How to stop on roller skates: toe stop, T-stop, plough stop and heel brake

TUREFF• •0

Stopping is the skill that makes skating safe, and it is worth learning before you build speed. Different skates and situations call for different stops, so most skaters learn two or three. Practise each one slowly on a flat, smooth surface with full protective gear first.

Before any stop: the ready position

Every stop starts from a stable base: knees bent, chest slightly forward, weight centred, eyes looking ahead. Trying to stop while upright and leaning back is how many falls happen.

Rolling to a stop

The simplest method is to stop pushing and let yourself roll until you slow down. It is not a real stop, but it is how you control speed while you learn the rest. Never rely on it near people, roads or slopes.

The plough stop (both skate types)

Also called the snowplough or pizza stop, this works on quads and inlines.

Glide at a slow speed with your feet hip-width apart.
Push both skates outwards into a wide stance, knees bent.
Turn your toes inwards slightly, so your feet form an A shape.
Press out against the inside edges of the wheels, keeping your knees bent and apart.

The friction slows you down. Do not let the toes touch or the skates cross. On quads, a wide stance with knees pressed slightly in does the same job.

The toe stop drag (quads)

The rubber stopper at the front of a quad skate is not for slamming on while moving forwards; that throws you over the front.

Glide with your weight on one skate, knees bent.
Bring the other skate behind you.
Lower the toe stop onto the ground and drag it lightly, with most of your weight still on the front skate.
Press harder gradually to slow down more.

It wears the stopper, which is what it is for. Check how much rubber is left now and then.

The T-stop

The T-stop works on inlines and quads, though it is better known on inlines.

Glide on one skate, knees bent, facing forwards.
Place the other skate behind it, at a right angle, forming a T.
Lower the back skate so its wheels drag sideways on the ground.
Add pressure gradually, keeping your weight on the front skate and your hips facing forwards.

Common problems: turning the hips, which spins you round; putting too much weight on the back foot; and letting the back skate drift so you curve away. It wears the wheels on the dragging foot, so rotate wheels to keep that even.

The heel brake (inlines)

Most beginner inline skates have a rubber brake behind the heel of one skate, often the right. It is the most beginner-friendly stop on inlines.

Glide with your feet together and knees bent.
Slide the braking skate forwards so its heel is level with the toe of the other skate.
Lift the toe of the braking skate and press the brake down onto the ground.
Keep your weight between both feet, sinking into your knees as you press.

The usual mistake is standing up and leaning back. Stay low and press with the heel. Replace the brake pad when it wears close to its limit.

Stopping on a slope

Slopes need the stops above at a confident level on flat ground first. On a slope, control speed before it builds, with repeated small stops or wide turns, and walk down anything too steep. Grass at the edge of a path is an emergency option, but you will usually fall on it.

A practice plan

Learn one stop at walking pace until it is automatic.
Repeat it at a slightly higher speed.
Add a second stop for the other side or another situation.
Practise stopping at a chosen mark, not just "somewhere".

Which stop do you trust most, and which one keeps going wrong? Share your tips or ask for help in the comments.