I need help with my speed...

[defencegirl22]

I'm not exactly what you'd call a "speed-demon". I've tried and tried and worked and worked and still I'm not a very fast skater. Can someone explain to me a few drills that are sucessful in improving speed? I would appreciate it.

[gchecker]

I am not a fast skater either and have had problems with my legs so i began doing something recently, lifting weights with my legs(home gyms are great)! Havent done it for long so Ill try to stick with it and see if it works. Even if it doesnt lead to increased speed, I would imagine more muscular endurance is a good thing.

[calselect89s]

I can recommend two drills from an ice coach for my daughter.
1. Stairs or steps as fast as you can. They drilled on a bench about a foot high and did about 5 sets 30 at full speed every day.
2. Tip toe take offs, with a short take off stride into your regular stride.

These 2 drills will help with quickness, not overall speed. You might want to have someone evaluate your stride and see if your doing something wrong. The problem with what your asking for, is that most of the fast skaters were born with the gift and have improved upon it. There are things that can help you, but most people cant be Martin St Louis, by doing drills, he was born with that speed.

[Falcons77]

Stride is always key, make sure you are bending your knees and getting a good push off (meaning your leg will end up strait as you push). You then glide, then recover. recover is when you place your feet/skates back together, make sure they are close when you recover (a common mistake is that people do not place their feet close together). Power and stamina should improve.

[Carlotski]

BEST THING I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE REAL GREAT PLAYERS NEVER STOP MOVING THERE FEET OUT THERE. SKATES ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING, I DON'T MEAN ROLLING, I MEAN LEGS ARE MOVING. KEEP THAT IN MIND EVERY TIME YOUR OUT THERE AND NEVER STAND STILL AND IF YOU DO YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. OVER THE YEARS MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND TEAM MATES HAVE ASKED ME YOUR QUESTION AND ONCE I TELL THEM TO KEEP ON MOVING THEY REALIZE HOW BAD OF A ROLLING HABIT THEY HAVE AND NOT ENOUGH SKATING. HOPE THIS HELPS.

[showtime89]

Hit the weights with your legs. Everyones' stride is different, therefore it's hard to get blanket advice. Get video of yourself skating and take a look. See if you are getting full extension or at least a full push if you are a short strider. Over the years, the faster guys/girls may be quick starts and stay ahead, or people who get wound up then get moving. It's different for everyone. Depending on your size, you may be more likely to benefit from quick starts than from getting wound up and vice versa. I would say smaller = quicker starts, but even that is up in the air. Bottom line, just work hard at it. Riding a bike always helps too. Go an hour a day on an exercise bike and really push it the last 5 minutes.

Ron Sardina
SUNY Brockport Roller Hockey Club
President and Captain 1995-1999
#89

http://riverrats.8m.com/rsbi.gif

[MDE3]

Exercise is a necessary element to strength and speed for sure, but technique is crucial.

The stride should start from the center of your body mass, or even over center to get the maximum extension from each stride. The hips and knees should be at ninety degree angles in order to get the best compression of your "springs"(legs), extend the legs straight out (not necessarily straight back), and be sure to finish with a "toe kick"(extending your toe at the end of each stride and pushing off with it) an element missing more often than not in inline skaters(need good grip and the correct stride push angle to accomplish this), unless they have been taught how to do it. A lack of "toe kick" will cost you about 10% - 15% of your maximum possible speed.

The push angles for inline skating are a bit different from ice, so you must experiment a bit. It will also help you to get rythmic and swing your hips back and forth..this will help "preload" your hip muscles to intitiate your stride once your foot comes back to center.

Try doing one footed "C:" cuts backwards and forwards up and down the rink. You must be able to propel yourself simply by collapsing and re-extending your leg, while "angling your skate" (actually making a "c" with it while extending)in the process. It will take practice, but persevere with it..both legs in both directions. This will teach you a lot about stride push and angles as well as help you develop your balance point.