1. Forward Skating:
Forward skating is an extremely important skill for roller skaters and must be mastered first before attempting other techniques. It involves keeping balance on the skates while propelling oneself forward with a combination of strides and body movement. It is important to keep the head up and look ahead while skating, as this will give one more balance and control.
2. Backward Skating:
Backward skating is an advanced skill that requires practice and mastery of forward skating first. It involves propelling oneself backward with a combination of strides, body movement and backwards crossovers. Just like forward skating, the head must be kept up while skiing in order to maintain balance and control over one's speed.
3. Turning/Stopping:
Turning and stopping are important skills for roller skaters to master as it will enable them to maneuver around obstacles or other skaters on the rink safely and confidently. For turning, one needs to practice using their toe-stops (or heels) combined with body weight shifting abilities in order to turn cleanly and safely. As for stopping, one needs to practice using their toe-stops (or heels) combined with body weight shifting abilities in order to stop quickly and smoothly.
4. Jumping/Hopping:
Jumping and hopping are great skills for roller skaters as they allow them to propel themselves higher off the ground which can be used for tricks or clearing obstacles. To jump or hop, one needs to bend their knees slightly and push off from the ground with a combination of power generated from both legs.
5. Crossovers/Striding:
Crossovers are important skills for roller skating as it allows one to change direction or speed up quickly on the rink by transferring weight from one foot to another. To do a crossover, one needs to practice moving the weight from one side to the other quickly, while striding involves keeping both feet on the ground and pushing off with each step in order to propel oneself forward.