How to Go Faster on In-Line Skates

Whether you are competing in speed skating, playing roller hockey or just out for an afternoon skate, knowing how to generate as much speed as possible on your in-line skates is an invaluable skill. While it takes practice to perfect your speed skating stroke, focusing on the fundamentals of the stride and setting reasonable goals to aspire to will see you making steady progress.

Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase skates which fit your feet. Wearing skates that are too large, in hopes of growing into them, will limit the efficiency of your strides.

    • 2

      Purchase bearings which match your sport. New bearings help your wheels roll with less friction, and picking bearings for your sport ensures the best match. Speed skating bearings, for example, focus primarily on speed, while hockey bearings are not quite as fast but offer more control.

    • 3

      Change the wheels of your skates frequently. As you use your skates, the wheels are worn down by contact with the ground, leading to the surface becoming rough. New wheels are smoother, creating less friction.

    • 4

      Lace your skates snugly. Loose skates will wobble slightly as you push off with them, wasting energy.

    • 5

      Bend your legs, lowering your center of gravity, as you push off.

    • 6

      Turn your back foot approximately 45 degrees to the outside as you push forward off the foot.

    • 7

      Drive off the back leg with a strong push. The more power that is put into the push, the more forward momentum is generated.

    • 8

      Point both skates straight forward when not pushing off. If your feet are angled when not pushing it will cause you to make small waves with your feet, instead of straight lines, which results in added friction and lost speed.