How hard can it be?

Roller skating is becoming popular again. Parents are looking for ways to get their kids active, and it's becoming slightly more socially acceptable for adults to admit to doing it.  Slightly. I put on my first pair of skates this year, aged 32, and this is what I've learned. It may not be right, but think of this as a chronicle of my experience to date. Most of the resources online are aimed at girls getting into roller derby. Since I'm a guy and not looking to join a mens derby team any time soon, I won't be touching on that side of things. Anyway, lets learn to skate.

The funny thing about roller skating is that it looks so easy. Those guys and gals gliding around without a care in the world, weaving in and out, skating backwards, sliding gracefully to a halt. It looks so natural, so effortless. "I could do that" you tell yourself, and so you've just taken the first step towards learning to roller skate. And there will be a LOT  of steps, because its not as easy as it looks. Then comes the falling, the embarrassment, the fear.

Oh boy.

Many will give up at this point. it doesn't look so hot when you're nervously clutching the wall, with a look on your face like you're trying to do advanced calculus in your head. The way to learn any new skill is to break it down into measurable and achievable goals - it'll seem a lot less daunting, and the rewards from meeting each goal will help us to stay the course. We're getting ahead of ourselves slightly, first we'll need to get kitted out.