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Welcome the skateinstructor.com newsletter - January 2010!

First things first! Since the last newsletter our very own Nic finished his PhD in Physics. Nic, we are all very proud of you dude and a big congratulations!!!

Nic who also answers to the name "Doc Bob"! has also gone from a complete none skater to qualified ICP Instructor in only eighteen months and in that time he has gained teaching experience by working with Mark and attends the London Street Skates on a regular basis. Nic has also competed in the Goodwood inline skate marathon.

The skateinstructor.com web site was designed, build and created by Nic who is the official mastermind behind this web site as well as the ICP web site.

So, as I'm sure you have all noticed the nights are getting lighter and spring and summer are on the way. Only a few weeks to the equinox and then the days start getting longer than the nights. Bring it on I say!

On that note, let me tell you about just a couple (for now) of the things we are starting.

Beginners to Improvers Program - Find your level!

From  the 6th Febuary, we’ll be will be running three group sessions every weekend, designed to put  beginners  - and improvers  - on the road to becoming cool skaters.

Level 1 - Getting started

Gently does it. It’s your first lesson so we’re not going to rush around. We’ll start you off on the grass then head out onto the tarmac once you’ve got a feel for things.

We’ll be taking a close look at safety, and focusing on moving forward and stopping safely.

• Getting you going with starting
• Heel brake stopping

Saturdays:   12 - 1pm.   £15 per person

Level 2 - Next steps

Once you've got the hang of starting and stopping it's time to do some proper skating. We’ll be doing some nice safe turns, trying new ways to skate forward and  putting our foot down to go just a little bit quicker.

• Turning with A-Frame turns
• Going a bit faster with stride 2
• Swizzles / Lemons
• Getting on and off pavements

Saturdays :  1.30 - 3pm.  £20 per person

Level 3 - Cool stuff

By now you’ll have got the hang of the basics, so it’s time to have a go at the cool stuff. We’ll be doing toe rolls, whizzy turns and some ‘show off’ stopping .  And how to skate and stop, on hills.

• Cool turns with parallel turns
• Spin stops
• Dealing with hill both up and down them
• Dealing with rough surfaces

Sunday : 2 - 3.30pm. £20 per person

Pricing

Save a fiver. When you pay for all three sessions in advance, it’s just £50.

On top of that you can repeat any of the sessions later on for a special reduced price. At just £5 per session  -  it’s  an affordable way to keep your skills up to speed.

For more information on this or any other group or private lesson, please contact us by email or call or text us on 07753 489 669

Location

The Royal Albert Memorial, London

London Street Skating

Once you've got Level 3 under your belt you'll be ready to do our Improvers to Sunday Stroll course. This a great course designed to teach you all the skills you need to go on the weekly Sunday street skate that goes around London called the Sunday Stroll. And an Instructor will go with you on your first street skate.

We will be telling you more about that and the dates in the next newsletter and it will be on the web site in a couple of weeks.

Private Skate Lessons

Taking private Rollerblade skate lessons is the best way to learn how to skate well and put you at ease.

Our instructors are among some of the the highest qualified and experienced in the UK. Mark is an ICP level 3 master instructor and instructor Examiner: there are only two ICP level 3 master instructors / examiners currently in the UK.

Private lessons are available from early morning before you go to work until it gets dark severn days a week which means of course, when we go into summer time you can have lessons after work too.

To fine out more about private lesson prices just go to the Lesson Prices Page or for availability have a look at the Lessons Calendar Page

Skate trip to Amsterdam 23rd -25th April 2010

Amsterdam; smooth tarmac, generous cycle lanes and the most respectful motorists ever seen. And of course the obvious advantage, not an uphill in sight (the only slopes are bridges).

The tour hooks up with local skaters for their own Friday night skate starting at 8pm which tours the city and ends at about 10.30pm with their own version of the Vic. Amsterdam’s Friday night skate is not as fast as London’s Friday night skate and anyone capable of the Sunday stroll will only need to extend themselves a little to keep up. The lovely surfaces will make that achievable with ease. Instructors will be on hand to help you out if you need it. Some new obstacles (tram lines) may need negotiating but skating in Amsterdam is easier than London.

Saturday involves skating in the gorgeous countride outside town and Sunday sees the group taking in the sights of Amsterdam with a skating city tour of the central district and nearby neighbourhoods. This trip is fun and different and will improve your skating no end!

For more information email Mark or call 07753 489669

Kids Club

These fun filled group classes are suitable for kids aged 7-11 of any ability level. Complete beginers are welcome but all skaters must be able to stand and roll unassisted in order to attend the class. No level of proficiency is needed and we expect most skaters to have trouble stopping, however if they cannot stant without being held then we recommend a private lesson before attending the group class. Its an ideal way to get your child started on inline skates or for them to try it out before investing in all the kit.

Half term classes are coming up!

If you'd like to know more about the Kids club or if you'd like to book a kids private lesson, contact Asha here...

What's new and cool on the web site...

• Skate video skills Take a look at some of the skate skills we teach.
• Skate places A list of skate friendly (un) places in London. Please feel free to add place you've been to here.
• Skate weather Daily weather for London. It's listed on every page of the site.
• Testimonials Read what some of our students have to say about us.

Skating in Eastbourne

Tim runs the Eastbourne skate school and has loads of cool stuff going on with Dancercise and fortnightly Improvers and Experts session.

Sk8 M8s will be supporting the Chinese new year at Southwick. There will be a number of special Chinese themed games, including the fantastic Dragon Tag.

Just go to www.sk8school.co.uk for details of these and all the other cool skate stuff going on in Eastbourne.

skateinstructor.com is proudly associated with:

The Club Blue Room Skate Shop which is on of London's largest skates shops and has some amazing deals on selective skates as well as skate accessories and clothing.

You can find them here...