Tips · 7 tips

Jumps on inline skates: drills for the 360, the 540 and the heel pop

Seven short tips: confidence on grass, jumping straight up, heel pop, 360 and the progression to the 540.

1. 

   Tip 1 · Beginner

   First jumps: start on grass

   Key points

   • —Jumping on skates for the first time can be nerve-racking, and that's okay.
   • —Grass gives you stability, cushions your falls and lets you focus only on the push.
   • —Practicing there gives you confidence without risk.
2. 

   Tip 2 · Beginner

   Always jump straight up, never diagonally

   Key points

   • —If you're just starting to jump, there's one piece of advice: jump straight up, never diagonally forward.
   • —When you skate you're already carrying speed, and when you jump, inertia carries you to land in front.
   • —You jump upward and your body moves forward thanks to the speed you carry.

   Common mistake

   If you also push the jump forward, you always land compressed.

3. 

   Tip 3 · Beginner

   Heel pop: the jump to clear speed bumps and storm drains

   Key points

   • —Start by bending your knees: that's your stable base.
   • —Push from your heels, lifting your toes slightly, and land bent again.
   • —That creates a kind of pop that helps you get over obstacles smoothly.
   • —It helps you get around speed bumps, storm drains and imperfections in the ground when you skate on the street.
4. 

   Tip 4 · Intermediate

   360 jump: posture, arms and gaze for the rotation

   Key points

   • —Start with a balanced posture, feet shoulder-width apart; build momentum by bending your knees and pushing down hard.
   • —Turn in whichever direction feels most comfortable, with your arms stretched out and slightly away from your body to keep your balance.
   • —Your head looks forward to guide the rotation, and the push comes from the center of your body.
   • —As you approach the ground, extend your legs a little to cushion the landing and land in the same position you started in.
5. 

   Tip 5 · Intermediate

   Progressive 360: without skates, on grass and then on firm ground

   Key points

   • —Without skates: alternating jumps, one stretched out and one with your knees to your chest, going for height; your axis straight and the landing low. Then 180 and 360 rotations.
   • —With skates, repeat the sequence on a soft surface like grass or dirt: it gets you used to landing on wheels without rolling and with less impact.
   • —On firm ground keep your safety posture (knees bent, body centered) and land as low as possible.
   • —When you feel secure, add speed little by little; you can jump forward or fakie.

   Common mistake

   The soft surface isn't just for losing your fear: it lets you correct mistakes without big risks and improves your feel for landing.

6. 

   Tip 6 · Advanced

   Train your 540 without skates: the full sequence

   Key points

   • —Master it without skates first, as a strengthening and progression drill.
   • —Deep squat to activate your legs, then a straight jump without turning, landing low as in a squat.
   • —Then two 180 turns and a 360.
   • —At the end, two 540 attempts, turning your head and shoulders first so your body follows naturally.

   Common mistake

   The goal isn't just to spin more: it's to strengthen your takeoff and get used to rotating in the air with control before taking it to wheels.

7. 

   Tip 7 · Advanced

   Progressive 540: 180, 360 and 540, first without skates

   Key points

   • —Master the transition between jumps: start with a 180, move on to a 360 and then the 540.
   • —Do it without skates, first from a fixed spot and then with momentum.
   • —The next step is taking it to the skates.

   Common mistake

   Here you see me at the real point of the process: still closing the 540 without skates before trying it on wheels.