Avoiding butt falls on roller skates

Nobody wants to fall while rollerskating, especially backwards. Here are some techniques you can practice to reduce your risk of a badonka slam. 

This video shows a new skater going from active skating into a staggered stance to coast. A common error new skaters make when they coast is they put their feet right under their bodies. This forms a narrow base which can cause a backwards fall if your body weight is on your back wheels.

Staggering your stance forward and back puts your rear skate slightly behind your tush, reducing the risk of a backwards fall. In the video, watch the third staggered stance carefully (when they are skating toward the camera). You’ll see the skater put both feet side-by-side to start their coast, there’s a brief moment of instability, which is then fixed by going into a staggered stance.

A great exercise is four-count of pushes, followed by a four-count of staggered rolling, then return to active skating. It takes strength to hold a good staggered stance, so practice, practice, practice!