Any inline skaters have any hints and tips for skating down hills?

Question

I have been inline skating for quite a few years now but dont really know how to properly go down hills. I usually just coast down the hill and hope theres nothing on the hill that will make me trip and fall. Does anyone have any suggestions for goin down hills?

Answer 1

1) Learn how to control your speed and how fast you can use your control method.

Unless you have a really wide area and no one around, zig zaging won't slow you much.

The heel brake is one of the most stable and effective methods you can use.

Another stable but less effective (if you are on a really big hill) is the T-stop.  If you go with it, do not just drag the toe wheel.  Doing that will trash the toe wheel on any reasonable hill.  Use all the wheels.  If you can manage it, get good with braking with either foot so you can balance the wear between the skates.

Knowing how fast you can start controlling your speed is critical.  Most people can cruise down a hill faster than they can start slowing down.  I have a GPS track that shows about 25 mph as my top speed (I am a chicken going down hills) down a particular hill in a race.  I was past my point of being able to slow down and at that point was at the mercy of how fast I could stay stable going into a corner.

2) find your technique for keeping your feet stable.  I have known people who have sworn by:

   rocking their ankles out to ride on the outside edges

   locking their knees together to ride on the inside edges

   going into a crouch and holding their knees

   scisoring your feet

Basicaly these all provide some tension in your feet and skates so that they don't vibrate until a higher speed.

3) as you get really fast, make sure your wheels aren't worn.  If they are worn unevenly, they will start to vibrate at lower speeds.

Answer 2

I agree, I loved to tuck and fly down them, but zig zagging to control your downhill speed, or dragging the front wheel of your non-dominate leg/ skate also helps slow you.

Just keep your weight and balance on the strong foot, and drag the other's wheels behind you. Be advised this will eat the $#!+ out of them, but it slows you down. :D

Answer 3

I used to do alot of inline skating back in the day. (only 8 yrs ago lol).

If you aren't comfortable with leaning down and going with it, then try zig zagging down the hill.

sorry if this isn't much help