Open the Book

Your first front-to-back transition

The Open the Book is one of the most important transitions in roller skating. It takes you from skating forward to skating backward, and once you understand it, it unlocks many other moves.

Good news: this move is usually much easier than it looks.

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Step 1: Learn it standing still

Before trying it while rolling, practice the movement from a standing position.

The basic idea is simple:

1. Place one foot in front of the other
2. Transfer your weight to the back foot
3. Put the front foot onto the heel and open it outward
4. From that position, pull the back foot forward
5. Switch weight & heel and push the heel in front of you

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Step 2: Practice the weight shift

A very helpful drill is to practice the weight shift while standing.

Place your feet in roughly a 90° position and shift your weight from one foot to the other while alternating the heels. This helps your body understand where the weight needs to go.

This movement can even become a fun dance step on its own!

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Step 3: Try it while rolling

Once the standing version feels comfortable:

1. Start skating slowly
2. Practice rolling with one foot slightly in front of the other
3. Shift your weight onto the back foot
4. Let the front heel open outward and complete the transition

Going slow at the beginning makes a huge difference.

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If it doesn’t click right away

This move often feels intimidating at first, but most of the time the only problem is overthinking it.

If it doesn’t work immediately, take a break and come back to it in your next practice session. Many skaters experience the moment where it suddenly just clicks.

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Why this move matters

Mastering this transition will unlock many other skating moves, like:

• Spread Eagle
• Disco Spin
• Tarantino

So take your time with it - it’s a key building block for many fun skills I will show you in our next lesson!