On The Trail

IN THIS ISSUE...

• Publisher's Message
• Skating Tip : Braking on Steep Hills
• Until Next Time
• Advertisement

Publisher's Message

Welcome to the second issue of On The Trail. The Inline Skating Center will publish ten issues of the newsletter from now until the end of September covering a wide range of topics about inline skating on marked trails. As you know, skating is best when the trails are dry, smooth, flat, clean, and uncrowded.

Unfortunately, this is an ideal set of conditions. More often then not, you'll encounter a situation where the surface is wet or cluttered with debris, the terrain is rough or hilly, and the trail is crowded with pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, the trail skater needs to contend with road snakes, manholes, potholes, cracks, curbs, and bridges.

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen! Only if you're unprepared. Each issue of the e-zine will focus on a different condition that you may encounter on the trails. We'll present a tip and/or a tactic for dealing with each of these scenarios, so you can avoid these potential hazards, and learn to skate in a safe, controlled manner.

In today's issue, we're going to discuss the adjustments you need to make when you encounter a steeper hill on the trail!

Skating Tip

When you are out trail skating, the terrain can change and become steeper at a moments notice. You need to relax and not tense up or the slope may get the better of you. One approach is to get centered in the mind. Let me explain.

The idea is to get centered and in a state of active awareness. In short, it comes down to controlling your mind, since the mind can't think of two things at the same time.

Skate to the top of the hill and stop. Now turn your head to one side and concentrate on finding the tallest tree in sight. Focus entirely on this tree for a few moments. You’ll find that it’s impossible to also focus on being scared. Now, start to roll.

In addition, you may want to employ the Pumping-the-Brake technique after you start down the hill. The key is to begin braking right at the top of the hill and not half-way down or it may too late, if the hill is really steep. However, you don't want to apply the brake just once, but pump it many times. What does that mean?

Apply your brake for a short while, then let up on the brake and drop into a normal stance with both skates together and coast a bit further down the hill. Now, apply the brake a second time, then release the brake and coast again for a short distance. Repeat this brake, release, coast sequence all the way down the hill. Why is this a good method?

Because it lets you slow down then accelerate then slow down again and so on down the hill. You won't lose much momentum and if the technique is done properly you should be able to maintain an average speed that is nearly constant. Compare that with one hard application of the brake and you'll notice the difference right away.

Until Next Time

When out rolling on the trails this season be aware of hills and quick changes in terrain. Before starting off down a hill, get centered in the mind to relax yourself. Right from the top of the hill use the Pumping-the-Brake technique to maintain a near constant speed all the way down the descent.

In the next issue, we'll look at an even better method of skating down steeper hills that doesn't require you to use your brake at all.

Advertisement

If your skates get really wet after a day in the rain, you need to act quickly to remove the moisture from your bearings and preserve their life. Throwing your skates in the trunk of your car is not going to cut it. The next time out, some or all of your bearings may be seized, and some or all of your wheels may not rotate freely.

Fortunately, there is a stopgap measure you can employ to remove the moisture. The Inline Skating Center has recently published a Basic Maintenance lesson, which has a section that deals with the special circumstance of what to do after a day of skating in wet conditions.

To find out more about this lesson, click below:


Skate Maintenance