How to Heel: Instructions and Safety Tips

Follow these instructions before attempting to heel:

Find the Balance Point

• Find a rail, counter or friend to hold onto to keep your balance
• Put one foot in front of the other (never side by side)
• Hold onto the counter and lift your toes up- balancing your weight on your heels- and pull yourself along
• If you lose your balance, just put your toes down
• Once you've mastered balancing, you can move onto the next step

Step, Plant and Kick

• Take a normal step forward with what used to be your "back" foot
• Take a second step forward with your other foot and plant the wheel with your toe up
• Kick or push off with your back foot
• Raise your back toe with weight balanced on the wheel
• Roll and place your back foot directly behind your front foot (both toes raised)

Stopping

• Soft brake - lift the toes your back foot up a little bit higher in order to drag the heel of your shoe on the ground to gradually slow your speed
• Hard brake - Transfer your weight to your forefoot on both feet and "jog" or "run" out of your roll

Safety Tips

• NEVER skate faster than you can run
• NEVER skate in or near streets, around traffic, or stairs
• NEVER try to skate over cracks, or through rocks, sand, or water
• ALWAYS wear protective gear

See Heelys Roller Shoes