from How To Inline Skate on 31 Mar 2017
Here are 10 tips for you
#1 JUMP WITH BOTH LEGS
Jump with both legs at the same time, side by side, parallel.
#2 JUMP STRAIGHT UP, NOT FORWARD
It’s tempting to leap forward as that’s your natural instinct.
However, with skates this is a bad idea.
Just jump straight up instead.
It’s the speed at which you approach the jump that brings you forward.
#3 CONTROL THE ARM SWING
Stretch your arms as far back as feels natural.
But as you swing your arms, try not get your hands higher than your eyeline.
Keep your arms in front, almost as a downhill skier.
#4 JUMP OVER SODA CANS
Stack some soda cans and place a yard stick on top.
I use empty cans, as unopened cans tend to explode on impact …
Just fill the empty cans with something, else they may be taken by the wind.
#5 NATURAL OBSTACLES
Once you’re a bit more comfortable try to find some natural obstacles.
In everyday skating I do jump curbs, water puddles and potholes all the time.
This is great practice …
#6 PROTECTION
Well, as you see, jumping comes with some risks.
This is not the first time I fall and it won’t be the last.
But with gloves to protect my hands and knee pads, no problem.
Elbow pads or long sleeves and padded underwear for hip protection are good to wear as well.
#7 WARM UP
I only jump after I’m fully warmed up.
At least for bigger jumps that’s very important.
Also, if you are not used to jumping at all I strongly recommend you take it easy the first few sessions.
Else you can expect stiff muscles for a week afterward.
#8 SKATES
Today I’m jumping with urban skates.
But I used to jump with fitness skates.
Both types can be used for sure, but the urban skates definitvely are better.
They have much more rubber on the wheels, which absorb shock.
They even feature a dedicated shock absorber in the heels, and I really do notice it helps.
#9 SOFT LANDING
But the landing itself is the most important.
Try to make it as soft as you can.
#10 FANCY JUMPING
Try to grab your feet in air. It may look cool, maybe, I don’t know, but it does practice your balance.
Another trick is to put your skates sideways to jump over even higher obstacles.
Maybe I could have jumped over seven cans here? I’ll try that next time.
But, put down your skates quicker than me … unless you want to land on one leg …
COMMENTS
When my aim is to jump high I never have a problem with balance.
Even if technically I don’t do it that well, and I flap my arms, I mean wings, like a seagull,
the high jumps are okay and I never get off balance.
However, with long jumps I still struggle sometimes.
Especially when I am concerned that I won’t jump far enough, the instinct of leaping
forward kicks in. This puts me off balance, which in turn triggers this windmilling thing
where the arms go way too hig over my head and then backward.
It’s not a nice feeling at all, and a few times I’ve got so off balance I’ve fallen.
The higher the speed the more likely I’m to get off balance, so I really recommend
you wear kneepads and gloves or wristguards. Long sleeves or elbow pads
are good as well, and I do also wear padded underwear to protect my hips.
It’s good to practice jumping over grass. If your timing is off or
you jump too short, so your skate land on grass, you’ll naturally start to run but not fall – hopefully.
Some reasurring words at last. Jumping is really a lot of fun when you get the balance right.
Just practice on a safe place wearing protection and I promise you’ll get there very soon.
Oh btw, today I’m on a new pair of skates. It got smaller wheels and a harder boot than I’m used too.
The speed isn’t as high as with my old big wheel long frame skates but the control definitively is better.
Stay tuned for an upcoming review of these skates.