How to Center Roller Skate Plates
by Dave VanBelleghem

Probably nothing can make learning to quad skate more difficult than having your plates not centered properly. I've seen pairs of skates with one plate pointing at the little toe and the mate pointing at the big toe. Imagine what fun you would have trying to skate in a straight line.

Many quad plates are mounted with the centerline of the plate following the "geometrical" centerline of the foot. This is the typical setup for ice and inline skates. While this may allow you to glide in a straight line on one foot on your quads you will notice when you look down that the front wheel on the inside of your foot sticks way out while the outside wheel hardly shows. For better balance and to transmit your leg power through the wheels more efficiently the centerline of the plate should point slightly to the outside edge of the skate boot. The amount of front wheel sticking out from either side of the boot will be closer to being equal. A good rule of thumb is to have the plate centerline pointing at the gap between the second toe (the long one next to the big toe) and the third toe (the one to the outside of the second toe).

Photo courtesy Fred Benjamin

You can determine this position by putting on the boot before mounting and marking the spot with a piece of chalk. Run the chalk mark around to the sole. Use a centerpunch to make a little dimple on the bottom of the boot at this point and make another centerpunch mark at the back of the heel. You now have your reference points for centering the plate. Refer to the article on plate location for determining where to mount the plate on the centerline.

What are some of the reasons for centering the plates in this fashion.

1. Your weight is more evenly distributed across your wheels.
   
   
2. Sharp turns are much easier to handle.
   
   
3. As you are skating your front gliding foot will curve gradually to the outside, allowing for a more efficient skating movement and transmitting of power from your legs. Watch a speed skating race sometime (ice, inline or quad). This is the technique they use.