How to skate fast backwards on inline skates fast using alternating backward crossovers

Asha Kirkby from www.Skatefresh.com answers this student question about skating backwards fast and corrects a few common problems. This alternating backward crossover method she recommends allows the skater to use the speed of back crossovers without having to learn the more challenging back crossunders. This method suggests looking over your favourite shoulder and staying with that shoulder, rather than moving your head a lot.
Student: Law Zong De
Video: Martin Nobillo (Perth Outdoor Rollerblading - Facebook)
Filmed with: Freevision VILTA - Facebook
Who is Asha?
• Powerslide Brand Ambassador
• Skate Coach for BBC and Disney
• Champion figure skater who represented Great Britain internationally.
• Founder of Skatefresh.com (London’s oldest Skate School and first Virtual Skate School)
• Skating for 36 years
• Teaching for 20 years
• 342 Instructors Certified worldwide
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[@hasekfan2450]

The slow zoom in introduction at the start got me lmaooo 🤣🤣

[@robbrenton9438]

My backwards skating skills increase whenever I think of Asha (heart symbol)

[@SkatefreshVideos]

Hahahahaha great news!
Have you tried training with my backwards online full lessons? Tese take a skater through all the basics needed for more advanced backwards skating stuff. Check it out on the intermediate course here and click on Free trial to check out the format of the course;
inlineskatecourse.com/how-to-skate-intermediate/
Im sure that backwards lesson there will help iron out your weak side gaps in technique....

[@timclark6994]

I’ve watched this a lot as it is the only video I can find that shows this move. Nice one

[@hanj31]

This is the thing I need to practice thanks for the video

[@daywell5728]

Hi ..I has been watching well.
Thanks to you good easy teach.

[@murdani6816]

THANK YOU ! finally got it

[@afusake]

Best quick tutorial for fast backward skating.

[@SaccoBelmonte]

The real challenge of that one is when your torso is turned to the right is harder to crossover to the left. It seems like Asha is not fully turning her torso as some of us do, so I'll keep that in mind.

[@Sepp2009]

Hy Asha, do you have any tutorials on how to do basic turns backwards? I think nobody is covering that in their videos unfortunately

[@SkatefreshVideos]

Hi. This is Sergio from Team Skatefresh. Good suggestion. I will try to convince Asha to do some of that. Haha. Basic turns backwards are actually the same as basic turns forwards, that means: scissors, with most of the weight on the leg that is not leading. That way you get parallel turns, that you can even use for backward slalom.

[@rhetoricalandrea8768]

Awesome u visited Singapore!

[@NikZvi]

That's a great video Asha, but you should buy at least a lavalier microphone. I've been using one in one of my last street skating videos and the quality of voice recond was tremendously better. It just requires a phone with jack input and a little bit of editing. Cheers!

[@gregorywandersaround6178]

What? I couldn't hear you.

[@NikZvi]

@@gregorywandersaround6178 not in my last video;)

[@SkatefreshVideos]

I hear the feedback (no pun intended). I'll ask Santa for a clip mic this Xmas...... but I already have so much equipment Im travelling with. My paid online video courses are recorded in a studio so obviously sound is perfect. My youtube videos I have always maintained are "tiny droplets" of isolated information and filmed with my phone by any friendly skater who I can convince to hold it for me. I don't get paid to make youtube videos (I wish I did) and that's why the quality isn't great. I save the great quality for my paid courses and trainings. But I'll see what I can do moving forwards. I might have to wait till I'm in the USA to upgrade this.

[@TuanTran-ey9hc]

@@SkatefreshVideos I agree with you Asha. Carry so many equipments sometimes is painful. But i have to say that the mic could help you for better sound and you dont have to speak loudly in order to for your voice to catch to the phone's mic!

[@emelyiarytsia6238]

mais 1 incrito amei o canal vai me ajudar muito

[@ricardodiazdeleon6133]

Ese método te permite avanzar más rápido que otros? Consideras que es de un nivel de dificultad alto, medio o bajo?

[@SkatefreshVideos]

Cualquier metodo de propulsion cruzando piernas de espaldas es alta dificultad. La mayoría de los patinadores van a cruzados de espaldas muy rápido en su viaje de espaldas y pasan todos los básicos de espaldas y esto causa muchos problemas. El cuerpo necesita avanzar de espaldas despacio y con una progresión de métodos.

[@jazz624]

Wait Asha, so some videos I watch on backwards crossovers, people say it’s good to learn both shoulders or I think they mean both ways? Anyways good vid

[@SkatefreshVideos]

Hi. This is Sergio from Team Skatefresh. There is always a favorite side in all techniques either forwards or backwards, but it's good to practice both sides. Once you master the favorite side do the other. What Asha said in this video is that for this backwards technique (called backward Russian stroking) you need to choose one shoulder and stick with it while performing the moves because if you rotate your head from one side to the other there is one second where you are not looking at the direction of travel. You will see ice figure skaters doing this move all the time and rotating their heads, however they mostly skate on rinks, where the surface is taken care of. For urban skaters it's different because we can find debris, cracks, people, etc. all of a sudden. So unless you are on a perfect surface without any kind of obstacle it's advisable to stick to one shoulder, so that you can see where you are going. The backward Russian strocking is particularly hard to do without rotating your head. Anyway, with lots of practice you become VERY aware of your surroundings and you can take license, but that doesn't happen overnight.

[@gregorywandersaround6178]

The problem that I can foresee here, would be the fact that your change of direction or momentum starts with your eyes then shoulders...so in a way you would be fighting yourself on half of your crossovers.

[@jme4019]

Hey there, I liked the video and started practicing the backwards crossers. I was abit confused with the stepping part then crossing over.. Why do we need that step first?

[@jennstuition]

OMG!! She came to Singapore??!

[@jme4019]

Would like to see how this looks at full speed!? Also why am I only seeing Quad skaters in London skating backwards really fast? Aka (Chopping)

[@SkatefreshVideos]

Not very many inline skaters get good enough skating backwards to be safe on streets. It's a very niche area of skating.

[@jme4019]

Hi Asha, only saw this message now.
What was you about to say at end of the video regarding half lemony?

[@Fredward1986]

​@@jme4019 'lemons' are the same as 'bubbles' , where both your feet start together, then flow out wide, and back together.. Works forward and backwards to generate momentum. 'half lemons' is one foot going straight, the other flowing the bubble/lemon shape. It's a common technique when you start skating backwards. You can alternate from left to right to go straight.

[@jme4019]

@@Fredward1986 have you noticed how fast Quad skaters skate on the streets in London?! It's very rare to see a inliner skating backwards super fast!.

[@celitaparra2594]

Que lastima que no expliquen en español te sigo pero solo puedo entender los movimientos pero no entiendo tu idioma

[@SkatefreshVideos]

Hola. Soy Sergio del Team Skatefresh. Tienes que mirar en el canal. Asha tiene muchos videos donde habla español. Aquí tienes un ejemplo th-cam.com/video/8-v0ChREyNY/w-d-xo.html

[@sports_life09]

Call 😮

[@Xtragummy]

r/titlegore. Love your videos but hate the mic!

[@SkatefreshVideos]

See my comment above about sound, thanks

[@abc5456]

Well...to be honest he is a much advanced skater than you Asha.
You may learn from him a lot:)