Ad a brake to Bauer skates?

[Laytimator]

Ok, first of all I know inline hockey players don't have skates with brakes. I am an ice hockey player who bought a pair of Bauer Vapor XL's to train during the summer and possibly play a little inline hockey. Problem is this: I am new to inline and I'm having trouble stopping. I have hills here in NC, USA and I thought about adding a heel brake until I get comfortable t-stopping. Can I add a heel brake to these Bauer Vapor XL's and if so, what brake assembly model will work? Need some help from those out there who are experienced. Thanks!!

Chris

[MDE3]

First of all the chassis has to be made to take a brake, and without the clearance at the back of the skate the mounting for the brake won't fit anyway. If the original skate had a brake, there should be two bolt holes through the back of the chassis behind and slightly above center of the rear wheel. If not the chassis may not have space to put the holes because most "Hi/Lo chassis sold now have very tight space clearances (if this is a Hi/Lo chassis).

I am going to make some suggestions which are in no way intended to belittle your genuine request for information.

Better to learn how to stop FIRST without a brake before you go out on any hills - on flat ground or a rink. It's not just the stopping but how much you slide when turning and how much you slide before you stop (with or without a brake) that you should know before you expose yourself (and others) to any "freewheeling". Whenever we teach kids to skate inline, the stride and the stopping are taught simultaeneously or if not at least in the same clinic. Saves us instructors chasing our students all over the rink.

Understand something else. The reason hockey players dont use brakes is they dont work fast enough to avoid collisions!!! Maybe a lesson there :)). Even the rental skates (inline) at most rinks have the brakes removed because it gives the skater a totally false sense of security.

[DannyG]

Uh, I sincerely echo Mike's appreciation above of your honest inquiry...

-but-

you will not find anybody who will tell you anything else other than:

1. forget any thought of a brake,

2. Learn/practice how to stop...ask for pointers from anybody you view as competent in the skill...

Everybody learns by doing it, over, and over, and over...

you won't get any other answer to this question.

[missionhockey21]

The transistion to ice from inline or vice versa, is a bit difficult at first. I started out on ice at 5 then to inline at 6, it might be a little imtimidating, but it just takes some time. If you are an ice hockey player, you should have no trouble I find it harder to stop in ice anyways. Start out small on little hills, probably with pads and work on your stopping. I gurantee with a little practice you'll be glad you never went to a brake:-)

[Laytimator]

I appreciate the advice. I figured I would get that advice. Ok, I will admit my naivity about inline hockey, but it seems like "slide" stopping is much easier on an inline hockey rink than the road asphalt that I will be skating on 99% of the time. Can you slide stop on asphalt too, or is it only on a slick inline rink?

Thanks again for responding to my post!

[RichardGraham]

Hi Laytimator,

Guys at the beach in Santa Monica use stops like the reverse T-stop all the time, and some can even do a form of a two-skate hockey stop. Those guys blow my mind. Yes, it can be done, but I'd want to dress up like the Michelin Man before I tried it on asphalt for the first time. LOL.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[MDE3]

I almost agree - except the part about "start out on little hills" lol. Start on flat ground - wear elbow pads, shin pads - girdle gloves helmet etc.(yes Michelin man) You will probably find that stopping is an extension of sharp turning. But start where you and only you control the speed. If you dont have a rink probably just as well because the surfaces are so different and you will need different wheels most likely unless it is an asphalt rink surface.

Generally outdoor wheels for asphalt are much harder than those used indoors - and sliding on asphalt is often as easy or even more easily accompished than on a floor which is intended to be "grippy" when skated on with the correct wheel combinations. NOTE - particularily when you hit a patch of sand left over from the winter crews maintaining the icy roads!!!!!!!! There are very few braking techniques short of a drag chute that will help you at that point. Just keep an eye out on the terrain once you get comfortable. Remember when you leave the asphalt surface or concrete and onto the grass - rolling resistance has changed !!!!

Sorry - not spoofing you here but all or at least most of us in here have "been there done that" and pass this advice from painfull experience.

[Raptor]

Well... I'd managed to master a hockey stop on asphalt last summer. The skates were Bauer Vapors (the red chassis, forget the model), and they had clear plastic on the sides of the boots. That plastic was gone by the end of the summer.

In short, it can really mess up your boots if you lean too far into it. /wtimages/icons/wink.gif

[missionhockey21]

I almost agree - except the part about "start out on little hills"

I didnt mean for him to start out on a hill if he had absolutley no experience of skating. But since he is an ice hockey player I assumed he probably could skate decently. But without any experience that would be a sight for sore eyes. lol

[missionhockey21]

I wouldnt recommend sharp stopping, do a technique which I am sure many people have heard of called the "rainbow stop." Its baiscally turning in the direction of half circle till you lose speed, lots of begginers use it.

[Yekcoh]

I think it's called a spin stop or a lunge stop :)

don't mind me, just need sleep ;)

[AbRaCaDaVeR]

I do a hard 2 skated hockey stop very similar to ice, but it takes a lot of practise!!! All you need to do is practise. And yess you can stop on asphault as long as you dont mind going threw wheels pretty fast

[Laytimator]

Thank you to everybody for your posts. Yes, I can skate fine, but inline stopping is something I need to practice! Thanks again!

[MDE3]

Sorry for no miracles.... but something you might try if you are fully protected with equipment. Lay you hockey stick cross ways on the ground in front of you and with minimum speed skate towards it. Jump the stick and turn 90 degress. Come down with knees flexed to absorb the shock and put your trailing hand down to catch yourself if you slip. Do this both ways. ONLY practice this technique with full protective equipment - because you will fall. Keep the speed down to prevent turning an ankle as well. Only go fast enough and jump high enough to give yourself time to make a ninety degree turn. You start the turn with a shoulder rotation and feet will follow. We use this technique to teach advanced players how to "jump stop" in order to stop on a dime. It can be a little painfull to practice - but with the complete equipment [helmet, gloves, shin pads, girdle, and elbow pads (shoulder pads optional)] most of the bruising is to your self esteem :)) However by using this technique you will greatly enhance your balance and dramatically improve your stopping distance. Once you feel comfortable at slow speed on both sides you can increase the speed and height of your jumps. This has the added benefit of giving your legs a great workout as well. Same technique is used in ice hockey by some clinics. Eventually you can graduate to higher obstacles like cones etc. This technique will also not impact your ice hockey stopping as much as "T-Stops, and slide stops do when you return to ice..

[Ennjay]

Ok, so I know how to do the t-stop and "turn stop", but now that I will be playing organized hockey I would like to know how to do a more precise stop. I like that jump stop, and I will try to learn it. I was wondering too, how I would do the hockey stop. I've tried to do it in that past, with no luck. I would either just do a sharp turn or fall. Any suggestions on how I might be able to do this?

Thanks

[DannyG]

just keep practising...you develop the technique as a much quicker version of the "turn stop," as you have noted it.

You will succeed with continued effort...

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>