Learning to skate backwards is one of the most rewarding—and challenging—skills in inline or roller skating. Progress can feel slow, awkward, and even frustrating. But here’s the good news: knowing what not to do is one of the smartest ways to accelerate your improvement.
Mistakes don’t usually happen one at a time. They tend to show up in clusters—one issue can trigger several others. That’s why it’s so helpful to have a checklist to keep your technique on track.
💡 Mistake #1: Not bending your knees enough is by far the most important one to address first. Why? Because a deep, consistent knee bend is the foundation of balance, control, and smooth movement. Fix this, and you’ll often correct several other mistakes automatically.
Pro tip: When skating backwards, you actually need more knee bend than when skating forward. Try tightening the top ankle strap on your skates a couple of clicks before training to get extra support and stability.
🛑 Safety First
Before your session, take a moment to clear your practice area of small debris like stones, sticks, or leaves. Hitting anything unexpectedly while moving backwards is one of the easiest ways to fall—and it’s completely preventable.
Also, focus on keeping your weight toward the front half of your feet. This helps you fall forwards onto knees and hands (where you can safely recover), rather than backwards onto your spine.
If you feel yourself wobble, return to your ready position: knees bent, arms reaching forward. This posture will help you stabilize quickly and stay in control.
⏳ Why Progress Feels Slow—and How to Fix It
Ever feel like learning to skate backwards takes 10x longer than learning to go forward? You’re not imagining it.
Mistake #3: Not lifting your skates is a big reason why. Imagine trying to skate forwards without lifting your feet—slow, inefficient, and frustrating, right? The same is true when moving backwards.
Most skaters unknowingly shuffle or drag their skates rather than lifting and gliding. This slows your progress and reinforces poor technique.
🎯 A Smarter Way to Learn
If you’d rather avoid the trial-and-error approach, we’ve got you covered. Our “How to Skate – Intermediate” online course walks you through a step-by-step method for learning to skate backwards safely and effectively.
You’ll:
- Improve your balance and posture
- Learn to steer with control
- Train both legs equally
- Build your backwards stride with short, controlled pushes
Already skating backwards and want to master more advanced skills? Our “How to Skate – Advanced” course covers:
- Backward Crossovers & Crossunders
- Inverted Mohawks
- Barrel Rolls and seamless transitions
🔥 Start free with the Barrel Roll lesson:
Try the Advanced Course Here »
👣 Small Changes. Big Progress.
Learning to skate backwards doesn’t have to be a long, painful process. By avoiding common mistakes and practicing intentionally, you’ll move more smoothly, confidently, and creatively in no time.
Every stride counts—and we’re here to help you make them stronger.
In this video for Powerslide, I break down the seven most common mistakes skaters make when skating backwards. These apply whether you’re on inline skates, rollerblades, or roller skates:
🧠 Top 7 Backward Skating Mistakes:
00:18 – Insufficient Knee Bend
01:01 – Inability to Steer
01:51 – Not Lifting the Skates
02:57 – Favouring One Leg
03:51 – Incorrect Body Position
04:36 – Weight on the Leading Skate
05:05 – Continuous Backwards Crisscrossing
