can you help me out with a few questions?

Question
Hello Pat, thanks for being here and helping people out. Im new to inline skating and had a couple of questions about it.

1. I bought a brand new pair of rollerblades at Modells they are called Bladerunner from Performa,with an ABEC of 5 and 76 mm wheels,at a price of about 70 dollars,I wanted to know if these were a decent pair of skates.

2.I just got over falling down, well at least most of the times,lol, I have good enough balance and my strides are becoming longer but i also noticed the same thing that happened to someone that posted a similar comment here, that  my left foot keeps slanting inward, I mean i feel my feet straight but when i look down my foot is positined like this /.should i straighten it out? you mentioned to put your toes pointed outward for traction and i understand that, but should i just slant outward  the foot thats pushing off or should both feet be pointing outward even when its not pushing off?

3.now that i have learned how to move more or less move around i cant manage to stop. I mean i know that there is a stopper on the baCK OF my right skate but i dont want to use that. i want to learn how to stop using teqniques.can you recommend any and how do I go about doing them. How can i properly do a T-stop? ive tried it but find myself tiping over. is it true that this kind of stop wears down the wheels? because on you tube i have seen them using T-stops while going down hill. I have also seen a stop where is like a turn but i cant manage to do it right. i want to learn how to stop porperly because i want to conquer going downhills. Ive tried it and manage to roll down but when i gain to much speed i always end up forcing myself to fall on the grass.

Thank you and your help is greatly appreciated

Answer
Hi Chaner,
  I have read a little bit about the Bladerunner inline and for the money it sounds like a very nice skate.  I believe they are actually made by Rollerblade so they have a good name behind them.  I think they will work well for you.

  As for your left foot slanting inward?  Yes, try to straighten it out.  The more you skate allowing it to turn in the more likely the boot will conform to that angle then it will be hard to correct.  

  Since you feel your strides are becoming longer take notice that your feet aren't too far apart.  Sometimes the ankle slanting inward is cause by the feet being to far apart.  The toes pointed outward are for traction but should have little to do with the ankle slanting inward.  Yes, it will angle slightly inward but only on the pushing foot when it is pushing.  That's natural.  But it should never happen on the stationary foot.  If this happens to your left foot when you're pushing with your right foot then you may just have a weak left ankle or it's simply not your favorite/more comfortable foot.  If that's the case, you need to constantly be aware of keeping straight up on the wheels, not allowing it to turn inward.

  You asked about stopping without using the brake on the right skate.  The T-stop is used but you're right, it can flatten out your wheels if you're not careful.  The T-stop is done by balancing on your favorite foot while turning the other foot slightly outward and gently dragging it on the ground. It's the dragging part that can ruin your wheels especially if your skating outside...so when possible I would use the brake instead.  If you find your tipping over, try bending your knees when you use the T-stop.  Start out slowly and just keep trying it till you get the feel of where your balance should be and how much pressure you need to place on the foot that your dragging.  You only need to turn the skate out enough to cause the dragging foot to slow you down and eventually stop you.  

  The other way of stopping that you mentioned is called a "stop-spin" or "hockey stop"   I would practice this on flat ground until you have it mastered.  It's like a 1/2 turn.  I'll assume your right handed and are most comfortable turning to the left.  If you're left handed just reverse what I'm telling you.

  Start out very slowly, put most of your weight on your right foot... then bring your right shoulder forward, over to where your left shoulder use to be.  It will cause you to make a 1/2 turn and you should then be facing the opposite direction.  While you are doing this, your left foot should start to turn around so your heels come together.  It's like trying to do a spin but you only want to do a 1/2 spin.  It takes practice and the faster you go the more you have to dig your right skate into the ground to slow you down and turn you around.  The hardest part will be allowing your left skate to turn around so your heels come somewhat together.  

  I wouldn't try it on a hill until you really have control of it, otherwise you'll end up in the grass again.  Keep practicing it on a flat surface and as you start feeling more comfortable, start going faster and faster until you can control the stop with confidence.  Then try a small hill at first to see how it goes.

  Good Luck.....just keep practicing and I'm sure you will get it.  If I can help with anything else....please feel free to write again.

Pat