjoy being on wheels and zipping around safely.
