from SkatefreshAsha on 4 Jun 2026
FREE SKATING TRAINING BEGINNER skaters: https://skatefresh.com/freebie-beginner/INTERMEDIATE skaters:https://skatefresh.com/freebie-intermediate/The heel brake might be the most controversial piece of equipment in inline skating. Some skaters say it’s not worth wearing. Others claim it’s ineffective, gets in the way, or is too difficult to use properly.So instead of arguing about it, we decided to test it.In this video, Amir (1 year of skating experience) and I (42 years of skating experience) compare the Heel Brake against five other popular stopping methods:Heel BrakeT-StopStepping Plough StopSpin StopPowerslidePowerstopFor each test we rolled at a similar speed, started braking from the same line, and measured who stopped in the shortest distancesimulating an emergency stopping situation as closely as possible.The results were fascinating.Not only did the Heel Brake perform exceptionally well, but Amir’s Heel Brake actually beat some of my stopping methodsincluding my T-Stop and Stepping Plough Stop.We also discovered which methods are best suited for emergency stopping, and which popular techniques may not be as effective as many skaters assume (cough-cough T-stop).This isn’t a tutorial video, but along the way I do share some coaching tips to help Amir improve the effectiveness of his Heel Brake even further.Watch to the end and let me know in the comments: Which stop surprised you most? Do you skate with or without a Heel Brake? Which stopping method do you rely on most?WHO IS ASHA SKATEFRESH? Founder of Skatefresh (since 2000) Skate Coach for BBC and Disney’s “Soy Luna” Teaching inline and quad skating for 25+ years Former international representative for Great Britain in figure skating Skating for 42 years Powerslide Brand Ambassador since 2011 350+ instructors certified worldwide through the ICP (Inline Certification Program)LEARN TO SKATE WITH SKATEFRESHWebsite: https://www.skatefresh.comOnline Courses: https://www.skatefresh.com (Courses Tab)Skate Tours & Events: https://www.skatefresh.com/tripsFOLLOW ASHAInstagram: @skatefreshashaFacebook: Skatefresh AshaEquipment Used:Asha’s skates: Powerslide EVO + Endless FramesHelmet: Thousand HelmetsLeggings: K-DEERSkate-inspired clothing:https://skatefreshtshirts.teemill.comFilming: Adam AugustinLocation: Mauerpark, Berlin
