Skating Down Stairs

Technique and Preparation - Learn How To Skate Down Stairs on Rollerblades

Skating down stairs on rollerblades is a thrilling challenge that demands advanced skills from the skater. Mastering this technique is achievable for those who are confident in their skating abilities and have no trouble maintaining balance. Discover two stair-skating techniques by reading our guide and watching our rollerblading course on YouTube.

 

Whether you’re skating or practising to enhance your skills, always remember to wear full protective gear—never skip the helmet and pads. Choose low stairs to start learning how to skate down. Initially, three or four flat steps are ideal. You have two techniques to choose from: forward skating and backward skating. In both cases, adopting the correct body posture is crucial. If you’re not confident on rollerblades, it’s best to avoid learning stair skating.

 

Forward Stair Descent

 

To skate forward down stairs, assume the scissors position:

 

- Extend your arms forward;

- Move one foot forward;

- Bend your knees - they will act like springs, absorbing shocks;

- Press down on your heels as you skate.

 

Practise this technique several times and adjust your body posture as needed.

 

Backward Stair Descent

 

To skate down stairs backward, also assume the scissors position.

 

In this case, shift your body weight forward by leaning slightly. Look in the direction of travel and press down on your toes. Remember to spread your arms wide to maintain balance during the descent. Here too, it’s important to pay attention to correct body posture and adjust it with each descent if necessary.

 

What do you do when you encounter taller and steeper stairs?

 

You can descend them alternately by placing your feet sideways on the steps. When learning to skate down stairs, you should gradually increase the difficulty level. Start with small stairs with low steps and try to master the descent. Remember, overcoming larger obstacles requires practice, excellent motor coordination, agility, and a lot of training. That’s why we recommend training with our rollerblading course, which you can watch in full on our YouTube channel.