Anyone can join, no matter your age.

That’s easy! You come to practice, listen to your coaches, and pitch in when we need help!

Beginning speed skaters in Austin are invited to practices designed especially for them on Saturdays from 7:00 – 9:15 AM at Playland Skate Center. The first practice is free, after that the cost is the normal price of admission or you can purchase a monthly pass from the rink for around $80 (which also includes regular public skating sessions). A helmet is required to step on the the floor for practice and we recommend wrist guards as well. Please wear tennis shoes to practice for the dry land warm ups.

All of the practices at Humble Family Skate Center are open to any skill level of skater, so check the schedule and come when you wish.

At practices, skaters start to learn safety, the proper way to skate the track for speed skating, and the important skating techniques that are needed in order to speed skate. Skaters start with dry land warm ups where they learn core drills that can also be done at home to build strength and balance. Once skates are on, practice includes how to cross over around corners, body and skate position, the number of steps (cross overs and pushes) that need to be taken every time the skater skates the track, how to pass, speed starts etc. Skaters will also learn techniques for relay races: how to count laps, body position,  and safety for relaying with other skaters.

New skaters are invited wear their own skates (quads, rollerblades, hockey skates, or inline speed skates) or rental skates.

Once beginning skaters have tried a couple of practices to determine if they want to pursue speed skating, it is important to purchase actual speed skates as soon as possible. Learning proper speed technique on recreational skates just means it needs to be learned from scratch all over again on speed skates — they feel very different and take time to get used to. Also, some speed techniques can’t be properly done with regular skates. You specifically need speed skates which are shoe type skates with no ankle support on racing wheels.

Consult one of the coaches for recommendations on skates, frames or trucks, and wheel type and size before purchasing.

The answer is simple – SKATE MORE! The best thing a beginner can do is spend as much time on your skates as your schedule will allow. Come to the public skating session at the skating rink. Wear your skates around the house. Skate around your neighborhood.

If you are skating at Playland Skate Center, the coaches will let you know when you can attend the advanced practices.

The practices at Humble Family Skate Center are all open to any skill level of skater.

Required:

1. Skates
2. Helmet
3. Water Bottle

Recommended:

1. Ezeefit Ankle Booties
2. Snack
3. Skate Wrench

Any comfortable athletic clothing that allows your legs to move freely. Wear tennis shoes to practice for dry land exercises.

For new speed skaters, blisters are virtually unavoidable until your feet toughen up wherever they may be rubbing inside the skate boot. However, it is possible to reduce the chances of blisters by taking these steps:

• Wear well fitting skates. For speed skates, wearing the smallest boot as tight as comfortable possible is best so your foot doesn’t slide around. It should not be so tight that your toes curl or you lose feeling anywhere in your foot.
• Heat mold your skates for better fit. Check with your specific skate for details and insutrctions. Not all skates are heat moldable.
• Wear Ezeefit Ankle Booties. They can be purchased online, at Medusa Skates, or at Playland Skate Center.
• Wear KT tape anywhere you notice a blister is about to form. Do not wear KT tape over an existing blister!
• Use a hydrocolloid bandage anywhere a blister has already formed and broken.