Inline skating
Academy
21 skills from your first push-off to the soul grind — each with a video, steps and a clear pass criterion. You can watch straight away. Points and discounts are collected in your account.
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Where to practise
Paths, slalom spots, skateparks and roller rinks across Poland. Pick a branch of the tree and the map shows where you can practise it.
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Skateparks, pump tracks and roller rinks by region
- dolnośląskie 158
- kujawsko-pomorskie 91
- łódzkie 78
- lubelskie 57
- lubuskie 51
- małopolskie 151
- mazowieckie 216
- opolskie 36
- podkarpackie 76
- podlaskie 31
- pomorskie 101
- śląskie 203
- świętokrzyskie 44
- warmińsko-mazurskie 53
- wielkopolskie 133
- zachodniopomorskie 79
Partner schools
RAJDERSI
Gliwice
Rollersi
Kraków
RollMasters
Olsztyn
Czysta Forma
Płock
RollHeros
Września
Academy programme
All the skills in order. Each one has steps and a criterion that tells you when you’ve mastered it. Prefer to learn with an instructor? Private lessons and Academy workshops, and in other cities, the map of skating schools.
Basics
Basic stance10 pts
A stable, slightly bent stance that every other move on skates starts from.
- Feet hip-width apart, skates parallel.
- Bend your knees so they hide the toes of your boots. Weight on the middle of your feet, not on your heels.
- Upper body leaning slightly forward, hands in front of you, eyes ahead, not on your feet.
Pass criterion: You roll slowly in the basic stance for 10 seconds without waving your arms or pushing your hips back.
Start by practising on grass or a carpet — the skates won’t roll, and you learn the posture.
Pushing off and skating forwards10 pts
Skating forwards with long, calm pushes instead of small shuffling steps.
- From the basic stance, bring your heels close together with your toes pointing slightly out — a V shape.
- Push sideways and slightly backwards with the whole length of the skate, not just the toe.
- After each push, bring the leg back under you and glide on the other one for a moment. Switch legs rhythmically.
Pass criterion: You skate 30 m smoothly with at least 8 pushes, without stopping or holding onto anything.
Carving turn15 pts
Changing direction by positioning your skates and leaning your body, without stepping.
- Skating on both skates, move the skate on the side you’re turning towards half a foot forwards.
- Look and turn your shoulders towards where you want to go.
- Lean into the curve: the inside skate rides on the outer edges of its wheels, the outside skate on the inner edges.
Pass criterion: You make a gentle 180° turn to the left and to the right without lifting a foot.
Skating on one leg20 pts
Balance on one skate. Without it you won’t manage a T-stop or a crossover.
- Build up speed with a few pushes.
- Shift all your weight onto one leg: knee bent, hip over the skate.
- Lift the other leg slightly behind you and keep your hands in front of you.
Pass criterion: You skate in a straight line on each leg separately for at least 3 seconds without touching the ground with the other skate.
Forward crossover25 pts
Crossover: skating along a curve while crossing one leg over the other, which also builds speed.
- Skate a curve to the left in the basic stance, shoulders facing the centre of the curve.
- Lift your right, outside skate over the left one and put it down on its left side.
- Push out to the right with your left skate from under you and bring it back. Repeat rhythmically, then do the other direction.
Pass criterion: You skate around a circle about 6 m in diameter and do 5 crossovers in a row, in each direction.
Skating backwards30 pts
Skating backwards in “hourglasses” — the first step towards stopping and slalom backwards.
- Stand in the basic stance with the toes of your skates pointing inwards. Look over your shoulder.
- Push one skate out in an arc and pull it back in — the wheels draw a letter C.
- Do this alternately with both legs. Weight on the balls of your feet, knees bent.
Pass criterion: You skate 15 m backwards, holding your line and looking over your shoulder.
Stopping
Heel brake15 pts
The simplest way to stop, using the brake pad on the heel of the skate. If your skates have no brake, go straight to the plough stop.
- Skate in the basic stance and move the skate with the brake half a foot forwards.
- Lift the toe of that skate until the brake pad touches the ground. Knees bent, weight between your legs.
- Press the pad down gradually and don’t lean back.
Pass criterion: You stop from a brisk walking pace within 6 m, three times in a row.
The brake pad wears out — replace it before it wears down to the mount.
Plough stop15 pts
Stopping on both skates set in an inverted V. Works on any skates.
- Skating calmly, spread your skates slightly wider than your hips.
- Point your toes inwards and your heels outwards — your skates form an inverted V.
- Press on the inside edges and bend your knees slightly inwards until you slow down.
Pass criterion: You stop from a calm skating pace within 5 m, three times in a row.
T-stop25 pts
Stopping with the back skate placed crosswise — the most popular way to stop in the city.
- Skate on your front leg. Knee bent, weight over the middle of the skate, eyes ahead.
- Place the back skate behind the front one, crosswise — together they form a letter T.
- Press it down gradually, with all the wheels at once. Your hips and shoulders keep facing the direction of travel.
Pass criterion: You stop from a brisk walking pace within 5 m. Three times in a row, without holding onto anything.
The T-stop wears down the back skate faster than the rest. Rotate your wheels every few weeks.
Backward plough stop30 pts
Stopping while skating backwards.
- Skate backwards in the basic stance, looking over your shoulder.
- Spread your skates and point your heels towards each other and your toes outwards.
- Press on the inside edges of the wheels, keeping your weight on the balls of your feet and your knees bent.
Pass criterion: Skating backwards at a calm pace, you stop within 5 m, three times in a row.
Powerslide50 pts
A fast stop with a turn: from skating forwards you turn backwards and stop by sliding one skate.
- Build up speed and turn backwards, skating on one leg.
- Swing the other leg wide to the side and place the skate across the direction of travel so the wheels slide along the ground.
- Keep your weight on the gliding leg and press into the slide with the braking leg until you stop.
Pass criterion: Three times in a row you stop with a powerslide from fast skating and come to a controlled stop.
Sliding wears wheels down quickly. Harder wheels (above 85A) are best for learning.
Slalom
Snake20 pts
Weaving between cones on both skates with a wave-like movement of the hips.
- Set up 6–10 cones in a straight line, 80 cm apart.
- Skate on both skates, parallel and close together, with your knees bent.
- Go around the cones in smooth curves, leading with your hips, not your shoulders.
Pass criterion: You snake through 10 cones set 80 cm apart without knocking any over.
Instead of cones, cups or chalk marks are enough to start with.
Fish25 pts
Your skates open out around a cone and come together behind it — the tracks look like little fish.
- Approach the first cone with your skates close together.
- Spread your skates, toes out, so the cone passes between them.
- Behind the cone, pull your skates together, toes in, and repeat at the next ones.
Pass criterion: You do the fish through 10 cones without knocking any over.
Criss-cross30 pts
Alternating between legs apart and legs crossed between the cones.
- Approach a cone with your skates apart so that it’s between them.
- Behind the cone, cross your legs: one skate passes in front of the other.
- At the next cone, uncross your legs and spread them again. Alternate the crossing — left in front, then right.
Pass criterion: You criss-cross through 10 cones without knocking any over.
Backward snake35 pts
The snake skating backwards: you look over your shoulder and lead with your hips.
- Approach the line of cones backwards, looking over your shoulder.
- Skates parallel and close together, weight on the balls of your feet.
- Go around the cones in smooth curves and control your direction with your eyes.
Pass criterion: You snake backwards through 10 cones without knocking any over.
One-foot snake45 pts
Slalom on one skate — a test of balance and edge work.
- Build up speed before the line of cones and shift your weight onto one leg.
- Go around the cones, switching from the outside to the inside edge of the wheels.
- Your knee bend sets the rhythm: lower in the curve, higher between the cones.
Pass criterion: You skate through 6 cones on one leg without putting the other skate down. On each leg.
Skatepark
Pumping on a ramp25 pts
Gaining speed on a ramp without pushing, just by bending and straightening your legs.
- Start on a small ramp or in a bowl, in the basic stance.
- At the bottom of the slope, bend your legs and press your skates into the surface.
- As you ride up, straighten your legs. Ride back and forth, getting higher with each pass.
Pass criterion: On a mini ramp you ride up 5 times, higher each time, without pushing.
In a skatepark, a helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads are the basics.
Fakie30 pts
Riding up the ramp forwards and coming down backwards, without turning around.
- Ride up the ramp forwards in the basic stance.
- When your speed drops to zero, shift your weight onto the balls of your feet and let yourself roll back down.
- On the way down, look over your shoulder and keep your knees bent.
Pass criterion: Five times in a row you ride up forwards and come down backwards, without putting a hand down.
Drop-in40 pts
Dropping into the ramp from its top edge.
- Stand at the top of a mini ramp. Rest the back of one skate on the edge (coping) and put the other on the deck.
- Lean forwards decisively — shoulders over your skates. Leaning back is the most common cause of falls.
- Move the other skate onto the slope and roll down, bending your knees at the bottom.
Pass criterion: Three times in a row you drop in from a mini ramp without falling.
Start on the lowest ramp in the park. Only go higher once your drop-in feels solid.
180 turn40 pts
A half turn at the top of the ramp, then riding down forwards.
- Ride up the ramp forwards and start turning your shoulders near the top.
- At the top, when your speed has almost dropped to zero, follow through with your hips and skates to complete the 180°.
- Ride down forwards, with your weight over the middle of your skates.
Pass criterion: Three times in a row you turn 180° on the ramp and ride down forwards.
Soul grind50 pts
Sliding along a ledge or rail on the sole of one skate and the frame of the other. Requires aggressive skates with a soul plate.
- Start on a low, waxed ledge. Approach it at a slight angle.
- Put the front skate on the obstacle with its sole (soul plate), and the back skate crosswise, with the middle of the frame between the wheels.
- Keep your weight over the obstacle, knees bent. At the end, jump off onto both skates.
Pass criterion: Three times you soul grind for at least a metre and land on both skates.