Roller skating can be anything from a hobby to a sport to a great way to get in shape. This page will guide you through how to roller skate so you can achieve your goal whether it be having fun, losing weight or even joining a roller derby.

Roller skates were first invented in the 1760s.National Museum of Roller Skating: Homework Help Since then, roller polo, roller derbies & even roller disco have taken over. Roller skating isn't just for kids. Skating can be a beneficial & fun workout. Roller skating can even help relieve stress. With over thirty kinds of roller skating that include everything from roller soccer to kite skating there is sure to be something for everyone.Skatelog: 30 Different Skating Styles Roller skating is supposed to be fun. Remember to relax & be patient during the learning process.

• Roller skating has a lot of pros & cons that should be looked at carefully before you ever strap on a pair of skates.

1. Roller skating will give you about the same workout as jogging, but it's a low impact sport.

2. Skating is an aerobic exercise that gives you a complete body workout.USA Roller Sports: Roller Skating a Fun and Effective Way to Participate in National Fitness Month (January 20, 2005)

3. Exercise, such as skating, releases endorphins which can improve your overall mood.About.com: Let Inline Roller Skating Help Clear Your Mind

4. Regular skating can help you lose twenty pounds.SkateLog: How to Skate Off 20 Pounds

1. Roller skating was ranked fourteenth out of the fifteen most dangerous sports.Live Science: The Most Dangerous Sports in America (June 14, 2006) The Live Science study analyzed emergency room records to come up with their numbers.
2. The rate of injury among skaters was estimated to be 3.4 injuries for every thousand people.Inline Skating Resource Center: Inline Skating Safety Statistics

• The first thing you will have to do is assemble the right equipment. There are two main types of roller skates: quads & inline skates. Heelys can act as shoes or skates.

• Inline skates, often called rollerblades, have four or five wheels in a row. Some of the advantages are:

1. Rollerblades might be considered more modern & for adults instead of kids.Sports Information: Skating Information Ironically, the first roller skate was actually an inline skate.National Museum of Roller Skating: Homework Help
2. You will need to use inline skates to play roller hockey.

• Quad roller skates are probably what you think of when you picture roller skates. These skates have a wheel in each corner attached to a boot. Some of the advantages of these type of skates are:

1. Quad skates are preferred by artistic skaters.USA Roller Sports: Figure Skating
2. You can recycle a pair of ice skates & turn them into quad skates.Everglides: About Rollerskates
3. These skates are essential if you want to participate in a roller derby.
4. Quad skates keep your foot flat instead of just balancing your center of gravity on one line.
5. Quad skates have a toe break.

• You will also need a variety of safety equipment so that your roller skating experience remains enjoyable.

1. Padded shorts. It's almost inevitable that you will fall while skating. You can pick up a pair of padded shorts to make the experience less painful at any sporting goods store.
2. Knee pads.
3. Wrist Guards. A skater is more likely to injure their wrist than their knee.Inline Skating Resource Center: Inline Skating Safety Statistics
4. A helmet will prevent most serious head injuries.Medical News Today: Ice Skaters More Likely to Suffer Head Injuries than Roller or Inline Skaters (August 14, 2006)
5. Maintain your skates properly so they don't malfunction while you are skating.Get Rolling: Skate Maintenance in a (big) Nutshell
6. Make sure that your skates fit to prevent an injury to your ankle.SkateLog: Inline Skating Safety and Etiquette
7. Find a smooth, flat place to skate, such as a skating rink or park.Southeastern Skate Supply Inc: Finding a Roller Skating Rink Skating on the street or sidewalk can be dangerous because of loose gravel. It might even be against the law in your city.

• Wonder How To: How to Roller Skate Part 7 (Time: 2:28)

• Some of the most important elements of skating are accepting the fact that you will fall & knowing how to fall correctly. Once you learn the basic skating formation you can try more advanced moves like skating backwards.

1. Place your feet in the shape of a V.Teach Kids How: Teach Your Child how to Roller Skate
2. Start skating by pushing one leg away from the V. Follow that foot with your other foot.Teach Kids How: Teach Your Child how to Roller Skate
3. Loosen up.
4. Find the foot that you favor most & lead off with that one.

• Wonder How To: How to Roller Skate Part 3 (Time: 1:56)

• Stopping on a quad skate is pretty simple because there is something called a toe stop, which is the ball shaped part on the front of the skate.

1. Tilt your skate until you are pushing down on the toe stop.Teach Kids How: Teach Your Child how to Roller Skate
2. Press it slowly against the ground.Teach Kids How: Teach Your Child how to Roller Skate
3. Watch the video below to learn how to do a T Stop & a Plow Stop.

• Livestrong: Stop on Roller Skates (Time: 2:35)

• Skating backwards is just like skating forwards, but in reverse.

1. Put your feet in a reverse V & push out.Teach Kids How: Teach Your Child how to Roller Skate
2. Push your feet back towards each other & repeat this motion.Teach Kids How: Teach Your Child how to Roller Skate

• Since most roller rinks are in the shape of an oval, you'll have to learn how to turn properly. Lean in the direction you would like to move & let your feet follow you:

• Wonder How To: How to Turn on Roller Skates (Time: 1:45)

• Even the most experienced skaters fall. Here is how to fall with the minimun risk of injury.

1. Jump into the fall.
2. Stick your arms straight above your head. Keep your body in a straight line.
3. Roll instead of skid.
4. Practice falling on a soft surface.City Sports Magazine: Fallsafe (May, 1996)

• One of the advantages of roller skating versus traditional exercise is that you get a complete body work out which might actually be fun. It can feel more like a hobby instead of a chore. There are several ways to become more involved with roller skating.

• Artistic roller skating is very similar to figure skating on ice.

1. It even has categories like dance, singles, or pairs competition.
2. These skaters perform jumps on their quad skates.
3. Skaters put together an entire routine complete with music.USA Roller Sports: Figure Skating

• The basics of roller derby are that a skater called the sprinter tries to skate through the other team. Roller derby has even been featured on reality TV. Roller derby is played in teams & even has it's own language.A&E: Rollergirls - Know the Talk It's even been marketed to moms as a way to lose their pregnancy weight.New York Times: Rolling, Rocking Nights Out for Mom (April 19, 2007) Part of the fun of roller derby is inventing a persona, choosing a derby name & wearing costumes.Roller Girl: The Fresh Meat File - Choosing Your Derby Name

• Rollerskating is a fun & beneficial exercise. It's also cheaper than ice skating & just as artistic. Don't forget to take the correct safety precautions & remember to enjoy it!