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[queenwench]

Do any Tampa people rollerblade on a regular basis and are comfortable enough to teach me how? I know Don, Scott and (I think) Lindsay do it over in St. Pete, but I was wondering if anyone on the other side of the bay knows how and would be willing to meet me at a park somewhere so we can get it going???

Comments

[tomakins]

Do you already have a pair of blades?

The big thing I needed to learn when I got into it was that the right blades make all the difference. My first set was cheap and hurt my back all the time. My second was much better, but still not the best I could get. Finally I got a pair that fit right, supported my back well, and in turn made it easier for me to balance. I went from struggling through 2-5 miles to jumping into a 10 mile session with Don.

Besides the fitting, the best thing I can recommend are some good wrist guards. Some go for knee pads, but I found that I was more likely to stop myself from falling with my hands and would hurt my wrists much more.

If you have never used blades at all before, they are similar to rollerskates. But I always think about my movement as drawing a "V" in front of my. Each foot sliding to the top if the "V" one side at a time. I remember regular rollerskates feeling a little different.

What part of Tampa are you in now? If you are around the Waters/Sheldon area I know the Upper Tampa Bay Trail is nice and smooth. Lettuce Lake is nice that it isn't too long, and is flat and has shade, but sometimes there is tree debris in the path. Flatwoods, which is a ways out, is flat (obviously) and nice but there is no shade so this time of year making it around the 7 mile loop can be pretty heat-stroke inducing unless you get out there early in the morning.

[queenwench]

I got a pair of blades that were kind of in the middle as far as quality and pricing. I also have knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and a helmet, so I'm pretty covered when it comes to that.

I'm over by Lake Magdalene right now with my parents. They live behind Buchanan Middle School which has a track that I can use. It's also a 15 min. drive over to Lettuce Lake, Lake Park and if I head up SR 54 a bit West, then there's a nice trail up that way as well. I think I just need someone with me the first few times to really show me techniques about how to balance properly and how to stop properly so I don't bust my ass or anything else I need on a daily basis!