Certainly, it is a challenge to come out with an answer to when the question is anti rocker wheels vs flat for skating. The happy news is that there are answers to help you out. The most fundamental one is to find what type of skating you prefer. Yes, the style of skating determines the wheel set-up you need at the bottom of your skate shoes. Therefore, to end up with the perfect answer to what wheels set up is best for you; you better start with the type of skating and the wheels needed for a specific skating type.
It is the wheel set-up that makes the key difference between regular inline skates supported by flat wheel set-up and the aggressive skates attached with anti-rocker wheels.
What is Anti Rocker Wheels?
Typically skateboarding shoes tend to have four wheels with each skate and so a pair of skates does have 8 wheels. You will notice some skates having two middle wheels – the second and the third one- to be smaller in size than the fourth and the first one. Often, the portion of the skate bottom having two smaller wheels is called H-block. Now, the question arises why do you need that set-up?
To start with, all skaters do not enjoy the same tricks and so they change the style and type of the skates. Moreover, if you find fun in grinding, jumping, and spinning; I mean in more aggressive skating, you will go for anti-rocking wheels and speed skates. With the middle part of your skate bottom a bit smaller, you can break stairs more easily now and land on the ground even comfortably from a higher place.
To be specific and clear, anti-rocking is the type of skating that lets you perform certain tricks with ease. By now, you have learned what the tricks are.
What is Flat Set-up for Skating?
You have, by now, understood the difference lies in the set-up of the wheels. A flat set-up for skating refers to the skates having 4 equal size wheels at the bottom of each skate. That is to say, you have 8 equal wheels in a pair of wheels and they all touch the skating plane at the same time while gliding. This is a flat set-up for skating when all the wheels touch the ground at the ride.
To be specific, flat skating is the general type of skating and is best for the beginner. You start with that set-up and can stick to it even after you mastered critical tricks. To roll faster and tackle undulations in the skating terrain, flat skating is preferable.
Anti rocker Vs Flat for Skating: Which one?
We have already got that you cannot give one wheel set-up more credit than the other. As it is a matter of preference of the type of skating not the convenience of the specific wheel set-up that makes the difference. If you are a novice mastering skating sports and loved general skateboarding so much that you don’t want a change, the flat set-up is for you. Conversely, if you have mastered the starter tricks and techniques and want to start aggressive skating and the specific one – anti-rocking, the anti-rocking wheels are for you. So, the preference matters.
That said if you want trendy skating; you will notice around you the aggressive skaters in a large number and the number of general skating is on the down since 2000. That doesn’t mean that you will start with anti-rocking or other aggressive types of riding. There is a trade-off. You better start with a flat set-up and you can check whether you get fun or not while there is a change in your skating type. How?
Just put off the two center wheels from the bottom of your skate and start gliding now, you will notice the change. If you don’t find that fun to skate on, stick with a flat set-up. Especially, if you feel that you tend to fall more often when grinding stairs, anti-rocking is not for you. On the other hand, if you land funny and grinding feels exciting with the middle two wheels off, it is time to swap the wheels with two smaller grinding wheels.
Takeaway…
It’s all how you feel with either riding. If you have a problem with riding stairs, stick to a flat set up. But if you like the way they turn, grind, and roll; go for anti-rocker skates. Before you either consider switching to any style, we suggest you try a ride with the second and third wheels off. Thus you can come out clearly favoring one and overcome the hesitation anti-rocker wheels Vs flat for skating successfully.
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