How to Fall on Rollerskates: 5 Tips for Beginner Skaters
Wait, there’s a right way to fall?
If you clicked on this post, you probably fall… a lot… and secret is that so does everyone else! Falling is a completely normal part of skating, as you can’t learn anything new without it. Although falls are great teachers, they can be painful at times (which is kind of a downer). They also can be dangerous IF you don’t know how to fall in safe ways. That’s right; You heard me! You CAN control how you fall… sometimes. When starting out, your falls will be much less controlled and more chaotic as your body and mind learn how they’re supposed to be moving. To help your body develop the muscle memory of proper falling technique, I encourage you to practice the falls on purpose! Take a few minutes to apply the following tips to a few practice falls, as this will build your confidence and help you know what to expect. Alright, get to it!
Stay Low
Staying low is a MUST in your skating form, as the lower to the ground you are, the more control you have over your center of gravity. Being close to the ground also means you fall less far than you would if you were standing all the way up (meaning falls will hurt less, and we are down for that)!
Keep your knees bent and booty down like you’re doing a squat. It’s important to keep your knees “springy” so that they act as shock absorbers when you hit cracks, bumps, or pebbles.
2. Turtle Position
If you wear pads, this is the fall for you! This position is one you can return to when you start to feel unstable, shifting your weight onto your knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards. Bailing onto your pads will save you lots of painful road rash, as you’ll slide out on the plastic instead of your skin (ouch!).
Notice, however, that your pads focus on protecting the front on your body, and they can’t help you if you fall backwards! To avoid falling backwards, refer back to the first tip of staying low and keeping those knees springy.
3. Pick a Side
Use the “meatier” parts of your body to fall on instead of the bony ones. We want to avoid falling directly on the tailbone, the chest, and bony parts without pads (if you choose not to wear certain pads). When you start to feel like you’re going to fall, direct yourself onto your thigh and bicep on one side of your body. This will lower the chances of things like a bruised tailbone, busted knee, or complete faceplant!
4. Use the Momentum
When you lose control, you want to hit the ground and roll with the momentum of the fall. You have a lot of momentum behind you when you fall, and it has to go somewhere. It’s best to distribute it through a roll instead of letting your body absorb it in one hard smack!
Make sure to keep in mind the previous tip, and try to use the “meatier” parts of your body to support your roll. Your bony bits will thank you for it!
5. Tuck Your Head
You only get one brain, so you wanna keep it in tact! Besides wearing a helmet, you can keep your noggin safe by tucking your chin to your chest when you fall. It’s easy to let your head flop around limply, but you want to avoid this at all costs! Activate those neck muscles to keep your head controlled, as this can help keep your skull from smacking the ground. This tip is especially important for times you fall backwards because that’s when most people tend to hit their heads.
Now you can fall like a pro!
Now that you know a few ways to fall safely, get out there and give them a try! Falling is scary, and that’s okay! You can be scared and still do the thing! Prioritizing learning how to control your falls will only make you feel more prepared for when slip ups happen (because they will). Give yourself some grace if your body takes a bit of time to embrace these tips and put them into action. You need space and time to learn, so provide that for yourself!