THE ROLLER SKATE.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 169, 22 November 1876, Page 2

THE ROLLER SKATE.

In view of the introduction of this popular pastime into this district, the following hints to ladies, extracted from the “ Queen,” will be perused with interest ;—-In commencing roller skating there are two golden rules to remember. First,, that the foot that falls to the rear at the end of each glide is the propelling power for the next glide. Secondly, that the nearer the feet- are together, f hc easier it is to use this propelling power. To begin, the learner should turn out her toes to half a right angle and simply walk, taking care that the heel of one foot touches at each step the toe of the other, and when a balance is obtained on either foot, the feet should be placed in the same position and the rollers allowed to glide some few inches. With most ladies, as soon as the rollers revolve and the glide takes place, all idea of placing the unemployed foot close to the employed at the end of the glide is abondoned for a spasmodic effort to place it down and get it as far in front of the other as possible. At the end ofa glide, say on the right foot, the left should be . placed quietly down, and an imperceptible pause made to obtain the balance on it, and the shove with the right, which is in rear of the left, given. The feet of the skater should appear to emerge, as it were, from each other, right appearing to start from the bail of the left, and the left from the right. From the mechanical construction of the skates, the wheels will set in a curve to the right or left, in accordance with the pressure put on the right or left of the loot stock. Although the feet may be properly placed at the commencement of the glide, no sooner is the body balanced on one foot than the skater leans inwards involuntarily, because in the event of over-balance the unemployed foot is ready as a prop to save a fall. Hence, with beginners, the toes will turn in. Perhaps the practice to overcome this difficulty is to walk with the feet crossed and the toes turned inwards. If the feet are placed in this position, and a glide of even two inches effected, providing the body be kept “ full front,” the skates in the glide must be on the outside edge, that is, the feet must run in a curve away from the unemployed foot instead of towards it. And the learner at once finds that she is as safe when directing the wheels in a straight line or an outside curve as on the side, and that the ready prop of the unemployed leg is, in fact, quite unnecessary. When the outside edge is attained and skated with a certain amount of confidence, it should be the study of the fair skater to perfect it, as there is nothing that we are aware of which equals in grace and beauty the swing of the outside edge when skated with straightened knees and upright [ bearing.