Braking on figure skates primarily involves using your skate edges to create friction against the ice, with several techniques ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced. The most common methods include the snowplow stop, the T-stop, and the hockey stop, all of which require proper body posture, particularly bending your knees and keeping your chest up for stability.
Essential Principles for Stopping
Regardless of the specific technique, fundamental principles apply to all stops on figure skates:
- Bend Your Knees: A crucial element for balance and control. Bending your knees sufficiently lowers your center of gravity, which helps prevent losing your balance and potentially falling. This also allows for better absorption of impact and more effective edge engagement.
- Keep Your Chest Up: Maintaining an upright posture with your chest up helps you stay balanced and looking forward, which is essential for spatial awareness and avoiding face-planting. Avoid hunching over, as this can shift your weight incorrectly.
- Look Forward: Keep your head up and eyes looking in the direction of travel or where you intend to stop. This aids in maintaining balance and situational awareness.
- Practice: Stopping effectively takes practice. Start slowly and gradually increase your speed as you gain confidence.
Common Figure Skating Stop Techniques
Learning to stop is a fundamental skill for any figure skater. Here are the primary techniques:
1. Snowplow Stop (Wedge Stop)
The snowplow stop is typically the first stop learned by beginners due to its simplicity and stability. It's often compared to how a skier stops.
- How to Perform:
- Glide Forward: Start by gliding forward with both feet parallel.
- Bend Knees: Bend your knees significantly and keep your chest up.
- Turn Toes In: Slowly push both heels out while turning your toes inward, creating a "V" shape with your skates. Your feet should be pointing towards each other.
- Press Edges: Press down firmly on the inside edges of both skates into the ice. This creates friction and slows you down.
- Maintain Balance: Keep your weight centered and your core engaged.
- Tips:
- Start with a gentle "V" shape and gradually widen it as you get comfortable.
- The more you push your heels out and press your edges, the faster you will stop.
2. T-Stop
The T-stop is a more elegant and controlled stop, commonly used by intermediate skaters. It involves using one skate to drag behind the other, forming a "T" shape.
- How to Perform:
- Glide Forward: Begin gliding on two feet, bending your knees.
- Shift Weight: Shift your weight primarily onto your front (gliding) foot.
- Position Trailing Foot: Lift your back foot slightly and place it behind your gliding foot, perpendicular to it, forming a "T" shape.
- Drag and Press: Gently press the inside edge of your trailing foot onto the ice, dragging it sideways. The pressure from this foot against the ice will create friction and slow you down.
- Maintain Posture: Keep your chest up and bend your knees throughout the stop for optimal control.
- Tips:
- Ensure the trailing foot is flat or slightly on its inside edge, not digging in too hard, which can cause you to spin.
- Practice on both sides (left foot trailing, right foot trailing) for balance and versatility.
- The amount of pressure you apply with the trailing foot dictates how quickly you stop.
3. Hockey Stop
The hockey stop is the most advanced and fastest way to stop, commonly seen in hockey and competitive figure skating. It involves rotating both skates sideways simultaneously, digging their edges into the ice.
- How to Perform (Simplified for Figure Skating):
- Build Speed: Gain some momentum.
- Bend Knees and Prepare: Bend your knees deeply, keep your chest up, and shift your weight slightly over your outside skate.
- Turn Body and Skates: In a single, fluid motion, turn your hips and shoulders sharply to the side (e.g., to the left) while simultaneously pivoting both skates perpendicular to your direction of travel.
- Dig Edges: Dig the inside edge of your leading foot and the outside edge of your trailing foot into the ice. This will create a spray of ice (shavings) and bring you to a rapid halt.
- Absorb Impact: Use your bent knees to absorb the force of the stop.
- Tips:
- This stop requires significant practice, balance, and edge control.
- Start by practicing the "plow stop from a parallel position" mentioned above, then gradually try to bring the feet closer together and pivot more sharply.
- Confidence is key; hesitation can lead to an unbalanced stop.
- Learning to turn sharply before attempting a full hockey stop can be beneficial.
Comparing Stop Techniques
| Stop Type | Difficulty Level | Primary Technique | Common Use | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowplow Stop | Beginner | Toes turned in, heels out, press both inside edges | First stop learned, slow speed control | High stability, easy to learn |
| T-Stop | Intermediate | One foot drags perpendicularly behind the other | Controlled stops, general skating | Smooth deceleration, less jarring |
| Hockey Stop | Advanced | Both skates turn sideways, digging edges | Rapid stops, competitive skating, emergencies | Quickest stop, powerful and dynamic |
Learning to stop safely and effectively is paramount for enjoying figure skating. Always prioritize balance by bending your knees and maintaining an upright posture with your chest up. For more detailed visual guidance, resources like the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills program or tutorials from reputable skating coaches often provide excellent step-by-step instructions.
