Dear Members and Parents
Let's talk about something many kids find tricky when they start skating: going downhill! It's totally normal for them to feel a little nervous or have trouble with it.
I've put together some tips to help your children learn how to glide down slopes safely, keep their speed under control, and handle things like drain covers and curbs. My goal is to give you some clear ideas so you can help them become more confident and skilled skaters. I hope this helps!"
Downslope Skill Progression
Gliding on a mild slope
Correct posture π₯(video clip)
Knees bent, body leaning slightly forward π₯(video clip)
Don't lean back π₯(video clip)
Grass Stop (critical safety skill): If a student has a heel stop but lacks the confidence for high-speed braking, they must master the Grass Stop on a gentle slope first. This provides a "safety exit" while they build confidence.
π Masters of Grass Stop π₯(video clip)
Anyone can fall, but grass stop helps prevent secondary injury
Beginners often freeze or fall backward when speed increases
Teaching them to step into grass is safer than losing balance backward
Turning to control speed: Control comes from changing momentum. Coaches must teach students to turn across the slope and perform U-turns. By changing direction against their current momentum, students naturally bleed off speed.
Step turn π₯(video clip)
A-frame turn π₯(video clip)
U-turn back up or across the slope
Managing mild to steeper slopes: Before moving a student from a mild slope to a steep slope, they must demonstrate:
Consistent Heel Stops π₯(video clip). and Grass Stops.
Confident A-Frame Turns (both Left and Right).
A full U-Turn back up the hill to a complete stop.
Urban skating: Our objective is to transition students from "surviving" a hill to "enjoying" it. Once the basics are mastered, we can introduce advanced techniques similar to skiing:
S-Turn π₯(video clip). (including Pflug/Snowplow and π₯ Stem turns).
Parallel Turns π₯(video clip) for high-speed control.
When our skaters feel safe, they have fun. Let's ensure every student feels empowered to explore the park and handle different terrain with total confidence.
Controlled skating around the park
Exploring slopes of different gradients with intention and supervision
