Aggressive Inline Skate Trick Tips

Inline skating, introduced in the early 1980s as a way for hockey players to train in the off-season, has become a sport in its own right, pursued by an increasingly bold athlete who can execute stunning aerials and other tricks on inline skates. Learning to inline skate is somewhat easier than learning to ice skate, but learning tricks has its own skill set.

  1. The Basics

    • Before trying to execute any trick, skaters should be familiar with the basics of skating forwards, backwards, doing crossovers and stopping. Learning all these skills will help teach the skater balance, a crucial element of the flashy tricks advanced skaters execute. Like ice skating, proper inline skating depends on the use of edges--in this case the inner and outer edges of the wheels. A skater should be able to flex the ankle ever so slightly to get the skate set at the proper angle for skating forwards, backwards, and crossing one leg over the other in turns.

    Getting Started

    • As a skater readies for the first trick, he wants to make sure he has proper equipment, including a helmet, knee pads, wrist guards, elbow pads and even shin guards, since it is likely he may be falling quite a bit as he masters a trick. Many skaters like to practice their first tricks on grass or carpet so they have a softer surface to fall on if they biff the trick.

      When learning any new trick, whether it is riding rails, doing spins, or an aerial, start slowly and work up to speed. In the long run, it is somewhat easier to maintain balance when going faster, but for getting started, it is more important to train your muscle memory to get the move right, and learning at more moderate speeds is better for this. Keep practicing the trick to reinforce the muscle memory.

      If you are trying to learn in a skate park, be aware of other skaters and practice proper etiquette. Don't drop in when other skaters may be in the way, and if you fall, get up quickly and get out of the way of other skaters.

    First Tricks

    • Try some basic tricks first, such as spins. To do a spin, start with your feet well balanced about shoulder-width apart, and rotate your torso in the direction you want to spin in. Move the torso smoothly, not with too much force, so you remain in balance all through the spin. Practice this spin moving forwards and backwards, and then on one leg. Learning balance will help as you add jumps to your repertoire.

      Grinds are another great trick that will help with balance. Grinds require a rail set at a gentle angle. Start with one that is about 6 inches off the ground at one end and slopes to the pavement at the other. Approach the rail with moderate speed and aim for a specific landing spot on the rail. Jump and spin perpendicular to the rail, landing with both skates on the rail at the mid-point of the skate. Finish the grind by jumping off. Grinds can be varied by landing with one skate perpendicular to the rail and the other horizontal to it, and can be done moving frontwards and backwards. Practice them in all directions.