Prowler3's Gliding Guide!
*REVISED 12/02/2005*
Videos are down the bottom but I reconmend you read the written part for extra tips!
Hello!
Prowler3 here writing my first major guide ever!
I like to help newbs out in the forums but it gets repetive as many ask the same questions over and over again!
GLIDING SHOES
I see alot of people talking about the right shoes to wear while you glide and I have a few charateritics you should consider if choosing/buying a gliding shoe
- The glide comes from the foot. I glide in skate shoes on concrete and on carpet. Dont talk to me about friction! For easier and better looking glides your moving foot should be off the ground altogether.
This is possible because the still foot should be taking all your weight, leaving you free to lift the moving foot up. Just brushing it against the ground llightly has the same easy to move effect.
But if you are like me you like a bit of slipperyness in the shoe just in case. Shoe soles made of rubber feeling grippy soft rubber are the worst friction time. A hard rubber or plastic sole are best because they are almost dangeriously slippery when they get worn down.. This is just personal choice of course
- Dont glide in sandles! you want a shoe with support and that usually means laces and not elastic!
-having just said that...a sho sooo restrictive you cannot move your ankle is not right. you need A BIT of flexibility!
- The sole should be thick enough to take a tiny bit of weight off your foot which when you improve will be right on the top of its toes (when still that is).
- due to the last point aswell as cleaning perspective..thin soles can often mean you end up on your toes gliding on the actual shoe..NOT the sole.
- just for cleaning a shoe without fluffy fabrics are easier to clean. leathers and vinyls can be washed and polished (usually)
-pick whatever looks best but those are the technical aspects
Iv hoped to address these problems by writing a glide tips guide! I will give tips for improving your glides, AND a simple backslide (Moonwalk, backglide) guide to demonstrate these techniques practically
One thing i will say before i get into things heavily is "Practice, Practice, Practice!" I cannot stress enough that the more you glide the better it gets. Do it infront of a mirror, or in slow mo so you can analyze wat you are doing.
The main principle that goes accross everysingle glide is "weight transfer". This is moving weight from one leg/foot to the other. To demonstrate this
1) stand up straight.feet shoulder length apart
2) drag your left foot back.
3) now do the same bu put your bodies wait on the other foot.
You should hopefuly see the less weight is on a foot the less friction it has = easier gliding.
Now to put this basic weight transfer into practice i will tell you the steps for the backglide
1) stand up straight as before
2) put your right foot on it's toes.
3) now, your right foot stays still with 70%, say, of your bodies weight on it
4) while this foot is up drag the left foot backwards keeping it flat on the ground
5) drag this foot back about 60-70cm..or whenever it becomes impossible to slide it AND keep the foot flat..
6) then put your left foot on it's toes and again transfer your weight to it
7) now slide your right and so on...
I hope that little guide is easy to understand!
Now with the backslide try it without transfering your weight..and with transfering your weight..transfering your weight to the foot on its toes is much less tiring than the other method.
this bit is pretty much up to you, but try experimenting with your foot touching the ground, or your foot a bit off the ground, or your foot firmly on the ground. It is all up to you and what feels good.
The backslide also demonstrates another feature of ALL glides. The foot that moves is ALWAYS flat on the ground or held slightly above the ground. the foot that is still, and takes your weight, is ALWAYS on its toes.
GENERAL GLIDE TIPS
these are handy for when you know how to glide, but it still looks like S%$# because its not smooth fir example
1) Analyze videos:
see as many glide videos as possible so you become familiar with what they look like. just watching glides can make a heap if difference.
2) Smoothen your glides:
if your glides look segmented and not smooth here are some things to do to fix it
You know about the toe and flat foot business, but it is essential to make the transition from left foot to right foot as smoooth as possible. this is achieved by timing your sliding foot to end up on its toe at the same time as your toe foot ends up flat...sounds weird...but think of it this way....as your left foot (for example) slides back you want your right foot to slowly move off its toes onto flat. the second your right foot goes flat pop your left foot onto its toes and try again. this should give the impression of smooth walking
Another thing..always keep your uppper body moving...inbetween toe transitions...even if its just a few milliseconds keep your body moving...this gives the impression that your are still moving even when you arent.
move your arms like you are walking...dont move them too much as this just looks stupid!...practice to find the right amount
It is also important to think of the glide as 1 whole movement. not 'move foot here, switch foot', but think as 'glide'...this mental aspect helps everybit as the others.
PRACTICE!
remeber those tehcniques apply for all glides, and should help the newbs decifer glides!
just for the record..yes i am not a great popper, but i spend alot of time on my glides so i do know what im talking about!
-Prowler3 (omen)
any feedback would be good, and if this is good enuff for a stiky then plz put it up cuz i spent a while on it! thx
I moved the videos to my members gallery so here is the link to them
Part 1 -basic principles and the backslide (moonwalk glide)
Glide Guide Part 1
PART 2 -covers the on the spot glide!
Glide Guide Part 2
NEW Part 3 -covers the circular glide
Glide Guide Part 3
PEACE
Prowlers Gliding Guide + VIDEO!
11-07-2004, 09:48 AM
so forgive me if i dont kno all the lingo 
Nice stuff man...I bet when you're SERIOUS it's even better. Haha...Can definately tell you can glide fairly decently...I get that all the time tho, jus foolin' around, slowing down to show people...then they go "What? That's not so cool." And I do it normal speed and it's much better.
Linear Mode
