Accessories

Excellent for Beginners
This book has very well written instructions to learn in-line skating from the beginning. It has been very useful for me to get some background before heading to a formal skating course. It is nice that the book also contains advice on equipment and related magazines.
I think it should have further figures because many drills are difficult to understand by only a written description.

The BEST Beginner's & Intermediate Guide to In-Line Skating
The most complete guide on, comprehensive step-by-step, In-Line skating lessons. It takes you from beginner to advanced intermediate in the safest way. The fear of falling is gone; you learn how to fall and get up properly. The Yoga poses are very helpful for balance, strength and increased range of motion. Chapter 7 teaches you how to stay fit with "roll-aerobics". Key terms, skate maintenance, safety, etc. are all covered. If a DVD on the skating techniques accompanied the guide on "GET ROLLING" it would obliterate every in-line skating manual.

For the absolute beginner
Just an intro about me, I'm a 40yr old male and having lost weight and seeking a more active lifestyle decided that all the times I'd seen rollerbladers on the beach walk, it was for me.

This book will take you from a never skated numbty to a skater with confidence in about 15hour sessions, I'm now over 20-25hours skating and have progressed through the book. It is quite straight forward and although you will find the need to have the book on hand during practice, it will guide you through what corrections you may need to take to finally master the skills. (Some skills took me more time than others to pick up, when I finally realised I wasn't quite carrying out the practice/tuition right.)

While I still manage to have the odd moment (almost falling) it is nice to be able to skate the local beach walk (3km's) knowing that I can stop turn and steer to avoid 'moments'.

Without this book, I believe I'd still be stumbling along in the carpark, frustrated that I wasted so much money. In my area there is limited tuition and this book was just what I needed.

I encourage beginners to heed the safety advice and also purchase 'crash pants' - I spent 2 weeks waiting for skin and bruising to heal from being over enthusiastic in attempting a hill trail too soon.

Get the book, get some good skates and find a vacant flat lot for your first 10hours - try some trails and go back to the lot to build your skills.

I'm enjoying the sport and hope that I can do so for many more of my 'aging' years.


Good Luck.

A good book for Beginners
This book is very systematic and teaches basic and intermediate technique in an easy to follow format. The strength of this book is the descriptions and the pictures that match many of the descriptions. The focus on safety and confidence-building drills "before you roll" make this a good book for us beginners. This book would augment any class. But here in rural Utah where there are no inline skating classes, the drills allow one to practice in stages using the book alone. The author DOES recommend professional instruction and says early on not to depend on the book alone...