Alternative Stopping Techniques

Did you know there are numerous ways to slow down or stop without using a heel brake? Some of these alternative methods are described below.

  • T-Stop: Dragging one skate perpendicular behind you so that the wheels make contact with the surface, gradually increasing pressure to slow or stop.
  • Spin Stop: The skates are scissored and the trailing skate is pivoted on the toe wheel so that the toes are pointing apart. Weight is transferred to the inside wheel edges to enter the spin. The wheels actually scribe an arc. This is usually done at slower speeds.
  • Grass Stop: Enter the grass with skates scissored at least one foot apart, knees bent to lower the center of garavity and weight shifted back and to the rear wheels of both skates. Roll to a stop. Grass can be entered at high speeds with practice. The key to success is to keep the front skate forward at all times and push back off of it when you feel resistance from the rapid decrease in speed.
  • Lunge Stop: The beginning resembles a parallel turn only the turn radius is much shorter and the wheels are at a sharp enough angle to the ground to dissipate speed.
  • Power Slide: Can be entered into by skating forwards or backwards. While skating backwards, transfer the weight to one skate (knee must be bent significantly) and scribe a wide rearward arc with the other. Gradually flatten the angle to the ground until the wheels are perpendicular to your direction at about a 30 degree angle or less and sliding on the ground.
  • Knee Slide: Simply knee down and drag your knee to apply friction. While wearing kneepads, this makes a lot of noise which draws attention to a move that looks cool. While not wearing kneepads, you will make a lot of noise, drawing attention to yourself and looking stupid.

Trick Stops

  • Lynaugh Stop: This is a stop with only 2 wheels touching. The skates are scissored about one foot apart. Lift the toe wheel of the leading skate and the heel wheel of the trailing skate. Only the heel of the leading skate and the toe of the trailing skate should be in contact with the ground. Pivot the toe of the trailing skate perpendicular to the direction of travel (similar to the t-drag except only one wheel is in contact with the ground) and apply pressure to slow and stop.
  • Curb (or Step) Ram: Approach a curb perpendicular and in a forward coasting position. When a few feet away, hop onto the edge of the curb with the knees bent and the soles of the skates at a 45 degree angle to the ground. You will need to lean back in order to stall on the edge of the curb. The skates should make contact with the edge of the curb at mid-wheel (between the 2nd and 3rd wheels of a 4 wheel skate). After a brief stall, you will either have to step back onto the ground or spring back. You can toss in a 180 or 360 on the jump back to gain a few style points! A more difficult variation of the front curb ram is the fakey (backwards) ram. This means you would approach the curb backwards (or hang a 180 jump from a forward coasting position) so that you land on the edge backwards.
  • Merriman Stop: This is basically a backwards T-Stop. While coasting backwards, scissor your skates about one foot apart and turn the trailing skate perpendicular to the direction of travel and apply pressure to that skate to slow to a stop. Practice this at slower speeds.


Mike Merriman

Certified Inline Skating Instructor

Zephyr Inline Skate Tour Guide