Typically, skate weights enhance your skating speed, increase leg strength, and boost endurance. With many popular options in the market, you can choose the ideal one that comes with multiple weights and a patented fitting system that allows you to skate in them comfortably. However, one question that many skaters, especially the aspiring ones ask is whether these weights work?
In general, skate weights do work. A lot of skaters and ice hockey players testify to the awesomeness of skate weights. They boost their endurance and enhances their skating speed. Best of all, the best ones out there are super durable and easy to fit into the skates. However, they have their downsides.
Are Skate Weights Ideal for Beginners?
While several professional skaters applaud skate weights and their performance, they might not be ideal for beginners or those who skate for the fun of it. First, putting weights into your skates will cause your lower body undue stress. In addition, the weights can cause you to develop poor skating techniques. If you have a super low BMI, your legs might not carry the weights, even though some of them are adjustable.
At first, you might not feel the pain because you are just starting. You may even enjoy skating in them because you find it so easy to have them on. But, in the long run, while you are skating, you will start to feel the weights getting to your legs. The pressure becomes unbelievable, and that’s when it gets tougher to attain good speed and stability. Eventually, you end up frustrated.
Roller skates themselves weigh about 3kg and can accommodate body weights around 220 lbs. Adding skate weights to that will increase the total weight, so imagine having to put up with all those weights – your body, the skates, and the weights. It can give you heartaches.
Should You Still Opt for Skate Weights?
You could still purchase skate weights if you have calculated the risk factors. Whether you are a beginner or a regular, adding skate weights will help you tremendously. You will achieve more speed and better endurance with them. But, in the long run, the weights will get to your legs and make it hard for you to continue skating.
So, here’s what we recommend, purchase skate weights if you are not worried about the long-term effects on your legs, the chronic injuries they cause and want to improve your endurance. There are other ways you can enhance your speed, endurance and boost your leg strength. One of them is exercises or workouts.
Exercises like jumping squats will improve your leg strength. Skating is muscle-draining, so you need to make sure that you prepare all parts of your body, especially the legs. Exercises are a much better alternative to weights but depend on the skater.
Skating Exercises for Beginners
Since roller skating utilizes the muscles of the core and thigh, your body must have endurance and the required strength to cope with the physicality of the sport. You must engage in some warmup exercises to get the body parts prepared.
Here, we will discuss some low-intensity exercises to tone your muscles, tighten the cores and glutes, and build up your endurance.
Skate Position
Skate position is a simple exercise that strengthens the legs, glutes, hip flexors, and shoulders. It also works on your back by straightening it. Keep your feet and shoulder apart, bend your knees at 45° with your toes forward. Push one of the legs to the side while your knees are still bent. Bring back the leg and take out the other.
Calf Raise
Calf raise strengthens the calves, quads, and also the lower back. Keep the feet and shoulder apart; bend forward slightly for thirty seconds and rise on your feet. Repeat this exercise as many times as you want.
Leg Lifts
Leg lifts works on your buttocks, abductors, and legs. Keep your shoulder and legs apart; push your hips back slowly and lower into a semi-squat position. Lift your right leg off the ground and return it to the position. Do the same to your left leg. Keep alternating for at least 20x each.
Squats
Squats are straightforward exercises. Maintain a straight posture; push one of the legs forward and bend the other knee while lowering your body. After a few seconds, stand on your feet and switch to the other leg. Repeat the exercise for 10 – 15 reps on each leg.
Lunges
This exercise is super effective and works on all parts of the lower body. For this exercise, stand on your feet and extend one of your legs. Lower your body slowly so that the knee of the extended leg stays at 90°. Maintain the position for some seconds and alternate with the other leg.
Conclusion
Skate weights adjust conveniently and allow you to load your skate as desired for better performance. However, they might not be ideal for you in the long run. Skate weights can give you chronic injuries, cause you undue stress, and make you develop poor skating techniques. You can do better without them, but you need to pay more attention to exercise. Exercises, whether low or high-intensity, can give your body the desired result.
