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Start Here Beginners Articles Countries Events Skaters Site Map Skating Styles Aggressive Artistic Fitness Ice Naked Hockey Recreation Skateboard Speed - [View More] Equipment Skates Wheels Bearings Protective Gear Helmets Maintenance Accessories - [ View More] Community Message Board Chat Room Newsletter Regional Countries Local Clubs Group Skates Skate Tours Media Books Magazines Movies Posters Video Clips Videos Video Games More Topics Beginners Deaths Health Issues History How to Skate Hydration Injuries Legal Issues Lessons Nutrition Organizations Police Skating Safety Sports Medicine Travel Web Sites Where to Skate - [View More] Site Map Quick Start Search	How to Draft Another Skater Drafting means skating closely behind another skater to benefit from the resulting decrease in wind resistance. You can conserve energy by drafting, but doing it successfully requires good communication between skaters. How to Get Started Drafting Find a skater whose speed and stride is (or could be) similar to yours. Practice skating about 5 feet apart, then closer and closer, on a straight path, with good pavement, at a comfortable speed. Drafting Tips and Etiquette Practice drafting as frequently as possible, until you are very comfortable with it. To get really good, enter lots of races, because there will be plenty of other skaters to draft. Always ask permission before you draft another skater. If you want to cut into a pace line, and you can't find an open spot, first ask the skater you want to cut in front of. Forcing your way into a line can make you, the other skater, and all the skaters behind, fall down. When you're in a pace line, skate as close to the skater in front of you as possible. Match the lead skater's rhythm and speed, stride for stride. When you're skating in a pace line, communication is very important. Talk to the other skaters in the line. Tell them if you want to go faster, or need to go slower. If you are going to make a tight turn, or do anything unusual, make sure the other skaters in the line are aware of it, well in advance (you don't want to surprise them). Change speed gradually so other skaters in the line can anticipate the change, and adjust their skating accordingly. If you start gaining too much speed, GENTLY AND VERY LIGHTLY touch the skater in front of you, on the lower part of their back, to let them know you are there, and to slow yourself down slightly. If you are the lead skater, you are responsible for the other skaters' safety. Warn the skaters in the line about hazards on the road by pointing to the hazards. Even if you are not the lead skater, you are responsible for pointing out road hazards to the skaters behind you. Take turns in the lead position. The skater in front will be working hard! Visit Our Forum and Tell Us What You Think Anybody have any additional drafting tips for beginners trying it for the first time? How about drafting tips, techniques, and etiquette for more advanced skaters? Visit our SKATING FORUM at AskAboutSkating.com and tell us what you think. Related Links Speed Skating - Main Menu Inline Marathons Around the World Skating in 100 Countries Official Skating Federations International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS) National Roller Skating Federations	Kathie Fry, Editor Join our friendly international skating community SkateLog Forum What I Saw Skating in Venice Beach 2007 Skating Wall Calendars Free SkateLog Business Cards Renate Groenewold + Other Dutch Skaters National Federations FIRS SKATERS by Country by Name by Birthday Photos Girl Skater Photo Gallery SKATE STOPPERS Are They Dangerous? CONNY'S NEW BUST LINE Photos of Lisa Suggitt Portraits Skating El Patinador Solitario of Havana makes his own skates. [ Read More ] A Belgian skater talks about her broken arm. [Read More] Tony Hawk Skating Cartoons from The New Yorker World War II Skating Messenger Girls FUN IN HOLLAND! I got painted orange in Heerenveen and almost arrested in Groningen)... My 92 year old skating buddy Subscribe to our Atom formatted Newsfeed Here's How
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