Oftentimes, when a customer first purchases a pair of rollerskis, their initial question is, “How do I stop?” Answering this question is not as straightforward as it is for stopping a bike or car, but there are some techniques that one can learn to stop safely on rollerskis.
It is best to practice stopping in a safe, controlled space, like a flat parking lot or quiet street. Getting comfortable on your rollerskis is crucial, so try practicing these techniques before going out on a trail.
Snowplow
- Keep your weight back and knees bent.
- Spread your feet out wide into a V so they don’t run into each other.
- Push the outside of your boots to force the rear wheels outward
- Find a flat spot that you can smoothly roll into.
- Keeping both feet parallel, put one foot slightly in front of the other so that your wheels hit the grass one at a time.
- Bend your knees and lean back onto your heels when you hit the grass.
- This is the most useful way to slow down on steeper/ faster hills; however it requires being very comfortable on rollerskis and a wide trail.
- Go slow at the crest of the hill so you can make small steps and point yourself back up the hill.
- Turn again to go back down a few feet, then make your way to the other side of the trail and turn back up the hill.
Rollerskiing can be scary at first and may even come with some falls, so we always recommend safety gear like a helmet and elbow/knee pads. As you rollerski more and more, you will get comfortable and it is the best training to improve your snow skiing.
