Stopping Method

23 July 2019, 21:00 UTC

Okay, since doing lots of nose tap training with my Fangs, and then tail taps, I've somehow unconsciously fallen into a habit when I want to stop - I slow down, then bury the ass of the board for a slide the last 6 or 12 inches while stepping-off.

I first did it unintentionally when I was fixing to blow a 'clear' intersection, and a high speed car appeared at the last second.

I thought to myself, 'I didn't know I could do that.'.

It works every time now, such that the heel lift just annoys me these days.

Sometimes the wheel will give a quick short spin - not great for the tire, but the technique has allowed me to do very controlled bailouts on a dime a few times when a driver blows a stop sign - or I encounter unseen high speed traffic just before entering a relatively blind intersection.

I know that I didn't just invent this.

I'm sure you long-timers discovered this ages ago. I'm not overly concerned about premature tire wear - but has anyone been using this technique for years, and has there been any damage to your board as a result?

24 July 2019, 11:35 UTC

@Kielanders No damage ever reported by anyone for this.

If you have Float Plates it can help here as well because you don't drag the tail and the wheel doesn't drag as much.

The quick bail is key in a city or on trails when you need to save your a$$.

The other quick stop method is to be going more than 1 mph and take your whole foot off so the wheel doesn't spin like that, just kills the board. "Wheel with Me" on YouTube put out a great video on this a few weeks back.

24 July 2019, 17:42 UTC

@skyman88

Thanks, that's a relief because I'd really hate to give it up now . . . it's my only move.

Yeah, it's slowly eating my float plate (which are 'cheap' as far as accessories go), so I'm good there. I can always rotate the plate or switch with the front plate if it gets over worn.

The most important thing is that I've gotten proficient enough to look cool doing it - providing spectators the illusion that I know wtf I'm doing.

24 July 2019, 17:55 UTC

I use the whole lift my front door off at less than 1mph sometimes but also getting proficient at jump offs as well. The whole toe lift and heel lift thing still eludes me lol.

24 July 2019, 18:05 UTC

@Senior-Coffee

On pavement I use the heel lift 95% of the time and off road I'd say the opposite with the quick stop being the prime method of stopping AND keeping the board from rolling down a hill or something like that.

Heel lift is still worth learning in my opinion. The quick stop alarms people in crowds and city.... I like looking like I'm in control, haha. Think of it more of pushing your knee forward rather than lifting your heel, helps with the balance.

24 July 2019, 18:26 UTC

@Senior-Coffee said in Stopping Method:

The whole toe lift and heel lift thing still eludes me lol.

I hear ya. I can do the toe/heel thingy, but my old knees have been telling me from the beginning, 'We'd really prefer you didn't do that.', so it's been nice to use this option.

26 July 2019, 16:11 UTC

Wow, I've been looking for a better way to stop this thing. Two bad falls since Jan. both trying to get off. Heel lift works 98% of the time ,but that 2% can really hurt a lot at 68 years old.

26 July 2019, 17:36 UTC

@FastMax

If you haven't found it, here's the 2 minute stopping vid recommended by @skyman88 from WheelWithMe, it's short and really well done:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV_NgTffUY8

27 July 2019, 01:59 UTC

I double foot eject half the time (side rail scratches prove it), fishbones make sensor release finicky, if I have a truck, post, or handrail to touch heel lift is easy

27 July 2019, 03:50 UTC

@b0ardski

God Bless Ya', if you've got a way to make 'flail and bail' look elegant (cuz that's what i'm sure I look like), let me know - that was my fallback when the 'Ballerina' (toe-lift) didn't work half the time.

I call my stop the 'F#ck It!'.

The first time I did it I was so tired I didn't want any stopping drama, and just didn't care anymore.

I knew the board could and would hurt me given the chance - so I decided to hurt it first, because that's the only thing the board understands . . . violence.

I just stomped on the rear to stop, knowing I outweighed the board, and I wasn't going to be its bit#h.

Sure, it dragged me for a second, but gave-in . . . our relationship's been different ever since.