Sk8 M8’s London Trip - Wednesday Night Skate!
01/06/2008 by tim.
It’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally going to do it! Check out full details here for the Sk8 M8’s London Trip for the Wednesday Night Skate. Weather dependant - so short notice will apply, probably one of the last Wednesdays in June.
SkateInstructor.com running “Stroll” Course
01/06/2008 by tim.
Our friends in London are running a course (similar in many ways to our Sk8 Streetwise - next to be repeated in July) full details of this course can be found here: http://skateinstructor.com/2008/06/a-course-to-take-you-from-begi.html
Flakey Forum, down again!
31/05/2008 by tim.
Well that was a quick response! Post and … er whoops dropped of the Internet! (Who could have guessed?)
And sure enough, straight after my post (this one) the good old flakey forum falls over again!
For those that are interested - Sk8school’s offer to help at the Event has not yet been answered - or at least the question is still outstanding, however I’ve now had my account suspended, for “promoting businesses” on the Forum!
Quite unbelievable! Still if a response does surface to our perfectly genuine offer, I’ll be sure it’s published promptly.
Nick, if you are having trouble posting your answer on your Forum, please feel free to leave a comment here. We’re all still be very interested in your reply.
Apparently (so I’m told) “Those wishing to participate at any of our events can contact us via the appropriate channels”
Um what does a Forum do then exactly? If that’s not a “proper channel” what is?
In the meantime, everyone reading this, please feel free to vote on whether you think the offer (here) was a business promotion or an offer of help!
Just pick the option you think and press return! Vote Cast!
Sk8school at Eastbourne Extreme 2008?
31/05/2008 by tim.
I’ve just written this post on the ESA forum to see if Nick wants Sk8school to run it’s usual quality Eastbourne Skate Lessons and a whole fun packed event program for him.
Here’s a copy of the open letter, as the ESA forum is pretty flaky and tends to loose posts!
Nick,
Just seen the latest “Newsletter” from the ESA forum, here’s a link to a copy of a Sk8school one : http://www.sk8school.co.uk/newspageapril.html
There’s plenty more here – if you are interested: http://www.sk8school.co.uk/skatenews.html
I think we’re right to be quite pleased with it as it now gets delivered to 2500 people a month (not including web views like the link above. The web version has the “juicy bits” taken out, as only subscribers get all the best bits!).
Anyway, I noticed from your mail that the Extreme Fest will be using the Turning Circle this year, though there is no detail as to what for…
Plenty of people are assuming Sk8school are going to be doing the lessons there as part of Extreme and have been asking me about it, though curiously I have not heard from you about this yet.
So, I thought I’d post the question here.
Does this mean you’ll want Sk8school to handle the lessons there as I offered last year?
As you know Sk8school are not happy with teaching in the Basket Ball area, most especially with loud PA and music there, making it almost impossible to instruct safely and to our usual quality standard.
If you do want us to assist, we are willing and we can assist quite a lot!
We can probably manage a full program (for free of course) from about 11-3 each day, including demo’s, kids club, exercise classes, clinics etc. (We do our free beginners lessons for the shops there at 11am every Sunday anyway, so it’s no big deal). It would also be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate content of our new Coaching and Improver’s Classes and our half day intensive “Mastering” courses.
The beauty of which of course is that we can handle all of it (including skate hire) for you, without you needing to worry about a thing, or take precious resource from other event areas. Which (given the ESA’s current “responsible adult” resource shortage) might be just the ticket to making Extreme a bit more manageable for you. Not only that but then the whole event will be more professional and all inclusive, with less headache for you as the “organiser” - and you get to offer more for the event! (How could you loose?)
Anyway give me a shout, as you know all 5 of the Eastbourne Sk8school Instructors are CRB checked, insured and of course we are the only currently paid up and ICP registered instructors in Eastbourne. Some are first aid trained too as a bonus. So you can be assured of the quality of the lessons and it means you’ll be able to use Sk8school’s name to add a little professionalism to the attractions at the event.
So just to recap – we can do a full program daily, including skate hire. We’re already insured, qualified and geared up. You’d need to provide no actual resource and you’ll have nothing to worry about throughout. Which means you get a whole area dealt with, without having to lift a finger. But we do need to be at the Turning circle – well away from overpowering PA/music etc.
The only way we can continue to provide Eastbourne’s highest quality skate instruction at the event is if we’re in an environment which we can control – otherwise we feel it would not be safe for anyone in our care.
We are very interested to hear your response.
Through this Forum will be fine.
Tim Wheals.
http://www.sk8school.co.uk
So who know’s maybe Extreme this year will be benefiting from Eastbournes best skate lessons and it’ll be one less headache for the ESA crew, who seem to be “leaking” quality membership of late.
Wednesday night Skate with Sk8 M8’s
26/05/2008 by tim.
Rebecca and Max are regular attendees of the Wednesday night skates in London - and we thought it was time for the Sk8 M8’s to attend! If you are interested in this trip, the notice period will be short as the skate is weather dependant.
I recommend you plan for SEVERAL Wednesdays, so if we don’t make the first one there’s another opportunity the following week! Additionally we’d like everyone attending to be a confident street skater - having done the Sk8school Sk8 Streetwise would obviously be ideal! Also please be familiar with these rules:
The various people running street skates in London are not big on rules in general but those we have are for everybody’s safety and the smooth (and continued) running of these events.
As well as the following rules we also ask that:
You are aware of other park users when assembling at the start point. Please do not spread out all over Serpentine road but leave a clear path on the horse track side for cyclists etc. (If we upset the Parks authority we will be made to leave the park)
Do not spread out at junctions. Always leave room for the bike and marshals to pass. If there is not enough room for the bike and marshals to pass safely on your right then YOU are in the wrong place.
At the Vic: Do not spread out all over the road and pavements, keep noise to a minimum and respect the Vics neighbours. If there are many more complaints we will be banned from using this pub which is very close to our hearts.
New street skaters are requested to stay to the left at all times. If you are a bit wobbly it is much safer to stay on the curb side rather than on the white line until your skills have improved.
Skate with consideration when returning through the park at the end of the skate.
The Rules And Guidelines
• Participation is entirely at your own risk
• You must be over 16 years of age unless accompanied by a responsible adult
• You must be able to stop, turn and control your speed efficiently on skates
• Stay behind the lead Marshal
• Stay off the pavements
• Follow instructions from Marshals at all times
• KEEP TO THE LEFT unless otherwise instructed by a Marshal
• Always leave room for Marshals to pass on your right
• Skate with care and consideration for others and try not to cause obstruction
SKATERS THAT BEHAVE BADLY OR IGNORE THESE RULES WILL BE MADE TO LEAVE THE SKATE AND WILL BE PREVENTED FROM FUTURE PARTICIPATION
To prevent traffic entering the body of the skate we ask that you try to close gaps and stay in front of the rear marshal.
If you are having difficulties and fall behind the rear marshal you may be asked to leave the skate but are always welcome to come back to try again another week.
LondonSkate recommends that you wear protective equipment/clothing and that your skates are well maintained
• Check behind you before changing direction
• Be prepared to stop and move suddenly
• Keep up with the pack
• Try to refrain from holding hands
• Be aware of the Sound System especially when it is behind you
• Skate sensibly through the park especially in the dark
• Respect the city and its other road users; cyclists, we recommend that you learn to skate but if you do insist on coming along please stay behind the rear Marshal at all times
• Respect the volunteers that make this event possible
These rules are imperative for the running of and good name of these events.
-Taken from the Londonskate website.
Skating in the Rain and Wet
26/05/2008 by tim.
Very relevant for today!
Skating in wet conditions can be hazardous and cause damage to your bearings, if you don’t take care to dry them out properly afterwards, but it can be achieved safely with the right equipment. However if you don’t have a set of Water Wheels - you have only 2 options.
- Take off your skate and walk
- Adjust your skating technique to skate in the wet
Here’s some technique tips for skating in the rain.
- Try to keep on the top or centre edge of your skates, they have maximum grip when they are as upright as possible. You have considerably more grip upright than on an edge.
- Make short and even pushes when skating, keeping the skates under you. If you make long sudden pushes your skates will slip.
- Avoid wet, or even damp, leaves as these can be extremely slippery. Moss, leaves etc. are like ice!
- Learn a good wet weather stopping technique. Heel braking is good, T-stopping is a lot worse. If you can, try to learn the Forward T-stop / Soul Slide as it is highly effectively.
- Turning in the wet can be the most dangerous thing you will do: a parallel turn requires you to lean your skates onto corresponding edges and this, in turn, makes them open for sliding. If you can, reduce your speed considerably and try to make more gradual turns.
- If your wheels are brand new and still have the shine on them, do not skate. Take your skates off and walk. The shiny surface on new wheels makes them extremely slippery in the wet and you’re much much more likely to end up hurting yourself.
We’ll be talking a bit about how to clean your bearings in a later article but, for now, one of the best things you can do when you get out of the wet is to remove your wheels from the frames and wipe the outside of the bearings with a dry cloth or tissue paper. It’s likely that your bearings won’t spin as well after being used in the wet, sometimes even getting a little “crunchy”, but if you skate on them they should start to loosen up.
And, on the positive side of skating in the wet: it is easier to start learning some slides than if it was dry. For example, learning the Forward T-Stop / Soul Slide is much easier as the friction between your wheels and the ground is considerably reduced. However, be careful for exactly the same reason: you are going to slide, and you are likely to fall over. Wear safety gear to protect yourself as much as possible.
(original article from our colleagues in Skateinstructor.com)
Skate n Chips - Quad n Chips - Thursday 7:45
24/05/2008 by tim.
The 2nd Skate n Chips (or as John will have it Quad and Chips - damned quaddies!) will be this Thursday, starting at the Turning Circle at 7:45 prompt!
Bring all your friends (not you John!)
Another triumph for the Eastbourne Sk8 M8’s, another free Eastbourne Skating event. The Sk8 M8’s now run the most FREE Skate Events in Eastbourne! Wonderful and you don’t even need to buy a membership card or pay entry for free tips! DOH!
St. Andrews after School skate Club
23/05/2008 by tim.
Sk8school has run several after school skate clubs in and around Eastbourne and the latest one with a few photo’s is the St. Andrews after School Skate Club.
SK8School uses its successful Kids Club formula to teach children how to skate using games.
The next Eastbourne Breakfast skate is this Saturday!
21/05/2008 by tim.
Looking forward to some good weather and a good turn out for this Saturdays breakfast skate.
Certainly the seafront is seeing an increasing amount of skaters as the weather hots up and stays half reasonable into the evening. Roll on the summer proper!
