What are the disadvantages of Roller Skating?

If you’re a fan of our blog, you already know that we are huge fans of roller skating. It’s a great way to stay in shape, can be a fun way to link up with friends, and also offers a new way to spend time with your family.

Almost every single article we have mentioned how beneficial adding roller skating to your life can be. It’s no lie to say that we love it. At first glance, you’d think that we couldn’t come up with a bad thing to say about the sport. However, it’s important to remember that there’s a good side and a bad side to everything—and that includes roller skating, too.

Though skating can offer a plethora of perks, there are some disadvantages to the sport that need to be acknowledged. If you’re wondering whether or not roller skating is for you, knowing these noteworthy disadvantages is a good idea…

Roller skating is great for most people, but it’s still important to realize that it’s not for everyone. The most glaring disadvantages include:

It’s not an easy sport for everyone.
Injuries are commonplace, especially with high-risk types of skating.
Finding safe places to practice is hard.
Many people find it to be too exerting.
Finding fellow roller skaters can also be tricky.

Sounds discouraging, doesn’t it? Well, yes and no. These disadvantages can be mitigated in most situations, especially if you are serious about taking up skating as a long-term hobby. Here’s what you need to know about each one.

Ease of Learning

Let’s face it. Learning how to roller skate is going to take time. It’s not exactly easy to learn how to balance on skates, and if you’re new to any type of skating, turns and braking can prove to be a challenge. Though it’s not a stretch to say that many people might get disappointed by the learning curve.

That being said, most people will be able to be very proficient within a matter of months. So, while there is a learning curve, it’s really not as bad as it’s reputation might suggest. That being said, people who have mobility issues may find it to be too difficult to pick up.

If you are worried about the learning curve, these tips can help:

Hire a skating tutor. Having professional help will make it easier to learn the ropes. It’s also a good way to be able to get a better grip on specific techniques and learn about the sport.

Grab a friend. Additionally, having a skate partner who can help you stay on point can be a good way to ensure that you won’t drop out.

Be realistic about your expectations. You’re not going to be able to strap on some skates and bolt around a rink. It’s okay to take your time! It’s not a race, unless you actually entered in a skating race.

Injury Risk

Let’s face it. People wear helmets and kneepads on the rink for a reason. Injuries are a real issue among roller skaters, primarily because it’s very easy to fall down if you get pushed or if you just don’t use the right technique. Certain types of injuries are particularly common, including wrist injuries, concussions, and knee injuries.

Though there is a risk of injury, it’s important to note that there is a silver lining here. Roller skating is still a sport that’s known for having a gentler impact on the knees than typical aerobic exercises like running and jogging. So, if you’re worried about wear and tear, you shouldn’t be too concerned.

There are some ways to limit the risk of injury, too. These include following the tips below.

Wear a helmet, knee pads, and wrist guards. This is the easiest way to minimize serious injuries while you’re roller skating. And yet, most people don’t do it. Don’t be one of those people!

Don’t choose an aggressive style of roller skating. Some types of skating are more injury-prone than others. For example, vert skating involves extreme jumps and skating ramps, which makes its injury rates closer to skateboarding. Roller derby, too, is known for its dangers.

Don’t be afraid to take things slow. If you want to just skate around, do so slowly. It’ll be less likely to cause a crash.

Skate in well-maintained skating rinks only. Street skating may seem cool, but it’s far more likely to cause a serious injury than a typical skating rink. This is especially true if you’re thinking about skating in a high-traffic area.

Don’t skate if you are over the age of 60, have fragile bones, or have pre-existing conditions that can interfere with your ability to move. Though it may be fun, skating isn’t a smart sport for everyone to try. If you have pre-existing conditions that could make things difficult for you, ask a doctor before you start doing any type of skating.

Location Searching

Roller skates need to have a specific type of terrain if they are going to stay in decent shape and also remain safe. That’s why it’s best to skate in a rink. The rink’s terrain is smooth, which makes sure that rocks don’t get caught in wheels or harm the wheel. It also has the added benefit of not having cars driving nearby.

Sadly, most towns do not have a roller rink in their vicinity. That means that finding the ideal terrain can be hard. In some cases, skate parks will have areas that are dedicated to roller skating. However, you may need to search up specialty venues to find a better skating place near you.

Exertion

Aerobic exercise can knock the wind out of you, especially if you aren’t quite used to getting a daily dose of exercise. This is especially true when it comes to activities like speed skating or vert skating, where you can expect your heart rate to hit the roof.

A little precaution goes a long way here. People who have heart problems should ask their doctors before putting on some skates. If you feel shortness of breath or notice yourself getting chest pains, you should take a break.

The good news is that skating is just like any other aerobic activity. The more frequently you do it, the less exhausting it becomes and the better your stamina gets. Moreover, your heart will thank you for helping it stay strong as you keep your heart rate pumping.

Finding Fellow Skaters

It’s true. These are not the days of yore, when roller skating was always in style. In recent years, roller skating’s popularity has taken a serious hit. Depending on where you live, it can be hard to find fellow skating enthusiasts. This is doubly true if you don’t have a roller rink near you.

The good news is that the modern age also offers up a great opportunity for networking through the use of social media. Just head onto Facebook or Instagram, and start seeing what groups near you are doing using roller skates. You’d be surprised at how often people are looking for new friends to go skating with.

Of course, sometimes you might need to go on the offensive here and actively recruit your friends to go out roller skating with you. Trust us when we say that they’ll like it once they give it a shot.

The Final Take

There’s no such thing as a perfect sport, and that can also be said about roller skating as well. While this activity can be a great family-friendly way to spend a day (and maybe lose some weight), the truth is that it still has a couple of issues that could make it a bad option for certain people.

Roller skating can be difficult to learn. It can also be dangerous, high-impact, and difficult to get into on a social level. However, there are ways to make roller skating more amenable for you and people around you to try. Truth be told, most people who try skating end up liking it.

If you aren’t sure whether it’s your cup of tea, then there’s no harm in asking your doctor if it’s alright for you to try. If it is, then go to your roller rink and rent a pair of skates for an hour or two. Give it a spin. You might find that it’s a lot more fun than you ever expected it to be.