The first advantage this sport has to offer is that there is no age limit for participants - from the very youngest to the most adventuresome pensioner can put on a pair of skates and get rolling. Nevertheless, safety awareness is an absolute must for the amateur skater if he or she is to avoid spectacular falls, especially where older people and those who are slightly out of shape are concerned.

Another advantage that makes skating such a global sport is that it can be enjoyed on the paved lanes of any park, pedestrian area, harbourfront, bike lane or public square, as long it is an area where passersby are not likely to be disturbed and where the skater's safety is guaranteed. The only places that aren't suitable for rollerblading are those where the ground is sandy, dirty or covered with liquid, since in addition to increasing the risk of a fall, these surfaces can harm the skates themselves.

Although this may seem self-evident, it's worth reminding potential skaters that they should never rollerblade on streets open to traffic, something which careless skaters (especially teenagers) dare to do all too often, despite the unhappy consequences that this behaviour may bring.

The first steps
The initial feeling that you may experience when skating for the first time is one of unsteadiness. You'll feel like you're about to topple forward (or backward!) at any moment, and this is the main reason why many people stop rollerblading before they even start - that is, before they improve their technique enough to get a handle on the sport. The best way to get over this beginner's phase is to try to eliminate your fear and just start moving. And to do that, just push - it's enough to propel yourself backwards and towards the outside of the skate and give the first push-off. Meanwhile, your other skate should be positioned a bit ahead, and it should bear the weight of your body as you try not to lose your balance. For the second push, repeat the same movements but changing feet. As for the rest of your body, it's essential to stand straight without slouching or arching your back, and make sure that your knees are not locked, but slightly bent instead. A good way to determine whether or not you've got the technique down pat is if you manage to move forward for a while with your back straight and without having to use your hands to keep your balance - in fact, they can be comfortably placed in your pockets or even behind your back.

However, being able to stop when you want to is just as important as moving and keeping your balance. To put on the brakes, gently lift the tip of your skate upwards so that the stopper on the back of the skate makes contact with the pavement. If you need to stop more quickly, all you have to do is push down harder so that the braking effect is more pronounced. And, just like your car, your skate needs to have its brake pads replaced when they start to wear down, in order to prevent accidents.

As soon as you've mastered this initial phase of pushing off, keeping your balance and stopping, you can start on more difficult postures and manouevres, such as turns. To make a basic turn, just propel your body towards the side you want to head for and push gently with the opposite foot.

Safety comes first
One of the most important aspects of this sport is safety. And, the best way to ensure it is to equip yourself with devices that protect your body in the case of a fall. Your safety kit should include protectors for knees, elbows and wrists, as well as, of course, a helmet. And a word should also be said on safe-skating: each individual should know their limits with regard to mastery of technique, and not attempt tricky moves that could send them straight to the ground. One must be patient, looking to gradually improve technique over time.

If all this has sparked your interest and made you want to jump into the exciting world of rollerblading, you can get in touch with the Federaci�n Espa�ola de Patinaje, or with one of the associations that exist in the various Autonomous Communities.
Here are a few of them:

Real Federaci�n Espa�ola de Patinaje. Barcelona.
Federaci�n Andaluza de Patinaje. Sevilla.
Federaci�n Catalana de Patinaje. Barcelona.
Federaci�n Gallega de Patinaje. A Coru�a.
Federaci�n Madrile�a de Patinaje. Madrid.
Federaci�n Vasca de Patinaje. Bilbao.