When you first start your time at a roller rink, there are a lot of things that you might be wondering. You might wonder whether you have the moxie and mettle to join a roller derby. You might be wondering how that one guy can spin around on one leg. And, you also might be wondering what type of skating is right for you.
Picking out the right type of skating for someone to do is a fairly personal thing. We all have our own preferences, but truthfully, many people tend to go for the option that they believe to be the easiest one. That’s why most new skaters tend to pick traditional roller skates or regular inline skates as their skating gear of choice.
Much of a person’s decision on roller skating versus rollerblading tends to be based on ease—as well as their own personal assumption. But, which type of skate really is the harder choice of the two? Is roller skating harder than rollerblading, or is rollerblading the truly tough one to learn.
It’s a classic question that newbies ask, and it’s one that should be relatively easy to figure out. To bring the truth to light, we decided to take a closer look at each.
What Makes Skates Hard To Learn?
Like with any sport, there’s going to be a learning curve when it comes to hitting the skating rink. Different types of skates will lead to different learning curves. When we’re talking about learning difficulty, we tend to mean dealing with the following issues:
- Balancing. It’s true. Certain skate types can be harder to balance in than others.
- Maneuvering. Maneuvering includes issues like being able to do spins, ease of jumps, and even being able to turn.
- Weight. Bigger, clunkier skates may feel unwieldy to new users.
- Speed. Some users might find high speeds to be a little intimidating.
- Stability. Being able to stand up straight in your skates can be a major hurdle.
Knowing these factors can help people understand which skate type works best for them, and what they should expect to experience when they first go to a roller rink.
Is Roller Skating Harder Than Rollerblading?
As it turns out, much of your ease of use will be based on your age—at least, that’s what many skating instructors tend to say. To give a more succinct answer, we decided to parse the answer based on a person’s age.
Children
Children tend to find roller skating easier since it makes it easier for them to stand up in their skates, which gives them confidence in their skill. Kids’ muscles also aren’t fully developed, which means that having them stand in rollerblades may prove to be challenging.
Their youthful bodies also have another perk. Since kids’ muscles are still developing, they are able to learn maneuvers that would be slightly more challenging for adults. This leads to a lot of children becoming agile on their skates.
Since you can’t “weave your wheels” with traditional skates, it can take a while for adults to learn how to maneuver well with them. Kids won’t have that much of a problem, since their muscle memory is young.
Adults
If you’re an adult, you would be wise to stick to rollerblades if you’re looking for an easy learning curve. Adults’ legs are fully matured, which means that standing upright on rollerblades will not pose the same kind of problem it normally does for kids. So, the balance issue isn’t that big a deal.
Learning curves, on the other hand, are harder to work with. Rollerblades are generally easier to maneuver than regular roller skates, with techniques like weaving being far easier. As a result, adults tend to have a better time with inline skates than they do with regular roller blades.
It’s also with noting that rollerblades are more versatile than regular roller skates are. Since adults don’t always want to go to a roller rink, this little factoid can make them a safer bet for people who just want outdoor fun.
Is The Learning Difference Really That Noticeable?
Is roller skating harder than rollerblading? For adults, it is. But, that shouldn’t dissuade you from getting into the sport if you really want to get into roller skating. After all, there are tons of adults who pick up a regular pair of roller skates and have the times of their lives.
Though there are subtle differences to the learning curves for each skate type, the truth is that most people won’t notice that big a difference. Sure, it might take a while to learn to maneuver in your quads, but it’s not going to be a difference of months or years.
Is Learning How To Skate Hard?
If you take a look at how long it takes to learn baseball or hockey, you probably will notice that it’s a years-long endeavor. Skating isn’t like that. In fact, it’s one of the easiest sports to get into based on learning curves.
Compared to how difficult it can be to learn the basic intricacies of other organized sports, learning how to skate isn’t hard at all. Many sports, like ballet, require a professional teacher for people to be able to learn the activity well.
It’s possible to learn the basics of skating in a short amount of time, even if you don’t have a professional tutor to guide you.
How Long Does It Take To Learn How To Skate?
There’s no major difference when it comes to learning the ropes on either skate type. That said, here’s what you can expect in terms of learning curves:
- Having prior experience in ice skating or skateboarding seems to help shorten learning times. These sports have very similar moves to both roller skating and rollerblading, so it makes sense. It’s not unusual to hear about former ice skaters being able to perform tricks within a day of first trying on their rollerblades.
- Most people will be able to move forward on skates within an hour or two. The very bare basics of skating can be learned in one day, especially if you are taking roller skating lessons.
- It can take up to 20 hours of skating for you to learn how to turn, brake, slow down, and do other simple actions. That said, many people have a natural knack for skating. It’s possible to see people who are able to do all the basic moves in as little as five hours. So, your experience and timeline can vary.
- Learning how to be proficient in skating can take up to 10 visits to a roller rink. When we mean “proficient,” we’re saying that you don’t fall every five minutes, that you can slow down, that you won’t crash into guardrails, and that you can turn around.
- If you want to learn how to do tricks, expect a couple of months’ of practice at the very least. This might not be what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. You will need a lot of steady practice, plus a little bit of tutoring, to get going on interesting tricks as a roller skater.
- If you want to join a roller derby, then you should probably do at least six months of practice. Roller derbies can be pretty rough, and being able to maneuver well in your skates is a must. It’s best to practice for a bare minimum of six months before you even consider tryouts.
Which Skate Type Should I Pick?
Ease of learning aside, it’s important to recognize that picking your skate type is a personal decision. Everyone has their own preferences and you should not allow yourself to be limited on your skate choice due to the potential of having a little more difficulty while you’re learning.
If you have a specific skate style or skating activity in mind (like roller derby, artistic skating, or vert skating), you are best served by getting a pair of skates that work with the activity you want to do. Aside from that, it may be best to try both types of skates to see which ones feel more comfortable for you.
Conclusion
So, is roller skating harder than rollerblading? It can be, if you’re older. That’s why many adults who are giving roller skating a try tend to prefer rollerblades. That being said, skates’ difficulties can also be perceived differently based on who’s trying it out.
Though there’s a general consensus that roller skating is the harder pick, the truth is that it shouldn’t matter too much in the long run. The difference between the two is barely noticeable and it won’t impact your learning timelines too much.
Don’t let the learning curve and reputation for difficulty dissuade you from trying on a pair of traditional roller skates. They’re still wildly popular among adults because the overall learning curve isn’t that bad. If you like them, give them a try. Who knows? You might find that you prefer them over rollerblades once you do!
