turing around on a QP + stopping

Question
Hey Pat, Carson again!

This time, I'm wondering how to turn around on a quarter pipe, in a skatepark. Say I go up forwards. How do I come down forwards, without doing a 180 in the air?

Also, what's a good technique to stop or slow down when going faster than comfortable for a T-stop? When I try to do a T-stop too fast, I turn around and only lose a little bit of speed. So far,I haven't gotten hurt doing this, but if I would fall backward at high speed, I would imagine that it would hurt. A lot.

P.S. Thanks for the going backwards tip, it worked great!

Answer
Hey Carson,
    If there's a ledge to stand on at the top of the quarter pipe, then just take small steps to turn yourself around.  If there's not a ledge you might be in trouble.  LOL    
    Without a ledge you have 3 choices.  1) Do the 180 in the air.  2) Don't do the 180 and come down backward.  
3) Go very slowly and only go up the ramp part way and try to do a U turn.  I would try this on the ground first....almost like you're going to do a spin but only spin 1/2 way around.  

   First you have to figure out which way feels more natural for you to turn.  Usually right handed people turn to the left and left handed people like turning to the right.  So see which way feels better to you and that's the way you will turn on the ramp.


   Let's say your right handed so you'll be turning to the left.  When you're ready to turn, put most of your weight on your right foot.  Keep the pressure on the inside of your right foot and bring your right shoulder forward slowly.  This will start to make your skate curve to the left.  

   To do a complete 180 with your feet on the ground you will have to bring your right arm and shoulder across the front of you and over to where your left shoulder was.  When your skate starts to curve your feet will (hopefully) form a V shape which will bring you right around.  

   Like I said, try it off the ramp first but start with your feet in a V shape, then wind up your upper body by reaching your arms slightly to the right then bring your right arm and shoulder across the front of you till it reaches the other side.  This will cause you to spin but it will give you the feeling of what you have to do on the ramp to turn around.  The only difference is that you won't have to wind your upper body up because you'll already have the momentum of going up the ramp.   I hope that makes sense.  LOL   When you do it on the ground, put your hands together and hold them straight out in front of you then wind up a little.

 
Stopping when going fast:  What happens with your T-stop is almost exactly what you need to do to make that U turn on the ramp.  When you did the T-stop you put your feet in a V instead of a T.  And that's what made you spin around.  Try using more of a T shape and don't let it go into the V.

   I'm sorry I can't remember if your on roller blades or roller skates.  But......if you're on roller blades you should have a brake in the back of one skate.  

   Just put your feet together, bend your knees and pick up the front end of the skate that has the brake and practice stopping.  You will have to bring the stopping foot a little ahead of the other one to make it work.  If your feet are side by side you'll probably trip yourself.

    If you're on roller skates, do you have a toe stop?  If so, then put your feet together, bend your knees and let the stopping foot go slightly backward while picking up the heel.  This will allow you to glide the toe stop to the ground.  The faster you want to stop, the more pressure you'll have to put on the toe stop.

   If you don't have either?  The T-stop is your only choice or run into some soft grass.  LOL

   Again.....as with everything.....practice things slowly till it becomes comfortable.  I would practice stopping a lot because it's something you will always need to do.

   I hope I didn't confuse you with my explanations.  If you need anything else, you know where to find me.   Keep it up.....it sounds like you're catching on fast.