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

Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 291 Location: Washington, USA

I'm 28 and new to heelys. as I get better on the flat, I start thinking that I'd like to try some vert. I've been playing on shallow ramps around campus, but I'd like to know how hard it is to learn to drop in.

Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 223 Location: Warshington, USA

hey, wondercheese!
I've been debating that one myself. I can't drop in yet, but I get tempted every time I drive past one of the parks in town or watch a video of someone doing vert on Heelys. One tip I've seen more than once is to lean forward when dropping in. I'm guessing you'll end up on your back side if you don't. Wink

What part of WA are you in, by the way? I'm in Auburn, which is about 1/2 way between Seattle and Tacoma.

Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1548 Location: Ohio

Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 469 Location: Ol' Virginny

got good med insurance?? lol

If you've got the 'drive' to do it, you'll succeed.

Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 291 Location: Washington, USA

Yeah, I have a friend who skate boards and he's been bugging me to go tot he skate park with him. I htink he wants to laugh at me....! Now that I have a decent pair of Heelys, it's more temping. I'm currently in Pullman (as far East as you can get in still be in WA), but I don't know where I'll end up once I get my PhD! I used to live in Auburn, but I was in the 1st-3rd grade then! I've lived all over WA. I think maybe I'll stick to wheelchair ramps for now, and get more comfortable with heeling, maybe learn to switch feet first, before I think about learning to drop in!

Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 291 Location: Washington, USA

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

If you're 28 .. you're a pup.

Its not about how old you are (if age really means nothing).

What matters is the shape you're in; and what's your aversity to risk.

If you start small (2 ft ramp) and work your way up, then you should be fine. Gear helps.

In the end, skating (of all forms) is prone to busting. Eventually, you bust. That's just a fact of life. Then you have to decide if its worth getting back up, and going at it again.

That's my .02
MDHZ

Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 567 Location: Centerville, Ohio

I'm 19 years old, 250lbs. and I drop in.

Careful with Rumbles though. The wheel well is moved further toward the middle of the shoe making the break feel sorta huge, and it's much harder to not drag that when dropping in. You'll probably want to drag at first though.

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

I personally think that starting super small .. and not dragging is better.

You don't want to develop bad habits. Once you start down the path of gimping, forever will it dominate your destiny.

MDHZ

Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1548 Location: Ohio

Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 291 Location: Washington, USA

Looking at me, you'd think I was in very bad shape, but I'm actually in pretty good shape. I have pretty good balance, and LOTS of leg strength, I'm almost a black belt in karate, I swim, do yoga and work in agricultural fields all summer (the joy of soil science). I think if I really decided I wanted to, I could probably learn. I know how to fall (karate teaches that first), and would wear all the safety gear I could get my hand on! Defininatly would start as small as possible!!!!

I've noticed that it's really easy to break with the Rumbles. I'll have to work that out first, but then I've only had them for 1 day.....! I keep dragging my back foot. It's getting better, but as soon as my muscles get tired, I start dragging again.

Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 567 Location: Centerville, Ohio

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

HAHAHA . Wonder, you should wear a sumo suit ... that would be awesome!!

Man .. I'm still waiting for a video of someone doing that.

Gimping is when you touch down to slow yourself or re-center your balance when going down a ramp. This is different than planting, which is used to get more speed. Gimping is a bad thing. It makes Heeling look like its for wusses. And while I don't think any of us direly need to become a bad-ass skater, I don't want us to portray wusses either.

Also (more importantly) .. when gimping at high speeds .. you'll get the reverse effect and smash your face. The more you gimp, the more it becomes a reflex. Break the habit early if you can.

See here:
http://www.heelychat.com/viewtopic.php?t=1087&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=gimp

MDHZ

Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 291 Location: Washington, USA

[quote="merlyn_DHC"]HAHAHA . Wonder, you should wear a sumo suit ... that would be awesome!!

Yeah, the sumo suit would be awesome!!!! I was thinking about bubble wrap...

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

You'd definitely get points for bubblewrap.