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Learning to Skate Advice


niagara66

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Posted

Any of the advanced skaters out there correct me if I am wrong... But... Isn't the progression to a hockey stop through a T-Stop?

 

I am not at a full stride hockey stop yet but, can kinda get there both sides with a modified, full stride T-Stop... Both sides, anywhere on the ice...

Maybe if you're Brian Boitano (sp?). ;)

 

I've been coaching youth hockey for the past few years, and pretty much after kids can stop by snowplowing we have them go right to a true hockey stop.

Posted

Any of the advanced skaters out there correct me if I am wrong... But... Isn't the progression to a hockey stop through a T-Stop?

 

I am not at a full stride hockey stop yet but, can kinda get there both sides with a modified, full stride T-Stop... Both sides, anywhere on the ice...

 

yes. But remember - a hockey t-stop scraps the outside edge while an inline t-stop scraps the inside "edge". A hockey stop is half t-stop and half front snowplow.

Posted

Maybe if you're Brian Boitano (sp?). ;)

 

OUCH! That will leave a mark! LOL!!

 

Snowplow, eh? These lessons I'm gonna take are groups of almost exclusively little kids. That's fine by me, I just want to learn it right, then build on the foundation. I'll ask the instructors about this.

 

The couple times I've tried I tried to do SDS' graphic ( l \ ) but (because I'm tentative) I can't get the right skate to start sliding. Then it grabs, turns quick to left, and down I go.

Posted

OUCH! That will leave a mark! LOL!!

 

Snowplow, eh? These lessons I'm gonna take are groups of almost exclusively little kids. That's fine by me, I just want to learn it right, then build on the foundation. I'll ask the instructors about this.

 

The couple times I've tried I tried to do SDS' graphic ( l \ ) but (because I'm tentative) I can't get the right skate to start sliding. Then it grabs, turns quick to left, and down I go.

 

that means you aren't digging the inside edge enough. You are probably catching your outside edge. Go at a slow pace, then turn your heel outward and forward as far as it will go. When you do that - your inside edge will be the only part of the blade that can touch the ice. Apply pressure until the skate starts to scrape the ice and you slow down.

Posted

that means you aren't digging the inside edge enough. You are probably catching your outside edge. Go at a slow pace, then turn your heel outward and forward as far as it will go. When you do that - your inside edge will be the only part of the blade that can touch the ice. Apply pressure until the skate starts to scrape the ice and you slow down.

It does sound like you're catching the outer edge. Follow Scott's advice about turning your heel. But also, make sure your knees are bent and your feet are shoulder-width apart. When you're 1st learning the stop, I'd actually recommend having your outer leg SLIGHTLY farther out.

 

It can sometimes help with getting the right amount of pressure on the blades if you get up on the balls of your feet just before you turn them. As you come down, you will have a pretty decent amount of force on the blades.

Posted

Maybe if you're Brian Boitano (sp?). ;)

 

I've been coaching youth hockey for the past few years, and pretty much after kids can stop by snowplowing we have them go right to a true hockey stop.

 

Not going to believe this but, I can do the most eloquent T-Stops on ice and feel the progression to a hockey stop...

 

I am not equating skiing to skating but can do anything on skis... Include stick it anywhere including ice... Not there with a hockey stop on ice though...

 

But... For the life of me... I CAN'T DO A SNOWPLOW OR WEDGE ON SKATES!

 

This after spending the whole weekend skiing with my 4 year old on my hip (with a t-pole device that basically lets the child ski alongside you where you go) basically in a modified parallel/wedge on all levels of big hill terrain from beginner to black diamond! No getting over the aching calves today!

 

Is it really impotant to do a true wedge or snowplow while skating? I see people do it... But just can't get it in my mind... So I just end up topping over!

Posted

Not going to believe this but, I can do the most eloquent T-Stops on ice and feel the progression to a hockey stop...

 

I am not equating skiing to skating but can do anything on skis... Include stick it anywhere including ice... Not there with a hockey stop on ice though...

 

But... For the life of me... I CAN'T DO A SNOWPLOW OR WEDGE ON SKATES!

 

This after spending the whole weekend skiing with my 4 year old on my hip (with a t-pole device that basically lets the child ski alongside you where you go) basically in a modified parallel/wedge on all levels of big hill terrain from beginner to black diamond! No getting over the aching calves today!

 

Is it really impotant to do a true wedge or snowplow while skating? I see people do it... But just can't get it in my mind... So I just end up topping over!

No. The reason we teach that to the 5 year olds is it works much better for instruction than "crash into your neighbor and fall down", "pretend you're a bowling ball and go bowling for Timbits", or just "fall down" which is how most of them stop initially.

 

It also tends to be very effective when you are going very slowly, like getting ready to line up for a faceoff; but you seem to have that one covered already so I wouldn't worry about that one. :doh: ;)

Posted

No. The reason we teach that to the 5 year olds is it works much better for instruction than "crash into your neighbor and fall down", "pretend you're a bowling ball and go bowling for Timbits", or just "fall down" which is how most of them stop initially.

 

It also tends to be very effective when you are going very slowly, like getting ready to line up for a faceoff; but you seem to have that one covered already so I wouldn't worry about that one. :doh: ;)

 

Thanks <_< ... Just for that... I am gonna make it a mission of mine to learn it!

 

I guess, gracefully coming into the face-off circle looking like Brian Boitano [sp... Does anybody know how to spell his name?] just isn't gonna cut it!

 

:nana:

Posted

Thanks <_< ... Just for that... I am gonna make it a mission of mine to learn it!

 

I guess, gracefully coming into the face-off circle looking like Brian Boitano [sp... Does anybody know how to spell his name?] just isn't gonna cut it!

 

:nana:

 

What would Brian Boitano do

If he was here right now,

He'd make a plan

And he'd follow through,

That's what Brian Boitano'd do.

 

When Brian Boitano was in the olympics,

Skating for the gold,

He did two sow cows and a triple lutz,

While wearing a blind fold.

 

When Brian Boitano was in the alps,

Fighting grizzly bears,

He used his magical fire breath,

And saved the maidens fair.

 

So what would Brian Boitano do

If he were here today,

I'm sure he'd kick an ass or two,

That's what Brian Boitano'd do.

 

When Brian Boitano travelled through time

To the year 3010,

He fought the evil robot kings

and saved the human race again

 

And when Brian Boitano built the pyramids,

He beat up Kubela Kong.

 

Cos Brian Boitano doesn't take sh*t from an-e-y-body

 

So lets all get together,

And unite to stop our mom's

And we'll save Terrance and Phillip too,

Cos that's what Brian Boitano do.

 

And we'll save Terrance and Phillip too,

Cos that's what Brian Boitano dooooo,

That's what Brian Boitano do.

Posted

I can stop. Thank you very much SDS and dave _ b !! For the first time in my life I stopped on skates that didn't involve falling, running into the boards or grabbing onto a railing. This might not seem like much, but for me it's very big.

 

Also, there was a guy there who is a good skater, you know the type..effortlessly and gracefully zooming around the perimeter of the rink. After open skate ended I talked with him. He says I look pretty good.."stable" was the word he used. Says I need to glide longer and that stopping fast can wait until I get that down better. Apparently he has coached hockey at various levels and is at the rink here 3x per week (he's retired). He offered to give me free lessons the last 10-15 min of the hour if he is there, after he gets his workout.

 

I'm improving quickly. After open skate however, the Golden Griffs took the ice for a practice (Canisius uses Buff State's ice too) and crushed my dream of filling in for Gaustad. I went for a coffee and a smoke instead!

Posted

Thanks and congrats to you, too! We'll have to get some kind of geezer league going or something. I only did it going slow but I did it. Several times. It's amazing what a confidence boost that is. I'll go again tomorrow for the whole two hours of open skate. Now that I can do it, I'll try doing it faster, etc.

Posted

I can stop. Thank you very much SDS and dave _ b !! For the first time in my life I stopped on skates that didn't involve falling, running into the boards or grabbing onto a railing. This might not seem like much, but for me it's very big.

 

Also, there was a guy there who is a good skater, you know the type..effortlessly and gracefully zooming around the perimeter of the rink. After open skate ended I talked with him. He says I look pretty good.."stable" was the word he used. Says I need to glide longer and that stopping fast can wait until I get that down better. Apparently he has coached hockey at various levels and is at the rink here 3x per week (he's retired). He offered to give me free lessons the last 10-15 min of the hour if he is there, after he gets his workout.

 

I'm improving quickly. After open skate however, the Golden Griffs took the ice for a practice (Canisius uses Buff State's ice too) and crushed my dream of filling in for Gaustad. I went for a coffee and a smoke instead!

Ah right! Good going!

Posted

Thanks and congrats to you, too! We'll have to get some kind of geezer league going or something. I only did it going slow but I did it. Several times. It's amazing what a confidence boost that is. I'll go again tomorrow for the whole two hours of open skate. Now that I can do it, I'll try doing it faster, etc.

 

Grim is a youngling...

Posted

Hmm don't know if i like being called that, but less hokey than being a padawan.

 

HAHA that is exactly where I got it from...

Posted

out of curiousity, how does one work on strengthening their inner edge for a hockey stop? i've always had an issue with it and I learned how to figure skate as a kid (yeah yeah...mother forced me into it).

it plagues my skiing also. I notice how poor and weak my inner edge is when i end up on icy patches. T-stop, wedge snowblow, no problem. It just seems like my inside edge is dragging on hockey stops and ski stops on ice.

Posted

out of curiousity, how does one work on strengthening their inner edge for a hockey stop? i've always had an issue with it and I learned how to figure skate as a kid (yeah yeah...mother forced me into it).

it plagues my skiing also. I notice how poor and weak my inner edge is when i end up on icy patches. T-stop, wedge snowblow, no problem. It just seems like my inside edge is dragging on hockey stops and ski stops on ice.

 

usually stopping faster means squatting more as you slide into the stop. The deeper the kneebend the more forceful the stop. There really isn't any extra "strength" per se involved.

Posted

out of curiousity, how does one work on strengthening their inner edge for a hockey stop? i've always had an issue with it and I learned how to figure skate as a kid (yeah yeah...mother forced me into it).

it plagues my skiing also. I notice how poor and weak my inner edge is when i end up on icy patches. T-stop, wedge snowblow, no problem. It just seems like my inside edge is dragging on hockey stops and ski stops on ice.

 

What about weighting and unweighting?... Do you practice "checking your turns" when you are linking turns down the fall line?

 

Can't really explain the technicalities in writing... I think SDS explained it right with the kneebend... On the slopes I know it is like "loading" and "unloading" a "spring"... While across the fall line and in the middle of your turn (if you are indeed gonna link another one)... You are in transition and balanced coming into equilibrium... If you are gona "check it", obviously you are not going to come back into equilibrium during the tranisition... Of course your upper body is slient, shoulders perpendicular to the fall line... Act like you are holding a serving try in front of you...

Posted

Some musings...

 

Am still having difficulty bringing my inside leg down while performing a hockey stop. I have been able to keep it in the proper position, just doesn't hit the ice and i am able to stop without it. However, i have heard from some people that it is the inside leg that is more responsible for a hockey stop. Is this how it should be. Currently my weight distribution is 100% outside leg, 0% inside leg... or if i am fortunate 95% 5%. Should i be 40-60, 60-40?

 

I had freshly sharpened skates for the first time since i learned to stop last week. The ice was terrible, probably a result from the kids messing it up all day yesterday - lots of bumps and divots all over the ice. My stopping was erratic, almost as if a car tires were skidding and shuddering on ice. I am not sure if this was due to the new feeling of the sharpened blades or a combination of that and the ice surface. Any thoughts?

 

I tried to do a Brian Campbell 360 today. Turned into a 540 followed by a snow dive to the ice. Not fun.

 

Figure skating coaches look like the most miserable f----s on the planet.

 

There was a speed skater on the ice today. His skates baffled me. No edges, no ankle support. That looks hard as hell.

Posted

Learning how to do a hockey stop with freshly sharpened skates is suicide. You'd be better off will well-worn edges to you don't teeter over and crack your noggin.

 

Yeah, it was not as easy today as it had been last week. Was able to get it on my outside skate without too much difficult and increasing speed as the ice got a bit more worn down. Wiped out once and was on my back with my legs in the air as i slammed into the boards.

Posted

I started skating when I was 3, and when started league was immediately thrown on defense cause I could stand up, skate backwards and stop.

 

When stopping in my "normal" direction (to the left), most of the weight goes on the left (inner) leg. Leaning into it more gives you quicker stopping distance, and a MUCH better spray, but can also throw you out of balance at the end of the stop , so you have to quickly straighten up at the end.

 

The weird part for me is when I stop facing the opposite way (right) I never could get my right foot forward, so I would stop almost 100% on my left (outside) leg, and actually drag my right leg behind.

Not really the right way, but was very effective, especially when having to jump into a push off to start going again.

 

Bottom line I think is to just go with your strength. It doesn't need to be pretty, just effective. The better you can dig in, the shorter your stopping distance.

Posted

I had someone tape me while doing some power skating drills... I really busted a move in part 4.

 

Please pardon the very loud porn music in the background - the wife wouldn't turn it down....

 

Part 1:

 

Part 2:

 

Part 3:

 

Part 4:

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