FAQs

Level of experience required for classes

Is your Foundation session suitable for new skaters?

If you are a brand-new skater putting on your skates for the first time, I recommend initially doing a Level 1 beginners course with a provider like Roll Happy or Leon (aka Landshark skating) who can get you up and running. They both offer a range of dates and locations. 

In my Foundations class, most students have done some skating before. Generally, skaters wanting to attend should be able to stand up and move forward on their skates. Your technique doesn’t need to be perfect, as we’ll work on this in class, but you should be able to move forward and slow down. I try to keep class sizes small to accommodate for variations of experience. But it’s very tricky to accommodate those putting on skates for the first time as they usually need a specific class type.

If you are still deciding if the class is suitable, contact me or come by for a single drop-in session to see how you get on.

You can see all the current foundation classes here: Roller Skate Foundations

What will I learn in the Skate Foundations class?

The Roller Skate Foundations class covers core skating principles to give you a solid base to grow and eventually evolve into your own style. Fundamental principles include balancing, foot positioning, weight transfer, using and understanding your edges, skating forward and backwards, turns, transitions and stops. We will work through various drills and moves in these sessions to help develop these principles. 

You can book a three-week block or drop in on a single session. In each session, there is always a bit of variation so that those who come every week (and there are a few very dedicated students!) can continue to grow, learn something new and increase their confidence. Once you are confident in the Foundations, the Skate Flow sessions will help you improve your fluidity and flow and introduce you to more advanced moves, taking the things you learned from the Foundations class as a base.

Are you interested in joining a drop-in session? Check the Foundations page to see all current available dates. 

What will I learn in the Skate Flow class?

Each Roller Skate Flow session will have a different focus. We begin each class with a short recap of the previous session. Then, we usually work towards a few moves or combinations in the same move family, working on drills/exercises around these moves. In each session, there will be a variation between travelling moves and on-the-spot moves. 

The flow session is a mixed-level class (from intermediate to advanced), so you work to a place where you are comfortable with a move/skill. When you are confident, we finesse the move or sequence or work towards a variation. Most sessions will have free-flow time towards the end, where people work on anything they like, ask questions, and record their progress (if they wish!).

If you're interested in joining a Skate Flow class, check out the Skate Flow page to see all currently available dates.

What level do I need to be for the Flow Course?

The Skate Flow classes are relatively mixed, as some people are just moving up from the Foundations classes while others have been coming to sessions with me for a while. In terms of what it would be good to know before joining a Skate Flow class, Knowing some of the foundational skate principles, including balancing, foot positioning, weight transfer and edges, and being able to skate forward and backward, turn, transition and stop. Additional skills that will also be useful include being able to do manuals and pivots, as they are the basis for many of the more advanced skate moves. If you’re still unsure or have any more specific questions about the Skate Flow class, then get in contact.

Private, kids and inline sessions

Do you teach kids classes?

My classes are currently more suited for adults (18+), as kids usually require a different class structure and a range of activities to keep their attention and energy. For kid’s classes, I recommend Leon (Landshark Skating), who teaches children's classes and has extensive experience teaching kids.

Do you offer 1-2-1 sessions?

I offer a small amount of private 1-2-1 or small group lessons based on my availability and your location. These can be either in a suitable outdoor space in the summer or a suitable studio or indoor space in the winter.  If you are interested in booking a private skate or small group session, please drop me an email stating what you want to learn, where you are based and what your availability is like and we can take it from there.

Do you teach Inline skating?

I occasionally skate In-line skates, but I’m currently only teaching quad skating as I spend most of my time on these. There are quite a few moves that can translate, but the edges are very different, so there are a lot of technique adjustments. I’ve got some videos planned to explore how skate moves translate between inline and quad skates, so keep an eye on my YouTube channel! Or sign up for updates on my mailing list at the bottom of the page.

Venue Questions

What wheels are good for the Decathlon venue?

Decathlon has a smooth concrete floor, so slightly harder wheels work best on this surface. However, if you are a newer skater, you may prefer a softer, slightly more grippy wheel, as it will offer you more control and stick to the surface a bit more. 

The exact wheel will depend on personal preference. But a safe bet for newer skaters would be something like Sims Street Snakes (a hybrid wheel that can be used outdoors and indoors) for those that want a bit more roll, something like Roll Line Fox 92A wheels or Suregrip Fame 57m 95A.

In addition to changing your wheels, consider upgrading your bearings, the bit that allows the wheel to spin freely and sits between the wheels and the truck.

Generally, wheel choice is also a bit of trial and error, as well as personal preference and skate style.

Is there parking at the Decathlon venue?

Decathlon has secure parking at the basement level of the store. It’s free to park and open during store hours. You may park for up to 3 hours free of charge; however, if you need to stay longer, just ask a member of staff.

Where is the skating area in the Decathlon store?

The skating space is on the first floor of the Decathlon store. You can use the escalators or get a lift to the first floor. There is one large space and one smaller skating space at the back.

Classes take place in the bigger skating space, and the Practice Hours sessions are in the smaller area, just in front of the ‘Ready to Play’ sign. If you need assistance finding us, please ask a member of staff.

Equipment and clothing for lessons

What should I wear when roller skating?

Please wear clothes that allow some breathability and freedom of movement.

It’s also highly advised to wear protective gear while skating: wrist, knee and elbow pads at a minimum and, optionally, a helmet if you want to feel extra safe. We all fall at some point, usually more so when we first learn how to balance on wheels. With time, you’ll better understand and control your balance and respond quickly if you lose your balance, but when learning, pads are very important. Although we can still fall when we become more advanced as we push ourselves and our balance to learn more advanced moves, the falling volume is usually significantly reduced.

Can you provide roller skates for the lessons?

Unfortunately, I don't have any skates to provide, so you’ll need to bring your own to participate. If you’re relatively new to skating, I would advise you to wear some protective gear, Such as knee and elbow guards, at a minimum.

Do I need Stoppers or Jam Plugs?

Stoppers are used in particular styles of skating and often come already installed on skates. For dance, rhythm and jam skating, most skaters skate without stoppers and put a small plug called a Jam plug in it's place. While stoppers are designed to help you stop, jam plugs are mainly used to protect the floor from your plates. They are also used to rest on, balance, and slide in intermediate and advanced moves. For the type of skating we do, especially in the Flow Class, I also recommend using jam plugs or smaller/shorter toe stops to allow you easier access to the range of moves we will work through. 

Jam plugs come in two sizes depending on the thread size of your plates. Some allow you to tighten the plugs, while in other skates, you just have to screw them in so they can occasionally fall out.

Are my skates good enough?

Generally speaking, you can learn to skate on most skates. However, some cheaper skates can make your learning more difficult than it needs to be. The quality of the wheels, bearings, plates, and boot fit can all make a difference in our experience while on skates. Whatever you can access that gets you rolling is all good, but you might need to make some minor adjustments.

General Skate questions

How do I skate smoothly?

People often refer to my skate style as effortless or graceful and ask how I make things look so smooth. I mainly focus on the details and spend a lot of time in my skates! Some key things to focus on to smooth out and finesse your skating include weight transfer, foot position, keeping your knees soft and adding a bounce to most of your steps, and using your whole body, as well as your feet and legs, to skate and control your movements.

In addition to in-person skate classes, I create collaborative roller skate tutorials to share tips and techniques to help smooth out your skate flow. You can watch these on my YouTube channel.

Will I fall over during class?

It's very difficult to completely reduce the risk of falling on skates, as sometimes it's not just us but also factors like the surface or something on the ground that can cause us to lose our balance and fall. So it's highly likely that you will fall at some point. Wearing protective equipment is one way to reduce impact when you fall, and learning to bend your knees, reduce your centre of gravity, and regain your balance before you fall. 

Even when we're experienced and have a strong technique, we can fall because we push ourselves and our balance. But we can get better at responding when we lose balance and reducing the likelihood of having a bad fall.

What wheels to use outside?

It depends on the surface you’re skating on and the type of skating you'll be doing. Generally, for slightly textured outdoor surfaces, I usually use Sims Street Snake Wheels or Bont Glow wheels. Another popular choice is Airwaves. Although Airwaves are slightly clunky (especially for jam moves) but very smooth on rough surfaces.

For smoother surfaces, I would usually go for a harder wheel. Currently, I'm using Roll Line Mustang 97a wheels as my hard wheels. But generally speaking, softer and larger wheels are for rougher surfaces, and harder and smaller wheels are for smoother surfaces. But it's also a bit of trial and error and personal preference!

How long will it take me to learn moves?

Most moves or tricks are obtainable with the right exercises, conditioning and some guidance from an instructor or experienced skater. Some moves we can pick up very quickly, others take more time as they require the strength of specific muscles and certain types of flexibility that we already have or need to develop. Also, some moves can place a lot of pressure on the knees and other areas, especially if done incorrectly, so take your time to build slowly, as well as the flexibility, balance, and technique for more complicated moves.

Also, remember that everyone has their own unique journey with skating, and progress varies. We are all different ages and have different bodies. It’s really about not putting too much pressure on yourself and enjoying the process of learning. 

Supplementing any classes by taking extra time to practice will help speed up your progress. Check out the weekly practice hours session for time and space to practice with an instructor present to give you tips and reminders.  ✨🛼 🌍