My daughter went to a party recently at a favourite skate park of mine as a child. The place is called Roller City and it was the go-to place for my friends and me as teens. Skating was something I always enjoyed as a child. When I look back, there were many benefits to skating – it was a fun pastime, it kept us fit and gave us a safe place to meet our friends and be teens! Our parents made sure we could all skate and some even paid for lessons so we could learn.
There are lots of reasons you might not have learned to skate as a child. Maybe you were told it wasn’t for girls or there was nowhere for you to practise. Or perhaps you just weren’t interested at the time but you’ve taken an interest as an adult. It’s never too late to learn something new, especially when it’s something that can keep you healthy and active. Skating is something that has several forms and you can learn to do it in a few different ways, so why not take the bull by the horns and just do it? Here’s how you can get started.
Decide What Type of Skating You Want to Learn
First of all, think about what learning to skate means to you. You might already have a good idea of this. But if you don’t, you should consider the different types of skating. Do you want to learn how to use a skateboard, roller skates, or perhaps inline skates? Maybe you’ve always wanted to ice skate. Within these broad categories, there are different options too. Do you want to be able to travel on a skateboard or do tricks with it? Are you interested in figure skating, speed skating, or even ice hockey?
Explore Anything You Might Need
Skating can have pretty low entry-level costs. You don’t necessarily need to rush out and buy a lot of stuff, and you can even rent some things. But you will probably need a couple of essentials, and you won’t want to spend too much right away. Try looking for good deals on what you need, whether it’s your main skating equipment or protective items. Look in seasonal sales to find Black Friday skateboards or discounts on knee and elbow pads. Consider whether you might need a helmet to protect your head too.
Find Somewhere to Practise
If you want to learn to skate, you need somewhere to practise your skills. This could be as simple as your local park if you want to learn the basics of using a skateboard, roller skates or rollerblades. Some local parks even have ramps if you want to learn some tricks. Skate parks are another option, where you can benefit from ramps and other equipment. If you want to learn to ice skate, you’re going to need a rink. You can also explore roller rinks if you want to master roller skates.
Get Involved with the Community
One of the best things about any kind of skating is that there can be a great community around it. And don’t make the mistake of thinking that it’s all children and teenagers. Plenty of older people skate too. But you’ll also find that a lot of young people are keen to welcome anyone into the community and are generous with the advice and help they provide. You can get tips and support from others who have been on the same journey as you.
It’s never too late to learn to skate. Get started today and add a fun and interesting skill to your repertoire. It’s something I am going to pick up again as an adult!
For similar posts, see my Hobbies category.
