Diane Ness
Finding an extra gear
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 04 October 2012 17:45
By Diane Ness
Being able to have a fifth gear is a trait desired by almost every skater but only few really possess. Can we teach our skaters to develop that extra gear or is their genetic make-up going to hold them back?
The answer is that any skater can get faster and more powerful by mastering a few specific areas. Yes, we are all made up and built differently as skaters, but with some improvement on basic fundamentals, you can increase your top speed no matter what age or level. We even have a 9-year-old girl in one of the photos that was able to increase her speed with quality practice and quality repetition.
Outside edge strength
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- Last Updated on Friday, 07 September 2012 15:59
By Diane Ness
We all know how important it is to have a strong outside edge while skating. For this article, I would like to make sure people really have an understanding and an awareness of an outside edge.
We will use an outside edge in any skating maneuver in which we lean over to the outside part of our skate. It may be used for a power turn, crossover or even transition. It is in my opinion, the toughest and most critical edge to execute.
What’s the hurry?
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 16:08
By Diane Ness
So we’re at the point of the year in which we would call the “offseason.” This is the valuable time of year in which you want your son or daughter to improve their individual skills. What is development? What does it really mean? What’s the best way to do this?
Development means to continue getting better on your strengths, as well as identifying and improving your weaknesses. Putting the most concentrated effort in areas in which the skater needs to improve upon is key.
Building muscle memory
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 09 August 2012 16:06
By Diane Ness
As we are training many skaters throughout the summer, the No. 1 thing we continue to stress is a deep knee bend. Repeating and working on this throughout every drill is of the utmost importance. Executing drills while building muscle memory is the only way to create good habits.
But is it good enough just to do our basic skating drills and concentrate on our knee bend? We will actually work drills that specifically work on getting lower to the ice. This way, 100 percent of focus is put towards achieving that exact goal. It can be as simple as doing a one-foot glide below 90 degrees or even getting a weight vest on and doing dips up and down the ice.
Mohawk turns 101
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- Last Updated on Monday, 09 July 2012 01:03
By Diane Ness
The mohawk turn is one of the most vital skills to learn in skating and the game of hockey no matter what position you play. Whether you are a forward or a D you will use this maneuver because you are continually turning to face the puck. It is a skill worth working your practice around.
What is a mohawk turn? The terminology seems to be confused by some skaters. It is an old figure skating term in which the skater will go from forward to backward or backward to forward from edge to edge (not to be confused with a heel-to-heel).
