Former Singapore national skater and model Ziyi Kuek shares basic roller skating techniques with Sport Plus, for you to try out the next time you head to the park with your skates
Learning how to fall correctly will help you build the confidence in roller skating. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG
Roller skating can seem like a daunting sport to some, particularly if the thought of crashing or falling crosses your mind.
That doesn't need to be the case however, according to former Singapore national skater Ziyi Kuek, who is also a roller skating coach.
In order to overcome your fear so that you can begin to more fully enjoy the sport of roller skating, our host Cheryl Tay met up with Ziyi to learn some basic moves to help you master that skating technique, which you can do so with Ziyi's help in our Insights video.
Learning How to Stand Up
1. Get On Your Knees, spread your knees apart and put your hands in between them
2. Make sure your feet are not too far away from your hands
3. Push your butt up as you stand
4. After you stand up if you still feel unstable, put your hands on your knees
Skating coach Kuek Ziyi demonstrates how to stand up while on roller skates. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG
Learning How to Fall
1. Touch the floor and put one knee down after the other
2. This ensures that you cushion your impact, and are able to break fall. Always remember that you should also be wearing your safety equipment, including knee pads and elbow pads
There are many types of colourful roller skates on the market these days, the important thing is to choose a pair you enjoy skating with. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG
V-March
For beginners, you can start with this basic drill to get yourself grounded, simply:
1. Raise your knees one at a time - march them one after the other without shaking your body
2. As you march do not rush and make sure that you place your feet down firmly onto the ground
V-March to 11 Toe Roll
This drill is meant to help you learn how to glide and adjust your speed. To practise this, all you have to do is simply to roll along and touch your toes.
The V-March to 11 Toe Roll is also a very useful exercise that can be used for you to learn how to fall, and to get your body used to being close to the ground.
Host Cheryl Tay trying out scootering, a roller skating fundamental. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG
Scootering
An essential skating skill, scootering is basically learning how to shift your weight and how to push off with both feet.
For right leg scootering, place your hands on your left knee; and for left leg scootering just do the opposite by placing your hands on your right knee.
As you push off, remember to make sure that you lift your knees to close your feet back up into a V-shape.
You might want to try this out with one leg first, before proceeding to try them out with the other leg.
Learning to skate can be a fun activity, but finding the right coach to guide you is equally essential. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG
Skating
Once you have mastered scootering, skating is easy as skating is basically a combination of right leg scootering followed by left leg scootering.
Slowing Down
Remember that if you feel that you are going too fast, you can simply put your feet back into "11" position and roll to slow down.
Turning
In order to change directions and make a turn, always turn with your head first by looking at where you want to go, using your arm to guide the turn.
There are skating lessons available at Singapore Sports Hub as well as East Coast Park, and you can find out more about roller skating lessons through Ziyi Kuek. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG
Forward Bubble
The forward bubble, also commonly known as the lemon or swizzle, involves opening up your feet before closing them again to form a circle shape.
To execute this move, control your toes by pointing them outwards as you skate along, then turn them inwards. Likewise, you'll also have to control your upper body and your arms as you do this.
Now that you've learnt the basics to roller skating, it's time for you to put on your skates and head out into the park or stadium!
If you are still not feeling confident in roller skating, you can always approach a coach or professional to speed up your learning. And what better way to learn from a pro like Ziyi Kuek?