Learn how to t-stop on inline skates.

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T-Stopping is a method of dragging one skate behind you using its wheels as a brake to control your speed. T-Stopping can be used to come to a complete halt but is usually used to reduce speed, perhaps on a hill or approaching a junction.

So why not use your heel-brake?

Good question. Some skaters like keep their brake on and some don’t. The debate is very long winded about which method of stopping is better or which is cooler etc. Us Instructors like to promote heel-braking because the technique is easy for a beginner to get to grips with quickly and when used correctly heel braking is the fastest and safest way to come to a stop. We like to keep you safe!
However with a bit more skill and practice T-stopping is also a fast efficient way to stop.

Pros.

• Unlike heel braking, T-stopping does not ‘lock up’ over dodgy surfaces like the edges of badly laid flagstones.

• T stopping blends nicely into a spin stop. A smooth combo used at road junctions, approaching mates in the park, picking up your water bottle at the curb etc.

• You gain that valuable space the brake took up. Ideal for slalom.

• T-stopping looks cool and requires a level of skill you owe it to yourself to learn.

Cons.

• Your wheels wear fast and require rotating more often.

• Can put sideways pressure on your trailing knee ligaments.

Word of warning. Practice t-stopping lots and lots in the safe environment of the park before you let yourself loose on them busy roads.

Before you read further we advise you to learn to toe-roll first. Toe rolling will help you get the balance required to make t-stopping much easier.

Ok, so lets begin. Today trainee Céline will be your instructor. We have decided to let her take off her safety helmet because she has lovely flaxen hair woven from actual gold.

Firstly! Go and try a slow t-stop! Don’t worry you have got your pads on…

…ok well that was a disaster wasn’t it? Lets work out why.

Did you spin around and lose control as soon as you started to apply pressure on the trailing leg? This always happens at first because:
1. The foot in front was on an inside edge and wanted to curve away from a straight line.
2. When you plant that trailing foot down your hips open up and dont ‘point’ towards the front any more. Your skates want to travel in the direction your hips are now pointing.
3. When you planted that trailing foot down, you put a lot of weight of it which transfers to the wheels pointing in a different direction from the front foot.

Ok. This is what we have learned.
1. We need to stop in a straight line. To do this you need to keep an inside edge of the leading foot and resist the pull of the open hips.
2. We need to learn control before power. You need better balance and control on the leading leg to allow that trailing leg to be light. This wont stop you very fast but learn to be light first and the power bit will be easy later.

Lets look at a good body position.

You can practice this at the curb with your leading foot planted securely into the curb.

Notes:
1. Bend your front knee loads, keep a center edge on the front skate and lean forward enough so that if you drip a bead of sweat from your brow it will fall on the ground in front, not on, your knee. Balance your body weight mostly on the front leg keeping the back leg nice and light.
2. Keep at least a ’skate and a halfs’ gap between the leading and trailing feet. This turns your legs into a lovely stable triangle.
3. Keep your head upright and those shoulders facing forwards.
Now close you eyes and remember how this feels.

Good. That’s the correct body position sorted. Now lets learn to take that position in a straight line with this ‘t-push’ exercise.

1. Find a flat, smooth, level surface and make an L shape with your feet. Bend your leading knee so it covers your skate when you look down. Balance your body weight 50/50 between both legs. Keep those front wheels upright on a centre edge.

2. Lean forward and bend the front knee more. Your front skate will roll. When you have a ’skate and a half’ width distance between your skates kick off gently with the back foot until you are t- stopping. Keep your weight forward. Let your back leg be light. Keep those shoulders facing forward. Keep a center edge on the front wheels. Concentrate on the balance and don’t aim to go fast yet. Remember, control before power. Only aim to be t-stopping for about a meter.

3. As you begin to slow into a stop let your trailing let catch up with your leading leg. Aim to stop in the first (L) position you started. Come to a complete stop.

Now repeat this exercise 100 times!

The rest is easy. Now try to t-stop from slow skating but don’t forget what you have learned about balance and body position. As you get better add a bit more weight to the trailing leg to give you faster stop. As your control and balance improves you can add more weight.

Keep falling over? Learn how to fall over on skates like a pro.