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Feb 3, 2000 Tony, I have got some new rollerblades and would love to learn to skate. Tried them a couple of times but have trouble with balance and I fall (hurt my wrist but not broken). My question is: is a 65 year old woman too old to in-line skate, in other words, is the risk of injury too great for someone "over the hill", so to speak? I'm in good physical shape, tall, not overweight. I have also considered the possibility I just don't have the aptitude to be a skater. When I was a kid, I was awful on roller skates, fell all the time. Maybe it's more the individual than the age? Anyway, I know bones get more brittle as one gets older and I don't want to be (too) stupid trying to skate. Would appreciate your thoughts on this. Blondie

Dear Blondie, Believe it or not, I've gotten emails from folks 80 and older that have learned to skate and have stayed active. If you're in relatively okay health (please check with your doctor first, if you need too), if you have the desire, you can do it. As with any skater, make sure you wear ALL your safety gear: helmet, wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads. If you feel like you need it, you can also get hockey-style pants that are padded for impact. You might feel bulkier but it can help provide that level of comfort to get you over the hump. If you have problems with balance, you may want to try some basic balance exercises on foot, before you attempt to stand up on inlines. Some examples: Practice standing on one foot. First your left, then your right. Try to do it at first for 5 or 10 seconds at a time, then gradually work your way up to a minute or more at a time. If you can do that, you'll be able to balance on your skates much better. Work out in other ways. If you think you're at risk for injury, you want to work out in other ways too: basic weight training to tone and build muscles, some aerobic exercises (even just walking) to help your overall cardiovascular fitness. All those factors contribute to making your inline skating more fun and enjoyable, not to mention safer. -Tony