In-line Skating

In-line skating

The smooth gliding is reminiscent of ice skating. Inline skating is a trend sport that moves the body in a variety of ways, strengthens stamina and reduces calories. Those who feel safe on rollers will find a fast alternative to walking or jogging. The first inline skates were launched in the United States in the 1990s. They are equipped with four rollers attached one behind the other and overtook the roller skates that were used to date…

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• What is being trained?
• The right technique
• Equipment and security
• tips and tricks
• Correct braking
• Roller sports as a game and competitive sport

What is being trained?

This sport demands the whole body. Inline skating trains and strengthens many different muscle groups, especially leg, abdominal, gluteal and back muscles. Inline skating is very good endurance training. Depending on the intensity, many calories are consumed. Coordination and balance are necessary in order to be able to carry out the sequence of movements correctly. But inline skating also requires responsiveness in order to avoid obstacles. Proactive driving is important in order not to endanger yourself or others. Concentrating on the route helps to switch off mentally and to reduce stress. The swinging of the arms can have a positive effect on slight tension in the neck and shoulder area. Operated with the right technique, inline skating is easy on the knee joints,because stressful impacts are avoided.

The right technique

In inline skating, after taking an imprint with one leg, weight is shifted onto the other leg. As with ice skating, the pace is set. The sliding phases after the impression and the corresponding weight shift are important for energy-saving locomotion. The arms swing along with the loaded leg. It is important to be able to stop quickly in various ways.

Those who have mastered the right technique can dare to do longer endurance training. With the right sequence of movements, you can avoid overloading your knees and back in particular. The wrong technology costs strength and speed and is at the expense of safety. In addition, you run the risk of getting tired quickly and cramped back muscles.

Equipment and security

Good equipment is a basic requirement for driving fun. In addition to the right skates, this includes a helmet and protectors for hands, knees and elbows.

Skates are offered for different areas of use.

• For recreational sports, skates are suitable with a comfortable inner shoe that has hard plastic reinforcement in the ankle area and provides stability. A brake at the end of the roller track helps to stop quickly.
• Special hard shell models are used for stunts and tricks.
• Speed skates are made of particularly light materials and have wheels with a larger diameter.
• Skates for children are available in length-adjustable models that grow with them.

Note Anyone who would like to try the sport once can attend a course where equipment can also be borrowed. Here you learn the technology for safe driving and thus avoid uncontrolled falls and painful experiences. Courses are offered by sports clubs or through Fit Sport Austria, for example.

tips and tricks

First exercises with the inline skates make it easier to get started:

• Stand on both legs, shifting your weight from one leg to the other. Then swing your arms along with your loaded leg.
• Jump away with both legs and land safely.
• Glide around 20 meters on one leg to train the necessary balance.
• Fall exercises: From the basic position, first drop onto both knees (wear knee pads)! Make sure you have good body tension. The second contact point are the palms of the hands with outstretched fingers (wear wrist protectors!). Then the elbows are used as the third contact point (wear elbow pads!).

Correct braking

The “up and down” in inline skating is to stand still safely. Beginners learn this best in courses. Advanced users have mastered the following types of braking:

• Snow plow brake : With this brake variant, the skates form a V that is open to the rear. Let the skates run apart in a relatively wide straddle position, then steer slightly inwards with the tips of your toes and exert increased pressure on your heels (= rear rollers). The rollers start to slide in this position and generate the desired braking effect. During the entire braking process, only the inner edges of the rollers are loaded. It is important to keep your balance (for advanced learners).
• Heel-Stop (stopper brake): This brake variant is very space-saving and easy to dose in its design. To brake, push the leg with the stopper (= right leg) forward into a step position and slowly lift the toes of the front foot until the brake hits the ground. Then lower the center of gravity a little over the back foot. This braking variant should be carried out in a reinforced basic position.
• T-Stop: Shift your weight onto one leg (= supporting leg) and keep your balance in order to be able to place the relieved leg (= braking leg) at a right angle behind the supporting leg between the second and third roller. Load all four rollers equally. The distance between the legs determines the extent of the braking effect and can be achieved by bending the supporting leg more strongly. This braking technique is not recommended for people with knee collateral ligament injuries or groin problems, as the pressure can be too strong if the movement is precise.
• Spin-Stop (half-moon brake): Glide in the stride position, shift your weight onto the front leg and place the rear skate on the front roller. Twist the upper body and at the same time bring the rear skate into as open a V-position as possible (heel points to heel) and place it against the direction of travel. Finish the twist with increased pressure on the inside edges. The sufficient distance between the heels makes the spin stop easier.
• Lawn stop: Drive towards the lawn, bend your knees and lean your upper body forward. Push one foot forward in a slight stride and roll to a stop. (Source: GESUND & LEBEN, Author: Ingrid Vogl)

Roller sports as a game and competitive sport

In Austria, inline skating is a roller sport that is practiced in various sports.

• Roller hockey is a ball sport that is played on roller skates. Five players, a goalkeeper and four field players, play against each other and try - equipped with hockey sticks - to accommodate a small ball filled with cork in the opposing goal. The team that scores the most goals is the winner.
• Inline skater hockey is related to ice hockey and roller hockey.
• Roller skating is similar to figure skating and includes the mastery of leaps, pirouettes and implementation of music in motion.
• Inline speed skating - similar to speed skating - is practiced in various competitions and distances. Top speeds of up to 50 km / h are achieved and marathon distances (42 km) are covered in one hour.