Joints popping is not a sign of injury, just some gas bubbles escaping compartments in tissue.. kind of like when you pop bubble wrap. That said, there's a big chance that the final injury will come one day if Bill does not retire earlier on. That's not loser talk, but just the plain and simple cruelty of life and aging, I'm afraid, and it's the same story for any athlete.
Bill Stoppard going aggressive....This will be interesting. Seeing that you pretty much mastered city skating and has a lot of techniques from hockey too, and also being a personal trainer it'll be interesting seeing your approach to tricks and workouts for it. Now i wonder how cool would be a podcast between Bill Stoppard and Joey McGarry from Mushroom Blading geeking out about skating techniques.
Lol I was an aggressive online skater in my younger years The lighter you are the better dude At the age you are. Get some knee protection and gloves The helmet is up to you Remember you are not 18 anymore So your bones have more to take And won’t heal like when you were young Be smart .. protect yourself And the skates will give you all the benefits you need for your body Good luck Ps: work your abs on the Gym Your central power core is the most important part in online skate🐐👍🏻
Bill I would absolutely love to see your completed inline skate workout. I was thinking about changing up my leg days to make it better for my skating. Love to hear what your doing
GO FOR IT MAN! I used to skate a lot too in my day and went on a really long hiatus for a couple of years and i'm so happy I stumbled on this video now. I've been a really big fan of your channel, loved your videos and you made Toronto look so good with your monster skate videos and challenges. You're breaking into new ground here and I'm here rooting for you and waiting for your inevitable success. Stay positive, stay safe, stay skate. Be an inspiration! Your body is literally conditioned for this with years and years of skating experience. You'll be living the aggressive skate life before you know it!
Love it! I've been through a similar journey over the past 6 years. The short list: 1. Aggressive skates were great for grinding. 2. Aggressive skates were not nearly as much fun for park ramps and halfpipes due the small, slow wheels. It felt like skating through mud at times. 3. Grinding is fun, but really requires a whole new level of flexibility in skating, especially knees and ankles, to do all of the crazy and fun looking grinds. This is why my aggressive skates have stayed in my shed for the past few years. I haven't been dedicated enough to maintain that level of flexibility when I'm also doing endurance athletics like inline speed skating and running. I've tried off-road skates (best at dirt jumps and the BMX pump track), speed skates, slalom skating, aggressive skates, and regular classic 78mm '90s skates. They've all been a really fun adventure, each teaching me where my skating agility blind spots and weaknesses are---and I'm still working on them. Perhaps you can do series on each. But, wear helmet and pads for park and aggressive skating! Your knee will still hurt even with them. I branched into BMX for several months while waiting for my padded but bruised knees to heal. Looking forward to seeing your journey---stay healthy!
Bill! What a fun project, I love watching your analytical approach. I hope we get a chance this spring/summer for a proper skate and hang out. Excited to watch this journey, go for it! Oh yeah, and if you're not falling you are not trying hard enough, gotta just commit to tricks for best odds.
Tony Devine. My knees crack when I get up out of the chair, but I'm 59. I like to convince myself that skating is helping the condition by strengthening my leg muscles. In any case, giving up is not an option.
Exciting! It will be really fun/interesting to see someone come at aggressive from such a unique place, and with your unique skills. I think a huge help in your quest would be to link up with the Shop Task guys. Erik in particular I think would be able to give you a big boost in learning the vocabulary, techniques and outlook of our part of the skating world. I would also be aware that while the Aeon 80 is a pretty capable grinding skate for an experienced aggro skater, they are still going to be pretty limiting for someone trying to get really well-versed in grinding, just because of the big wheels and tiny groove. It's better than any other 80mm skate, sure, but for any grind involving a groove (which is the vast majority), they'll still require a level of precision and control that you just won't have (yet). My point isn't to trash the skate but to just forewarn you that with the 80mm Aeon you're going to pretty quickly hit a wall in your progression with grinding. Fortunately the 60mm version of the Aeon is one of the best skates for grinding while riding flat, so you wouldn't have to get used to a different boot while learning grinds, and it'd be easier to take those skills to the 80mm's.
I find it kind of funny that I do exactly the opposite! I allways rode Agressive 55mm Antirocker and switched to 4x72mm and 3x110mm frames 2 years ago. I am still learning to skate with those. I could not imagine doing it the other way around like you do. Much respect and best wishes for your undertaking. Dont get hurt. 👍💪🦶
I came full circle myself. Started out in 1987 on Rollerblade Lightnings on 72" wheels, and over the years my skates got longer and faster and I slowly graduated to Bont speed skates. I find them kind of a boring grind, so now while they sit in the closet gathering dust, I am now (at age 62) on freestyle rockered skates and I am loving them! I love to ice skate, so I guess it's natural that I'm loving them so much.
As an oldschool early 90's "Lightning TRS" rider, i've been thinking of getting back into skating. These Aeon 80's videos have inspired me to pick up a pair of my own. Looking forward to your progression videos!
This is SUPER encouraging! I'm 41 and got back into flow skating about two years ago. A month ago, I bought a pair of aggressive skates and hit a skate park for the first time. I can't grind to save my life, but I'm learning, just like you!
This is very cool :) I feel like maybe it’s not so much about the work out but more about the body used to certain movements and balances you adjust to as you do it more.
I agree, so much more is learned through repetition in real conditions. However, certain moves or movement patterns can be inaccessible or limited until the weak links in physiology are addressed. I am aiming for a very fast progression, so I feel it would be very risky not to strengthen deep hip and gluteal muscles for support and injury avoidance.
this video spoke to me. as a former PT myself and really trying to find my way back into skating as way to be physically active and enjoy the outdoors with my wife I think this was a good video to see.
Holy cow, this is skater evolution, welcome to the club. Go get familiar with the Aeon 80, but that's more of a freeskate than an aggressive. I mean you need a solid small wheel aggressive backround, to grind with that, but hey, prove me wrong! (You can take a look at the aeon 72s too) Anyhow, welcome to the family!
I'm with you man. I love these skates. Had a sesh with them yesterday and today. I suck. lol But I'm having so much fun and scaring myself so much....... everytime i got sketchy I heard your voice saying ... get low ... and I did and stayed upright. Thanks Bill.
This is great. I love the analysis you are doing. You’ve got an aggressive skater here watching your progression. 🤟🏻 Plus I designed the sonic T-shirt. 🙌🏻
I know you're a city skater but you might want to try the Aeon 72 instead. Aeon 80 has such a small groove that I don't think anyone who's not perfect with their grinds will be able to do any groove tricks with it. Also, 72 is still on the cusp of what's acceptable for skating outside the skatepark.
You can never do enough stalls if you’re learning grinds, especially if you never did them at a young age. A way to practice them while avoiding the boring stationary exercises is to roll at obstacles with a perpendicular approach, soul/mizou/makio etc stall (as if you’re slamming into the ledge and “loaded spring” jumps out, rolling away perpendicular. You can eventually add some spins out if you want. This is at low to medium speed. It’s a great way to incorporate stalling into nomad cruising when passing through plazas. If you can lock stalls with ease, you’ll thank yourself later when working on grinds.
Ricardo Lino made a video in what he explained the particular names of all the tricks. Pascal Briand made 1 or 2 video in that he used even higher boxes and explained why you should do that and which muscled are strenghtened by what and what's the resulting benefit. 😉 You don't have the slightest reason for not thinking positive! 🤗 You know... stay low, aim high! 😃👍
Man, I am so glad there is a guy like you Bill. Your studious and disciplined approach is inspiring! I am stoked to watch you evolve your skills! You are pushing your own limits and that expands my idea of what it means to be human. Thank you!
Came here to recommend Mushroom Blading guys (Joey, Todd, Leon) but people already did that (and I'm hella glad!) So I guess now we're all waiting to see y'all in a single video. Perhaps some sort of a "MB fellas teach Bill some tricks" vid? You got this Bill 👌
Hello Bill, I'm much younger than you and probably haven't spent as much time in the gym as you. I think this is my 5th year? However, I think I deeply ingrained an ideology that I hope to maybe bring into skating if I ever get good enough. I skated as a kid about 20 years ago and picked it up again about a month ago after you inspired me a bit. I've *always* moved in shoes, subconsciously, the way I move find myself moving in skates. The way I flow through crowds and such. So putting on a pair for the first time in decades made things click. You are in a perfect position to share this ideology with your viewers if you see any merit in it. So this will be a long comment but I hope you and anyone who reads it finds it useful. I also have a few questions for you that I'll put in a second comment. A good lifter programs his training in a way that's specific to his goal, and can be progressed over time. So a powerlifter will focus more on his squat, and may never ever learn to clean and jerk. However, there's still a lot of benefit one can have from increased exposure across a variety of disciplines. So I aim to increase my ability to understand a variety of skating disciplines, to learn the basics and try to program my own training with some measurable progression scheme. The good thing about powerlifting is that resistance training and skill practice are the same movements. Skating is different. It requires it's own practice. One can use resistance training in conjunction with skating practice to perform better during a competition. For a city skater, that would be while skating through the city. Drill to practice, refine, and reinforce movement patterns. Train in the gym, with some specific movements to strengthen important aspects of your skating discipline. Then treat a city skate as your meet day, where you get to express all that training. And very important is regular criticism regarding technique. A good coach is best if one is available, but regular recording and review drilling sessions can teach you a lot as well. So that's how I'm approaching my learning atm. I spend most of my time drilling, even though it's less fun. But it's incredibly helpful. Ideally I'd put together an actually program, but I'm still so under exposed to skating I don't really know how to set that up yet. As for your strength training you have the right idea. Heavy compound movements are useful for general health, but aren't terribly specific to hopping around on one foot. You will do well to incorporate things that do mimic some of the movements you want to practice. Things that are similar enough that strength or power can be expressed more easily when practicing that movement. Because of course, the most specific movement is the movement itself. Any general skater would benefit immensely from squatting, Deadlifting, Benching, and pressing. And those that want to take it up a notch would add some unilateral work and maybe some plyometrics. High level athletes may even want to specialize their movements even more. I hope you find a good balance. Maybe we can talk together about this further? Im still at the beginning stages but if I don't lose my motivation I would really like to refine this way of thinking into something I can share to help other beginner skaters.
I do have a few simple questions if you wouldn't mind answering them. 1. How does weight and muscle size affect your skating? 2. How does skating and training eat into your recovery stores? Do you ever find that one negatively affects the other? 3. I'm using the FE Supersonic 110m frame. How would you roll stairs backwards/forwards in those? Or should I not? I don't know if it's related to that gap between the middle and front wheel, inexperience, or something else. But I'm struggling.
Ooofff man I was shooked the moment I saw the thumbnail... I understood it wrong and thought you were paraplegic bc u fell! I'm sry I overreacted..😅😑 1. Thank god you are healthy 2.Nice video! ^^"
Yesssss!!! Nuf respect Bill!! I just knew you would eventually dive into the aggressive thing! It's easy to underestimate how difficult aggressive inline can be when it comes to locking grinds, especially balancing. Josh @acostablades has a great balancing video out which is worth a look. Power to you man, you got this!!
I would love to be better at aggressive moves also, grinds in particular; I feel they have as much a place in city skating as jumping over stuff does. Will watch with interest.
I think the magic slide on a rail would be an UFO? I think Ricardo Lino has a video with most of the basic grinds and tricks names. Acosta Blades is another interesting channel to follow, it also covers a lot of interesting non-skating exercises. It's so exciting to watch you on this new adventure!
Super motivating getting back out here skating after 15 years. I just wanna be a good power stopper and backwards skater and I would be satisfied in life as a skater.
Awesome stuff Bill really informative and gives me lots of ideas and stuff to work on. Oh, by the way, remember I told you I lost lots of weight due to an underactive thyroid issue? I joined a different, no nonsense gym last November, getting proper, guided training, and I've put on almost 6kg or 13lbs in muscle mass since. I had lost about 5kg in weight due to hypothyroidism. Only way is up.
Also, that pic of you at 145, to be fair, you WERE actually dying lolll.. I remember you were ill, up puking all night, and severely dehydrated. Which reminds me, where's my water..
Great video - please continue this theme. I'd like to know more about the gym work you do for this. I'm older now and find it hard to skate as much, so I think that working out in the gym will assist my limited skating time.
Can't wait to see more of you on these skates. Will you look into trying anti-rocker setups too? It'll make the magic slide grind... uh, frontsides... way easier... less wheel bite.
Even though you’re a Canadian, please go on FB and join the group UKBC (United Kingdom Bladers Community) as there are loads of old school aggressive skaters on there who I can’t imagine would have any issues with helping you out or giving you advise :)
I love to see this. Im an aggressive skater thats been watching you for a couple years. I'm interested to see your training ideas That being said WEAR KNEE PADs. put em under your pants if you have to. If you smash your knee, youre gonna F up your entire life also u should prob do tibialis anterior raises. if youre not use to the high impact of aggressive, you'll likely get shin splints and those wheels are prob too big. not really a gridin set up. but i know you gotta go fast.
So it's official you have been bitten by the aggressive bug! I remember telling you that I would go to the skatepark just to get better at city skating. But I find my self spending more and more time at the skate park...partly because I live in suburbia with a few skateparks around me and the really interesting urban city skating areas are a bit of a drive. But you said it well when you said you will start looking at the cityscape differently. And that is coming from you, who already looks at the cityscape differently than most!
Lol I was 155 for a while at my leanest and fittest. Ripped to shreds, but I too looked like a I was a skeleton dying haha. 190lbs Dadbod strong now from construction job and needing mountains of calories. Skating is more of a challenge at this weight but it's all good. Can't trick it up, but can go fast and jump over shit so that's fun
Dude I'm only 27 and kind of terrified of aggressive skating, I love urban skating but I have permanent wrist damage because of previous accidients not related to rollerblading already so one fall could put me out of work easily.
Bill appreciate your videos immensely. I'm also trying to video tape my own beginner documentation of how I learn as well as document my mistakes so I can improve them ,what is the camera that you're using, if you don't mind me asking?
"Positive thoughts." *Stands up**knees click** 😂
Hahah, good eye on the 'irony'!
ahahaha holy jesus I have the same exact problem, fortunately is not painful click (for now)
Lmfao
Joints popping is not a sign of injury, just some gas bubbles escaping compartments in tissue.. kind of like when you pop bubble wrap. That said, there's a big chance that the final injury will come one day if Bill does not retire earlier on. That's not loser talk, but just the plain and simple cruelty of life and aging, I'm afraid, and it's the same story for any athlete.
@@clray123 We all slow down with time, but I will wait to retire from challenging physical activity until I'm dead.
Bill Stoppard going aggressive....This will be interesting. Seeing that you pretty much mastered city skating and has a lot of techniques from hockey too, and also being a personal trainer it'll be interesting seeing your approach to tricks and workouts for it.
Now i wonder how cool would be a podcast between Bill Stoppard and Joey McGarry from Mushroom Blading geeking out about skating techniques.
We're actually witnessing a regenesis of Bill Stoppard!!!
Oh please Bill, don’t forget wrist protection and a helmet 👌🏽 good luck!!
"145 is where I'm most pound for pound strong, but I look like... I'm dying" LOL
Lol I was an aggressive online skater in my younger years
The lighter you are the better dude
At the age you are. Get some knee protection and gloves
The helmet is up to you
Remember you are not 18 anymore
So your bones have more to take
And won’t heal like when you were young
Be smart .. protect yourself
And the skates will give you all the benefits you need for your body
Good luck
Ps: work your abs on the Gym
Your central power core is the most important part in online skate🐐👍🏻
Bill I would absolutely love to see your completed inline skate workout. I was thinking about changing up my leg days to make it better for my skating. Love to hear what your doing
GO FOR IT MAN! I used to skate a lot too in my day and went on a really long hiatus for a couple of years and i'm so happy I stumbled on this video now. I've been a really big fan of your channel, loved your videos and you made Toronto look so good with your monster skate videos and challenges. You're breaking into new ground here and I'm here rooting for you and waiting for your inevitable success. Stay positive, stay safe, stay skate. Be an inspiration! Your body is literally conditioned for this with years and years of skating experience. You'll be living the aggressive skate life before you know it!
Love this! Keep it up your going to kill it!
Love it! I've been through a similar journey over the past 6 years. The short list:
1. Aggressive skates were great for grinding.
2. Aggressive skates were not nearly as much fun for park ramps and halfpipes due the small, slow wheels. It felt like skating through mud at times.
3. Grinding is fun, but really requires a whole new level of flexibility in skating, especially knees and ankles, to do all of the crazy and fun looking grinds. This is why my aggressive skates have stayed in my shed for the past few years. I haven't been dedicated enough to maintain that level of flexibility when I'm also doing endurance athletics like inline speed skating and running.
I've tried off-road skates (best at dirt jumps and the BMX pump track), speed skates, slalom skating, aggressive skates, and regular classic 78mm '90s skates. They've all been a really fun adventure, each teaching me where my skating agility blind spots and weaknesses are---and I'm still working on them. Perhaps you can do series on each.
But, wear helmet and pads for park and aggressive skating! Your knee will still hurt even with them. I branched into BMX for several months while waiting for my padded but bruised knees to heal.
Looking forward to seeing your journey---stay healthy!
Bill! What a fun project, I love watching your analytical approach. I hope we get a chance this spring/summer for a proper skate and hang out. Excited to watch this journey, go for it! Oh yeah, and if you're not falling you are not trying hard enough, gotta just commit to tricks for best odds.
Tony Devine.
My knees crack when I get up out of the chair, but I'm 59. I like to convince myself that skating is helping the condition by strengthening my leg muscles. In any case, giving up is not an option.
I just got my first pair of skates in 20 years! Having a blast getting back into it and working on progressing. Just having fun! Thanks!
Love it, only problem now is I'm thinking of learning to grind now at 44 🙈
Maybe build a small rail in my garage 🤔😁👌
I'm starting at 43, Go for it.
Exciting! It will be really fun/interesting to see someone come at aggressive from such a unique place, and with your unique skills.
I think a huge help in your quest would be to link up with the Shop Task guys. Erik in particular I think would be able to give you a big boost in learning the vocabulary, techniques and outlook of our part of the skating world.
I would also be aware that while the Aeon 80 is a pretty capable grinding skate for an experienced aggro skater, they are still going to be pretty limiting for someone trying to get really well-versed in grinding, just because of the big wheels and tiny groove. It's better than any other 80mm skate, sure, but for any grind involving a groove (which is the vast majority), they'll still require a level of precision and control that you just won't have (yet).
My point isn't to trash the skate but to just forewarn you that with the 80mm Aeon you're going to pretty quickly hit a wall in your progression with grinding. Fortunately the 60mm version of the Aeon is one of the best skates for grinding while riding flat, so you wouldn't have to get used to a different boot while learning grinds, and it'd be easier to take those skills to the 80mm's.
This comment this comment ^^
I find it kind of funny that I do exactly the opposite! I allways rode Agressive 55mm Antirocker and switched to 4x72mm and 3x110mm frames 2 years ago. I am still learning to skate with those.
I could not imagine doing it the other way around like you do. Much respect and best wishes for your undertaking. Dont get hurt. 👍💪🦶
I came full circle myself. Started out in 1987 on Rollerblade Lightnings on 72" wheels, and over the years my skates got longer and faster and I slowly graduated to Bont speed skates. I find them kind of a boring grind, so now while they sit in the closet gathering dust, I am now (at age 62) on freestyle rockered skates and I am loving them! I love to ice skate, so I guess it's natural that I'm loving them so much.
As an oldschool early 90's "Lightning TRS" rider, i've been thinking of getting back into skating. These Aeon 80's videos have inspired me to pick up a pair of my own. Looking forward to your progression videos!
The last "do it all" skate - dance, cones, hockey, or A2A. You can't beat 'em.
This is SUPER encouraging! I'm 41 and got back into flow skating about two years ago. A month ago, I bought a pair of aggressive skates and hit a skate park for the first time. I can't grind to save my life, but I'm learning, just like you!
This is very cool :) I feel like maybe it’s not so much about the work out but more about the body used to certain movements and balances you adjust to as you do it more.
I agree, so much more is learned through repetition in real conditions. However, certain moves or movement patterns can be inaccessible or limited until the weak links in physiology are addressed. I am aiming for a very fast progression, so I feel it would be very risky not to strengthen deep hip and gluteal muscles for support and injury avoidance.
Bill Stoppard Skating BSS 100% , I wish the best for you! I’m going the same route! 👌
Great Bill.
RED.
this video spoke to me. as a former PT myself and really trying to find my way back into skating as way to be physically active and enjoy the outdoors with my wife I think this was a good video to see.
So hyped for this! Goodluck dude. Maybe try the Aeon 72s if groove tricks are too difficult in the 80s
Holy cow, this is skater evolution, welcome to the club. Go get familiar with the Aeon 80, but that's more of a freeskate than an aggressive. I mean you need a solid small wheel aggressive backround, to grind with that, but hey, prove me wrong! (You can take a look at the aeon 72s too)
Anyhow, welcome to the family!
Very cool approach to rollerblading and training. Can’t wait to see how you progress.
I'm with you man. I love these skates. Had a sesh with them yesterday and today. I suck. lol But I'm having so much fun and scaring myself so much....... everytime i got sketchy I heard your voice saying ... get low ... and I did and stayed upright. Thanks Bill.
Yes please, I need to incorporate a specific routine for my aggressive inline skating
This is great. I love the analysis you are doing. You’ve got an aggressive skater here watching your progression. 🤟🏻 Plus I designed the sonic T-shirt. 🙌🏻
I love the design, seriously, it's very cool! Thanks OTB
Rad, I had a set of sonic grind plates back in the day and immediately noticed the shirt
You are an awesome person and I want those 80mms so bad.
I know you're a city skater but you might want to try the Aeon 72 instead. Aeon 80 has such a small groove that I don't think anyone who's not perfect with their grinds will be able to do any groove tricks with it. Also, 72 is still on the cusp of what's acceptable for skating outside the skatepark.
You can never do enough stalls if you’re learning grinds, especially if you never did them at a young age. A way to practice them while avoiding the boring stationary exercises is to roll at obstacles with a perpendicular approach, soul/mizou/makio etc stall (as if you’re slamming into the ledge and “loaded spring” jumps out, rolling away perpendicular. You can eventually add some spins out if you want. This is at low to medium speed. It’s a great way to incorporate stalling into nomad cruising when passing through plazas. If you can lock stalls with ease, you’ll thank yourself later when working on grinds.
Bill,
You're changing your skate
for a Life.
Way to
Go.
he´s a very focused guy. i like how he is working hard on what he wants to achive. keep it up, good content.
A very interesting video, thanks for making it and sharing your approach.
Ricardo Lino made a video in what he explained the particular names of all the tricks.
Pascal Briand made 1 or 2 video in that he used even higher boxes and explained why you should do that and which muscled are strenghtened by what and what's the resulting benefit. 😉
You don't have the slightest reason for not thinking positive! 🤗 You know... stay low, aim high! 😃👍
Man, I am so glad there is a guy like you Bill. Your studious and disciplined approach is inspiring! I am stoked to watch you evolve your skills! You are pushing your own limits and that expands my idea of what it means to be human. Thank you!
Welcome to aggressive inline Bill. This is going to be so damned interesting to see what you will be cooking.
I love how you talk about skating, and of course I love how you skate! I want to be like you when I have more experience skating ❤️
DOOOOOOOOODE!!! Get it, Bill!!!!
I really like your approach to this. Really looking forward to seeing you progress.
Just picked up a pair of aggressive inlines aswell. Cant wait to see more of you doing aggressive skating, will probably motivate me aswell
Came here to recommend Mushroom Blading guys (Joey, Todd, Leon) but people already did that
(and I'm hella glad!)
So I guess now we're all waiting to see y'all in a single video.
Perhaps some sort of a "MB fellas teach Bill some tricks" vid?
You got this Bill 👌
Hello Bill,
I'm much younger than you and probably haven't spent as much time in the gym as you. I think this is my 5th year? However, I think I deeply ingrained an ideology that I hope to maybe bring into skating if I ever get good enough.
I skated as a kid about 20 years ago and picked it up again about a month ago after you inspired me a bit. I've *always* moved in shoes, subconsciously, the way I move find myself moving in skates. The way I flow through crowds and such.
So putting on a pair for the first time in decades made things click.
You are in a perfect position to share this ideology with your viewers if you see any merit in it. So this will be a long comment but I hope you and anyone who reads it finds it useful. I also have a few questions for you that I'll put in a second comment.
A good lifter programs his training in a way that's specific to his goal, and can be progressed over time. So a powerlifter will focus more on his squat, and may never ever learn to clean and jerk.
However, there's still a lot of benefit one can have from increased exposure across a variety of disciplines.
So I aim to increase my ability to understand a variety of skating disciplines, to learn the basics and try to program my own training with some measurable progression scheme.
The good thing about powerlifting is that resistance training and skill practice are the same movements.
Skating is different. It requires it's own practice. One can use resistance training in conjunction with skating practice to perform better during a competition. For a city skater, that would be while skating through the city.
Drill to practice, refine, and reinforce movement patterns.
Train in the gym, with some specific movements to strengthen important aspects of your skating discipline.
Then treat a city skate as your meet day, where you get to express all that training.
And very important is regular criticism regarding technique. A good coach is best if one is available, but regular recording and review drilling sessions can teach you a lot as well.
So that's how I'm approaching my learning atm. I spend most of my time drilling, even though it's less fun. But it's incredibly helpful. Ideally I'd put together an actually program, but I'm still so under exposed to skating I don't really know how to set that up yet.
As for your strength training you have the right idea. Heavy compound movements are useful for general health, but aren't terribly specific to hopping around on one foot.
You will do well to incorporate things that do mimic some of the movements you want to practice. Things that are similar enough that strength or power can be expressed more easily when practicing that movement. Because of course, the most specific movement is the movement itself.
Any general skater would benefit immensely from squatting, Deadlifting, Benching, and pressing. And those that want to take it up a notch would add some unilateral work and maybe some plyometrics. High level athletes may even want to specialize their movements even more.
I hope you find a good balance. Maybe we can talk together about this further? Im still at the beginning stages but if I don't lose my motivation I would really like to refine this way of thinking into something I can share to help other beginner skaters.
I do have a few simple questions if you wouldn't mind answering them.
1. How does weight and muscle size affect your skating?
2. How does skating and training eat into your recovery stores? Do you ever find that one negatively affects the other?
3. I'm using the FE Supersonic 110m frame. How would you roll stairs backwards/forwards in those? Or should I not? I don't know if it's related to that gap between the middle and front wheel, inexperience, or something else. But I'm struggling.
RESPECT TO YOU BILL!!!
Super Awesome Bill!!!! Can't wait to see where this year takes us & Skating in general!
positive talk bro right on your my friggin hero on those skates.SMASH IT!!
Ooofff man I was shooked the moment I saw the thumbnail... I understood it wrong and thought you were paraplegic bc u fell!
I'm sry I overreacted..😅😑
1. Thank god you are healthy
2.Nice video! ^^"
This is awesome. Keep it up. Have fun and shred on. Cheers
Can't wait to see you Royale on 80's , you skate beast 🤓😉👍🏻
What about a video on proper posture, muscles to use for efficient skating, boot fitting and comfort, wheel choice. Etc.
This is AMAAAAZING.... you’re journey is gonna be soo fun!!! The way your flow skating is going to develop will be awesome! KEEEP GOING FELLA!!! 🤘🔥
Yesssss!!! Nuf respect Bill!! I just knew you would eventually dive into the aggressive thing! It's easy to underestimate how difficult aggressive inline can be when it comes to locking grinds, especially balancing. Josh @acostablades has a great balancing video out which is worth a look. Power to you man, you got this!!
YES! Bill Stoppard doing aggressive!!!
I have no doubts you'll do well.
I would love to be better at aggressive moves also, grinds in particular; I feel they have as much a place in city skating as jumping over stuff does. Will watch with interest.
I think the magic slide on a rail would be an UFO?
I think Ricardo Lino has a video with most of the basic grinds and tricks names. Acosta Blades is another interesting channel to follow, it also covers a lot of interesting non-skating exercises.
It's so exciting to watch you on this new adventure!
I would recommend skating coping or mini ramp to build composure whilst grinding.
Super motivating getting back out here skating after 15 years. I just wanna be a good power stopper and backwards skater and I would be satisfied in life as a skater.
Awesome stuff Bill really informative and gives me lots of ideas and stuff to work on.
Oh, by the way, remember I told you I lost lots of weight due to an underactive thyroid issue? I joined a different, no nonsense gym last November, getting proper, guided training, and I've put on almost 6kg or 13lbs in muscle mass since. I had lost about 5kg in weight due to hypothyroidism.
Only way is up.
Also, that pic of you at 145, to be fair, you WERE actually dying lolll.. I remember you were ill, up puking all night, and severely dehydrated.
Which reminds me, where's my water..
I'm a simple man. I see a new Bill Stoppard video. I click.
You should try slack lining. I got into it for less than 50 bucks, all I needed was a bunch of mountain climbing Caribbeaners and a strap🤙
Yaaaaaaas! This is the video I needed in my life. Can’t wait to see how you blend urban & aggressive skating.
Can't wait to see you progress Bill!
Good luck!
I felt the knee pop when you stood up
awesome!
I love your skating bro
Great video - please continue this theme. I'd like to know more about the gym work you do for this. I'm older now and find it hard to skate as much, so I think that working out in the gym will assist my limited skating time.
Awesome Bill, looking great man keep at it. Love following your exploration.
I'm so stoked for this.
Can't wait to see more of you on these skates. Will you look into trying anti-rocker setups too? It'll make the magic slide grind... uh, frontsides... way easier... less wheel bite.
Looking gooood
1:06 I was like wtf does he only have 3 fingers? Then I remembered the invisible selfie stick.
This is great! Welcome to the aggressive community
Good luck, I hope your training and existing skills work for you in this new type of skating.
Yeah You can do it !!! Regards,
those are my go to skates! thanks for the vids!
👏👏👏👏👏. thanks
Even though you’re a Canadian, please go on FB and join the group UKBC (United Kingdom Bladers Community) as there are loads of old school aggressive skaters on there who I can’t imagine would have any issues with helping you out or giving you advise :)
This guy is geeking out SO hard on his new skates. I love it
i think all tricks on rails should be called "magic slide", maybe it should be trademarked too
I find the trickiest thing about grinding is tilting my legs enough to get a good angle in the groove between the frame and the plate.
I love to see this. Im an aggressive skater thats been watching you for a couple years. I'm interested to see your training ideas
That being said WEAR KNEE PADs. put em under your pants if you have to. If you smash your knee, youre gonna F up your entire life
also u should prob do tibialis anterior raises. if youre not use to the high impact of aggressive, you'll likely get shin splints
and those wheels are prob too big. not really a gridin set up. but i know you gotta go fast.
Big Thanks N. good advice, I do have kneepads on under the pants lately. I'm a big fan of tib and soleus training for all sports!
yeah I think it'll be really hard to hit a frontside with that tiny groove unless he dares to go on a rail instead of a ledge
Waiting to see more :) I hoped for some riding already, but we will take the gym work as well for now :)
So it's official you have been bitten by the aggressive bug! I remember telling you that I would go to the skatepark just to get better at city skating. But I find my self spending more and more time at the skate park...partly because I live in suburbia with a few skateparks around me and the really interesting urban city skating areas are a bit of a drive. But you said it well when you said you will start looking at the cityscape differently. And that is coming from you, who already looks at the cityscape differently than most!
Also very interesting take on gym exercises that your doing...👍
Lol I was 155 for a while at my leanest and fittest. Ripped to shreds, but I too looked like a I was a skeleton dying haha. 190lbs Dadbod strong now from construction job and needing mountains of calories. Skating is more of a challenge at this weight but it's all good. Can't trick it up, but can go fast and jump over shit so that's fun
your gonna tear the city up bill. look forward to it!!!!
Thx for that video. No I know what I can do when I'm not able to skate (e.g bad weather conditions)
Joy dropping when ever I'm watching Bill..........
How do I get to see you Bill????
Core strengt. Jumping, spining - you must keep your upper body under control.
You're picking up aggressive skating! How amazing! It's a long and treacherous rode, but keep pushing forward!
Love the new journey!
Hey Bill, you can tell IW that it's probably because of you that I got myself a pair of these for my birthday....
H block grinds are going chew you out with your flat setup. I'd recommend to try stalls and gradually slide across! Also wax is your friend :)
Dude I'm only 27 and kind of terrified of aggressive skating, I love urban skating but I have permanent wrist damage because of previous accidients not related to rollerblading already so one fall could put me out of work easily.
Search Nick Lomax and Danny Aldridge are skaters you wanna follow, those guys have amazing street aggressive style.
Bill appreciate your videos immensely. I'm also trying to video tape my own beginner documentation of how I learn as well as document my mistakes so I can improve them ,what is the camera that you're using, if you don't mind me asking?
La disciplina Bill stoppard la combinación perfecta gym and toller
Dude this is so exciting, I want a list of exercises for aggressive
The further into the video, the more you look like a dad at a family party who will say whatever pops into his head
Its really hard to do grinds where you need to use the groove on those skates. I have those same ones and i get wheelbite all the time.
Yeeeeeessssss!!!!!