My Roller Hockey Saga (Part Twelve)

Question
Well, I guess it's about time that I start asking more skating-related questions (I guess I have been kind of straying off of that path).  So anyway, as I learn to skate faster (or try going down hills), I'm having a harder and harder time with stopping.  Up until now, I haven't really been having a problem, since I was only practicing on PERFECTLY flat areasat low to moderate speeds, and I haven't really had any trouble with braking.  But now, especially when I try going down hills, I can tell that I'm going at speeds that I can't control very well, and trying to stop doesn't normally end well.  I don't know if there is another method that I should be using, because I've been trying to stop the same way as you told me before, but it seems like lots of the time I end up spinning around (uncontrollably) in place, which usually ends up with me on the ground.  So I have been trying to stop more like an ice hockey stop, with both skates perpendicular to the previous motion, and that DEFINITELY hasn't been working, and nearly always ends with me falling down.  Some guys from the team told me that you really don't need to know how to stop, because you don't really stop ever during games.  I thought about that for a while, and I kind of disagree, lol.  I'm guessing that they just take their knowledge of stopping for granted and don't realize how often they use it.  Also, I have noticed that when I bend my knees extremely deep, I usually have a more stable stop.  I don't really know if you are supposed to bend your knees or stand up more straight, and also I was wondering if you are supposed to be just a little leaned forward, or should you be more straight in that aspect as well.

Kind of along the same line, I have been skating around my neighborhood (which can get a little congested at some times of the day), and I have been having trouble with maneuvering when a biker/car/pedestrian comes out of nowhere.  If I am going uphill, I can stop in time, but then I end up rolling in a different direction than originally intended, sometimes straying over a curb or into the grass.  If I am going downhill, I attempt to stop, and many times I fall (even if I do stop I can tell that it looks pretty clumsy).  The bikers especially have a good laugh when they see me fall down.  So I guess that it just emphasizes my above question about stopping at increasing speeds.  Also, since I don't really see any other skaters in my area, should I be skating on the sidewalk or in the street?  I have been going on the sidewalk, but I can see how nervous it makes some of these old people walking along thinking that I'm going to take them out or something.

One more side question, I have been trying to learn the one trick where you are rolling on the toe wheel of one skate and the heel wheel of the other.  Sometimes I can get it for like a second or so, but then both skates slip out from underneath me and I end up doing something very similar to the splits.  I guess I was just wondering if there were any balance exercises that I could do (since I'm guessing I'm pretty weak in that area) that don't involve actually doing the trick yet (I'm not very fond of doing the splits).  Anyway, that's all for today, so thanks again!

Answer
Check out these web sites.  I think they will help you alot.

Here's a web site that would be great for you.  You can buy DVD's  and watch some videos.

http://rollerhockey411.com/
---------------------------------

Here's another site with a lot of free information.  

http://www.ehow.com/how_14728_defensive-sweep-check.html
--------------------------------

Another with lots of free info.

http://www.ehow.com/sublist_2626.html
-----------------------------

Hi Andrew.....Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I had some pc trouble.

You mentioned you had troubel stopping when going down a hill.  For now, I wouldn't skate on very steep hills.  Master your stopping a various speeds on flat surfaces.  Hills aren't necessary for hockey and until your more confident on your skates, I would stay clear of hills.  It's really not important that you do that now anyway.  Once your a little more solid on your skates stopping on hills won't be a problem.

Yes, you do need to bend your knees to stop, so continue to do that.  Inlines have a tendency to make you lean a little forward but try to control how much you're leaning.  Bend your knees more then you won't have to lean so far forward.

You're correct in your thinking that hockey player take stopping for granted.  They do stop......so don't worry about that.

As for skating on the street or sidewalk?  If there's a lot of traffic, stay off the street.  Actually the street would be a better place to practice but safety has to come first.  So use your judgement and use which ever one is safer for that particular day.

To answer your question about being on 1 toe wheel and 1 heel wheel?   If you're doing the splits then your feet are to far apart.  Pretend you're balancing a book on your head then slowly move one foot forward and one foot back.  Feel the balance as you do this and stop when you feel it's ok.  If you spread them to far that's when you fall.  Keep your knees slightly bent when you try it but remember to stand up straight and move the feet apart slowly so you can feel what's going on with each skate.

Get to work and be safe.  That's the most important thing.
If there's any way possible for you to take some actual skating lessons at a rink, I would highly recommend it.  Emailing is fine but it doesn't compare to someone actually showing you how to do these maneuvers and I can't be there to correct you when something isn't right.

Talk to your parents and ask them to take you.  Even if it's only for a few lessons.  Things will make much more sense when you can see it live.

Good Luck.......chat later
Pat