_____________
London Specific

Rollerblading
Lessons

Skate Shops
Speed & Fitness

Weather

_____________
Global Pages

 Home
Up
Skate Reviews
Skate Videos
Articles
Links
FAQ
Cycling
Contact Us

Newsletter

 

How to Skate a Grapevine

An Online Tutorial

By Steven Runyeard

 

Introduction

This is a very fancy looking move and it never fails to grab the attention of onlookers. The skater moves alone a straight path while criss-crossing the legs and making repeated and very rapid direction transitions. This skill originated as a slalom technique but has become increasingly popular amongst recreational skaters.

Although this is a repetitive sequence and there should be plenty of time to see what the skater is doing it is in fact extremely difficult to learn by simply watching it being performed. It’s because there is so much going on at the same time that makes it so hard to follow by casual observation. The Grapevine should ideally be performed flat (with all wheels kept in contact with the ground) but skaters often choose to skate on toe or heel wheels at certain points as it makes some of the required tight turns easier to perform. As a consequence this makes it look even more complex to the observer.

Before you start I should give you a few words of warning. You are not going to learn this overnight and falling over during initial attempts (as your legs get tangled up) is almost inevitable. However, once you get good enough to make it look easy your effort and pain will be repaid 10 fold. It’s impossible not to look extremely cool doing the Grapevine and you will not fail to make lots of friends of the opposite genital group and be invited to all the best parties in town. So, are you ready to learn? Thought so.

Why not take a look at a video of the grapevine to get an idea of what's involved?

Overview

As mentioned above, you will be skating along a straight path but will be spending half your time skating forwards and the other half skating backwards. It’s probably best to learn the Grapevine in two parts – the forwards to backwards transition and then the backwards to forwards (which is the hardest part). One you get comfortable with each direction transition try putting the two together. Although you will need to apply appropriate pressure to propel yourself, this is one aspect you can almost forget about and will be an automatic consequence of the sequence once you get it right.

There are many variations of the Grapevine but the one described here will be the most common version. One rule that must be observed is that both skates must stay in contact with the ground at all times (sometimes on just one wheel). You are not allowed to hop or jump.

Most people prefer to scissor with their right foot forwards and that version will be described. If you are happier with your left foot in front you will need to do a mental translation of the following instructions.

Preparation

In order to undertake this skill you will need to be confident skating in a scissored position and swizzling. You will also need to be able to make direction transitions while keeping both skates on the ground. If you are proficient at rolling on both toe wheels or heel and toe you will also be at a slight advantage.

Method

  • A good way to work your feet into the sequence is from a forwards scissored swizzle. So, with your right foot ahead of the left, swizzle along a few times with your body moving forwards in a straight line. When you are feeling fairly comfortable start to make the first direction transition and go into the sequence.

    Make a fairly deep swizzle with the right skate so that it travels as far to the left as is comfortable. The further you can get it to the left the more room you will have for the rotation.

 

 

 

  • As you start to uncross your legs your right skate will be moving off to the right and your left will be pointing almost straight ahead as it comes out of the swizzle (your right skate crossing the path of the left).
 

 

 

  • The right skate now continues to pivot around to the right. Most of your weight will be on your left skate as it continues to move forwards and you will be pivoting on the heel wheel of the right. You may find it easier to emphasise this by raising the toe a little.
 

 

 

  • Your right skate will continue to pivot until it has rotated almost 180 degrees. Your weight will then need to be shifted more over the right skate to allow your left skate to sweep towards the right as it begins its turn.

 

  

 

 

  • As the right skate completes its 180 degree turn and continues to move in the reverse direction it will pass behind the heel of the left which will be pivoting around on the heel.

 

  

 

 

  • Once the right skate has pivoted around by 180 degrees both skates will be virtually in line with each other and you will be travelling backwards. At this point you will have completed the first half of the sequence (the forwards to backwards transition). Now comes the tricky part - the backwards to forwards.

    Your right skate will now need to makes a fairly tight cut under your body and away to the right going in a reverse direction. This is a critical point in the sequence and you will use this sweep of the right skate to give your lower body some momentum in order to make the transitions back the other way.

  

 

 

  • As you pivot around on the toe of the right skate the left will continue to move in a straight line and in a reverse direction. The toe of the right skate will be pointing towards the left skate as it passes by. Your weight will also be shifted over your left leg.

     

 

  

 

 

  • The right skate will continue around and just miss the toe of the left skate as it passes by. If you have put enough force into the sweep of the right skate there should be sufficient momentum to twist to the left swinging your hips around.

     

 

  

 

 

  • Your right skate will almost be following in the path of the left as it goes around and you will be toe-to-toe for a brief moment. This is a very awkward position to be in and you are more likely to fall here than at any other point in the sequence. As the right skate goes around you may find yourself naturally raising the heel off the ground and swinging it around on just the toe wheel. This is perfectly normal and is how most people perform the transition as it allows the turn of the right skate to be much tighter.

     

 

  

 

 

  • Your weight will be shifted over the middle wheels of the right skate as it passes by the toe of the left. Your left skate will be pivoting around on its toe wheel as the right skate passes.

     

 

  

 

 

  • Once your right skate has completely passed the left, and the left skate is following behind, you will have made completed one whole cycle. Now it's time to go through the whole thing again.

 

  

 

 

Tips

While learning the Grapevine you will find it easier to make wide and exaggerated movements. This will improve stability and also give you more room to sweep your skates around while making the direction transitions.

If you are doing the 'right handed' version (the one described above) you will find that most of your weight will be on your left leg for the majority of the time. It's the right foot that does most of the work in changing the direction of travel and your left leg will really just be following the right skate around. You can almost forget about the left skate and concentrate on what your right skate is going.

Refinement

From a stability point of view the Grapevine is easier when performed slowly. However, you will find it works the legs a lot more and the sequence becomes easier to execute when done fast and snappy. On the backwards to forwards transition you almost throw your right skate around the left which puts a lot more momentum into the sequence and keeps up the pace and gives it a more flowing and rhythmic feel.

As mentioned in the overview, this sequence should really be performed flat but this is more difficult. Once you get proficient enough to do several smooth iterations without too much trouble then keeping all your wheels on the ground and making those turns tighter should not be too difficult a feat. Doing the Grapevine flat looks a lot slicker but does require a little more leg effort (due to the increased friction).

In the early stages of leaning you will most probably find the sequence easier if you twist your entire body around at each direction transition. Once you get good, torso movement should be minimised and ideally only your hips and legs should twist. Once you get to the stage where you can do the Grapevine fairly rapidly torso movement will automatically be reduced as it required a lot less effort.

Keep your skates as close together as possible. In the early stages of learning it will feel easier to make wide and exaggerated movements but everything will looks a lot slicker when you make tighter turns and don't let you feet stray too far.

Variations

Once you can perform the Grapevine fairly comfortably you might like to try adding some variation and making it even more difficult. One variation is to go thought the entire sequence staying on toe wheels. I've only seen this done by one person (Naomi) and it looked extremely tricky. I've still yet to try this myself.

Another added twist to the routine is to incorporate a 360 degree spin at the end (which is also the start) of the sequence and then go back in the opposite direction (switching the lead/trailing feet). This will also allow you to perform the routine going up and down a short line.

An alternative that is a little easier is to go around in a circle rather than along a straight line. This requires one of the direction transitions to be exaggerated (with the turn being through more than 180 degrees). Either a clockwise or anticlockwise circle can be traversed depending on whether the forwards to backward transition is exaggerated or the backwards to forwards.

 

 

Inline skating lessons :: About us :: Disclaimer :: Press Page

All material on this website is © Copyright 2000-2009 LondonSkaters.com, contributors, and associates. Please do not reproduce anything without permission.  If you wish to use photos or other material from this website, please contact me first.