Rollerblading's not just an activity for under 10s and to prove it, CLEO sent one of their own, Claire Starkey to try it out.
Rollerblading
Where: The great outdoors in the rollerblading mecca that is Mission Bay.
Targets: Aerobically it burns more calories than cycling. It's also great for toning your hamstrings, inner and outer thighs, your core (so stomach/back area). Depending on how vigorously you swing them, it can also work wonders for your arms.
Added bonuses: It's great for improving your balance and is low-impact – no jarring knees here thank you very much!
Price: $20 for two hours
I loved it as a kid. I'd strap on my highlighter yellow blades and, thinking I was far too cool for school, spend hours whizzing down my street, the wind in my hair, the matching highlighter yellow helmet askew.
Such great memories, it's hard to imagine why I ever stopped. Which is why, one casual Saturday, I decided it was again time to don the blades. I coerced my friend into joining me (double the people, half the shame) and before you could say "Blades of glory" we were doing up those weird buckles that make the clicking sound.
Getting up was relatively simple with the help of the bench, and after a few shaky slides forward (and another grab at the convenient seating device) we were away.
The best thing about rollerblading is that you get into the swing of things pretty easily. Before I knew it, I was feeling a minor strain in my hamstrings, but in a good way. An hour later and I had a hard-core flush on. Even the cracks in the concrete were no match for me and my superior rollerblading skills.
Navigating through the human traffic on the footpath proved to be a little challenging, but with the help of the hand rail, completely doable even for a rookie.
What's not so doable though, is the braking part. I discovered this the hard way. Rounding the corner onto the main street, I slid along, all cool and confident. I looked to my left and saw a car indicating, then turning RIGHT TOWARDS ME and the driveway I was currently crossing. No time to think, no time to ease into a smooth stop, I promptly veered left and fell into a conveniently place bush.
The car passed through the driveway and, while my rollerblading buddy snorted with laughter — I'm not even kidding, snorted — an elderly man looked at me with the greatest of concern and asked if I needed help. No, I was fine, I told him as I picked myself and my dignity off the ground and examined the massive bloody bruise on my thigh. And there I was thinking rollerblading is a non-contact sport.
The moral of the story? Rollerblading is a fun way to incorporate fitness into a weekend, especially during summer when you want to make the most of the great outdoors. You'll feel it in your legs at the time, and it hurts to sit down the next day. I would suggest practising your stopping technique first.
By Claire Starkey
