Foot Brake
Mechanism / Why It Happens
The movement seems simple, but it can be surprisingly difficult. There is a common pitfall for beginners.
The foot brake is often introduced as one of the easiest ways to slow down. However, you need to lower your back foot gently onto the ground. Otherwise, it can catch on the ground and cause you to lose your balance. This means that you need to support your body weight with your front foot while gently lowering your back foot to the ground, which can be quite difficult, especially for beginners. Also, if you try to come to a complete stop this way, you may need to drag the sole of your shoe along the ground for an extended period, which can wear it down and require a relatively long stopping distance. In fact, this method is often used to reduce your speed rather than to come to a complete stop.
What to Do
If you lose your balance, you may not be supporting your weight properly on one foot. Going back to an earlier skill can help.
As explained above, putting your back foot down too firmly can cause it to catch on the ground. One
