Stops and Stalls at the Skate Park

By Mel Blackwood

This video shows how to get started with toe stop stalls and plate stalls.

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Warning:

It is easy to hurt yourself at the skate park. Please make sure you let someone know where you are if you are skating on your own. Wear all your protective gear, including a helmet!

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Using your toe stops:

Make sure you are comfortable to place your weight onto your toe stops before trying this on ramps.

In my opinion, it's easier to do this on a gently sloping flat bank, before taking it to the transition.

The skate park is the only place where you can apply your toe stop in front of you, without falling over. On flat ground we use toe stops only to stop when going backwards.

Stalls

Stalling on the plate is harder to do on a ramp without coping, but scary to do with coping! Start by pumping up to the height of coping and get used to the feeling of rolling on and off with each foot. As you can see from the video below, I had definitely have a dominant leg that I like to place my weight on and a leading leg.

To stall effectively, you need to have your weight stacked above your wheels. It is really difficult to get your full body weight above the coping unless you're going pretty fast! You also need to throw your hips forward to assist getting your body weight into this position. Once you are more comfortable, you'll be able to learn how your body weight affects the direction you want to roll. Too far forward, and you'll roll out of the ramp. Not far enough, and your roll backwards into the transition.

Mental health top tip:

Only compare yourself to yourself!

Have you ever been to a skate park, or are familiar with slopes and wheels? Even if you have done this on a skate board, or inline skates, it is different on quad skates.

The fear factor can be paralysing.

If you cannot relax, you won't be safe. Try playing some music or doing something you do feel comfortable with, to relax your body.

I have written a number of blog posts about my mental health journey at the skate park.

You can find them here.

How does it look?

Video Angles

Safe skaters are happier skaters!