Social networking for inline skaters

Is it me or the skates?

Hello, I'm a newbie to inline skating. I bought a pair of K2 Exo skates over the weekend. When I tried them on at Sports Authority they felt great. I even skated around the store and they still felt great.

My problem is this. Once I got out on the street and skated for about 5 minutes, the wheels began to bow inward and I could not skate smoothly. It became a terrible strain on my ankles just to maintain an even stride! Is my form incorrect? Do the axles need to be heat molded? I thought perhaps the boots are stretching after they heat up. Or did I just buy a pair of really cheap skates? Anybody ever experience this?

Tags: problem

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Permalink Reply by Jim White on June 15, 2009 at 9:05pm: Axles do not need to be heat molded. Boots do not stretch much because of heating. Best for you to find a few experienced skaters who can watch you skate, and look at your skates when you are using them. One question that would help towards some understanding: Before you start skating, can you easily stand still, and be well balanced on your skates (without your wheels bowing inward)? After you have skated for 10 minutes, if you stand still, does it feel the same as before you started to skate? If not, is it because your ankles are bending more, or because the skates are sliding on your feet, or because the wheels/axles/frames are bending on the skate boot?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael Haley on June 16, 2009 at 7:52pm: Thanks Jim. I think my skates are a little loose. I tried putting insoles in the boots tonight and it helped. I may have bought a size too big. I can't return them now because they are all scratched up. LOL. I'll let you know what I come up with.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Burnson on June 17, 2009 at 11:24am: Hi, Michael. ... Sorry I didn't respond sooner. ... Try walking around on a carpeted floor for a while. ... As you walk, land your skates so your wheels are straight up and down. Practice that for a while. Then go outside. ...
... And read this Skate Tip of the Week:
http://www.inlineplanet.com/2007-07/edging.html

Hope that helps! - Robert; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ann Ledesma on June 20, 2009 at 7:30pm: Wow, sorry to hear that.....i've skated on K2 EXO 60 for many years and loved them, only stopped using them when i purchased the K2 hi-lo skate. Its interesting that in the store they felt great and acted up on the street. What I would do is return this pair to the store (Sports Authority has a return policy and I believe K2 offers one also.) Try another pair and if those have the same problem, maybe there is something about that particular model that doesnt work for you. Feet are funny. I use only K2. The one time I tried a rollerblade model I pronated the right boot so far out that it was parallel to the plate. I gave them to a friend and they worked great for her. Go figure....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael Haley on June 20, 2009 at 7:44pm: Thanks for the feedback. I did go back to Sports Authority and exchanged them. I got the same model (Exo black and silver), just a size smaller. They do fit better. I've been wearing them in the house to make sure I can move around OK before I go outside again. It's been raining here in Virginia. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ann Ledesma said:
Wow, sorry to hear that.....i've skated on K2 EXO 60 for many years and loved them, only stopped using them when i purchased the K2 hi-lo skate. Its interesting that in the store they felt great and acted up on the street. What I would do is return this pair to the store (Sports Authority has a return policy and I believe K2 offers one also.) Try another pair and if those have the same problem, maybe there is something about that particular model that doesnt work for you. Feet are funny. I use only K2. The one time I tried a rollerblade model I pronated the right boot so far out that it was parallel to the plate. I gave them to a friend and they worked great for her. Go figure....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael Haley on June 21, 2009 at 12:12am: Hey, I went around the block about ten times tonight! Smaller-size skates is what I needed. I'm going faster and getting better at stopping. I really worked up a sweat and it felt great. I think my right ankle is a little weak. I injured it during track and football way back in high school, and I think it's affecting my skating. After a while I still have trouble keeping my right foot straight. Strange, I don't really notice it when I'm jogging. The left is fine. But I'm improving!

Jim White said:
Axles do not need to be heat molded. Boots do not stretch much because of heating. Best for you to find a few experienced skaters who can watch you skate, and look at your skates when you are using them. One question that would help towards some understanding: Before you start skating, can you easily stand still, and be well balanced on your skates (without your wheels bowing inward)? After you have skated for 10 minutes, if you stand still, does it feel the same as before you started to skate? If not, is it because your ankles are bending more, or because the skates are sliding on your feet, or because the wheels/axles/frames are bending on the skate boot?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jim White on June 21, 2009 at 8:00am: Congratulations! You will continue to improve.

Pay attention to your right ankle. If it doesn't get to where it's no problem, perhaps see a sports medicine MD, or a MD that specializes in ankles, etc. Perhaps there are off-skates exercises that will strengthen it. Or perhaps you have a condition that would be good for you to well understand, so you can use it, an any sport, to the greatest extent you can, without causing further damage.; ▶ Reply to This