So you’re thinking of roller skating at Viva Calle but aren’t sure if you're ready. Fear not!–Below are a few questions to help you make an informed decision you feel confident in.

First things first, some information about Viva Calle:

According to their website, Viva Calle is a free program that closes some of San Jose’s streets to bring communities together to walk, bike, skate, play, and explore the city (without cars) like never before.

There are typically three “hubs” along the route which feature music performances, volunteer-led activities, and food trucks from local vendors. There is no official “start” or “finish” on a Viva CalleSJ route, as the streets are open and allow participants to, in essence, choose their own adventure. Participants should plan for a leisurely day of riding, skating, jogging, or playing. There will be crowds of people of all ages, so be patient and mindful of the speeds that others are traveling.

Will this be your first time ever putting skates on your feet?

Yes – For your own safety, Viva Calle is NOT the time or place to learn how to skate for the first time. However, you can still participate in Viva Calle via bike or walking, if you’re able to!

No – Great! Just checking ;)

Will this be your first time skating in the streets (AKA street skating)?

Yes – For your own safety, we do NOT recommend you skate at Viva Calle if you’ve never skated on the streets before. You’ll need to be comfortable and confident maneuvering around pedestrians, prepared for the bumpy surfaces, and able to pay attention to the debris/obstacles that may be in front of you.

No, but I still consider myself a beginner street skater – Skating Viva Calle as a beginner street skater is totally doable and it could be a great opportunity to build your street skating confidence, but use your own discretion. Here’s a video with street skating tips for beginners (via Queer Girl Straight Skates), and here's another video going over street skating basics (via Estro Jen / Moxi Roller Skates).

No, I’m comfortable street skating – Great! As long as you’ve skated on streets before and are comfortable at the thought of it, you’ll be fine!

Are you comfortable doing basic skate maneuvers outdoors, such as: pushing forward, accelerating, coasting, and stopping in a controlled manner?

Yes – Awesome! Viva Calle is the perfect place to practice these skills, as you’ll be going long distances and maneuvering around people (remember to always pass on the left!) on car-less roads. Be advised that throughout the route there are “dismount zones” for bike riders where you’ll have to slow your roll, and there are vehicle crossing zones where you’ll need to come to a complete STOP. You must be comfortable doing both of these things in order to thrive at Viva Calle on skates.

No – In order to safely skate Viva Calle, you must be comfortable and somewhat confident in these skate fundamentals–especially stopping on skates. For your own safety, you may want to get more comfortable skating outdoors before skating at Viva Calle. Find a local park, sidewalk, or trail to practice these basic maneuvers.

Do you prefer to skate with a group?

Yes – Roll with us! Join the SJ Roll Call Discord or check our Instagram for our Viva Calle Rollout plan. We usually partner with Skating With Friends in San Jose to host rollouts as well.

Nah, I’m more of a solo skater – That’s cool too! While you’re welcome to roll with us, Viva Calle is a free-form, choose-your-own adventure experience, so you’re free to skate Viva Calle however you please from wherever you want on the route!

Do you know how to stagger your feet when encountering debris and cracks?

Yes – Awesome! There may be many instances where you’ll have to stagger your feet to roll over cracks, obstacles and/or debris.

No – Staggering your feet while skating is something to practice and get comfortable with before skating Viva Calle and we suggest practicing this stance on a sidewalk beforehand to see what it feels like to go over cracks. The key with this stance is to have most of your weight on your back foot, so your front foot is light and easily rolls over cracks and debris. That way, if anything trips you up, you have a back-up leg to catch yourself. Here’s a video to learn more about staggering your feet (timestamp: 1:11).

Are you comfortable with going up/down slight inclines?

Yes – Great! Because Viva Calle routes are usually designed with bikes in mind, you may encounter gradual inclines going either up or down the route–but nothing experienced skaters can’t handle.

Maybe, with some pointers – If you’ve never climbed up or cruised down a hill before, you may want to practice your technique at Martial Cottle park or another nearby inclined trail. What goes up must come down, so practice both going UP hills (accelerate up the hill, gain momentum!) and DOWN (stagger your feet, BEND your knees, chest forward OR take it backwards).

No – If the thought of a slope is terrifying for you and/or you’ve never encountered a slope before, you can still participate at Viva Calle–simply plan your route accordingly. Study the route beforehand on Google Maps and identify the slopes to avoid. If all else fails, you can always take your skates off before the hill, walk up/down, then put your skates back on once you pass it!

The safest way to descend a hill on skates (backwards with your toe stop down) - Dirty Deborah Skates

5 moves to help you control your speed downhill (for advanced skaters) - Skate Pro

How to roller skate down a hill - Nicole Fiore

Do you have outdoor wheels on your skates?

Yes – Perfect! Those will come in handy when dealing with the multiple street surfaces and potential debris you’ll encounter at Viva Calle. Remember to always keep your eyes ahead of you so you anticipate how to avoid debris.

No – While outdoor wheels are not a requirement, they make it so much easier to roll on rough, bumpy, and unpredictable surfaces you may experience throughout the Viva Calle route. Dottie’s Roller Skate shop in Campbell has an excellent selection of outdoor wheels. We recommend Atom Pulse, Suregrip Boardwalks, or Radar wheels–just make sure they are soft wheels.

If you decide not to use outdoor wheels, just be extra aware of debris on the road and/or surface changes. Your feet may also be in for quite the massage. Learn more about the hardness of wheels here (via Estro Jen / Moxi Roller Skates).

Have you skated long distances before?

Yes – Are you sure you’ve never skated Viva Calle?! You’re SET!

No – No worries! You don’t necessarily need to be a distance skater to skate Viva Calle, but be prepared to push yourself more than usual. If you get winded, take breaks.

Other considerations and tips for skating Viva Calle

Getting to Viva Calle / Leaving Viva Calle

A tricky part of Viva Calle is figuring out how to get to the route if you don’t live near it. The Viva Calle route is closed to cars from 10am-3pm, so plan accordingly. You have the option of using public transit, your preferred ride-share app, or biking to your starting point. Keep in mind that if you want to leave Viva Calle before 3pm, you’ll need to be a few blocks away from the route in order to get picked up by car. Remember your starting point in case you have to make your way back!

Safety gear

When it comes to safety gear (knee pads, wrist guards, elbow pads, helmets), wear what will make you feel safe and secure. At Viva Calle, some skaters wear all their pads, some wear pads and helmets, some don’t wear any safety gear at all. Wear what you’ll feel comfortable and safe in, and remember that street skating poses more safety risks than at a roller rink. Know your abilities! If you need any last-minute safety gear, visit Dottie’s Roller Skate Shop in Campbell.

Toe Stops

Similar to safety gear, some people wear toe stops and some people don’t. If you are a beginner street skater, it is highly advised to wear toe stops so you can use them to brake, and make sure you know how to stop with them. I personally wear toe stops whenever I’m on a trail or street due to the unpredictability of the roads, but some people know how to brake without them.

Sun protection

Spending an active day outside will put you at risk for a sunburn. Wear, pack, and reapply sunscreen throughout the event. Wear a hat or sunglasses if that makes you comfortable.

Hydration

Hydration is KEY at this event. There are hydration stations throughout Viva Calle, so bring a refillable water bottle or hydro-pak backpack.

Money and Cash

Along the route, there will be opportunities to support local businesses and food vendors. Don’t forget your wallet!

First Aid and Sanitation

There will be medical tents at Viva Calle but I personally bring a mini first aid kit whenever I’m street or trail skating in case anything unpredictable happens, and suggest you do the same if you feel nervous about getting hurt. I’d also suggest packing hand sanitizer or wipes in case you need to wash/clean your hands/face. This will come in handy for general hygiene, COVID-19 reasons, but also if you ever use the porta-potties–yeah. Just pack your own wipes.

Recovering After Viva Calle

Be mentally and physically prepared to be exhausted after participating in Viva Calle, especially if you’ve never skated long distances or in the heat before. Make sure you have the necessary recovery tools, such as electrolyte beverages (Gatorade/Vitamin Water/Pedialyte), ibuprofen, ice packs, foam rollers, etc.

In Conclusion…

With all the above questions and tips considered, I hope you feel empowered to make a decision that feels right for you. Skating Viva Calle is an experience unlike any other in San Jose–not only is it exciting to rollerskate in a large group, but it’s really the only time you’ll be able to skate in San Jose without any cars around you!

If you don’t feel ready to skate Viva Calle this time around, hopefully you now know what to work on to feel ready for the next event (they happen a few times a year!). Remember, if you don’t feel ready to skate, you can still participate via walking, biking, scootering–whatever means you want.

Hope to see you there whether you're skating or not!