Aggressive skaters perform tricks and stunts on special inline skates. Most aggressive skates do not have heel brakes, or their owners remove the heel brakes from their skates to allow them to move more freely and perform a wider range of tricks. You can stop in a variety of ways on skates without heel brakes. Practice several different stopping methods and make sure you can perform them comfortably before you skate in a crowded area.
T-Stop
Step 1
Shift your weight onto one foot, preferably your dominant foot, and let that foot pass in front of the other foot.
Step 2
Bend your knees and reach your arms out to maintain your balance.
Step 3
Move your second foot behind the front foot and turn your toe out so your two feet are perpendicular to each other.
Step 4
Drag your back foot along the ground to slow yourself down and stop your movement. The harder your press the skate into the ground, the more quickly you will stop.
Lunge Stop
Step 1
Hold your arms out in front of you to maintain balance.
Step 2
Lunge forward with your knees bent and begin to turn sharply in one direction. Move the leg on the inside of the turn ahead of the outside leg. Use this leg as a pivot foot and turn the other skate around it.
Step 3
Lean your hips and skates into the turn. The skate on the inside of the curve should be at a 45-degree angle to the ground, and the skate on the outside of the curve should be at an even more extreme angle. The tighter the angle between your skate and the ground, the more pressure you will apply to slow your motion.
Step 4
Complete the pivot turn and come to a stop.
Tips and Warnings
- The lunge stop works best on flat ground. By dragging your skate along the ground to perform the T-stop, you will wear out your wheels faster. Rotate the wheels regularly to promote even wear.
- Inline skating has inherent risks. Even if you wear a helmet and other protective gear, falls or collisions can cause injury.
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