SkateLessons by Brodie

Hi! Thank you for your interest in inline skate lessons. I hope you have enjoyed the rest of the site and are interested in getting personal skate lessons. Below is a discussion of the structure of the lessons I offer, costs, location, some tips I have found useful in my own skating experience, some skating related web sites I am developing, and a brief description of my skating background.

I hope you find this resource useful. I look forward to working with you.

-Brodie

Each lesson is tailored to the needs of the individual.
Topics that can be covered include but are not limited to:

Forward and backward motion,

Turning and stopping,

Flatland tricks and exercises,

Improvement of current skills, posture and balance,

Mental approach to skating.

Lesson location is determined on an individual basis.
Students are required to own and wear all necessary protective gear and skates for the duration of the lesson. Necessary gear includes knee, wrist and elbow pads, and a helmet. Blinking lights are strongly recommended for skating while dark. My specialties include city skating, slalom and stopping

Private: $50/hr
2-3 people: $35/hr per person

Private lesson package discounts: (package lessons are good for 2 years from date of purchase)
Buy	Free	Total	Savings
4	1	$200 for 5	20%
8	3	$400 for 11	27%
12	5	$600 for 17	29%
20	9	$1000 for 29	31%
40	19	$2000 for 59	32%

Other services offered: Lessons by mail: $35/hr of video received, minimum 1hr charged. You get a dvd with the video lesson including analysis of your video. Lessons by internet: $35/hr via webcam (Skype or similar) Video analysis: (includes DVD of video taken) --with lesson +$10 --without lesson $30/hr Practice sessions: --slalom: $20/hr per person, minimum 2 people or 2 hours. --fitness/speed: $20/hr per person, maximum 2 people, minimum 2hrs Coaching: $200/mo for 2 practices per week, includes video analysis

I am currently living in the Orlando area. Having just moved here, I am still searching for a good place to skate and teach. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

If you are elsewhere in the world and are interested in skate lessons, contact me and I will let you know if I will be in your area in the near future.

Whether gliding or standing still, try to rest/finish on your outside edges. A 5-10deg supenation is sufficient. Allows for a longer glide and greater stability at speed. Did I mention it promotes even wheel wear? (inside/outside edge wear),

Work your posture: bend your knees. Your knee caps will be over your toes, and your nose should be in line with your knee caps (nose, knees, toes). Take care not to round your back. And speaking of which...

Keep your chest up and facing out, lead with your abdomen/belly button,

Adjust foot balance balance to between the 2nd and 3rd wheels (closer to 2 for backwards, center for stroking, and at 3 for rough surfaces (like bricks, cobbles, etc)),

In finishing stroke, always plant underneath your body, near or just across your centerline. An exercise is to tap arch to ankle before planting to the ground,

LOOK AROUND! Be aware of your surroundings. Practice using your peripheral vision. And by all means, if you are going backwards, LOOK IN THE DIRECTION YOU ARE GOING. I, the other skaters and the potholes will thank you,

WEAR BIG PADS! :D (with stickers...gotta love stickers.) Remember, $50-300 worth of padding costs much less than any of the surgical equivalents. (Hmm, $125 kneepads or $5000+ knee surgery and limited range of motion and activity for the rest of my life. Hmmm...)

And last but not least, consult a IISA certified instructor if you have any questions about inline skating, or if you are having any skating difficulties. The IISA has a directory of links that may help. Or just pick up the phone and call and instructor, or send them an e-mail! We love sharing knowledge! (and experience too. Did I tell you about the time my knee pads saved me. What am I saying? Times plural! Well, it all started.....)

inline.org: This site provides deals, links, news and reviews of all things of inline skating. Please send in your reviews.
skatelessons.com: Provides detailed instructions on all levels of skating skills, including but not limited to, forward and backward motion, turns, stops, maintenance, and how to handle specific terrain.
nightskates.com: A resource for nightskates around the world. Information includes parking, close parking, skater friendly eating establishments, hotels, contacts, directions, and reviews. So if you've been on a nightskate, please send in your experience!
slalomskater.com: News, events, tricks, people, and places involved in the sport of inline slalom.

I began skating in August 1990, learning from friends and the book, Wheel Excitement. While at school in Boston, I took up skating with renewed vigor and have not stopped since. Skating in Boston afforded me the opportunity to skate with excellent skaters, especially in the disciplines of nightskating and slalom. And slalom led to my experience with advanced stopping techniques. After all, the most important thing after a fast run is stopping before you hit the crowd.

I got certified Level 1 in 1995, Level 2 in April 1997, and Level 3 Fitness in May 1997. I taught the first MIT inline skate physical education class, as well as enjoying a summer teaching for Eric Flaim's Motionsports skate school.