i skateboard too, but i'm more of a rollerblader. you're right tho it's scarier when you can't bail like with a skateboard, definitely gotten way gnarlier injuries from rollerblading, but that's also got to do with i'm just better at rollerblading so i try bigger shit.

i would say you want to learn jumping off a kicker ramp and playing around with different types of grabs. just don't get yourself twisted up and you should be able to land them fairly easily. for grinds, learn frontside/backside first, depending on whichever you're more comfortable with- think of these like doing a 50/50 on a skateboard and the H-blocks are your front and back truck. jump and aim them like you would the trucks and you'll get it in no time. a lot of your skateboarding skills will definitely translate to rollerblading

btw, if you have 7/8 wheels you can definitely just put one on the front of that missing skate and skate them like that. or you could even do three wheels per skate, removing the front-middle wheel on each frame. i've actually been thinking of trying this myself recently as a good compromise between flat and anti-rocker

which skates/frames did you get?