Start off rolling backwards on a flat surface. Then, as you feel more comfortable with the backwards motion, roll backwards down a small slope or hill. Make sure there is no debris in your way as you practice. Keep your skates on the ground. As you work on rolling backwards and going through your edging drills, do not lift your skates. [1] X Research source
Practice rolling back and forth along the center and inside edges as you familiarize yourself with the feeling of edging. Pressure should remain on the arches of your feet. Make sure you do not widen your feet more than slightly beyond shoulder width. Edging is one of the fundamentals of inline skating. It refers to using the three edges of your wheel. “Center edge” refers to the part of the wheel used when the skates are upright and you stand straight. “Inside edge” refers to the part of the wheel being used when your skates are tipped inward, towards the center of the body. [2] X Research source
Staggering your feet will help you see where you are going and help you cover more area. If your dominant shoulder is your right shoulder, your right foot will be the one farthest back. Make sure your knees are bent. If they are straight, you will lose your balance.
This helps you develop skills and confidence that will be needed when you start more advanced reverse skating techniques.
Don’t lean forward towards your feet while skating backwards. That could result in a fall on your face.
Don’t go too wide with your scissors. This will stall your stride. Make sure you feel the pressure on your arches. This means you are balanced. If you move forward to try to balance, you will fall. A scissor is a skating move using both feet where the feet move outwards from a close position, then return together in an oval shape. Linked scissors look like figure 8s. This is building off the edging technique practiced in the grass.
This step is achieved by skating with linked half scissors, similar to skating with linked scissors like in step 1. This step builds off the one foot gliding technique developed while you were learning the basics. Before you begin skating strokes, you may want to skate a few backward scissors to warm up.
Practice making C strokes with each foot if you are struggling. Make a few Cs with your left foot, then switch to your right foot as you slowly move backwards on your skates. Remember, the Cs will be made with the foot with the weight on it. The arm on the weighted side will go back as your weighted foot makes a C, then come forward as the other arm goes back with the other weighted side. [8] X Research source
