Abstract: A braking system for in-line skates allows a brake pad to have a retracted position for the brake pad during normal skating operations and an extended position for the brake pad during braking operations. The extended position is achieved by a spring actuated retainer screw attached to a pad retainer to drive the brake pad down to the pavement so as to contact the pavement without having to rock the braking foot back. Once the skater has come to a complete stop, the skater rocks the braking foot back at least a predetermined amount so as to push the retainer screw upwards a predetermined vertical distance so as to allow a retainer pin to engage the bottom portion of the head of the retainer screw, thereby maintain the spring in its compressed state and the brake pad in its retracted state.