In the height of summer heat, the thought of breezing along on skates might hold new appeal – unless you don’t know how. If you want to try, here’s one way to learn!

By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

According to Trish Alexander, instructor and owner of Skate Journeys: “Skating is about more than going in a straight line.”

However, if you’re having trouble doing even that, but want to learn to skate for fun and for fitness, Trish is offering classes on Alki every Saturday through the summer. Beginner classes start at 12:30 and meet at Alki Kayak Tours, which rents and sells inline skates. Intermediate to Advanced classes meet at 2:00 at Jack Block Park. (Classes will be cancelled if it rains.)

Trish started teaching people to skate in 1996 at the Seattle Inline Arena under the West Seattle Bridge.

She led a beginner’s class called “Roller Fitness” where she assumed people would show up once or twice, learn some moves and safety precautions, then go do their own thing. However, “they kept coming back!” She added intermediate and advanced classes and Skate Journeys has since grown into a business with 20 volunteer instructors and regular classes held at Skate King in Bellevue.

In 2006, Trish says, she was contacted by West Seattle Montessori (WSB sponsor), who asked her to teach skating to their students. The school brings the kids to Jack Block Park grade by grade, and each group gets an hour of teaching for four weeks. They’re shown how to properly put gear on, how to “duckwalk” and most importantly, how to stop. By the end of the four week course, the kids are performing skate moves such as the “Midget” and the “Flamingo.”

About 60% of Trish’s students are adults in their 40s — many of whom are parents looking for a family activity. However, there are also lots of single people who find skating to be an opportunity to get fit while meeting other single people. Trish notes that the instructors range in age from 30-55. Part of the appeal of inline skating, aside from being lots of fun is that it’s a low-impact activity. Trish calls it “moving meditation” and says it gives adults “a chance to learn to play again. Our class is one big recess!”

If you’re hesitant about getting on a pair of inline skates (or if you’re like this author and got on inline skates for half a second before falling right over) Trish assures that the first thing she teaches is balance and stopping. She asks the class “How many of you use hedges, stop signs and small children to stop?” She also tailors the class to those in attendance.

To get to know more about Trish Alexander, Skate Journeys, and skating in general visit: skatejourneys.com. If you’re ready to buy your first pair of skates, Trish also offers a buying guide on the website. Trish adds: “Skating is a vehicle for community. We’re interacting, bringing people together to provide a fitness opportunity and set some goals.”