Heelychat, the forum for heelys, the shoes with wheels - View topic

Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 29

Hi everyone.

I'm new. Just wanted to say hello. Got a pair of Heely's about a week ago and I'm loving them. I picked up a pair of Strand 9165s. Are those any good? I admit I knew nothing about them when I got them, just got those ones cause I liked the style. Wishing I'd looked for a pair with a grind plate, but oh well. I'll buy some new ones later.

I'm actually interested in Team Heely's but I gotta practice up a bit, but I feel like I'm doing pretty well on them. Haven't fallen once (believe it or not) though I came pretty close a few times... I can do some 180 spins and such... Jumps, and stalls, etc. (Though, I have no point of reference, so I have no idea if I'm really just naturally talented or if these are just easy, or if I'm doing them completely wrong and a veteran heelier would just point and laugh at me.) Also, I haven't had a chance to try any vert, but I totally want to get into that.

Question: Most of the vert videos I've seen are pretty basic stuff. Guy rolls down one side, and back up the other.. Stalls for a bit, then turns around and back down. Are there any more advanced things I can look at?

Also, is there like a video library with different tricks so I can start learning the lingo and know what to work on? (I've looked at lots of the videos posted here, and most of them seem like pretty basic stuff that I've (as far as I can tell) mastered after a week. Maybe I'm missing something? (Hope I don't sound too cocky here.. Just trying to learn my way around.)

they have a video tricktionary on heelys.com for advanced vert stuff search merlyndhz or heelyhailey on youtube

Actually those stall things youve been seeing are actually pretty hard to do seeing as you have to propulse enough power to go up. Anyways after seeing that youve got stalls and 180's down im guessing your naturally talented or your pulling an emma. anyways welcome to heelychat if you look at the top of the page theres a shout box, no it isnt an ad dont be afraid of typing up there Razz

we wont bite....well maybe except for AJ. anyways for the videos on www.heelys.com they have under videos the tricktionary. its not ALL the tricks but hey it can get you a helping hand to see what tricks there are, if you want some how to's check out my videos on youtube, ScreenName Seth1230.

BTW welcome to heelychat Smile

Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 29

well maybe I got the term wrong. Like I said I haven't done anything vert, but i watched a video of a guy on this site jumping up on a curb and back down and he called it a stall. So as far as vert stalls are concerned, i haven't done any of that.. maybe they're harder than they look... *shrug*

And what's an emma?

thanks for the warm welcome guys,

And give me some advice on my shoes (current ones I have (Strand 9165) and what's a good pair with a grind plate, cause I feel really limited in these.

i would suggest going back to journeys and asking for rail 9151 or if they have torch better. i would suggest rails though because theyre exclusive or you can order them off the site http://www.journeys.com/catalog_detail.aspx?c=vendors&s=guys/Heelys&id=61845

and you DONT want to know what pulling an emma is.

Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 29

haha ok. Thanks for the link to the Trickionary. That helped a lot.

And yeah, I can do all the basic stuff, and most of the intermediate stuff (I'm having trouble with the crabwalk and the pipeline, can't seem to get my feet twisted out far enough, and manual's are a bitch, but I can pull them off for a few yards or so before I have to drop my other foot), and some of the advanced stuff I can do also.

A lot of it, I'm a bit wobbly on, so I don't look as good as the guys on the videos, but I'm doing them successfully without falling or putting a toe down. So now, it's just a matter of getting a bit more comfortable with my balance.

(also, I officially just fell for the first time, trying a manual heel stop.)

I'm really quite comfortable on them, but maybe that's cause I've been wearing them pretty much constantly since I got them (ie, around the house, to and from and at work, etc)

also remember its not a manual if your hitting the brakes Wink

but good luck. for the crabwalk just make sure your knees are completely opposite. might help to sit lower higher or w.e.. remember some people are more comfrotable doing pipeline then crabwalk so you just have to find out which on is right for you.

Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 164 Location: stl

I think you could be a great heeler if you keep up the "can do" attitude!!! Way to go.

Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 76 Location: Santa Cruz, CA

As for you Dynastie.... WELCOME and dont feel bad about getting your first style.... in ANY form.... I didnt even know they made them in adult sizes when I got my first pair(Lasers), then wasnt even aware of Grind Plates (Torches, Grind This, Rails, Evolutions, Grails... alot of these arent made anymore but with luck, someone might still have them somewhere in their inventory, in your size).... even though alot of folks here wont agree with just how "new" Heelys are in some places... it's definately a process of learning in this community, especially for us fogies....

People hardly get things "perfect" the first time, and repeat it..... in other words, you got yer first pair of heelys, GREAT! Dont bother with worrying whether it has grind plates on em or not.... it sounds like you are learning at a good rate anyways! It took me weeks to do some of the things you are talking about.... and I still cant do Crabwalk perfectly straight.... not sure what size shoe you wear, but if yer a big guy like me and wear 11's or 12's... they are hard to find, so dont fret.

Seth has been very good in helping me find Grind Plates I could fit in..... Found a pair of Torches on www.heeler-store.com but not sure Perico has any 12s left.... and they come from Germany, youll have to wait a LONG time if he does heheh. Otherwise, look on Zappos.com for Grind This (which I actually enjoy MUCH more than my Rails...)..... OR... look on Journeys.com.... they have Rails in 12s.... *teehee* I ordered 2 more pair on Friday MUAHAHAHA! 10 weeks HEELYING and Iv'e got 10 pairs now.... and most of them are for different riding reasons.

As for tricking...

Personally, I look at the following as "basic fundamentals" that will lead to the other tricks...... Forward, Shuffle, Crabwalk, Backwards, 1ft Break, and maybe Dbl Manual if you wanna look at it as a starting step to the single manual which is all ground work.... and maybe stauls if you wanna look towards Vert. As well as grinding tricks... which you can look to www.soapshoes.com for various grind tricks.

Seth has alot of great "how to's" on uTube.... check em out, and he's right about Hailey and Merlyn.... those videos will keep you informed. As for everything else, just be creative.... start comboing your tricks..... Shuffle, into Crabwalk, into Backwards, into a 180, then shuffle, then grind, into another shuffle, into a bench to stall, into a 180back..... stuff like that.... when you can start linking the tricks and they are clean you'll know yer on yer way.... Seth has amazing footwork, when yer feet move like that.... yer set.

As for riding for Team Heelys.... the first thing you wanna do is determine which Regional Team you will be applying for. Then you might want to either contact some of the riders for that team by finding them here, or find out where they skate and meet them there. The idea is to contact the riders and find out if you can get a tryout or send them a video....

I personally ride for Team Northwest and I know we're lookin' for more riders.... however I know some of the older teams, the ones closer to the East Coast, have ALOT more riders than we do, so its not as easy to get on their teams..... they have a much bigger resource pool to pull from, which as Im sure you know, ultimately narrows the competition.... as for what they look for;

Ability to communicate well and be professional.... represent the company in a strong, confident, positive light. Ive only been riding for the team for a week, so some of these guys can tell you more about what being on the team entails as far as demos and workshops....

Just think about what it would mean to be a "promoter" for a company.... thats essentially what you are doing....

Now..... these PROMO Teams, are not necessarily the same as the "Pro Team".... that Heelys Inc is putting together to ride with the ASA. These Regional Promo teams are a filtering process to find good vert riders for the ASA team....

There is alot more.... but this is already a book and Im sure someone will call me on it. If you wanna chat a bit about some of the things Ive had to deal with recently, stuff my Event Marketing Manager (you will hear them refered to as EMM's here on the site) has spoken to me about, regarding promotion, marketing, recruiting, and commercial filming.... pls feel free to send me an email.

I for a fact know though that, I'm on the team more for my professional marketing abilities, than my skating ability currently..... and that changes every day... I absolutely LOVE.... HEELYING.... its my favorite SPORT! But being professional is JUST as important....

Keep moving foward...

Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 29

just wanna comment real quick that all of you guys have been GREAT.

Thank you so much for the warm welcome and all the help and information.

I'm on my way out to practice some ground stuff.. Hoping to get into some vert action soon, but I gotta do some research on some skate parks around here.

As far as comboing stuff goes, I think I'm gonna keep working on the basics for now, cause I'm still a bit wobbly and not 100% confident on all of the basics yet.

And H2, I've been watching some of your vidoes on YouTube all day. You're amazing. Major props to you. I hope to get that good someday.

Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 164 Location: stl

My first pair was the laser as well. Now they have so many options. I try to stick to the basics, but if you need any help just say so and I can make a how to video for you.