If you`ve ever wondered what it would be like to join the growing ranks of in-line skaters whizzing around suburban bike paths and forest preserves, Justin Brooks has a message for you: ”Call me up!”
As an instructor/events and clinic specialist for Rollerblade, Inc., Brooks, 34, is a traveling one-man in-line skate school. Tooling around Chicagoland in a van equipped with safety gear and in-line skates of all sizes, the Schaumburg resident offers private and group lessons to skaters of every level from curious first timers to more experienced racers and trick skaters.
An eight-year veteran of the sport, Brooks began teaching on his own about three years ago. Through his connections in the retail sporting goods world, Rollerblade caught wind of his operation and hired him on as an instructor and special events coordinator earlier this summer.
Using a three-level curriculum for beginner, intermediate and advanced skaters, Brooks covers everything from balance/counter balance, basic stops and foot movement, to freestyle and trick skating and ramp work.
”I teach people as much as they can learn,” Brooks said swooping into a graceful figure eight. ”The main difference in the way I teach is that I teach weight distribution without picking your feet off the ground. You`ll notice that very good skaters don`t have their feet off the ground very often. That`s part of the grace and beauty of freestyle and that`s what I try to get people to do.”
Demonstrating some of the more advanced moves like crossovers, skating backwards and toe spins, Brooks kept up a steady stream of chatter, noting that ”most students are able to skate safely anywhere and feel confident after one or two lessons,” and proper equipment and safety are covered regardless of a student`s proficiency.
”Nobody`s too good not to wear safety gear,” he said.
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A one-hour private lesson at the location of your choice with skates and safety gear (wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads) will run you $20, $15 if you have your own skates. Group rates vary. Brooks is fully insured through Rollerblade, Inc. and has skate sizes for kids and adults. Call 925-8527.
