10 Reasons NOT to Skate Flat

After skating flat for 5 years, I have come across all the downsides of aggressive skating with a flat set up. This video contains the 10 worst parts of skating 4 wheels down. Inspired by Ricardo Lino
More of my stuff
Twitch: / buzzcutbrandon
Patreon: / brandondrummond
Exclusive Videos: / @brandondrummond
Instagram: / buzzcutbrandon
Laced NZ - My Merch: shop-laced.com/
TOP SECRET DISCORD, TikTok, Twitter, Subreddit & more
linktr.ee/BrandonDrummond
#aggressiveinline #rollerblading
0:00 Intro
0:13 Number 1
0:53 Number 2
1:30 Number 3
2:37 Number 4
3:12 Number 5
3:46 Number 6
4:06 Number 7
4:36 Number 8
5:30 Number 9
6:15 Number 10
7:02 Why I still skate flat
7:49 Tips for the best anti-rocker set up

[@BrandonDrummond]

Apologies for the construction sounds in the background & thanks to Lino for the inspo ❤ Consider supporting me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/BrandonDrummond

[@eltoppdog]

As a 40yo getting back into it, who skated exclusively anti-rocker before, the feeling of ease and fluidity that a flat setup provides FAR out-ranks making grinding and landing easier. I get a newfound joy out of just skating around, grinds and jumps are an added bonus now.

[@JiandiP]

I can relate with that. I took it one step further with a 5-wheel wizard frame on an agresive boot. I'm straight floating around the skate park. With no h-block it's all grinds involving sole plate but it's all good. I'm more so trying to catch a wave than pick and poke at a single rail all day.

[@Bcbweb]

You should get some urban skates with big wheels if you love just skating around cities and jumping stuff

[@DaddyDog]

I'm almost 40 and skated hard back in the late 90s and early 2000s and had never heard of this. Blades were blades with four wheels. Seems like cheater stuff to me lol bought a pair of rollerblade nj5s with this odd 2 wheel setup and felt wrong af. Just recently bought them 909s and 909 80s

[@nathanchase1297]

The biggest thing with the knees is that with flat you have twice as much urethane to absorb the impact. Which is really good for those who have bad knees or are getting older.

[@lewisbloom]

on the flip side the wheel bite and falling is far greater and i'd say isnt a balanced pro and con. The pro is so small compared to the cons, ill happily skate anti rocker as its just, well for me an older guy its the skating evolution, there's a reason we used them as well as backslide plates. Making it harder because,... reasons just seems silly

[@thenightspydercollector8066]

I tried anti rocker and I hate losing my speed and being agile. Plus being a size 12 it make skating Park like having scooters on my feet.

[@BigNoiseyBoi]

Still a "beginner" , still gonna ride flat. I don't like the train track feeling of anti, its horrible.

[@jadrollervlog]

This is exactly why I don't skate flat. Although I'm pretty excited to try the JT frames by iqon. Promising but there's still a lot of downsides to skating flat. I'll always be more comfortable with anti. And if you get good wheels and good bearings you'll go just as fast.

[@NorthernGrim]

I agree, the only skate I will always skate flat is the Aeons, or the Symmetrics frame. Mostly I'll just be on FL3 or Fluid4's. I tried the GC flat frame and it felt like it was banana rockered and felt squirly everywhere.

[@rollforever_85]

That’s why I love Oysi medium. Roll with 8 down, grinds like anti.

[@bladelab]

Awesome video ! Thanks for making this.

[@LeslieJones_RSTRCTD]

Hahah, awesome round up there Brandon, once again loving it! :)

[@bearwolffish]

Flat all day. No easy mode.

[@rossthomson9833]

Stockwell skated anti and carved bowls etc, broskow skates anti so does aragon and look at his pass sections. Don't let the cool kids bully you in to flat. 😂

[@slim4699]

Stockwell also said on jump street that he would never ride anti again after riding flat😂 js🤷🏿‍♂️

[@kevron720]

Hell I still skate on freestyle frames lol

[@wingdingdmetrius8025]

Tell Jeff I'm skating his skates rockered

[@nathanchase1297]

This would be a classic example of "these guys are really good despite their wheel setup, not because of it."

[@eltoppdog]

​@@nathanchase1297No, no, no! It's definitely smart to base things on top-level pros who are clear exceptions to the rule.

[@ZenithPotentia]

First Ricardo and now you, its like the world is trying to give me a sign to skate Anti. I just absolutely despise how antirocker feels while rolling. That on top of the fact that i want to learn how to integrate aspects of wizard skating into my aggressive skating

[@Boyish000]

Just stay flat at this point

[@mattkamachaitis7549]

I skate 60 flat and can't remember the last time wheel bite was a problem for me. It all depends on your frames and wheel durometer

[@FATSNAIL-FPV]

just got back into skating again and have usd Sway 60 flat. what frames do you have? With the USD Sway 60's i need to adjust to the frame hitting the surface i skate in turns/ landing 180 air's etc wich made me crash pretty hard on an indoor park bowl, didn't have that problem with my K2's 20 years ago lol (had those anti rocker).

[@mattkamachaitis7549]

@@FATSNAIL-FPV ground control flt4 with dead 58mm wheels is a great set up for sways

[@FATSNAIL-FPV]

@@mattkamachaitis7549 thanks!

[@NISHIAKI]

I recently moved over to some Them frames setup flat 56, and I am considering never trying anything else just because I can access the UFS bolts without removing the wheels haha. I also think they skate nice and I don't struggle with wheelbite on them any more than I did on my Fluid Vs. But yeah being able to go from flat to big wheel or anti without removing wheels or feeling like I'm going to strip a UFS bolt is amazing. It's not a dream! It just takes a specific setup lol

[@Mikefantasia22]

As an anti/freestyle skater, I can littersly skate an h block until it snaps. Wild grooves

[@crayfishroll]

Great video I do run 2 setups currently one with oysi frames and one with creates anti and your video is spot on for the issues with running flat even though technically my oysi are rockered.... I find myself going back to anti towards the end of my sessions to land those more technical grinds with ease lol. But it is so much more fun carving, gaining speed easier, and rolling over any imperfections with a flat setup.

[@james-ted-garland]

Ive just started skating a Oysi frame and i really enjoy it

[@SkateWeeb.]

For any flat rolling lad having trouble with landing gaps, get a longer frame. For a lot of these I haven't really been bothered except the knee thing. I can recommend doing leg days at the gym to every aggro rollerblader.

[@drewfleming1]

I skate flat a vast majority of the time. Anti is great when starting to learn new grinds.

[@ZacGordon]

Have LOVED flat for SO long. I think you (and the Omni skates coming out) convinced me to go back to ant-rocker. Thanks!

[@ZacGordon]

Hahaha, until the end of the video 😂

[@Habeev07]

As a skater in my 30's who was around when blading was still in the Xgames... Ive only known anti-rocker. It was never really popular back in the day to ride flat on the west coast.

[@austinpaz2174]

it all depends on the way you skate. i tried anti rocker again when i did my blank team skate review and grinding felt exactly the same as when i rode flat. that train track feeling skating up to ledges or anything fucked with me way too much and that wouldve been reason enough to not ride anti ha

[@kw6466]

This is a good one. Being in my 40s and had been flo for flo by 4x4, I switched so much times just for fun. I was comfortable riding flat, aka 4-down. Skating a huge fat bar or ledge, no wheels was soooo much fun. Skate snobs will dis what I said, but it's what we do. We have fun. I also love flat. Flat is soon much fun, but wheel bite is very real and if you're going full speed with confidence and you slam on wheel bite you're going to get very nervous and that takes away your mentality of doing it. Anti on Aeons is fun... I love the back wheel sticking out and the H-block being tight. It feels so fun. The only thing is after riding flat, I feel all the cracks. I want to play with wizard frames soon. Hopefully, really soon. But I'm tired of skate snobs talking down on others when they should just skate. If I hear one more anti is cheating or if you didn't grab it, it doesn't count, I might just start skating alone. ATL Walt or aka Vegas Austin will make fun, but he was always playing around. Have fun and try new things

[@Pokephantom]

I'll die on my flat skates! Great Vidya thanks amigo!

[@stevechrysanthou1703]

Shifts on fl4s are my favourite setup. Sls on fl3s are also my other setup if i just want to find a ledge and have a session on it and learn new grinds.

[@nathanchase1297]

The wheel highlighted as "round" is actually a "bullet" profile. The one below it is round.

[@D9Beats]

I tore my meniscus riding flat. Listen to this man!

[@romzcrazy123]

That point you made about grinding flat being harder on the knees is so relatable. I really wanted a skate flat a couple of years ago, thinking it would actually help me knees - instead I tore my meniscus doing a mizou on a curb of all things! There was something about the low elevation, the jerking motion as a consequence of the wheel bite and the angle of my knee that was a perfect storm for the joint to just completely fail 😂 Each time I thought that doing a mizou wasn’t going to be a problem, it immediately became a problem in a flat setup and instead of rolling away with steez I would be rolling around on the floor in immense pain. I switched back to anti rocker after a few months, and that problem doesn’t occur anymore - but I am also wearing a sports brace on my knee out of sheer paranoia! Great video, Brandon - keep it up 👏🏼

[@nathanchase1297]

Bro, wheel bite on a mizou should not be a thing, even on 100mm wizards lol.

[@BTTG]

Yeah, never heard of wheel bite on a mizou. BTW, I just tore my meniscus on a royale, but not because of wheel bite.

[@tyronekavanagh9914]

FREE STYLES FTW!!!

[@yoshawnsmith3573]

I found the way to meet both styles in the middle. By using Undercovers 55mm/95a wheels in the middle and dead wheels 58mm/90a on the outside. This gave me the maneuverability of flat and the feel of anti rocket when I do groove tricks. Plus you can get the UFS bolts off without taking the wheels out.

[@BigNoiseyBoi]

how is this giving you the maneuverability of flat when you have 2 wheels still not touching the ground at all

[@adeadlyfart13]

I love the feel of the Dead wheels, but I ride flat 58mm 95a on the whole skate.

[@vincentaugustus2748]

I feel attacked by being served this video, yt starting to read my mind Fr.

[@Symetryczny666]

Wszystko ma wady i zalety na flacie fajnie się skaczę gapy i jest dobra prędkość ale na freestyle o wiele lepiej się ślizga i rolki dużo lżejsze,good video😊

[@nephimcknight5832]

I have zero problems with turning, getting speed and skating around on a good anti setup with quality wheels/bearings.

[@patrickbettencourt3083]

I definitely skate anti because of the fear of wheel bite.

[@cf9590]

Pvssy😂

[@patrickbettencourt3083]

@@cf9590 flat sucks D big time

[@Bl8ingSh0rts]

Loving hi lo atm 60/56/56/60 90a/95a middle wheels work well. Best of both worlds...

[@apaleguy]

I'd say with Anti-rocker you can maneuver a lot easier due to the train tracks It makes freestyling and drifting a lot better.

[@Spacefiddler]

i got the rollerblande blank sk, to install the anti rockers that comes with them is need to remove the wheel spacers?

[@BrandonDrummond]

Great skate choice! No, you should only have to take the normal wheels out and put the antis straight in.

[@Spacefiddler]

thanks! @@BrandonDrummond

[@Mikefantasia22]

I've been skating since I was 12, never skated flat. I skated anti until 2015, then went freestyle and never looked back

[@stigzroom]

No excuses... flat for the win wooot wooot

[@Mikefantasia22]

What are those purple frames tho?

[@ezrakhayyam5609]

What about fauxrockers ? :P

[@sephiroth7818]

I’ve skated flat or rockered for way over 30 years. I have never been able to comfortably do anti.

[@thekamikaze789]

freestyle ftw ;)

[@NullWorldOrder]

man i thought ths sport was dead... i did this for years as a teen everyday for hours... back in the day you use to have to get the dremel out and make those groves yourself... i might have to get a pair of blades again

[@BrandonDrummond]

Do it! You'll have a great time. Thanks for watching!

[@BTTG]

I ride flat on USD Aeon 60. Can i replace the middle wheels for anti on the same skate?

[@BrandonDrummond]

Yes you can. Aeons are the best skates for skating flat. Make sure you give flat skating on them a go before you switch

[@BTTG]

@@BrandonDrummondYes, I've been skating Aeons for three years and really like how they ride (although soul tricks are slow). I'm injured presently, but considering riding anti-rocker when I get Back to the Grind. I hope anti-rocker will help me hold longer grinds, especially on ledges.

[@BrandonDrummond]

@@BTTG Sorry to hear that man. I hope youre healing up well. It is definitely easy to hold grinds skatibng anti on ledges.

[@dronarchy]

Agreed 1000%. Too much wiggle plus 2x wheel/bearing weight. Flat is great for those ballerina toeroll wizards.

[@CatzzSkatesFamily]

This is a whole new world for me. What’s the difference between flat and anti-rocker?

[@BrandonDrummond]

Flat is when you have 4 of the same size wheel on each foot, anti rocker is when you have 2 normal wheels and 2 smaller plastic wheels to grind on, on each foot.

[@mattkamachaitis7549]

Dude there is no way skating flat is harder on your body.

[@nathanchase1297]

Exactly.

[@roscoloidian3859]

Is anti rocker easier to start out on? or should I start with flat

[@yante3714]

For grinds/ switch up on rail and halfpipe id say yes anti (to learn/start)

[@adeadlyfart13]

Depending on what type of skating you are into. IMO I prefer flat for skating transition, park skating, and street skating, and I rock anti-rocker when doing grinds. I know some dudes that just primarily skate anti because they pretty much are just grinder skaters.

[@ima_robot91]

Definitely start with flat. When your just beginning you should put a decent amount of time getting good at just skating around and feeling comfortable in your skates.

[@c6moneypit8]

I have been skating aggressive for 1 year, started on Aeons and loved turning on them. When I started getting obsessed with grinding I started having wheel bite issues. Got the Richie Eisler bullet profile 59mm wheels and most of the wheel bite disappeared, but turning felt strange vs round profile wheels. Decided to go with Blank boots and Oysi Med frame and I swear I have not noticed a single case of wheel bite and they roll as fast as the Aeons and turn/carve almost as well. And I felt like my grinds progressed twice as fast once I got on the Blank/Oysi Med setup. Maybe when I start trying backside grinds I'll have issues... I'll find out in the next few months lol. I tried the Blank stock anti setup for a couple sessions but I just felt awkward with the train track feeling. I must admit, I'm really interested in the upcoming Standard Omni, I'm considering giving that a shot as an anti setup and see if I can be converted!

[@embe2085]

Lino was first w this topic 😉 Will check out later what you got to say about this ✌️

[@zachs1545]

skated anti my whole life.. tried flat aeons one session, it sucks.. anti for life

[@Verta33]

Personal Preference is how I see it. Anti sounds and feels more for beginners or people who need assistance in doing tricks. Alex Broskow and a few other do well on Anti but Flat does not suck or worse than Anti... and 8 wheels is smoother surfin... 4 is slow and wears your wheels down faster!

[@pjayjohnsonII]

I’m new to aggressive skating but flat is way more enjoyable to just skate around.

[@WindLogia]

I was anti only but now I have Aeons so I can finally gain speed

[@leser1music]

Half of these don't apply to aeons

[@tokalov_]

new fashion. Previously, everything was flat. now anti. just to sell.

[@adamblackburnblacky6493]

The thought of doing a full speed bs sav with a flat set up terrifies me. Anti all day

[@zernicht9r286]

i skate since 1993 and if you are an aggressive inlineskater and whant grinding you are lost if you skate flat

[@julianbilchik4]

Slimline 2 frame is a solution

[@lifao-ti8rr]

Say one rider ou can ride more smooth than joe atkinson or an other one on flat . And if you can ride with flat set up you can ride with anything so you’re more accurate

[@killbot350]

Talking bad about flat? BANNED!

[@nobotik]

#10 is the biggest reason. Skate flat if you like it, otherwise there's no point.

[@valprem6401]

#FLATNATION

[@jaylynch3544]

What a load of nonsense I've skated flat since 97 and now it's 2023 and still skate flat you just need a 56mm wheel and yes I still skate salomon St originals 😂

[@seang.6901]

Anti is training wheels G. If ya can't do a trick in flat, you aren't blading properly

[@Travis732]

Anti till I die

[@TiffianyW]

Aeons. Not a problem 😉

[@alexboucher7886]

Love all your videos but this one is useless. These kind of videos feel very clickbaity. Plus its just fuelling the anti vs flat divide, wich is already dumb to begin with. 10 reasons for blablabla... Just ride what feels good for you, its all very subjective. I'm 38, skated anti all my life and switched to flat a year ago. I dont see myself going back. For all the downsides I see more upsides, but that is very much subjective to my experience. My knees and lower back are thanking me though, cause the impacts are more dampened. Anyways keep it up but I wish you and Lino stop doing this kind of content.

[@xxslysinxx]

First Ricardo then Brandon! Oh no, wheres the love for flat.

[@slim4699]

Bruh I’m thinking the same thing! What is happening?!

[@bladeshred01]

​@@slim4699They all copy each other's subjects on content just like every other KZbinr does. When one person that leads that area makes a video the rest just follow on the same or similar subject

[@aldocardoso5221]

Unsubscribed, this channel has been losing quality with each post and now this copycat video was just too much.

[@HotPockets-40k]

Flat is wack

[@KiefLedger_]

Just skate what makes you happy 😂🫡

[@divinevirtualreality]

Best advice! I think you and Ricardo Lino hit it right on the frame. lol 😂 💯 Bad joke I know! 🫣🫣🫣

[@KiefLedger_]

Just skate what makes you happy 😂🫡