The first real exposure to roller skating for many parents today is when their child is invited to a birthday party at a skating rink. At that party, the boy rents a pair of skates and his parents watch them or seek to join them on the rink. From that exposure, some children develop a real interest in sport. Also, some parents decide that this is a sport that they would like to practice with their children. This article is written for new skaters looking to learn the sport.
So you decided you wanted to skate. You don’t want to rent them every time you go to a skating rink. That can be very expensive if you go often. What type of skates should I buy for myself and my child? It all depends on the type of skating you want to do. Most people will only want to wear them on the track. There are many great skates available for less than $ 100 that will come in handy when you start this new journey. Whether you are shopping for yourself or your child, stay away from the really cheap skates. They won’t give you a good experience and will go bad in no time. In fact, some of the cheap ones will start to fall apart after you use them multiple times. Stay away from cheap skates you find at Big Box stores. Look for some quality brands over $ 50 and you won’t be disappointed.
Once you get into it, you will notice people who like improvisations on the dance floor. What is jam skating? It borrows from gymnastics, break dancing, hip hop and is an amazing display of balance and athletic ability. The purpose is to change these traditional dance moves and perform them on skates. There will probably be tournaments on your court or somewhere nearby for them to show their skill. If you like dancing or other moves associated with that, maybe you’d love to perfect some of those moves on skates. Then jam skating is for you!
Another type of roller skating is called derby skating. This type of roller skating is highly entertaining and draws a sizeable crowd. This is a contact sport for men and women. This has grown internationally and is now primarily a women’s sport. You won’t find roller skating at your local skating rink. Roller derby takes place on an oval track and they score points by passing members of the opposing team. They get very physical in encounters with the opposing team.
Figure skating or recreational skating is done with tall boots. Figure skating involves twists, jumps, and dance moves. All competitors are judged on their behavior, flow of movement, harmonious composition, conformity to the music and use of the track.
So you can see that skating can take many forms. I suggest that you just start out on the track by learning to skate. If any of these other types of skating interest you, eventually you can buy some skates that will be appropriate for that sport. Above all, get on some skates and have fun!