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

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

OK, Slice posted asking for more vids, and on youtube AMN asked me to make more vids showing how I was progressing. So this is for you guys Smile

I haven't had much time to do anything fancy but work ended early today so I made a vid of my current favourite combo, which I call "The Merrie Englishman" because where you have to put your weight (centre of gravity) changes back and forth several times during the maneuver, so it feels a little like being drunk (first leaning one way, then the other). Laughing

Well, what else would you expect for a combo I named after myself? Very Happy

In short, it's a Footy into a 270 powerslide on the opposite side. In full, the way to do "The Merrie Englishman" is as follows:

1) Start by doing doing a manual/footy on the leg you usually have at the back.

2) Gently plant the other wheel behind so you're heeling in the opposite stance to what you usually would

3) quickly switch legs so you're back in your usual heeling stance.

4) immediately bring that front leg back again by turning and 360ing to that side, but half way through the spin keep your toes brushing the ground as you would when doing a powerslide.

5) continue the powerslide as far round as you can (usually about 270 degrees since it's tough to powerslide forwards), so that at the end of the move your feet have done almost 270 and are sliding almost sideways and your chest has done 360 and is facing forwards again ready to walk or heel away normally in the same direction.

My camera is a crappy old phone cam, so turn the volume up nice and loud if you want to hear the slide.

The Merrie Englishman (vid one, followed by a standard footy or two).

This is one of my favourite tricks at the minute because it's a more stylish way to end a manual/footy than just falling or planting out of it.

The 270 powerslide at the end of the combo can be better seen at the very end of this vid where I'm mostly just practising standard footys. It's the last time I come back towards the camera at 0:21.

I do it quite slow in these vids, partly because my practise area is a little short, and also so that you can see the separate parts of the move, but it looks best if done fast and smooth, because doing it faster gives you a longer slide at the end. Smile

If you have a really smooth mall and sort of lift your wheels slightly (putting all your weight on your toes) you can almost "grind" sideways on the floor without the need for a rail, but it's tricky not to fall since there's no rail to "guide" the grind.

Anyways, it would be cool if a better heeler could learn this combo and find a bigger smooth place where they could get a run up and make a video response showing it done real fast, for a longer smooth slide at the end. Smile

I may have invented this combo but I'm sure it's possible to make the final slide go sideways a lot more and last a lot longer than I can manage. I think with more practise/skill, the spinning "270 powerslide" at the end could really be something special and probably a new trick in and of itself.

If anyone could lift their wheels and just slide sideways on their toes on a smooth floor, to extend the final slide even further, or perhaps actually continue the powerslide forwards Surprised

through a whole 360, by sliding the toes across the floor with just the right amount of pressure to keep going forwards whilst braking, I'd bet someone like Mike Buffo could? Smile

I mean I know from my own trials in malls with REALLY smooth marble-like floors that it's just about possible to very gently brake with the forefoot without actually stopping (to almost "powerslide forwards" as it were) so since it's already well known that it's possible to powerslide backwards, maybe one day an almost full 360 powerslide might be possible with enough skill/control?

Team Heelys - Northeast Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 1803

Is it just me? Or is ME getting a lot better??

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

Thanks

I'm having to take it easy at the minute until the stress fractures in my leg bones heal but I usually try to practise for an hour at least 3 times a week. I think that's all I do that makes me improve: just keep putting in the practise time and using careful, mindful concentration to figure out what I'm doing wrong, and what works, until I get it. Smile

I think it's a benefit having that quiet place shown in my vids where I can practise undisturbed: i find it hard to concentrate on stuff at the mall because I'm always worried about other people getting in the way, or security guards kicking me out or whatever, although the practise area isn't perfect: the floors kinda bumpy for tiles. . . it's an old corridor that's hardly been used for anything but storage since the 1960s. Would be nice to have access to a suitable half-pipe tho: that way I know I could really practise vert. Smile

Some weeks I get a big high from suddenly being able to do something I've been trying for months, but then sometimes it feels like VERY slow going. Some weeks I can tell I'm doing worse than last week, so on these occasions I sometimes call it quits, because I don't want to practise doing moves wrong in case my muscle memory learns the wrong way etc.

But yep, I'll keep trying. Smile

Thanks for the kind words Smile

Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 533 Location: London, UK

wow ME you are getting alot better!! congrats Very Happy

as for the powerslide spinny things, I've done them before, the backwards ones anyway, I like doing them best out of 180s but I did one from standing in this vid at 1:27 - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BbJI7LRpROk&feature=channel_page

A forwards powerslide spin sounds intresting, I might try it later today Smile

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

Thanks

I remember that vid. . . inspirational, but I have a LONG way to go before I can do it as well as you do. Smile

arent the powerslide thingys korean toe jams but in the other way?

but yeah i agree youve gotten better although everytime you drag the toe of the shoe i cringe.

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

kills them, i mean its okay for vert shoes but shoes like ninjas for daily wear, it wastes the grip and when you go to slippery stores the shoe wont grip w/o wheel ESP. w/ wheel.

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK