How to Rollerblade Backwards

Inline skating backwards is surprisingly just like Inline skating forwards-only in reverse. Following these steps will have you flying along the streets, in reverse!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Inline skates
• Protective Gear

1. Bend your knees, and feel all the wheels on your skate touching the ground. A classic saying around skating has always been to bend your knees, not your waist. Some skaters liken the bending to sitting on a low bar stool.

2. With your body weight centered over your skates, both skates parallel and square down the center of the road, push one skate out, heel first in a "C" shape. This means push it out, then pull it back in.

3. The action of pushing the skate out at a C angle will push your stationary leg backwards. By pulling your skate back in you continue your momentum and return the pushing foot back to center.

4. Now push the opposite leg outwards in a C shape. If you're moving, just push you skate out and back in, and it will create the path for you. This will continue to push you backwards while gliding on your stationary leg.

5. Continue making C shape pushes and pulls, and you'll start moving. The harder you push, pull, the more resistance you may feel from the road. Just create the C shapes and keep your legs moving, and you'll be going fast enough.

6. To do backwards cross overs: As you make the C shape with one leg, roll your inside leg to the "outside" of the wheels, which means towards your smallest toe, away from in between your skates. The rolling of your skate will push you in a circular fashion. The inside skate will also make a C push on the road, so you need to be able to balance on the outside skate. Alternate your weight between inside and outside feet as needed, and continue making C cuts with both skates, inside and outside "edges" of the wheels.

Tips & Warnings

• Use your leg muscles to push you in the C's. Many people sway their hips and lose power. Just because your legs are bent does not mean your hips should move.
• Swinging your hips effectively pushes BOTH feet in a C shape, but for maximum speed and efficiency you want one foot gliding straight, while the other pushes.
• Always keep your weight centered, and do not lean too far backwards.
• Wear protective gear, and keep your weight even! Leaning too far backwards is very common, and you will lose control of your skates and could break your tail bone.
• Do not attempt backwards cross overs until you are comfortable using the C push method with one leg at a time. It is common to roll the glide leg and begin a cross over without thinking about it.

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[bmi57]

on 10/26/2007 Great step by step, but I'm like Ray Starck about needing to learn how to skate forward first. I'm 49 and it really hurts when I fall down.

[raystarck]

on 10/26/2007 Great article. Now I just need to learn how to rollerskate going forward

[cjm87]

on 10/17/2007 finally, ive never fully figured out how to do this!

[Lung]

on 10/16/2007 I've been trying to learn this for years!