Haven’t had skates on in four months? A little rusty on that stopping thing? Or maybe you’re a trail skater who is never comfortable stepping off curbs or negotiating railroad tracks.

Fear not. Trish Alexander is offering a 20-minute brush up course on stopping and maneuvering street obstacles before every skate. Meet at the group-up location at Ocean Drive and 15th Street a half hour before each skate to build both your skills and your confidence.

Trish will be wearing a white instructor’s top and white aggressive helmet. Of course, arrive ready to skate—with protective gear. All lessons are free.

Trish, who is from Washington State, began her skating career on ice at the age of 12. She ice skated competitively before falling in love with inline skating in 1994. She began teaching inline in ’96. Today she is director of the Skate Instructor Association.

“It’s way more fun,” promises Trish, “when you know what you’re doing!” Information will be available during GES registration.

Instructors and National Skate Patrol members can brush up on their skills at a free professional development class Friday, February 4, 9:30 a.m.–noon before the 2011 Great EsSkate. Trish Alexander is offering the class as a taste of what’s available through the Skate Instructors Association, or Skate IA. “This is additional help in diagnosing and finding solutions to skaters’ challenges,” she says.

In order for Trish to help certified instructors and NSP members improve their teaching skills, she invites guinea pigs—er, skaters—who want to learn proper edging, changing direction, rotation, parallel turns, skating backward and other maneuvers.

All attendees will meet in the lobby of the Royal Palm Hotel Friday at 9 a.m. wearing appropriate protective gear.

Register for the Friday morning session at trish@skateia.org. For information on Skate IA go to www.skateIA.org.

Been there...Done that?

Not really until you have done Skatenger Hunt, a scavenger hunt on skates in Miami Beach. This is a new featured event as part of the Great EsSkate, a 3 day skate festival, February 4-6, 2011 at the Royal Palm Hotel 1545 Collins in Miami Beach.

There will be great prizes by Rollerblade including a pair of Twister Urban Skates for winning team members. Information on how to sign up go to the registration area of the Great EsSkate at the Royal Palm Hotel or visit Fritz’s Skate, Bike and Surf 1620 Washington Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33139.

Sponsored by Rollerblade and Fritz’s Skate, Bike and Surf.

EOSkates, manufactures of inline skate frames has a product line that’s an exotic recipe for speed just joined the Great EsSkate as a sponsor. Their revamped product line of carbon fiber frames are about half the weight of comparable aluminum skate frames and will be officially introduced in the January time frame with the first US showing at the Great EsSkate February 4-6, 2011.

Seba Skates will become an official sponsor of the 11th Annual Great EsSkate. The first SEBA series were made with the collaboration of a French Pro skater, Sébastien Laffargue, who developed them step by step. The product line, suitable for freestyle slalom, is composed of 3 models with 6 types of frames and slalom cones. Attendees of the 2010 Great EsSkate were treated to front rows seats of a Seba sponsored Freestyle Skate Battle. There will be more in store for attendees this year with another Battle planned.

Naomi Grigg is returning to South Beach and will be conducting a Skate freestyle workshop the week after the 2011 Great EsSkate. Freestyle slalom is another inline skate discipline that enjoys worldwide popularity. Freestyle Workshops will be conducted at several locations worldwide to give skaters a chance to learn new skills, brush up their technique and exchange ideas.

Registration for the Great EsSkate February 4-6, 2011 increases in so don’t be late. You know you’re going to register today and save money.

Snow birds are flocking to Florida in spite of two recent cold snaps here. As tourist high season approaches, record cold and snow are driving the birds south, so hotel rooms will be harder to find and are more expensive. Our Great EsSkate room rate will be expiring soon, so don’t be left out in the cold! Book your room now at the Royal Palm Resort Hotel.

A specially designed Great EsSkate jersey will be available at the 11th Annual Great EsSkate for only $55.00 (see drawing) in the registration/sponsors area of the Royal Palm Hotel.