I just returned from my second modern-day escapade on roller blades. I had tried once as a high schooler when I went crashing into the side of a tennis court after realizing I didn’t know how to stop.
The times, they ain’t a changin’.
I swear, I must look like the Ghost of Gaetan Boucher (if he were dead, I mean) as I scream through the streets with precision accuracy and blistering speed. I’ve got the crouch down, the swinging aerodynamic arms. Problem? I can’t stop for crap. I really, honestly have no idea how it’s done. People say “use the back of the skate”, which would be fine if this was at all true, or even a natural position for a male skater. I want to stop NOW, I don’t want to stop 45 feet up the street when the rubber pad on my heel decides it’s time.
So tell me, how do you stop on roller blades? Seriously. The mystique of this blistering fast speed skater is lost when I’m forced to stop by crashing into a pole.
Cheers!
hmmm do your skates have the brake on the back? that’s what they intend for you to use.. hmm i’m not sure how to describe the stopping
if you can balance on one foot, put your weight on that foot, and sort of sit back, put the braking foot in front and push your heel down..
do you ice skate? you can also drag one foot behind yourself to stop. this will cause you to buy many wheels
if you’re not going too fast and you’ve played hockey before, you might be able to make a tight turn to lose speed quickly
http://www.skatepatrol.org/tutorial.html
maybe this will be more useful :)
make sure you’re sitting back so you’re not leaning forward
You rule, that tutorial is going to help. I did ice skate for many years, but I haven’t for 13 years since, so I’m rusty. I’ve been slowing down and doing the tight turns when possible thus far, but I’ll try resting the left foot on the heel thing and see.
Cheers!
-R.
Hi
I always dragged the back skate wheels – found it stopped faster than that little brake thingy. It does eat up wheels fast, but it’s a price I’ll pay for better stopping.
shaz
actually i was wrong, you have to lean back but you should still put more weight on your brake
i found it much easier to do once the brake was worn down a bit
i’ve only used the old skates with the fixed brake though