Skating Flat vs. Anti-Rocker vs. Freestyle 

Doing aggressive for a year now and I'm very grateful for having started flat. Really keeps the sport fun all the time, especially during solo sessions. Learning basic grinds this way really taught me to be precise too.

Flat is where it's at for me. Returning to skating and I always skated flat, plus I do agree it is more challenging with the wheel bite but the other 90% of the time I am actually skating the flat is worth it!

I'm really big fan of flat, as a street skater, It gives you so much speed and manuvrebility. Great explanation video with simple explanation of pros n cons bud.

I went from urban skating to aggressive and anti felt too clumsy, just wax the shhhhh out everything and you'll be fine lol

I have always skated flat until recently when I decided to try a set of antirocker's. I absolutely love the forgiveness it has with grinds. Anyway.. Cheers for the video shout out man!

once you go flat you never go back hah got some megaframes and made a banana! 64-65-65-64 best fun i ever had

I’ve been skating flat since I got back into blading and I love it! But with my new set up I decided to play anti rocker again. What I noticed is that flat taught me control on flat ground and I was able to figure out how to maneuver to keep that same feelings. Where I put my weight when I carve and such can allow me to outgrow the train tracks feeling. Even so, flat is still the best for that speed, maneuverability, and smoothness of ride. Great video! Looking forward to more! Would love a video on the different types of wheels. Bullet, round, flat, hardnesses, and such.

I love skating flat! A great set of frames that allows this in a "cheating" way are the Oysi frames! Rolling is no fun on freestyle or anti and that is the core of skating!!!

Damn, I skate urban freestyle & I want to skate aggressive, but I’m too old to smash up my body & expect to recover from that. Damn, I really admire aggressive skating. It sucks not being able to skate when your hurt, so that is my reality. I fight the urges though. Don’t waste your youth , hit that shit hard & stomp those landings, that sounds killer! 🤘😎

Always stoked to see you upload, have a great day Brandon !

The very best explanation I have heard. I started last year with the Razors cult2 with the GC FLT3 anti-rocker, and at that time, I felt like they were amazing. This was due to the fact that I was off blades for 15+ years. I recently started flat with the sway allstar with the kizer fluid v. The difference is noticeable immediately as the ride takes much less effort to roll with a flat setup. The control is far better as well. I rode the razors the other day, and im a flat guy now, never going back. Now I was originally scared more of the price as I now have to purchase 2 packs of wheels instead of 1. However, in the long run, you save money with a flat setup because you have more wheels in use. And they don't get the angle from carving as easy.

I skated flat for almost all of ‘96-‘04. H-block gaps weren’t very big back then. Still totally worked, and like you said, actually rolling was way better. Also meant you could make last-minute adjustments approaching a gap, rail, whatever. When I got back into it this year, I saw everyone was riding anti or freestyle, so I tried it. It definitely helped me get the feel for grinding back quickly, but I missed the agility of flat. The Oysi frames (and other new frame designs for flat/big wheels) are an amazing innovation that happened while I was away. If we had that tech back in the day, I don’t know if anyone would have bothered with anti or freestyle. Anyway, I’m with you. Ride flat, learn how to avoid wheel bite, and you’ll be way happier (and more stylish).

I swap from flat to freestyle depending on what or where Im skating. The funnest thing with freestyle is that you can grind / slide virtually anything and much more than one could skating flat or anti. I skate the Kaltik stealth and freestyles frames but never had any wierd habits or issues when going back to flat. Maybe its the groove designs idk, but I do find the lack of mobility with freestyle oddly more stable when skating transition.

This was a very helpful video. Thank you :)

I am getting back into blading a month now. Used to skate in 7th grade and a few months 15 years ago. Always did anti rocker. I like that it helps me avoid knee pain at my age. I tried flat today and had to stop due to a twisting pain. My K2 fatties are falling apart and rust buckets. I am seriously entertained the idea of getting the Usd Dustin Latimer shadows when they come out. I'll check reviews but all our park rails here are flat rails designed to be wide for skateboard trucks. I think they would be fun with a freestyle frame.

Good philosophy on flat, I think it makes sense. I started and have only skated flat and I think the idea is right - don’t sacrifice part of the nature of skating or the rollerskate to facilitate just one aspect (grinding)~ thanks for your valuable perspective

Hey, great breakdown. Both of my kids (16 and 13) are now more interested in anti-rocker because they are getting into grinding. I hate it as it makes me feel like I can't skate which sucks since I am a decent ice hockey player and urban inline skater. So for me the Oysi frame is great. I still get wheel bite trying some beginner grinds but I don't want to hate the feeling of roller blading. I need to convince my boys to give flat a try again. They both play hockey so skating flat should "feel" better to them too.

Thanks man this video was really helpful. I went from my first skates super old pair of roces with barely even a grind space in the frame. But I was running with two wheels the past two months and barely learned frontsides. I just got a new pair of Aeons and they came with a flat 4 setup and I absolutely fell in love with the way they ride but I am a newer skater trying to learn ledges and the wheelbite is INSANELY agitating but you made me realize it's worth the extra work because the thing I enjoy most about skating is the feeling of just cruising so im.glad I didn't buy antirockers

I skate freestyles and I'm light as fug and gaps and stuff are fine for me but then again I basically just rail since I love it

I'm so glad to hear that flat is the way to go now days. I'm 32 and grew up with only flat, so that's what I'm used to. I just got a 2nd hand pair of skates and I can't wait to get out. When I tried them on, it's like it hadn't been 15 years since I had last put them on.

I love a big 72mm round profile wheel freestyle frame for park skating. My local has some intense rollers and I never scrap compared to my FLT3 anti set up. At least for me nothing is better for big air flip skating and flowing through a park than big wheel freestyle. Think most of the information & bias towards freestyle frames is extremely outdated and compared to anti/flat hasn't had nearly enough development or options. Big wheel and small wheel freestyle are completely different experiences. I would never recommend small wheels like the majority of freestyle frames have historically been. What you trade off in maneuverability you gain in stability 10 fold. Personally I hate skating flat for aggressive. Flowing around on 80-125mm or rec skating flat it's great but that stability when launching & landing flips or gaps can't be beat.

Freestyle for me💯😁

I went back to skating after 7 years hiatus. started on anti rocker back then, then went to freestyle, now I roll flat and as I mostly do rails or coping I don't really have wheelbite problems - I don't like grnding on concrete ledges just yet though :D

Great video dude. I may go back to flat as I am burning through wheels fast on anti and I am not great at grinding anyway

Skated freestyle for years on old Kizer fluids with the small h block. Loved it aside from less maneuverability. Snapped a pair of fiziks skating freestyle too. Actually snapped about 3 pairs of frames.

All other facts aside. Rolling flat is way more fun period…. And that’s what we should be skating for. Also I’d recommend starting flat. Forget starting with a handicap, learn tricks the right way, get good. Keep in mind at all times to have fun and strive to skate better. The better you skate the more fun you’ll have

Skating flat is so much better now I'm 31 and I started back when I was 11 or 12 and I love it

Always skated anti rocker when I skated but I see so many more people skating flat now adays which is kool

great video ty

I just came back got the sport, starting over really; I went straight to flat because skating anti-rockers just felt awful… also, I’m a heavier guy, my main sport is bodybuilding and flat just gives me so much better support…

You rock Brandon.

There are a product called a skateboard rail which is like a plastic strip on the deck that makes it allot easier to do board slides with its similar to the anti rocker system in how it makes grinds easier

What you are saying about flat-skating is all true but for grinding (especially grind-combinations on ledges) it is as you said a little bit a disadvantage; also because flat-frames are a little bit heavier. I have bought my favorite boot two times. One I ride with the Oysi-frames and the other with an antirocker-frame to deal with different situations. One tip to ride antirocker with more flat-feeling: Modify your soulplates like for the Oysi-frame. After you can add also on your antirocker-frame bigger wheels (up to 72 on some frames!). If you use then also wheels with a round shape, then you have a feeling which is coming very close to a flat-frame. Try it out.😉

I started freestyle with my first setup. But i will test the other end of the the line. A flat frame + wheels are ordered.

Interesting topic! I switched my Roces M12s to flat and tried it a while...skating ledges sucked. I'm a beginner so riding flat made it even tougher. I've been doing antirocker for a while now and I like it, but I'm curious about trying freestyle, also interested in trying Oysi. I need more $$ for frames!

And even better... those rockered Oysi frames !

I skate freestyle with round profile wheels. No troubles turning. Ive skated 60mm flat set ups oysi 68mmm setups. My favorite is freestyle 60mm round profile wheels, get the turning ability just like flat you wheels will just wear more.

As a 90s head it bugs me out the idea of someone starting anti-rocker from the jump. I know it's common but that was always something you did once you were at that serious street steez, or atleast trying so you knew how to get over that weird train track transition stage, but to start like that would feel awkward & make a less enjoyable experience for beginners & they don't know it. Regardless what set up you use you always adapt & can't tell the difference..

Andy Brinker rocked flats.👍🏻 lol.

Big point BIG

I started on antis and then bought kaltik flat. the wheel bite was horrible so i went back to anti. now I have oysi frames, 72 - 60 set up. such good frames and I love them. next I'm gonna try aeons.

Glad your weather is as shit as it's been in the UK this year. Best set up ive found is similar to linos magic set up bullet wheels front and back a few mm larger than square middle wheels. Also aeons are awesome for people just starting or coming from hockey or fitness etc because they're still light have a decent forward lean massive h block and bullet wheels and fast bearings straight out the box. I also find theyre so much faster and more manoevourable that my old ass doesn't have to work as hard in clumpy anti rockers. If you can't grind on a massive h block on flats you're doing no better than stepping on in my opinion. Back in 96 we skated anything had no choice and wheel bite hadn't been invented. Soul plates now are massive and more like surf boards.

Beat reason to skate anti is only having to buy 4 packs of wheels and bearings 👌

I've never tried anti, I also never did a lot of grinding. I'm going to give it a shot here in the next week and see how much "worse" it feels rolling. I have a feeling I'm wasting 35 bucks and will be back to flat right away, but I'm really curious to see how many more grinds I can get since my area parks are all angle iron coping, rusty flat rails, and gritty ledges. When skate the only round rail I'm familiar with I can seemingly grind an unlimited distance and the feeling is so cool vs getting like 3 inches across a ledge and then coming to a halt.

Do you have any experience with oysi frames

I'm still riding mooks I'm not even play lol been skating them for so many years.I hunt high and low everytime I need new frames

Love the oysi frames! But fyi "oysi" is pronounced "wish"

Hey. I was wondering if you had plans to do live streams again in the future? P.S. I'm torn that my local skatepark got taken away. I just rolled up to it and saw an empty lot and I was shocked. It's like I don't wanna accept it. Lol. I still have another skatepark a little bit further but dang this sucks. It's nice to have more than one place to go to.

just started skating flat after 12 years of blading. ground control mega frames. my royales havnt changed one bit

I've been rollerblading since 1993, skated aggressive from 1998-2005, I've been urban skating ever since and got back into aggressive in 2020. I've always hated anti rocker. It just sucks the fun right out of skating. I've tried to like it so many times, but I just can't. Flat for life.

I'm skating flat now on new broskows with kizer fluid 4 frames and it feels amazing

Whatt do you think about skating flat on the New Jack Skates?I used to skate flat and I feel like the NJ have more room between the center wheels, im getting back into aggressive inline skating and thinking of picking up a pair. Thanks for your time

Hey i am used to skate rockered on mu seba frs for 3 years. Now i own the m12's and they came with stock anti rockers I went in the bowl and i just could not turn. Should i skate flat or stick with anti

I'm new to skating and brought some m12 but they come anti rocker, can I just buy more wheels to go flat or do I need a new frame, bearing in mind I still havmt got my skates, been waiting weeks for them off bladesville, wont be using them again.

Please make more merch ): I’m new to your channel and I want the Rose merch

What do u think is a good beginner skate

I get why people ride flat, but I'll always be anti rocker

I've been riding flat since 2002 when I got sponsored by fiziks frames and I'll never go back to antis or freestyle.

I'm still tempted to try Freestyle because of Jet Set Radio

I reckon those M12 frames would be a bit more challenging than the Oysi, I got back on blades with some Aeons and can honestly say I’ve never felt like wheel bite was a problem. I’ve definitely experienced it a few times but saw it as something to learn to avoid, not a reason to get rid of 2 wheels. As Acosta blades mentions in his 50/50 wheel review, you just have to lean away from the top of ledges on groove tricks 👌🏼.

Since i got my freestyle skates my movement became a lot better in things like flowing around and doin carves and stuff like that I really like to race through the streets and throw some smooth tricks

which is the best for spins

I now pretty much only ride flat or rockered. I regret riding freestyle for so long. It was a crutch to bad form. Then coming back I've faught my bad habits more than relearning. If I'm going to ride anti I only use bearing wheels. Plastic non bearing wheels are pretty much freestyle once that wheel is grooved and non spinning.

I've just got back in to skating and I cannot get going with anti rocker set up so I'm going go flat on my roces M12 sesame . Great video bro any opinions on best wheels and bearings

recently picked up some 50/50 frames and 8 dead wheels to try flat.havent had the chance to get out on them yet though

I'm interested In an Anti rocker setup for less than 160$, should I stick to skateboarding or anybody got some suggestions? I wear shoe size 9 in most brands. If that matters

you could always just put harder wheels in the middle like if your rolling on 90A wheels , get like 100A wheels in the middle

I don't get a chance to skate often. So when I do grind I need my handicap. Freestyle for me there. But i do enjoy my flat setup for cruising around. But i don't grind in them.

I've been skating since I was 9. I'm 34 now. I got into Aggressive skating after seeing the disney movie "Brink!" in 98. I a few years ago tried anti-rocker and free-style frames ( had a pair of Razors I bought second hand) I learned I am a flat skater through and through. I'm still using my 96-98 Roces M12s though they are about to be retired for good. They can't be fixed anymore. Looking USD Sways to not break the bank. Especially with the Kizer Fluid 5s that are for skating flat. Any suggestions for new skates?

I dont know if anyone can relate. I have that block, where I sit at home just looking at my m12s. Probably lotta older than You dude. I just cant get myself to go skate alone. Its whack. Still thinking about skating all the time. It gets me down. Any similarities anyone?

Idk maybe im weird but I just think certain frames are for certain things. If im skating different spots around the city all day, ill just take 2 minutes to swap my frames. 90% of the time I skate flat and if I find a wide ass ledge I cant hit I just throw on my freestyle frame.

I went to skatepark for first time with anti-rocker setup and it felt so weird to turn, definitely prefer a flat setup

What are good frames for flat skating?? Or can I use the frames on my roces 5th element buio frames to skate flat??

Started skating riding flat. Currently ride freestyle. Someday I'm going to try anti rocker...

Whatever bro... let's skate Haha Love your whatever Mondays/Tuesday 🙌

What would you recommend for someone just starting out wanting to skate around the park and transition???

I'm thinking about skating flat, to gain speed and control, but a I'm a 36yo beginner looking for a lighter setup as well. A heavier setup to skate flat kind of bothers me.

what is the easiest set up to lock onto rails, and drop in

skate flate! symmetrics frames! I f**king love it!!!!!

currently skating rockers, but i dont understand why in agressive skating rockers arent that popular cuz they are really easy to control and the middle wheels rarely catch in grinds they should be more popular.

There are a lot of flat elitists in the comments...IMO it's just up to personal preference. I'm skating antirocker right now (Kizer Fluid 4) and can get plenty of speed, although I don't coast as much as I do skating flat. I also feel a lot more comfortable on grinds compared to Symetrics frames. I also think freestyle isn't "cheating" because a) there are no rules to rollerblading and b) they actually don't give you as much wheelbite protection as antirocker when it comes to ledges. Oysi frames are great though and give me more than enough space for grinding, so I can get down with those. Maybe at some point I'll go to 55 or 54 flat.

I guess you have never seen the movie bang. Half of all the tricks on the entire movie was done with freestyle frames. Massive gaps, massive drops. Latimer and Farmer both used freestyle frames for the film.

Can you replace the anti rocker wheels with regular wheels?

What about tri-rocker?????

FFF = freestyle for forever

Nothing like flat!

i ride anti rocker but i really wanna try flat

Anti rocker for life. To hell with trends or what’s cool. I don’t believe in the idea of “cheater grinding skates” anymore than “cheater ramp skates”. Some skates are simply optimized for certain things and that’s ok. Idk why people think skates should punish you for not locking boot-down every single time. Wheel bite best case is a minor inconvenience, but it can also lead to a serious bail/injury. And btw, you can still do swivel/slide/mushroom blading type stuff in antirocker… perhaps skating flat is the cheater setup for that type of blading lol.

skate bowl with my anti set up. probably oysi will be better... need to try ))

The more I think about it, the more I want to skate freestyle.

According to 5050, juice blocks are anti rockers and not freestyle frames lol

Flat for life

Pretty sure Jeff Stockwell rode freestyle.... best bowl skater.

Never liked anti-rocker at all. I don't mind grinding a bit, but it's not the main focus of what I do.

Flat here. Personal preference.

I think flat. I was gonna go anti rocker But flat is a good way to start I think

Let's Go Brandon.

hold on...... you broke frames whilst skating a rail? i like your videos but that comment blew my mind (not in a good way)

Wierd that i thought anti rockers and freestyle would be great for coping grinds :(

I was lookin for an unbiased assessment of all 3 styles, and this was NOT that. It was basically a sermon about skating flat. I’ve been skating mostly freestyle for a decade and have experienced exactly none of the problems he laid out about it. I just came here to learn more about anti-rocker in terms of sticking during grinds as compared to freestyle; I learned nothing.