Can You Shoot the Duck?

A shoot the duck is a fun skating move where the skater bends all the way down to the ground and rolls on one foot while kicking the other foot completely forward. I have no idea how this move got its name, but it is very fun. By the way, the real wild and crazy skaters will actually do this going backward.

To Do a Shoot the Duck:

1. Bend both knees completely and squat down as far as you can go.
   
   

   Move as fast as you can in a straight line.
   

   
   

2. Place your right hand under your right calf and your left hand on your left knee and stick your right leg forward.
   
   

   This isn’t the suicide maneuver you may be picturing, because if you fall, it’s no big deal since you are already almost on the ground!
   

   
   

3. If you don’t fall, just bring your right leg back down next to your left one and skate in the dip position again and then stand up.
   
   

   Wasn’t that fun?
   
   

4. A more difficult way to perform this maneuver is to add the element shown in the photograph above.
   
   

   Extend both arms in front of you throughout the move. You’ll be on your way to achieving that "Olympic" look.

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

_{Shoot the Duck - Photo © Marion Ennis Curtis}

Snow White Artistic Inline Frames

The Snow White Frame is for serious inline figure skaters or for anyone who wishes to do figure skating moves on an in-line skate. I enjoy skating on Snow Whites because I am able to do spins and jumps and the light and short frame makes it possible to do dances on wheels. The Snow White Frame is really for indoor skating, but the manufacturer does also make wheels that are available for skating outdoors.

• Inline Figure Skating
  
• The Snow White Frame - From InlineFigure.com
  
• My First Day in Snow White Inline Figure Skates - By Jo Ann Schneider Farris

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide



_{The Snow White Frame - Photo © InlineFigure.com}

Skate at a Roller Rink

Do you want to skate, but it's just too cold or too hot outside? Skating inside a roller rink is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. The weather doesn't have to be bad to skate indoors since skating at a indoor roller rink can be great fun anytime.

Most public open skate sessions at indoor roller rinks are two hours long. If you don't have your own skates, skate rental is available. Most roller rinks play great music for skaters to skate to and games, such as "The Hokey Pokey," "Red-Light, Green-Light," and "The Limbo" are played at various times during the sessions. Sometimes the rink turns the lights down low and skaters get to skate in the dark while multi-colored lights move around the rink floor. Food is available for purchase. Wearing protective gear is optional at indoor roller rinks.

• All About Roller Skating Rinks - From Kathie Fry, Skatelog.com
  
• Find a Roller Skating Rink

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide





_{Roller Rink Skating - Photos Copyright © Jo Ann Schneider Farris}

History of Inline Skating

Ever since I was a child, I've been fascinated with the idea of skating on wheels, but skating on traditional quad roller skates was not easy for me. I wished that someone would invent a skate that was easier to skate on. As soon as Rollerblades were invented, I bought a pair.......I own one of the original pairs of three-wheeled Rollerblades! For me, Rollerblading was easier than quad skating and I've been hooked ever since.

Inline skating was originally called "Rollerblading" since Rollerblade, Inc. was the only maker of inline skates at first. Did you know that two ice hockey players invented Rollerblades?

Further Reading:

• History of Rollerblades - From Mary Bellis, About.com Guide to Inventors
  
• Inline Skating History

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide





_{About.com Figure Skating Guide, Jo Ann Schneider Farris, Wearing Her First Rollerblades in 1987 - Rollerblades 1987 Close-Up Photo - Jo Ann Schneider Farris Personal Photos}

Inline Skating Helped Me Learn to Ride a Bike!

Some people may think that bike riding and inline skating are very different sports, but I don't agree. You see, inline skating helped me learn to ride a bike as an adult.

When I was a child, I was in a horrible bike accident and did not attempt to ride a bike again.

About twenty years passed and I took up inline skating. Inline skating gave me alot of confidence and I became quite good at it. Although I could jump and spin on in-line skates, skate quite well on my in-line hockey skates, skate ski, and even do sit spins in ice hockey skates, I still was sure that I could not ride a bike!

The years continued to pass and I really wanted to ride a bike. I envied all the little kids on my street that rode their bikes up and down the street and I wanted to be able to take a bike ride with my own children. Well, one day, I decided to try riding a bike. I went to Walmart and pulled out a little kid's bicycle and in minutes, I was riding around the store!

So...inline skating gave me the confidence to try something I thought I could never do again. Thanks to the amazing things that in-line skates can do, I feel I can do anything!

Do you have a story to tell about how inline skating boosted your confidence or changed your life? Please share your story in the comment section of this post.

• Why Bike? Top Five Reasons to Ride
  
• Other Sports That Skaters Might Be Good At

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide



<sub>About.com Figure Skating Guide, Jo Ann Schneider Farris, Inline Skating and Bike Riding

Jo Ann Schneider Farris Personal Photos</sub>

Types of Skating

There are more than thirty different styles of skating. Some of the most popular forms of inline skating skating include:

• Recreational Skating
  
• Fitness Skating
  
• Indoor Rink Skating
  
• Inline Hockey
  
• Speed Skating
  
• Inline Figure Skating
  
• Aggressive Skating
  
• Off-Road Skating
  
• Roller Dancing
  
• Distance Skating
  
• Downhill Skating
  

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide

<sub>Speed Skating is One Style of Inline Skating

Photo Copyright © Kathie Fry of SkateLog.com</sub>

How Often Do You Skate?

There seems to be all sorts of of inline skaters. Many people eat, sleep, and skate every day! Some people skate every day before or after work. Others skate once or twice a week and some people only have a chance to skate once in awhile.

How often do you skate?

Happy Skating!

From JO ANN Schneider Farris - About.com Figure Skating Guide



<sub>Former About.com Inline Skating Guide, Kathie Fry, Skates All the Time

Photo Copyright © Kathie Fry of SkateLog.com</sub>