How to Stop on Roller Skates – 7 Essential Braking Techniques

Mastering the art of stopping on roller skates is very important for beginners and experienced skaters. Over the years, the skating style has evolved, and we have also discovered various braking techniques to decelerate speed. An effective way of learning to skate requires good balancing, body posture, maneuvering skills, and control of speed to slow down and halt. As you glide and zoom along on your roller skates, knowing how to brake and stop is crucial to ensure your safety. This article will explore various deceleration techniques, from basic to advanced on how to stop on roller skates.  

Basic Braking Method: Knee Stop  

Knee stop is a simple braking method to come to an abrupt halt. This method is suitable for beginners, and the difficulty level is easy.  

1. Stay low by kneeling, and use one of your knee pads to stop.  
2. This braking method is not recommended for slow speeds unless necessary.  
3. Practice this stop for extreme cases only.  

How to stop on Roller Skates with Toe Stops 

Drag Toe Stop 

The difficulty level of drag to stop technique is easy to learn. This stop is suitable for slow to medium speeds. In order to execute the braking method, you need to keep your body weight over the front foot and use the other foot to apply pressure to drag.   

1. Drag one foot behind you.  
2. Occasionally switch up the foot or twist your toe stops to avoid wearing them down in one spot.  

Turn Around Toe Stop

Turn around Toe stop is a basic braking method requiring proper body posture. This technique requires good transitioning skills as you need to turn your body. If you’re a beginner, then begin skating forward with some speed and slowly turn back. Turn around toe stop is effective at both slower and faster speeds. Here’s how you can learn it:  

1. As you turn, ensure your focus is in the direction that you want to go. Do not drop your toe brakes too soon.  
2. Keep your arms wide open and bend your knees slightly. We keep our arms wide open to maintain stability and balance and control the weight distribution on our feet.  
3. Once you drop the first toe brake, make sure to point your toe and drag it along the ground. It helps create friction and assists in slowing down. Then similarly, repeat the same process with the second toe brake to come to a complete stop. 
4. To improve your braking skills, practice the Turn around Toe stop technique at different speeds. 

How to stop on Roller Skates with T Stops 

As the name suggests, we need to form a T-shape while braking. The terrain and wheel types can influence the T-stop’s effectiveness on quads. Maintaining proper foot position while you’re in a forward-moving direction is important. Mastering the T-stop requires practice and repetition. Here’s how you can learn it:  

1. Extend your arms to the sides to help maintain balance and stability during the T stop.  
2. You need to keep your upper body and shoulders facing forward.   
3. Lower yourself in a crouched position by bending both your knees slightly. It will allow for better body posture control throughout the T stop and prevent unnecessary weight distribution.  
4. This braking technique requires a one-legged posture, so when you’re executing T stop, keep one foot slightly in front of the other. You must ensure the selected foot has the core strength to balance your body weight and posture.   
5. Straighten your back foot in the sideways direction at a 90-degree angle and apply enough pressure on the outer edge of your front foot skates by dragging it, primarily using the two back wheels.   
6. Do not try out T stop on a downhill slope during the learning phase, as it could be dangerous. As the saying goes, practice makes it perfect. Once you’ve gained confidence with this braking method, you can try it on a downhill slope with safety gear.  

You may also read about – What is the difference between Rollerblades Vs Roller Skates

Plow or Plough Stop Braking Technique on Roller Skates

Practice is vital to mastering the plow stop on roller skates as this braking technique requires time due to its medium difficulty level. It involves widening your stance, angling your feet inward, and allowing the wheels to create friction. Here’s how you can learn it and execute smooth and controlled plow stops:  

1. It is crucial to maintain a low center of gravity. To improve your stability and balance, you must keep your body posture low by slightly bending your knees during the plow stop. It will make it easier to control your movements and stop smoothly.  
2. Your feet should be slightly wider than your shoulders.   
3. When executing the plow stop, first widen both your feet and then gradually bring your toes closer in an inward angle towards the center. Keeping your legs widened provides a stable base for plow stops. Also, the motion while bringing both feet quickly generates friction between the wheels and the surface.  
4. Strengthening your leg muscles through exercises like squats and lunges can significantly improve your plow-stop technique.  

Pro tip: Mentally visualize the plow stop before executing it. Imagine the movements, the weight distribution, and the feeling of a successful stop. This mental preparation can enhance your muscle memory and overall performance.  

How to do a Spread-Eagle Stop on Roller Skates

A spread eagle is a beautiful and elegant move that involves pointing your toes in opposite directions and gliding in a circular or semicircular path. Here’s how you can learn it:  

1. Focus on maintaining a proper body posture. Keep your knees bent and pressed forward, ensuring they are positioned above your toes. This stance promotes balance and control throughout the spin.  
2. Practice the circular motion on a stable surface. Stand with your skates parallel, forming a 90-degree angle, and gently rotate your body in a controlled circle. Concentrate on correctly positioning your knees above your toes and gradually familiarize yourself with the movement.  
3. During the practice session, initially perform the circular motion on a single leg while on the ground. Keep your knee low and transfer your weight to the leg executing the rotation. You must lean slightly forward to facilitate the fluidity of the movement. Similarly, try out with the other leg.

How to stop on roller skates with Power Slide

The Power Slide Stop is an advanced braking technique. It allows skaters to come to a quick and controlled stop while executing a stylish slide. This move is commonly used in various roller-skating disciplines, including artistic skating, roller derby, and freestyle skating. We’ll break down the technique in step-by-step instructions.  

1. Begin practicing the Power Slide Stop at a comfortable and manageable speed. As you gain confidence and control, you can gradually increase your speed.  
2. Keep your knees slightly bent and your body balanced throughout the maneuver. Staying low ensures stability and enhances your ability to execute the slide with control.  
3. Practice shifting your weight to one side smoothly and gradually. This weight transfer initiates the slide and allows you to maintain balance throughout the maneuver.  
4. Focus on opening your hips and twisting your upper body away from your skates. This twisting motion generates the power needed for an effective slide.  
5. As you twist your body, simultaneously turn your skates in the same direction. This coordinated movement allows the inside edges of your wheels to grip the ground and facilitates a controlled slide.  
6. While sliding, concentrate on maintaining control over your body and skates. Keep all four wheels on the ground and rely on the inside edges for stability.  
7. As you slide, gradually increase the pressure on the inside edges of your skates. This progressive increase in pressure will slow you down and bring you to a controlled stop.  

Conclusion

Take your time, be patient, and enjoy the process of learning and mastering the various effective braking methods. I advise you to engage in stopping drills and exercises, especially if you’re a beginner to improve your stopping skills and build confidence. I hope this article on how to use brakes on roller skates was helpful to you. Do let us know if you’ve any queries in the comment section below.