Technique for Stopping on Rollerblades

There are several reliable techniques for stopping on rollerblades. Some require a higher level of skill than others and take a significant amount of practice to perfect. Others, especially the heel brake, are relatively simple. The heel brake is the most common way to stop on rollerblades.

  1. The Heel Brake

    • Most rollerblades come with the heel brake equipment installed. To heel brake, simply bend your knees and then extend your braking foot ahead of your body (usually the right foot), so that the heel brake pad at the rear of the skate is pushed against the pavement. The friction between pad and pavement causes the braking action.

    Ankle-Cuff Brake

    • Some rollerblades are equipped with ankle-cuff brakes. To operate ankle-cuff brakes, extend your braking foot forward but then press down with your toes, especially the big toe. This pushes your ankle back against the cuff, which triggers the braking mechanism.

    More Advanced Techniques

    • There are other more advanced techniques for stopping on rollerblades. These include the T-stop, which consists of dragging one skate sideways behind your body, and the backward power slide, where you extend one foot behind you as you skate backward and brace it sideways against the ground.