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

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

If it wasn't for Heelychat, I wouldn't have gotten all the advice I have, and the useful links like to the tricktionary, without which I never could have done what I did today:

Since learning to do a little backwards over the past few days, I went to work today planning to use my lunch hour to learn do a Revert. . . unfortunately I never managed that, since I found some aspects of that difficullt, and realised I need to work on other balance skills first, but instead I learned the following tricks:

"Toe Jam" (in reality I'd say this isn't really much of a trick, I pretty much did it by accident the first day on heelys, but I saw it on the Tricktionary so I thought I'd see if it could do it on purpose, smoothly, and yep, 100%)

Whilst going backwards with my right leg in front:

1) Turning round a sharp corner to the right: Can do this perfectly now without deviating from the desired course and without stepping pretty much 90% of the time - not bad for my first tries of backwards cornering.

2) Backwards and sharp left: only about 50% on this one, but I'll get there. Smile

Now here's the bit where I was really proud of myself: Last night I had a good watch of the Tricktionary before going to bed, and the tricks that I found interesting where the kind that generate more forward speed WITHOUT having to stop heeling or step, because in theory, if you can do these and you have enough flat floor, you NEVER need to step again LOL: these ground tricks are "Propulsion Switch" and "Fishtail."

Today was the first time I'd ever tried these, and I can do both of them! I was Soooooo happy. Now I can theoretically roll forever, or until my legs hurt so much I fall over LOL.

Technically I think "Propulsion Switch" should be called "Propulsion Shuffle" - from what I've read, switch tends to be just one swapping of the legs (or used as a prefix for doing a trick with your weaker "off-leg") but to do a good Propulsion Switch you really need to do loads of them, close together, as fast as you can, kinda like Shuffling but like Weaving at the same time.

And that's another thing I think is a little strange about the tricktionary: Weaving (I'd call it "Slalom" since its pretty much just going round some cones) is listed as an "Advanced" ground trick, but to me, I'd say it's far easier than many of the tricks they list as Intermediate or Basic, like 360s or Manual/Footy/Uni. I mean sure I understand that many people learn some things easier than others, but I think this one's a no-contest - I know tons of kids IRL who can weave but very few who can do a Manual or even heel backwards. Wouldn't you agree? Smile

But anyway, yeah, the short version of all that stuff I posted above is just to say: Thanks a million for your help, without which I'd never have been able to learn all the stuff I have within just a couple of weeks of meeting you lot, with like, no previous skating experience. Smile

Oh and one more thing I did for the first time today: whilst heeling backwards, switching from the left leg in front, to the right leg in front. Smile

Can't quite do it the other way as good yet - I tend to step/plant, but I'll get there. Smile

Can't wait to learn more Very Happy

In fact, I'm so proud of myself that I think I'll allow myself a few drinks tonight LOL. If I post anything crazy later, I apologise in advance LOL.

Thanks again guys, bye for now xD

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

Right on man...

I think most of us can agree we don't mind sharing what we know with others...

Very Happy

Keep skating, and I'll down one for you tonight

Congrats

Team Heelys - Midwest Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 8388607

Switch is actually just riding with your opposite foot in front, theres no change needed, this was a big conversation when the trictionary first came out.

Weaving is in advanced because theres crabwalk weaves, footy weaves, backwards weaves, etc, its not really worth creating a seperate trick for every weave, ya no?

Nice work, will we be seeing a video soon? Very Happy

Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1548 Location: Ohio

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

N.B.: Posting under the influence of fine american alcohol - please forgive any typo's lol.

Has anyone tried doing it in Wal-Mart...

When I go with my girlfriend, I usually push the cart so to help train myself I try to do the propulsion switch the entire way. You can balance yourself on the cart so you're not putting ALL the strain on your legs, and if you can work on it more and more, it might help out.

I know when I first started my legs felt like butter after a few minutes, but as I kept going, I can now go the entire shopping session (and I am in the store for at least 30 minutes)

So you hit a few people... Serves the communists right Wink

Naw, hang onto the cart and just stay on your wheels