Candice S.The internet is FULL of roller skating tips and advice for beginners but you won’t find them all in one place like this! I’m breaking down the most important topics & questions that I see googled so we can get you started as a beginner skater. *Save or bookmark this post!
If you are brand new to roller skating, meaning you have NEVER even tried on a pair of skates in your life, this post will answer most of your questions and get you set up for success.
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Roller Skating Tips For Beginners
If you’re like me, someone who has skated as a kid but is newly revisiting the sport as an adult, this post is targeted to you. But this is also a great resource for anyone who simply wants to learn.
Adults. It’s different this time around.
That center of gravity has changed lol! We may not be spring chickens, and everything may not come back as quickly as we’d like, but getting back into skating is great exercise and a LOT of fun!
It’s also the perfect stress reliever.
Roller Skating Tips To Remember
Best roller skates for beginners
These are my top picks for beginners. If your budget allows, don’t go cheap on your first pair, or you may regret it.
However, you don’t have to break the bank buying the most expensive skates out there. You just need a good quality skate & wheels to get started. You can always upgrade parts or buy new skates down the road.
Tip – If budget is an issue or you’d prefer to pay in interest-free installments, just look for alternative payment options at checkout, like Afterpay, Klarna, or Affirm, when making your skate purchases.
Here are my top picks & price estimates.
- Impala Quad Skate – Blue/Yellow – $100
- Moxi Beach Bunny – $229
- Sure Grip Fame – $180
There are other great brands out there. These are just my top 3 picks.
Where to buy skates
You can buy skates directly via Impala & Moxie, or you can buy a wider variety of skate brands through these online retailers:
Tip – Be prepared for backorders. If the skates you want are unavailable due to backorders, my suggestion is to get on the mailing list for the item and/or check out your local skate shop to see what they have in stock.
Skate tools/accessories you may need
- All-in-one skate tool
- Extra wheel bearings
- Skate lube
- Skate pads
How to lace up & adjust your skates for first use
Lacing up your skates for the first time shouldn’t be difficult, as most of them come already pre-laced, up to a certain point. But, if you should have or develop any foot issues such as high arches, heel slippage, numb toes, or corns, a new lace pattern may be necessary.
For basic lacing, check out How to lace your skates
For help with properly breaking in your new skates, check out How to quickly adjust (tighten/loosen) your trucks
What to wear
It’s important to wear comfortable, breathable clothing when skating. I also highly recommend wearing good protective pads & a helmet. Here are a few suggestions on what to wear.
- protective pads
- leggings
- bike shorts
- Skate socks – these help cut down on shoe friction.
- fanny pack – to hold small items, phone, and keys.
Mini Review: Nattork Skates for Beginners
I recently had the pleasure of trying out a new skate brand with my daughter. We are both beginner skaters. Well, let me back up a bit. When I was a kid, I used to skate a lot, both outdoors and at the skating rink, for hours at a time, with my cousins. But it has been many moons since then, and every time I step into a pair of skates now, it feels like my first time.
That’s why I was excited when Nattork reached out to me with an opportunity to try out some of their skates and share our honest opinion about the experience.
I selected 2 pairs of skates that I felt matched our personalities and needs. I wanted to be sure that she had something safe, sturdy, and adjustable for her growing feet. And for me, I wanted a comfortable boot, wheels for both indoor and outdoor skating, and a nice pop of color.
When our skates arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of some protective gear for my daughter. They sent over a set of pads and a nice helmet for her first outdoor skating experience.
Nattork Bolt Roller Skates
- Simplified ONE-PUSH-CHANGE size adjustment
- High-resilience PU wheels and ABEC-7 bearing
- Secure and user-friendly buckle closure
- High-top support for effective ankle protection
- Comfortable lining coupled with breathable mesh
- Eight vibrant and eye-catching light-up wheels
My pre-teen really liked the adjustable sizing features, the color, and, of course, her light-up wheels. But what she loved the most about her new skates was how comfortable they felt as she moved around in them.
I was most impressed with all of the safety features.
Retro Roller Skates for Teens & Adults
- Supportive High-Top Boots
- Durable Urethane LED Wheels
- Smooth-Gliding Bearings
- Indoor & Outdoor Performance
- US Women’s Sizes 5-10 / US Men’s Sizes 4-9
What I really loved about these skates was that they truly are made for beginners. They keep your feet stable for mastering simple beginner skating routines, like going around indoor rinks and completing beginner drills.
Outdoors, they performed really well on the pavement. Especially whenever I encountered small debris like pebbles or sticks that sometimes get in the way. I was also able to pick up some speed in these.
Turning was a little tight with the trucks. So, keep in mind that these skates won’t offer a lot of movement if you plan on doing any fancy footwork or dancing. Also, the boot feels good and fits well, but I would prefer a little more comfort with the insole pad. An easy fix for this would be to simply add your own low-profile insoles to match your comfort level. Not a big deal.
Overall, I was very pleased with how well these performed. If you are a beginner, Nattork Retro Roller Skates are a great choice.
Be sure to use my exclusive code ⇒ NaturallyStellar5, at checkout to score an additional $5 off your order from Nattork Skates.
Where to skate outdoors in the city
Unless you live in a skate-friendly area, you may run into issues with finding good places to skate.
Where I live, in Nashville, there just aren’t a lot of safe roller skating options besides a few indoor roller skating rinks. We don’t even have many skate parks that consider roller skaters. So, skaters have to get creative when finding good spots.
If going to a skating rink isn’t an option for you, or you’d like to skate outdoors, look around for:
* Use these suggestions at your own risk
- empty parking structures (garages & lots) – I find that a lot of commercial office buildings that are up for sale or lease have some of the best parking garages & lots that tend to stay empty.
- level parking areas
- tennis courts/basketball courts
- public parks
- bike greenways
Tip – Try to skate on skate-friendly surfaces until you’ve mastered navigating rougher terrain.
Personal safety
Personal safety is always at the forefront of my mind, no matter what I’m doing outdoors. It becomes especially important when in vulnerable situations, like when you’re skating. Be sure to carry whatever personal safety items make you feel comfortable.
- Pocket knives
- Knuckles
- Pepper spray
- Alarms
- Self-defense keychains
Skate with a partner
This goes right along with the personal safety tips. If possible, skate with a partner or find a small group of like-minded people to venture out with. Not only is safety in numbers a smart move, but skating with others can help make the experience more fun, motivational, and consistent.
Stay Hydrated
Skating burns a lot of calories and requires a lot of energy. So, staying hydrated is SUPER important. Find a nice refillable water bottle that can tag along with you to your skating location. Or, fill one up and toss it in a backpack for long-distance sessions.
Best Video Tutorials for Beginners
Dirty School of Skate
My #1 favorite video resource for skating tips is Dirty Debra Harry’s Dirty Skate School on YouTube. I love the way Debra teaches! Plus, she’s of a certain age and weight, so she understands the center of gravity and the challenges facing adults who are revisiting or new to the sport.
Debra teaches you all of the basics, plus tricks and even HOW to fall. Before watching her videos, I was constantly falling on my behind, and I couldn’t figure out why. It wasn’t until I watched one where she explained about paying attention to your center of gravity and using your core that I began to skate whole sessions without falling.
I highly recommend subscribing to her channel and watching a LOT of her videos BEFORE you venture out on your skates. It’ll save you a lot of frustration, time, and possibly pain lol.
⇒ Subscribe to Dirty Skate School on Youtube ⇐
That Nicole Fiore
If you want tips from a world champion, choreographer, and coach, then Nicole Fiore is the one!
You’ve probably seen her skating in your favorite commercial, video, or with celebrities like Gwen Stefani and Kevin Hart. Her videos are really detailed and fun. She’s also great at teaching you how to stay fit, with plenty of skate workout videos thrown in the mix on YouTube.
⇒ Subscribe to That Nicole Fiore on Youtube ⇐
Karen the Karrot
For those of you who may prefer to skate solo, here’s a good one by Karen the Karrot about skating alone and what to look out for.
She also covers a wide variety of related topics on her channel. There you can find skate product reviews, tip videos, and I also love how she incorporates videos about her Mexican heritage.
⇒ Subscribe to Karen the Karrot on Youtube ⇐
I hope this post provided you with all of the valuable information needed to get started on your skating journey. As always, feel free to leave comments, ask questions, or even share your skating experiences here.
Have you started a new skate journey or other outdoor sport?
Candice S.