Roller skating forward is easy, even if you don’t know how to skate. Backward, however, is a whole different story. It’s much harder to roller skate backward because it requires you to use muscles that you don’t use when skating forwards.
But don’t worry, we’re here to help!
In this blog post, we’ll teach you how to roller skate backwards step by step with the right technique. We’ll also give you tips on making the learning process easier.
How to Roller Skate Backwards – Step by Step
Before you start learning how to skate backward, there are a few things you need to do first:
- Make sure you have the right equipment. You’ll need a good pair of best roller skates that fit well, a helmet, and knee and elbow pads.
- Find a safe place to practice. A smooth, flat surface is ideal. Avoid places with a lot of people or obstacles that you could trip over.
- Warm up your muscles. Skating backward is a lot harder on your muscles than skating forwards. So before you start, take a few laps around the rink to warm up your muscles.
Now that you’re all set let’s get started!
Make A V Shape With Your Feet
The first step to skating backward is to make a V shape with your feet. This may sound strange, but it’s actually the most important part of skating backward.
To do this, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart. Then, point your toes out so that they form a V shape. Your feet should look like this:
If you are not used to skating with your feet in this position, it may feel uncomfortable at first. But don’t worry, you’ll get used to it quickly. You can also try bending your knees slightly to make the position more comfortable.
Push Off With Your Back Foot
Once you’re in the V position, it’s time to start skating. The first push off should be with your back foot.
To do this, start by shifting your weight to your back foot. Then, push off the ground with your back foot to start moving forward. As you push off, make sure to keep your front foot in the V position. Otherwise, you’ll lose your balance and fall.
You may find it helpful to practice this move without skates first. That way, you can get a feel for the movement and ensure you’re doing it correctly.
Apply Pressure on Your Front Foot
As you start moving backward, you’ll need to apply pressure to your front foot to keep moving.
To do this, simply apply pressure on your front foot heels. This will cause your skates to move backward.
Slowly keep skating backward by alternating the pressure on your front foot heels. It may take some practice to get the hang of this, but you’ll get it eventually.
Keep Watching Backward
One of the hardest parts of skating backward is keeping your balance. And one of the best ways to stay balanced is by keeping your eyes on where you’re going.
That may sound easy, but it’s actually quite difficult. Our natural instinct is to look where we’re going, not where we’re coming from. So it takes a lot of practice to train your brain to look backward.
One way to practice this is to find a spot on the ground and focus on it as you skate backward. Don’t look at anything else around you, just keep your eyes glued to that spot.
With enough practice, you’ll be able to keep your balance and skate backward with ease.
Increase The Speed Gradually
Once you’re comfortable skating backward at a slow speed, it’s time to start increasing the speed.
To do this, simply apply more pressure on your front foot as you skate. The more pressure you apply, the faster you’ll go.
Also, increase the gap between your V-shaped feet as you skate faster. This will help you maintain your balance and prevent you from falling.
Learn To Switch Direction
One of the best parts about skating backwards is that you can switch directions quickly and easily.
To do this, simply push off with your back foot in the opposite direction. Then, apply pressure on your front foot to start moving in the new direction.
It may take some practice to get the hang of this, but it’s actually quite easy once you get the hang of it.
Lears To Stop
When it’s time to stop skating, you can use two different methods.
The first method is simply applying pressure on your back foot to stop. This method is great for stopping quickly but can be hard to control.
The second method is to use the toe stop on your front foot. To do this, simply raise your toe off the ground and apply pressure to the toe stop. This method is great for controlling your speed, but it can take a bit longer to stop.
Whichever method you choose, make sure you practice it before you try it for real. That way, you can ensure that you’re doing it correctly and won’t injure yourself.
Additional Tips
Here are a few additional tips to help you skate backward with ease:
- Try skating next to a wall or another skater. This will help you maintain your balance and prevent you from falling.
- Practice in an open area first. Once you’re comfortable skating backward, you can try skating in tighter spaces.
- Don’t be afraid to fall. Everyone falls when they’re learning to skate backwards. It’s part of the learning process. To avoid getting injured, make sure to wear the proper safety gear.
-Wear comfortable clothes that won’t restrict your movement.
-Make sure to lace up your skates tightly. Loose skates will make it harder to skate backwards.
Conclusion
Skating backward is a great way to add some variety to your skating. It’s also a great way to impress your friends.
With a bit of practice, anyone can learn to roller skate backwards. Just remember to take your time and be patient. Soon enough, you’ll be skating backward like a pro.