This is Colin from SkatersEdge. I'm the company guinea pig where I trial a lot of gear and share my experience. Today's content is about my personal experience with various inline frames. I'm currently using PIC JAZZ :)
In this newsletter issue we will discuss the following:
1. A comparison table comparing the features of inline frames in the market.
2. How to achieve the Ideal spin rocker position.
3. Maximise the life of your toestops and wheels.
4. How to perform Stop & Spin? These elements feel so different compared to ice!
5. Safety measures
6. FAQs
When you first wear Inline Skates, the experience is probably quite shocking. For the more brave and experienced Figure Skaters, they can often hop on a pair of Inline Skates and start doing jumps and spins pretty quickly, for most of us who are not world-class Skaters, the initial feeling is scary. Don't worry if you find yourself stuck after getting on inline, we all felt that way when we just started!
However, trust me, it doesn't take long to get your feelings back and you will enjoy the amazing benefit of this off-ice training tool, it's absolutely the best! Going back on Ice will feel slightly weird as well but you will be surprised how fast your body adapts and it will learn to adapt faster and faster as you skate on different equipment.
A comparison table comparing main Inline Frames in the market.
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Surface |
Indoor, smooth concrete, road |
Indoor, smooth concrete |
Indoor, smooth concrete, road |
Indoor, smooth concrete, road |
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Stanchion height (Lower stanchion height generally feels more stable) |
High |
Low |
Medium |
High |
|
Turns & Jumps |
Easy |
OK |
OK |
Easy |
|
Rocker |
Pre-Rockered |
Pre-Rockered |
Pre-Rockered |
Adjustable rocker |
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Longevity of wheels |
High |
High |
High |
High |
|
Longevity of Toestops |
High |
Low |
Low |
High |
Make your Inline Skates feel more like blades:
Spin rocker can be easily adjusted with the tool that comes with your frames, you will need to loosen the bolt on the side, then turn your toe stop anti-clockwise to lower it, then tighten the bolt on the side to secure it. Test a few positions until you find a position that most resembles the blades. This process requires some power :)
Maximize the life of your toestops and wheels:
Similar to tires on your car, it is important to rotate your wheels to increase longevity. Rotating your wheels will help keep the wear pattern consistent, extending the life of the wheels and providing a smoother ride. There are many different ways to rotate your wheels, the techniques listed below are tested, true, and effective for most Skaters. When inspecting your wheels it’s good to start at the front, this area almost always wears faster and typically on one skate more than the other. This comes from skating tendencies when turning or stopping.
To lengthen the life of your toestops, switch your toestops from left to right and vice versa to ensure the wear is equal and you get most out of your toestops. For artistic inline the toestops usually wear out first, it's always a good idea to keep a spare set of toestops.
How to perform stop & spin?
Stop: our favourite way to stop is to mohawk turn back and get onto your toestops. This requires some practice but is the least damaging way for your toestops and wheels. For beginners, you can drag one of the topstops at the back until you come to a gradual stop.
Spin: Spin should only be attempted if the surface is completely leveled and flat. When you hit the spin position, you will be partially on your toestop. Don't be afraid if you feel you are scraping your toestop, that's exactly how it works on inline!
Safety measures:
Falling on concrete is nothing like ice so always wear protection! Make sure you protect your knees, wrist, and tailbone.
Always ensure all axles are secure and tight before and after skating. If your skates are making clicking sound when rolling, check the axles, it's likely they are getting loose!
FAQ:
Do I need to get different wheels for indoor and outdoor surfaces?
Different from Quad, inline wheels are often suitable for both indoor and outdoor surfaces and you won't need to worry about getting "outdoor" wheels. We do suggest get artistic inline wheels instead of any inline wheels, as the profile of the wheels is important to mimic the blades.
Should I get 4 wheels or 3 wheels frames?
The biggest advantage of 4 wheels is that they are lower to the ground hence create more stability and feels more like your blades. Whereas the 3 wheels are often more agile and easier to find the spin rocker. a lot of it is personal preference but a general rule is to decide whether you want to use inline to train jumps & spins(3 wheels), or steps & turns (4 wheels).
I can't skate like I do on the ice, is that normal?
Just keep skating and you will get to a level where your inline skill is similar to your ice skill, then the skill becomes transferrable, meaning you can train your elements on inline and the skill can be transferred to ice.
Will inline skating affect my ice skating?
It will be weird when you get back to the ice, but that should only last an hour max. You will soon realize the extra power you have trained up to through inline skating (more resistance and heavier skates), stroking will be easier and turns will be more agile. After switching between inline and ice a few times, you will get used to both and will not get the "weird" sensation when you skate on either.
To summarize, we believe Inline Skates are the best off ice training tool! Follow us on Instagram or Facebook skatersedge nz for more skating and equipment knowledge! Or follow Colin's skating account on Colin.fei7 for more inline skating videos :)
