Tricks for Carpet Skates

• The underside of the carpet skate reduces the friction of your shoes. feet and carpet image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com

  Carpet skating refers to an indoor activity that mimics the tricks of aggressive inline skating. Utilize an open space while learning the basic maneuvers, as falls may occur. According to Carpet Skates, a series of safety straps permit you to fasten the carpet skates to the bottom of your shoes. The slick carpet skates allow you to glide across smooth rugs and carpets.

Jumps

• Jumping while in the midst of a glide remains one of the most basic tricks. Prior to jumping, bend your knees to stabilize your riding stance. As you jump, keep your knees together to ensure you stay balanced while in the air. Keep the bottoms of your carpet skates parallel with the ground as you begin to descend from your jump. Bend your knees as your skates touch down onto the carpeted-riding terrain. Increase the difficult of your jump by using a few household objects. Place a cardboard box in the middle of the floor. Run and jump onto the carpet to glide full speed toward the cardboard obstacle. Lift up your feet to jump over the box. Stack boxes side by side to challenge your carpet skating ability.

Spins

• Spins remain a vital part of many inline skating tricks. Practice your spins in a stationary position to master the technique of the rotation. Perform a basic jump after bending your knees. Swing your shoulders in either direction while turning your head. Allow your body to spin a full 180 degrees before landing back onto the carpeted surface. Practice the 180 in a slow gliding motion after perfecting it in a stationary position. As you begin to slide backward after landing the 180, turn your head to steer your carpet skates. Attempt your newly learned trick over your cardboard box obstacle. Add another 180-degree rotation to your spin, to land a full 360.

Slides

• A slide refers to an advanced carpet skating trick. According to Rollerblading, inline skaters perform slides across obstacles including ledges and handrails. Use various household objects to act as your sliding obstacles. Locate an old coffee table that sits low to the ground. An old suitcase with a flat surface will work as well. Place the suitcase or table in the middle of the floor. Approach the object in a full-speed glide. Land on the top of the obstacle while leaning forward. Spread your feet wide enough to compensate for the width of your shoulders. Slide off the end of the obstacle and land back onto the carpet surface. Add variations to your slides by incorporating spins.