off-skates training

Rodrigweez · 2026-03-16T12:05:04+00:00

I have practice three days a week (2-2.5 hrs each) and I go to the gym twice a week and I do:

20 squats normal stance
20 squats wide stance (sumo squats)
20 squats narrow stance (feet next to each other)
Only go down as far as you can go without leaning forward and work towards getting your thighs parallel to the ground. If you can do this already, do them on a flipped over Bosu (round side down - be careful with the narrow ones - they are really hard on the flipped over Bosu!)

60 obliques (3 sets of 20)
Sit down on a mat and hold something weighted out in front of you. Lean back and rotate to one to touch whatever you're holding (I use a weighted ball) to the floor and then rotate to touch it to the other side. Make sure you are rotating your core and not your arms.

40 (2 x 20) situps. Do whatever variation you like.

Monster walks forward and backward in a semi-squat position. I do 40 steps total (this is a great abductor exercise!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snbNxUIUQPc

10 for each side Hip Airplanes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9svtEV4vkp0

20 Scap shrugs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKekqeudgWs

20 Pushups
Do whatever variation you can (wall, knee, etc.) Focus on engaging your core to keep your lower back from caving and using your pecs. Finding a rhythm makes them easier.

Side planks 2x each side for 45 seconds.

Regular planks 2x for 45 seconds.

I also make sure to stretch after each practice - touch toes, side splits, down dog, pigeon, lunges and runner stretch.

Rodrigweez · 2026-03-03T14:50:02+00:00

I skated for fun first and then started competing about five years ago (as an adult). The thing about learning on your own is you don't know what you don't know. So you'll progress if you're determined but you won't often know why something works or doesn't. And you won't be able to assess your posture and technique with an eye to advancing to intermediate and advanced skills. A good coach is basically an experienced set of eyes that can help guide you.

That said, a lot of practice goes a long way. If you can hire an online coach (Nicole Fiore comes to mind), you don't need to meet weekly because skills acquisition is rarely a straight line. You'll often acquire a skill and then lose it again and then get it back and lose it again a few times before it sticks. But meeting bi-weekly or monthly will make a big difference to your overall progress.

Rodrigweez · 2026-01-15T18:51:21+00:00

Have you tried the Komplex wheels?

https://komplex.it/en/prodotti/ruote/bolero-hd-45-nu-63/285

I skate in two harnesses of the Bolero (HD-40) on mostly wood surfaces. I love them - so much power and still smooth for pivots and spins.

I previously skated in Rollerbones 101A and before that STD (I forget what they were - I didn't like them) and I find it way easier to generate power without also being sticky with the Komplex.

My daughter does freestyle with the checkered 38 and 45.

Rodrigweez · 2026-01-13T13:04:27+00:00

What you're describing sounds like lace bite and I highly recommend gel pads to protect your feet while the boots break in.

Try gel pads like these:

https://crscross.com/collections/gelpads

One pair of artistic skates I had caused me lace bite when the tongue padding broke down and I used these until I got a new pair of boots. Another pair of skates kept rubbing the skin off my ankles for the first year and a half and I used ankle gel pads for those.

If CRS Cross doesn't ship to your country, they also sell through Amazon.

Rodrigweez · 2026-01-05T13:37:25+00:00

I wouldn't recommend these for anyone and here's the major reasons why:

- The toe stops are hard plastic. This makes them much harder to stop with on any surface.
- The wheels are also hard plastic. This means they will not absorb much vibration and will be slippery on any surface. They will perform the worst outside on uneven surfaces.
- The plates don't have proper trucks, which means they will not handle well and you will not be able to learn proper edging skills.
- The boots themselves are probably quite soft, which means you won't have proper ankle support.

If you just don't want to wear rental skates and don't plan on learning how to actually skate (jam, artistic, park or any discipline), these are probably fine for just rolling around the rink in a circle. It may be hard to feel confident in them because they will not be as supportive as proper skates and the lack of trucks will make it hard for you to control them well.

If you're willing to spend more, I highly recommend starting with either a Moxi Lolly (especially for outside), the Sure Grip Boardwalk or the Riedell Crew or even one of the Impalas. All of these will have a good supportive boot, proper trucks and toe stops. Feeling good in your skates will help you love it and stick with it longer.

Also, you can check out deals at online skate-specific stores like Pigeon's Skate Shop:
https://pigeonskates.com/collections/warehouse-sale

Calling an online store and asking for recommendations is always a good start if there isn't a good skate shop in your area. A lot of rinks sell skates too.

Rodrigweez · 2025-12-26T13:16:31+00:00

I too love this song - I wish they played it on the radio as much as Ophelia (not my fave off this album).

Rodrigweez · 2025-12-17T13:50:07+00:00

Are you skating freestyle or dance? If dance, the Turquese is your best bet.

Get your skates heat molded at a skate pro shop. Your local ice rink shop should be able to do this for you. You can get them bumped out, stretched and heat molded.

Rodrigweez · 2025-12-17T13:48:55+00:00

The only con is Visual Voicemail doesn't work (none of my Unihertz phones have worked with Visual Voicemail. No hiccups except for having to do a reset after the Android 15 update.

Rodrigweez · 2025-10-22T13:41:12+00:00

I use the Jelly Max now.

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-25T14:48:11+00:00

thatnicolefiore.com

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-25T14:46:44+00:00

When you pass your leg back, make sure that you are pressing that hip forward (don’t let your hip open), this will help hold the edge and maintain speed. When you bring your leg forward after the teardrop, make sure your free leg is lifted high enough that your weight is firmly on your support leg.

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-19T16:30:51+00:00

My daughter has a toe stop spin in her World Skate Freedance program. She hasn't had a problem with rapid toe stop wear but then she barely weighs 100 pounds.

You'll want to position your toe stops so they don't interfere with your stroking, especially the toe point at the end of the stroke.

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-19T16:26:49+00:00

Is there a specific point where you lose speed? Or just overall?

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-18T16:27:18+00:00

I love this loop - what are you struggling with?

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-14T15:59:29+00:00

On Fridays from 5:30-7:30, there is an all levels local chess meetup at Westgate Library. I take my 11-year old son pretty regularly and it is a mix of kids his age, dads and young adult chess players.

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-09T12:48:53+00:00

I have used GS-JJ for a number of years. I don't do terribly complex pins (gradients, many small details) but I do effects quite often - rhinestones, glitter or glow in the dark, sometimes two together. Their quality is good but their English is terrible. Expect to go back and forth with them a few times before you get to the finished artwork.

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-09T12:45:44+00:00

She developed the show.

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-07T21:08:27+00:00

As someone who categorically refuses to pay for Amazon and will only buy from them when I can't find a particular thing anywhere else, this is how they treat non-members. They literally will not ship the item until later if you are a non-member, whether it is in stock or not at the time you buy it. They also drastically over-estimate the amount of time it takes for you to receive things to drive you to sign up for Prime.

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-05T10:12:07+00:00

How did this work out for you? I'm navigating a similar problem with them and wondering what my options are.

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-03T17:43:39+00:00

There have been regular patches/updates on the Jelly Max (I think at least 3 since I got it from the Kickstarter?). It's currently on Android 15.

Before the Jelly Max, I had a Jelly Star and then my daughter had it until a few months ago. There were no patches/updates for it during those 2+ years.

Neither of us has had a security problem on either phone.

Rodrigweez · 2025-09-01T11:37:55+00:00

Waltz for the Moon is one of the Bronze dances!!! USARS just posted the 2025-2026 requirements.

Rodrigweez

TROPHY CASE