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

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

I can do backwards on either leg, and backwards shuffle, and revert (either leg), but for some reason it's taking me a lot longer to get the 180 than other tricks. I'm sure there's something I'm missing, and am hoping you guys can tell me what it is.

Now, I know the following helps me to keep balance doing the given move:

Turning left:
It helps to keep balance if I tilt my shoulders to the left, and when doing a shuffle it helps to keep my weight over whichever leg is forwards at any given moment.

Left hand reverts (starting with right leg in front, looking over left shoulder):
I find it helps me if I keep my weight over my front (right) leg as I go backwards, and then turn the back (left) foot and body, and as I do that, switch my weight to being over the already turned (left) leg, whilst I turn the toe of the right foot.

So, any tips on how to keep balance whilst doing 180s?

I mean at what point should the weight be over which leg?

I watched the tricktionary a million times, and it seems that he does the following:

1. Goes forward on his left (strong) leg.
2. Turns the front (left) foot outwards (i.e., to his left)
3. As he turns to his left, does a sort of switch where he brings the right leg forward and the left leg backwards, so he ends up heeling backwards with the left leg behind.

But I can't tell where he's keeping his weight (center of gravity) as he turns, so that he doesn't land on his ass or stop on his toes.

All and any help will be greatly appreciated Smile

Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1548 Location: Ohio

check out my heelys tutorial. It's on my youtube profile, Kain781. 180 is one of the tricks I go in depth with.

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

Still can't seem to get the balance whilst doing the spin and switch part. . .

For the moment when my feet are side by side they either slip back and end up stopping on my toes or slip sidewards (forwards from under me) and I end up landing on my back/butt, which is hurting my gluteal's.

It may look daft, but I think to give me that extra confidence and safety, next time I try to learn/practise the 180 I am going to strap a pillow to my butt with a big belt. . . of course, this does mean I'll have to practise somewhere nobody can see me, because I'd look like a right wally, but if that's what it takes to learn this I am going to do it GRRR

Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 166 Location: Toronto, Canada

Idk if this will help you but to learn 180 I used 3 steps I made.

1) Turn

2) Align

3) Back

1) This is the part where you turn your strong leg to the left if Left is ur strong leg or Right if right is your strong leg. You dont turn your left leg completely left or right just alittle bit.

2) Align I used as putting your both feet together. After you turn your leg your other leg goes beside it but not too far. You will then start spinning.

3) Back is when you put yourself into your backwards heeling position. Before I do this part I usually practise going backwards for a while. So after you do #2 you simply get into your backwards postition and you will keep going.

Im not sure if it will help you but this is how I learned it.

Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1548 Location: Ohio

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

Hey guys. I am getting closer to being able to do the 180s well - so I must thank you all for your input.

@Kain - I have your how-to vid on my phone and I watch it before my practises.

And thanks to everyone else who has helped me here. Smile

Today I am two steps close to being able to do a perfect 180:

I can do the first bit (the turning my front left leg to the left)

And the second (the bringing the right back leg around to do half the turn)

And the third: switching legs so that you end up facing backwards with the other leg behind.

But not quite the last bit: moving off in the heeling backwards stance.

At the minute, whenever I complete my "180" I end up facing the other way as I should, but standing still, or if moving, only moving off very slowly. But I will keep practising, and hopefully soon I will be pulling off 180s like they are second nature Smile

Oh yes, and somebody suggested that if I can't do a trick I should try something else for a while and come back to it, and I did: I tried AOD - and although I can only do it for short distances and have to keep separating my feet slightly to regain balance, I was amazed I could do it at all, so I am quite pleased with that Smile

So yeah,

Thanks a million people *hugs*

I didn't actually quite read through the previous post partially due to the fact that I'm at work, the other is because its still 0435...

But alas... I have found it to be easier for me to do a "180" when I first enter a crap walk, and then roll the back foot behind me... It looks kinda cool going through public like you're gonna do a 180, but then stop at 90 for x ammount of time, and then boom, complete it... So it may not be a TRUE 180, but if done fast enough, it could help you get the balance down...

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

Hey, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it! Very Happy

Sorry, but I'm kinda over-the-moon right now Very Happy

Been practising an hour a day every day for about 3 weeks now, and now I can do them fluidly and fast and never fall (hehe, now I've jinxed myself) Very Happy

Of course, I so far have only learned to do them by starting with my left leg in front, next I am going to learn to do it from my switch stance, as I always do with all my tricks - Eventually I want to be able to do any trick on any leg.