Archives for June 2016

Whether it be quad or inline skates, indoor or outdoor, safety is ALWAYS important when it comes to roller-skating. Sometimes kids look for an excuse not to wear safety gear, whether it be it’s uncomfortable or just “not cool.” June is National Safety Month, and we’re here to give you the best tips and tricks for safe skating!

Always Wear a Proper Helmet

Accidents can and do happen. When roller-skating, your head needs protection in case of a fall. That means wearing the correct helmet, because not all helmets offer the same amount of protection. Investing in a quality helmet that fits your children correctly while also offering adequate protection and impact absorption is suggested.

Fitness Helmet — Does not always adequately protect from high impact collisions. It also no longer protects after a single collision.

Multi-Sport Helmet — Offers better all around impact protection and is effective for more than one collision.

Skate Helmets — Offers adequate protection during skating but may not protect during other activities like biking or boarding.

You may be able to counter the children’s resistance to wearing their helmet by picking out one in their favorite color, or creating a fun project of customizing their gear with stickers, graphics, etc.

Always Wear Knee Pads and Elbow Pads

No scrapes and bruises here! Sometimes these can get a little bulky, but you’ll have some peace of mind and your child will help their joints by wearing this extra protective gear.

Pick the Right Skates

If skates do not fit properly, it could very well lead to accidents and injuries. They should be comfortable, yet sturdy. They should also offer proper ankle support. To make sure a pair of skates offers enough ankle support, feel the plastic boot around the ankle. If it squeezes, there is not enough support and the material is not strong enough. Find some of the best skates here.

Consider Other Protective Gear

While most adults and children know that a helmet and pads are necessary for safe skating, skaters may want to add extra layers of protection. That means wearing long sleeves and long pants instead of shorts to prevent injury to elbows and knees in case of a fall.

For those who are new to skating, it might be intimidating to see experienced skaters flying past you on the rink. Doesn’t it seem like they can go on forever? It takes awhile to build up some skating endurance; but with some patience and a few tips from the pros, you’ll be a pro-skater in no time!

• Practice! A huge part of skating is repeating what you learn.  Time yourself, and do the same drills over and over. Doing drills in your down time will make for better performance, endurance and speed.
• Perfect the technicalities. A critical aspect of skating is focusing on your form, posture and fluidity. These technicalities are often overlooked, but if perfected can greatly help your endurance and speed! Check out this article for proper skating technique.
• Wear your skates everywhere. This might seem silly, but wear your skates whenever you can. Whether it’s going out to get the mail or around the house, it truly will help. The more comfortable you are in your skates, the longer you’ll be able to last in them; hence more endurance! Be sure to wear comfortable, thick socks to avoid blisters. 
• Branch out. Go skate on a rink, bike path or outdoor trails. Skating on multiple surfaces will get you used to being in your skates, and it makes things fun and interesting. You’ll be willing to skate longer if you can make it fun!
• Treat your body right. The only way to improve your skating endurance is if you’re improving your overall health as well. Eating a well balanced diet, regularly exercising and getting enough sleep are all factors that go into your endurance.
• Get the right skates. The best way to skate effectively is to have the right skates! Here’s where you can find some of the best…
• Push yourself. Lastly, skate until you can’t skate anymore; and then push yourself one step further. Outdoor endurance skating is incredibly effective for building leg strength, speed, balance and awareness.

As always, feel free to practice your endurance skating at Roller Kingdom! If you’d like to improve your skating, we’re now offering summer skating lessons. Check it out on our website!