Jay Jay Learning Inline Skating

Date:  June 16, 2013

 I knew how to skate since I was 12 years old on my good old roller skates and then, the inline skates.  But that does not mean that I am a good coach and now how to teach my son how to skate.  

For this important task, I leave it to the experts to do the job.

Jay Jay enrolled in this Inline Skate Summer Camp organised by Skate With Us.  It is a 4 days of 3 hours /day course.  

So, before that, Jay Jay had never touch skating before, except that he took a few days course for skiing @ Niseko Japan last year.

Of course he was very excited about it.  He wanted to learn inline skating since half a year ago, and that is why I bought him his inline skates.  And he never use it until now.  This blog entry is the entire experience of learning inline skating with lots of photos and videos.  Enjoy!

First thing that you got to learn in skating is how to fall down correctly.  Because if you do not fall down correctly, you will tend to hurt your arms and legs.

So, they keep learning the fell down action.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/8DuwetYPZmM

Next, they have to learn how to stand up.

Not so easy to stand up.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/SDehiBuY4SE

Sometimes, you will split your legs wide and unable to keep both legs together.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/ighe65-5xsw

That is when you keep falling down again.  Because you are wearing a lot of gears, so, falling down is all right.  But splitting your legs can sometimes be painful.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/U7wvdR1HVbI

Skating is like that, you tends to fall down a lot, and it is so hard to get up at the beginning.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/7NOgY_IKe4M

All you do is to try to stand up again.  And again.  And again.

You will need tremendous focusing.  If not, well, you fall down again.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/sx3Oz9-FT1g

Basically, day 1, you will see your kid fall down so often.  You felt like want to go and help him, but better don't let him learn how to be independent and pick himself up.

He has to learn how to focus.  He has to go over that barrier.

And just as you thought you are ok, you manage to stand up, your legs started to split again.  

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/V-7aw3CbaLU

Sometimes his falling down action is quite hilarious too.

But soon, he will realise that all the efforts he has put in has paid off.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/EMGTB5iLtN0

He finally realise how to stand up quickly, comfortably and stabilise himself quickly.

It will be joy when that happen, and to see that he finally knows how to get himself up and skate.  Although not so stable, but it is fun to see it.  It is just like watching him learning how to walk.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/cQ6Ogrkw2J4

A note, I see a lot of parents helping their kid wear the gears and take off the gears.  I think may be that is the wrong approach.  You should let your kid wear the gear himself.  Or at least try to let them do it and then, help a bit. Likewise, you let them learn how to take it off.  Because when they grow up, parents may not be around them, and eventually they need to learn how to do it anyway.

Day 2.  Remember, let him wear his own gears.

Day 2.  You can see that he can start skating a bit.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/ojrIEjv5jDQ

In fact, all the kids learned how to stand up eventually after Day 1.  OK, yesterday, the training was conducted in a HDB car park lot.  That is because it was raining in the morning.  

The weather was good on Day 2, so, the training resume at West Coast Park.

The pirate flag is flying...

The kite is in the air...

And the kids are skating...

Wow… He can now brake…  In fact Jay gets to show his classmates how he brakes.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/rt8HWCemeqU

On day 2, they kids can skate even more comfortably.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/78FFuGZec50

It was tiring Day 2.  But it was fun!

Way to go Jay!  Good work on Day 2 Jay Jay!

Day 3.  A very happy Jay Jay.

The whole day, he kept on smiling only.

Because his daddy also get to skate and keep fit.  This is my skates.  Yes, it is a 5 wheel skates I bought 7 to 8 years ago.

Photo taking session.

These kids enjoy skating so much.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/21SXWqwwkuk

On day 3, he put on his shades.

Looks really like a professional skater.

Still can fall down some times.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/WZ8tJCumXaY

Showing his new found friends some tricks...

Felt down happily with a smile.

I also skated almost 12KM on Day 3.  What a work out.

On day 4, he wore his Superman outfit.  And skate even better.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/sVx38fJ3PPs

I am super boy!

Daddy on his skates again.

Today, I did about 10.5KM.  My legs are in pains.  I got 1 blister on both legs on each side of each leg.

In fact all the kids can skate very well on Day 4.

He learns how to open and close his legs.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/kVul4d-8mws

Learn more new tricks.

Doing some stunts.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/iPZtaKYl87Y

Learning how to turn.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/zLmfGpfBMfY

OK.  Como on Jay Jay.  Show daddy how fast you can skate.

Not too bad for a boy who just pick up skating 3 days ago.  With more practise, I believe he can do well in skating.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/Z4eURjLuJLw

I am very happy with this summer camp.  They have taught Jay well, and I am sure happy to see him skate.

This is his full class.

Daddy, its hard work.  Look at my pants.  got holes.

Oh boy.  I am so tired.

But I am very happy that I finished the Summer camp with good result.  This is my assessment book.  So, anytime I feel like it, I can always come and join the Skate With Us weekly training so that I learn more things here.

Definitely a strong recommendation to join this Skate with Us program.  Let the professional teach your kid how to skate.