Simple Things That Will Make You A Better Skater

    Workout on Skates– Practicing your favorite workouts such as squats, burpees and one-legged deadlifts can really improve your balance and stability, it will help you feel your skates and how your trucks and wheels behave under your feet. Try and control what your wheels are doing whilst balancing and performing a squat, it will really test your stabilizer muscles, and core. You can also use your skates like ankle weights performing leg raises and donkey kicks or take them off and use them as hand weights or makeshift kettle bells!

    Housework on Skates– Just wearing your skates around the house, going about your daily activities can really help you become one with them. It might even mean you get your housework done quicker. The more at home you feel in your skates, the better you will feel in them on the track. If you have carpet like I do, it makes it more of a workout and you really have to use strength to get around the house- but makes it a breeze when you get to practice!

    Outdoor Skating– If you are used to skating on polished concrete, smooth, flat surfaces this will be an eye opener. There are all sorts of obstacles– stones, drains, surface changes, random bumps in the road/sideway – great for building your stability, core and awareness. And--because there tends to be a lot of resistance, it’s a good cardio workout too, especially skating uphill! Don't forget to wear your pads, especially your helmet- anything can come out of nowhere and leave you on your booty. Yes you may feel like you look silly, but it's better to be safe than sorry. I even wear my knee pads to a skating rink. You never know when the children are going to wipe out in front of you and you will need to take a knee! (I learned that the hard way)

    Skate Park– If you have a skate park nearby, go check it out. Most of the time there is a good variety of ramps of different inclines and maybe even some bowls, half and quaterpipes and other things that will really test your stability, core strength and bravery! Having the guts to drop into a bowl or take on a jump, even if it’s just a tiny one to begin, will increase your confidence, and it's always fun to show up the teenage skateboarders plus not only that but you will look pretty wicked. Please WEAR ALL OF YOUR GEAR!

    Roller Hockey-  Go pick up a game with the local kids down the street. The quick changes in direction, stopping on a dime and using your arms and legs in coordination in roller hockey can really help improve your agility. Since hockey is played in all directions, not just to the left will also help balance your body rather than only being able to do stuff in one direction like roller derby. If you can handle people flinging hockey pucks and hockey sticks towards you, there will be no fear when playing derby!