Great skaters affirm - you should learn how to skate on any wheels on any surface.
That being said,
Outdoor surfaces (asphalt pathways, concrete sidewalks), go best with softer wheels.
Indoor SLIPPERY surfaces (polished concrete), go best with slightly harder wheels.
Indoor STICKY surfaces (painted concrete, some sport courts), go best with much harder wheels.
For a really detailed explanation, check out Rollergirl.ca: https://www.rollergirl.ca/misc/roller-derby-wheels.html
What do I need right now?
The painted concrete at the Roller Skating Place is an "in-between" surface. Sometimes it's more sticky in the humid weather, and sometimes it's slippery.
The majority of the Rebels skate on wheels between 88 - 94, but it can come down to preference. The weight of the skater also makes a bit of difference.
In the beginning, many skaters prefer the grip of the 84-88. It can help to make you feel in control.
Later, when you're ready to make some real noise with your plow and hockey stops, harder wheels can help (91 +)
Single durometer skates (above)
"Morph Skates" - each of the 2 different colours has a different Durometer (hardness), allows the skater to use the edges in different ways.
Suggestion:
- If you bought Derby skates, the wheels are ok for now. Borrow some wheels from a Rebel to see which wheels you feel best on.
Examples
On sale (as of Oct 8, 2021) https://rollerskatin.ca/products/wheels/derby-wheels/american-turbo-wheels-61x42mm-92a-detail
You also need 16 bearings (8mm): https://rollerskatin.ca/products/bearings/bones-reds-bearings-detail
You'll also need the tools!
Skate tool (for changing your wheels) https://rollerskatin.ca/products/tools-maintenance/vnla-vanilla-premium-skate-tool-detail
There is a lot to learn here. ASK A REBEL for advice!