Basic knowledge and facts about freestyle slalom skating

The rules and facts about Inline Freestyle Slalom Skating are complex. When you hear the term freestyle slalom skating for the first time, you usually only associate it with simple skating through slalom cones in wavy lines. But that’s just one of hundreds of tricks in inline freestyle slalom skating, which is also called a fish or a snake.

Inline freestyle slalom skating is subject to its own complex set of rules. But before we look at the variety and complexity of slalom skating, we have a video for you down below. Watching this video will help you to get a first glimpse of this beautiful skating world.


Freestyle slalom skating is a discipline of freestyle skating, which in turn is a category of inline skating. Freestyle slalom skating is also divided into four categories again:

All these four disciplines have one thing in common, we need slalom cones in a certain line-up. Depending on the discipline, the cones are placed on the floor at a specified distance from each other.

The sizes and dimensions of the slalom cones follow an official standard:

  • Height: 7.6 cm to 8.0 cm
  • Bottom diameter: 7.4 cm to 7.5 cm
  • Top diameter: 2.5 cm to 2.7 cm

The competition areas also follow an official standard (see illustrations down below).

In our video below you can find out how we can position the cones for leisure training in the simplest, quickest and correct way.

In this way you can set all your cones without spending a lot of time.

Alternatively, you can read about how to set your cones further down in this article.


Before we get to the tricks, tutorial videos and more, we would like to briefly explain the different disciplines, their similarities and differences.

First of all, here is an illustration of the general competition line-up.

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SkaMiDan – Freestyle Slalom Skating – General competition area

As can be seen in the graphic, in Freestyle Slalom Skating we use three different rows of cones (cone lines) with standardized distances and lengths. The distance is always measured from a center point to the other center point of a cone.

  • The row shown in green always consists of 14 cones with a distance of 120cm each.
  • The row shown in orange always consists of 20 cones with a distance of 80cm each (standard row).
  • The row shown in blue always consists of 20 cones with a distance of 50cm each.
  • The lateral distance from row to row is also standardized and is exactly 2 meters.

Note: Same like in our illistrations, in our videos and photos on the subject of slalom skating, we use the exact same colors for the respective rows

From this you can see the distances between the cone lines that have been set up.

As we can already see from the first sketches, the following factors are decisive for freestyle slalom skating:

  • Agility
  • Maneuverability
  • Control
  • Direct transfer of movement

In order to achieve this, there are inline skates specially designed for slalom skating. These are also called freestyle inline skates or freeskates.

The shorter the wheel base or frame length of a skate, the more agile the handling. It is also important that slalom skates fit very tightly in order to achieve the best possible control and directness.

In the following video you can see a few simple beginner tricks that are a lot of fun (but still need some practice).


Since, we have gotten an initial overview of general slalom skating, let’s take a look at the different slalom disciplines. Here, we will only go into the most important and basic information.


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Freestyle Slalom Skating Classic

In classic freestyle slalom skating, the competitors prepare a choreography. The choreographies are created by the competitors themselves and performed with the music of their choice. The competitors have a predetermined amount of time to do this.

In Freestyle Slalom Skating Classic we use three rows of cones. There is a distance of exactly 2 meters between each row (from one center to the other one). The center of each row must be aligned with the center of every other row as well as the center of the judges’ table.

Starting from the judges’ table, the lines themselves are set up as follows:

  • 20x cones with a distance of 50 cm each (shown here in blue).
  • 20x cones with a distance of 80cm each (shown here in orange).
  • 14x cones with a distance of 120 cm each (shown here in green).
SkaMiDan_Freestyle-Slalom-Skating_Regelaufstellung_Freestyle-Slalom-Skating_Inline-Freestyle-Slalom-Skating-Classic_EN
Freestyle Slalom Skating Classic – Competition line-up according to the official rules

Procedure of the choreography

The time available for the choreography is between 105 seconds and 120 seconds, so a maximum of two minutes.

The timer begins with the start of the music. The music starts as soon as the competitor signals that he/she is ready.

The performance ends when the music stops or when the competitor signals that he/she has completed his/her run.


Competition score

Scoring is based on two basic elements, technical ability and artistic ability. In total, a maximum of 130 points can be achieved.

Technical ability means the level of difficulty of the tricks and how to perform them optimally. Here between 10 and a maximum of 60 points are possible or can be achieved.

Artistic ability means the optimal performance to the selected music, as well as its stylistic execution and body language (body movements that match the rhythm with an optimal mix of dance elements, freestyle tricks, music and power). Here 0 to 60 points are possible or can be achieved.


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Freestyle Slalom Skating Pair

The rules of Freestyle Slalom Pair are, in most respects, the same as those of Freestyle Slalom Classic (solo). However, the most important differences are that the competitors always perform in pairs. The choreography must match each other and the competitor pairs have more time to perform the choreography.

In Freestyle Slalom Skating Pair we use exactly the same setup as for Slalom Skating Classic, i.e. also three rows of cones. Between each row there is again a distance of exactly 2 meters (from one center to the other one). The center of each row must be aligned with the center of every other row as well as with the center of the judges’ table.

The lines itself are set up as follows, starting from the judges’ table:

  • 20x cones with a distance of 50 cm each (shown here in blue).
  • 20x cones with a distance of 80cm each (shown here in orange).
  • 14x cones with a distance of 120 cm each (shown here in green).
 SkaMiDan_Freestyle Slalom Skating_Regelaufstellung_Freestyle Slalom Skating_Inline Freestyle Slalom Skating Pair_EN
Freestyle Slalom Skating Pair – Competition line-up according to the official rules

Procedure of the choreography

The time available for the choreography is between 160 seconds and 180 seconds, i.e. a maximum of three minutes.

The timer begins with the start of the music. The music begins as soon as the competitors have signaled that they are ready.

The performance ends when the music stops or when the competitors signal that they have completed their run.


Competition score

The scoring is based on three basic elements: Technical ability, artistic ability and synchronization. In total, a maximum of 200 points can be achieved.

Technical ability means the degree of difficulty of the tricks and their optimal execution. Here between 10 and a maximum of 60 points are possible or can be achieved.

Artistic ability means the optimal performance to the selected music, as well as its stylistic execution and body language (body movements that match the rhythm with an optimal mix of dance elements, freestyle tricks, music and power).
Here 0 to 70 points are possible or can be achieved.

Synchronization means that the two skaters, perfectly coordinated, perform the same movements or tricks in the same or exactly opposite direction at the same speed or at the same time. Variations such as heel/toe, forward/backward or left/right are possible.
Here between 0 and a maximum of 70 points are possible or can be achieved.


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Speed Slalom Skating

In speed slalom skating, competitors try to skate as quickly as possible through a row of cones on only one foot.

Speed slalom skating is divided into two phases:

  • A qualification phase based on the individual time trial (of all participants).
  • A final phase based on a knockout system of the fastest competitors in the individual time trial.

For the time trial, in which each skater tries to skate their best time, we optionally use only one or more rows.

In the finals, in which the respective finalists compete against each other, we use two rows, which are separated from each other with a bar (cones catcher).

The two rows of the final are placed parallel to each other (from one center to the other). The center of each row must be aligned with the center of every other row as well as with the center of the judges’ table.

Starting from the judges’ table, the rows of cones are set up as follows:

  • 20x cones with a distance of 80cm each (shown here in orange).
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Speed Slalom Skating Time Trial  – Competition line-up according to the official rules

General

For each cone that is missed, pushed too far or kicked away, the respective skater receives a penalty of +0.2 seconds. A moved cone is only considered to have been moved if it has been moved so far that the original center (centre) of the cone is exposed.

If a skater receives more than four time penalties in one run, the run will be invalid. An invalid run may not be repeated.


Qualification phase or time trial

Each participant has two free starting runs (time trial) for the qualification. The best of the two times will then be taken into account for the qualification ranking. The skaters with the best times qualify for the final phase.

Depending on the number of competitors and at the discretion of the Head Judge, the best 4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 skaters qualify for the final phase.

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Speed Slalom Skating Finals – Competition line-up according to the official rules

Final phase and final

In the final phase the qualified skaters compete against each other in a knockout system. For this purpose, the competitors are divided into two groups as follows:

  • First qualifier vs last qualifier.
  • The second qualifier against the penultimate qualifier.
  • Etc.

The first skater to win two runs advances to the next round, the other is knocked out and eliminated.

The two winners of the semi-final round fight for victory in the final, or for first and second place. The two losers of the semi-final round fight each other for third and fourth place.


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Freestyle Slalom Skating Battle

In the Freestyle Slalom Skating Battle, the competitors compete directly against each other in smaller groups of 3 or 4 people. To do this, they each have several runs to outperform their opponents in technique. The best two advance to the next round. The ranking is based on a direct comparison between the skaters of the respective battle.

The Freestyle Slalom Battle Competition Area is the same as that of the Freestyle Slalom Classic but with an additional row of 10 cones. These are set up at a distance of 80 cm.

In Freestyle Slalom Skating Battle we use four rows of cones. There is a distance of exactly 2 meters between each row (from one center to the other one). The center of each row must be aligned with the center of every other row as well as with the center of the judges’ table.

The rows itself are set up as follows, starting from the judges’ table:

  • 20x cones with a distance of 50 cm each (shown here in blue).
  • 20x cones with a distance of 80cm each (shown here in orange).
  • 14x cones with a distance of 120 cm each (shown here in green).
  • 10x cones with a distance of 80cm each (shown here in orange).
SkaMiDan_Freestyle-Slalom-Skating_Regelaufstellung_Freestyle-Slalom-Skating_Inline-Freestyle-Slalom-Skating-Battle_EN
Freestyle Slalom Skating Battle – Competition line-up according to the official rules

General

The groups are divided according to the latest international world rankings. Each skater is ranked in the list according to their international world rankings. Unranked skaters are randomly added to the bottom of the list.

Each group consists of a minimum of 3 skaters and a maximum of 4 skaters. In the case that the number of registered competitors does not allow groups of 3 or 4 skaters, pre-qualification groups can be organized according to the decision of the main judge. Only in the case of pre-qualification groups, the main judge can exceptionally decide to divide up to 5 skaters into a group.

The number of groups depends on the number of skaters. They are organized as follows:

  • 12-16 skaters > 4 groups
  • 18-23 skaters > 6 groups
  • 24-32 skaters > 8 groups
  • etc.

A judge can exceptionally decide to place up to 5 competitors in a group.


Competition rules or process

All skaters in a group have the same number of runs and compete one after the other. Each run lasts 30 seconds. The countdown begins when the skater enters the first cone, and the judges stop scoring the elements of the run after exactly 30 seconds.

How many runs a group has varies according to the following conditions:

  • Up until the quarterfinals, skaters may complete 2 or 3 runs at the discretion of the head judge.
  • In the semi-finals, the skaters always have 3 runs each.
  • In the Consolation Final (final for third and fourth place), the skaters have 2 runs and 1 last trick each.
  • In the final, the skaters have 3 runs and 1 last trick each.

Best Trick and Last Trick

If there is a draw between two skaters in a round, the jury may call for a best trick. Both skaters then perform their best trick and compete for victory.

For the best trick, each skater has a maximum of 2 following attempts of a maximum of 30 seconds. If the first try lasts longer than 10 seconds, the skater will not have a second try. Only the best try/trick will be considered.

The Last Trick is an additional run added in the Consolation Final and Finals Rounds. A final trick consists of a single trick repeated as many times as possible. The sum of the runs and the last trick will be taken into account by the jury for the ranking of the group or competitor.

As with the best trick, in the last trick each skater has a maximum of 2 following attempts of a maximum of 30 seconds. If the first try lasts longer than 10 seconds, the skater will not have a second try. Only the best try/trick will be considered.


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Closing words

With this article it is important to us that you get a first rough overview of the different categories and disciplines of freestyle slalom skating.

But now it’s time to start pacticing freestyle slalom skating. For this we have worked out a red guide for you, which will help you to learn the techniques and tricks one after the other in a meaningful way:

In addition, we have also compiled a large list of tricks with all the tricks of freestyle slalom skating. This not only helps you to get an overview of the tricks and their levels of difficulty, but also helps you to learn and improve them: