Next, find your balance on your rollerblades. Before you hit the pavement, wear your pair on a high-friction surface like grass or carpet, and practice getting into a good “ready position,” Fondran says. In other words, lift your chest, engage your core, and sink down so that your center of gravity is low. Make sure your shoulders are slightly in front of your hips. This will help you balance, since your weight will naturally be in your heels. Side note: It’s also a good idea to practice the stages of stopping and turning on a flat surface before you head out, according to Fondran. (More on those crucial skills later.)