This may be a ski fitness or apres subject but I spent my first hour on rollerbaldes today. I'm a fairly high level skier and I can ice skate at a moderate level but haven't ice skated for 7 yrs.
On the skates, my legs, butt & back ached just as they do when skiing (my inner ankles were also pressured painfully just like hired ski boots) other aspects of rollerblading that are useful for skiing are the balance and the fact that you can't get away with leaning back!
Any other rollerblading snowheads here? My ski fitness plan is usually no more than running but a bit of blading is getting added to the mix this year
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@tangowaggon, I used to do a lot, in fact I did it before I started skiing. At first it hindered me a bit but as my skiing improved I found it helped. I started training for a roller marathon once and did a half training but never entered in the end. I haven't done much recently although I've several pairs here. This is one of my favourite photos, Mission Bay California 2005. My daughter who was 9 and I used them for transport on that holiday especially around Venice Beach, Malibu, etc.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Personally, as someone who used to rollerblade at a good level (advanced intermidiot you could say), a lot when I lived in Paris (100kms per week at times) I don't think it is much help other than for general cardio fitness for downhill skiing. The muscles seem to be subtly different and the movements are different, indeed it may even hinder in some aspects. I think the best sports for ski fitness are cycling and running and get a balance board or slackline for balance.
YMMV and with some application and coaching you can do some dryland slalom training. I used to blade home from work from Nanterre and used to enjoy slaloming between the tourists going down the Champs-Elysees but it didn't really improve my competition skiing
Good stuff is that you are using many of the same muscles. And it's good for your dynamic balance.
Not such good stuff is that turns, for instance, use opposite movements, i.e. you turn your shoulders into the turn on blades.
I did a course of lessons in London once and the instructor had much fun on the first session picking out the skiers.
You can sort of ski on blades, but it's mostly wrong.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I always consider skiing my second sport, because my first has always been inline hockey. Most of my mates also play and so we end up going on the odd ski trip together (but only if I have already taken the family...).
For those of my friends that never skied at a young age, I attribute their ability to be able to competently ski because they can skate well. They have a much easier and quicker learning curve to those that don't skate. Of course, that may be because they are genetically predisposed to have better balance and coordination already, but that is a longer/different discussion!
So from my point of view, if you are a recreational skier who can't get out to ski; skating cant hurt. It's good for balance, coordination, weight transfer etc. But I would probably back out my advice if you are a specialist skier - in that case, listen to other pros advice!
I'm not convinced by the argument that one sport is bad for another, many say that waterskiing is bad for snow sking but my snowskiing jumped to a much higher level after my first summer of waterskiing.
For me, it is my strength and fitness that hold me back, not my skill level, I'm just not fit enough to use the skill that I have, not that my skill level is that high
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@davidof,
Quote:
cobbles
@tangowaggon, if there's a problem with spending the summer blading, it's only that some of the movements are opposite to those required for good skiing, so if you get them dialled in on blades, and can't undial them on skis, that might not be helpful.
I always found blading to be a good summer thing to do - fun too.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
davidof wrote:
This is when we used to go out in Paris
cobbles, yum
I don't think it improved my skiing though
I caught the Pari Roller/Friday Night Skate once when I was there. Quite spectacular. I only watched not participated, 2006 I think.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Years on the London skating scene, way before I started skiing more than the odd trip once a year.
As stated above inline skating would help with balance and cardio, but the muscles and technique are a bit different. Even when sensations are rhe same: the closest to inlines, for me, was snowblades, to the point that I once nearly tw@tted myself because I automatically tried to t-stop. Muscle memory can be dangerous.
Having said that, the 8 (or 6) wheels are a good exercise while waiting for the snow to come back.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I’ve never tried it. Is it easy to rollerblade up hill?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
sbooker wrote:
I’ve never tried it. Is it easy to rollerblade up hill?
Like cycling, it depends how fat you are.
MTBing is probably better for downhill skiing IMHO - you learn a lot of balance and coordination plus it exercises the right muscles.
Nothing wrong with inline skating as a sport though.
@Claude B , here's the Pariroller way back in the day they used to get up to 30,000 skaters but post Bataclan it has been much harder to organize
I got our kids on rollerblades (and ice skates) to help with their ski lessons, and also because it's just fun.
I'm not sure if it helped them last Christmas ski trip, but they certainly did well.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
My lad who skis it also plays ice hockey had all of first lockdown on inline skates on local golf c!in car park. Skates , stick, ball and cones to skate around. Sign of lockdown 2 we were back on the car park today. His skiing seemed fine when training resumed in summer but saw improvement in his ice hockey. So long as it keeps him active!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
sbooker wrote:
I’ve never tried it. Is it easy to rollerblade up hill?
The issue once you have a minimum of technique is that you're efficient enough for uphills to be no more tiring than walking uphill. Assuming the surfaces are good (i.e. not Ditchling Beacon).
I frequently used to roller blade out of the open plan office when I was a civil servant and skate with a mate at lunch times. We were regarded as slightly eccentric, but no one minded - more amused tolerance. I may still have the skates somewhere. Must check. They'll be a bot old hat - last used in the early 90ss.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Lots of people do it here with big long X Country poles. Including sometimes down the main road. Thighs of steel!