Okay, the first tip for learning how to stop inline skates is to not rely on any other objects.
This should be obvious, but you don’t want to try to find the closest tree, car, or dog to help you stop. This seems to be the way that most beginners stop, however.
The sooner you learn the stopping, the more confident and competent you’ll become. Learning to brake is a key skill you need to master from the beginning.
The good news? It’s quite easy to stop using inline skates after you have mastered one technique.
The T-brake is the most commonly used brake in inline skating. The T-brake is named after the shape of your legs and skates – a T. Here are some tips to help you get started.
To be honest, it’s a little tricky. Your legs and skates make an L. I’ll refer to it as an L-brake, L-stop, or whatever other name comes to my mind when I write it.
However, we will briefly cover brake techniques that are slightly more advanced such as the cool-looking powerslide.
1. The T Stop
Inline skating has two powerful stopping techniques: the T-stop and the L-stop. This is done by placing the skate of the following foot perpendicularly to your leading one.
Let the skate drag you along in this position for a bit. The sides of your next foot’s skate will scrap the floor as you continue forward. This eventually causes you to stop.
To improve your performance, you should try to keep 90% of your body weight on your bent leg while moving forward. The T position should be maintained by letting the other leg drag behind you.
Mastering the T-stop requires you to be able to control your trailing foot. Try to skate on one foot to master this skill. Keep the other leg off the ground for as long as you can. You will soon be able to balance on one skate and apply the T-stop easily.
Next, learn how to position your legs so that you can skate in a T-position. The actual braking comes into play when you move your trailing foot 90-degrees towards the outside with your leading foot facing forward.
To understand the movement, practice it in a stationary position. You need to bend your knees to reach 90 degrees to feel the bending motion.
Next, you can try the T-stop while you skate. You can start slow and increase your speed gradually as you apply pressure. For better stability, keep your stance lower.
You will master the T-stop quickly as you improve your muscle memory and balance.
2. The Plow Stop
If you want to slow down and stop, keep your skates in a triangle shape while you move forward. You can slow down slowly with the Plow stop (also known as the V-stop).
Spread your legs slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Next, turn your toes inward as you skate forward. Keep your momentum going and keep your feet on the ground. The same technique can be used to stop skating backward.
This technique may seem easier said than done. This technique is also good after you’ve mastered the T stop. You just need to push your skates forward and outward while leaning forward. To make your wheels slide, you must dig them into the ground.
3. Spin and Stop
You can spin one leg out and make a large circle while skating at an optimal speed.
You must widen your stance while moving forward to make the technique work. Simply put, your legs should be extended outward, and your feet should be more than shoulder-width apart. Your toes should point forward.
To make a 180-degree turn in one direction, gently rotate your upper body. This motion and the spinning motion of your body will slow down your momentum, eventually causing you to stop.
Try this stopping technique at a slow speed. You can increase the speed once you feel comfortable with the motion. To avoid falling backward, lean forward as you spin at a faster speed.
4. Power slide
This technique is also known as a hockey stop. This technique involves a quick turn to your right or left to transition from forward to reverse.
Slide sideways and make an L-stop. Then push your leg in this position until you stop. Your trailing leg will continue to move in the opposite direction for a while.
For better balance, bend your knees and keep your stance lower. This technique can take some practice. It is an effective stopping technique for skating on relatively smooth surfaces.
5. Slalom Stop
This technique allows you to gradually slow down and then stop. To use this technique, first, turn to your left. Next, turn sharply turn to your right.
You can slow down your forward momentum using left and right movements. This will eventually help you to stop. This technique can be used while skating at a fast pace if you need to slow down or control your speed.
6. Wind-Breaking Stopping Technique
This technique is great for windy days, especially if you have appropriate clothing such as a jacket. You simply need to spread your arms out for this technique.
Your momentum will be slowed down by the wind. If you’re skating too fast, it can help you slow down. Just glide along with the wind.
This will slow you down and bring your speed to a halt. But be careful: ‘Never stop in a rush to avoid falling.
7. Step Stop
This technique works by either stepping forward or backward. This means you must take a few small steps in your desired direction without pushing forward.
One foot should be lifted for a few seconds before it can be placed back on the floor. Then lift the other skate and place it back on top of the surface. Keep going with the same stepping motion. It will stop eventually.
8. Grass Stop
Here’s the best way for beginners to learn how inline skaters stop. To slow down slowly and eventually stop, you just need to skate on a grassy area of dirt, gravel, or land.
This is also known as running out. It works best if you don’t know how to brake or haven’t learned other stopping techniques. Find a piece of dirt, gravel, or grass and just skate over it.
The rough and uneven surface will slow you down and cause you to stop. Even if you fall or lose control, the grassy surface won’t cause more pain than the pavement’s stiff terrain.
These techniques show that inline skaters can stop even without a brake.
All that being said, I would like to remind you that learning inline skating is only one part of the equation. While you are trying to master the stopping techniques, it is important that you also learn how to safely fall on your skates.
If you are forced to fall, gracefully falling can help minimize the injury. A safe fall is a way to avoid serious injuries if you can’t stop.
These Are Some Safety Tips For Falling Safely
- If you are certain that a fall is inevitable, bend your knees and lower yourself.
- To prevent serious injury, you can land on your elbow or knee pads. This will prevent you from hitting your head or face on the ground.
- Avoid attempting to stop a fall using your palms or hands. Otherwise, you will end up with a fractured wrist or bruised palms.
- Avoid falling on concrete. You’ll sustain less serious injuries than if you hit the concrete.
- Never practice skating without your safety gear. A good set of safety gear is essential for beginners. Make sure you have good quality elbow, wrist, and knee pads. Always buy a certified skating helmet.
Conclusion
Let me conclude by saying that practice is the key to perfection. Practice as much as possible.
Before you attempt to stop using any of these stopping techniques, master your balance skills. You will be more confident in using your skates the way you want.
You will be able to balance the skates better and learn stopping techniques faster. Mastering any inline skating technique, whether it’s stopping or balancing, requires patience and practice.
Learn the correct way to rollerblade under professional guidance and practice a lot to master the art.
