Recent Posts

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10
1
General Ice Skating Chat / Re: What did you achieve this week
« Last Post by The Sacred Voice on August 14, 2018, 09:12:45 PM »
Quote from: Leif on August 14, 2018, 01:50:23 PM
Another coach explained that I should be turning my head and shoulders into the turn. Not sure if figure skaters do that or not, but it seems to help.

And lastly, I accosted a figure skating coach and asked her if she would take me on for some one on one lessons to improve my skating basics. She took my name and phone number, so hopefully she will get back to me. I have noticed that all of the best hockey skaters I have come across have had tuition from figure skating coaches, or advice from figure skaters.

With free skating crossovers then I've always been encouraged to lean my body into the turn. I'm not really sure if I'm turning my head into the turn as well, so it's hard to say, but I skate my crossovers with my arms outstretched and leaning into the turn, which might not be the best frame of comparison as you'll be holding a stick so you can't get the same outstretched lean in.

Most of the hockey players I know started learning with figure coaches before switching over, but I think that might've been more of a "they started learning to skate the way most people do then switched over." I am of the understanding that basically all free skaters would benefit from some lessons from ice dance coaches, so it wouldn't be surprising that hockey players would benefit from a touch of figure skating.
2
General Ice Skating Chat / Re: What did you achieve this week
« Last Post by Leif on August 14, 2018, 01:50:23 PM »
Did a sticky puck session yesterday morning, and managed forwards ACW crossovers while dribbling a puck, which had previously been somewhat challenging if not outright impossible. Couldn't do the same CW, but it'll come in time. In the same session during scrimmage I stopped the puck with my right skate blade, and then did a decent pass with the stick to another player. Being able to stop pucks, and knock them about, with ones skates is a key skill in hockey for obvious reasons but not easy, the danger being that you catch and edge and go over.

I managed forwards CW crossovers without my right foot sliding sideways. A coach previously explained that I was not riding the edge correctly and I should lean in more, with a good knee bend of course. I also have a tendency to turn the foot to steer, whereas I believe I should be keeping the foot pointed straight ahead and turning will occur of its own accord. Another coach explained that I should be turning my head and shoulders into the turn. Not sure if figure skaters do that or not, but it seems to help.

And lastly, I accosted a figure skating coach and asked her if she would take me on for some one on one lessons to improve my skating basics. She took my name and phone number, so hopefully she will get back to me. I have noticed that all of the best hockey skaters I have come across have had tuition from figure skating coaches, or advice from figure skaters.
3
General Ice Skating Chat / Re: Ice rinks near me
« Last Post by Leif on August 13, 2018, 09:05:50 PM »
Quote from: WednesdayMarch on August 10, 2018, 10:18:46 AM
I don't think they do play games there.  I'm not sure it's possible, and can't recall any markings.  Not that I've been for a few weeks.  I really see no point in driving a 50+ mile round trip, paying Tamar Bridge toll and parking to find that it's overrun with children and the ice is as dire as ever.  I'm very, very cheesed off with the place and can't wait for the Eden winter rink to open again, even though that means dark, cold days rather than sunshine.  Really, really hoping that the new rink has a complete change of attitude on the part of the management and staff.  And changing rooms would be nice.

Fingers crossed the new rink is decent. If it's any consolation I drive a 70 mile round trip for rec hockey team training. The local rink is 15 miles away, but not ideal. This morning there was an orange cone on the ice marking the location of a hole, there were some quite deep 4" diameter holes elsewhere, and the edges in one corner were wet, and deep enough to swallow a puck. If you caught a skate blade in the edge, you could easily break a leg. But a rink is a rink.
4
General Ice Skating Chat / Re: Ice rinks near me
« Last Post by WednesdayMarch on August 10, 2018, 10:18:46 AM »
Quote from: Leif on August 10, 2018, 09:54:12 AM
Yes, and they are good too. Quite how you play games on a rink that is the size of a tea tray, and a weird shape is open to question though. I skated on the Plymouth rink about 15 years ago, when me late mum was living in Brixham.

I don't think they do play games there.  I'm not sure it's possible, and can't recall any markings.  Not that I've been for a few weeks.  I really see no point in driving a 50+ mile round trip, paying Tamar Bridge toll and parking to find that it's overrun with children and the ice is as dire as ever.  I'm very, very cheesed off with the place and can't wait for the Eden winter rink to open again, even though that means dark, cold days rather than sunshine.  Really, really hoping that the new rink has a complete change of attitude on the part of the management and staff.  And changing rooms would be nice.
5
General Ice Skating Chat / Re: Ice rinks near me
« Last Post by Leif on August 10, 2018, 09:54:12 AM »
Quote from: WednesdayMarch on August 10, 2018, 08:11:10 AM
I had no idea that there was a Plymouth hockey team!  :o. That's great.

Yes, and they are good too. Quite how you play games on a rink that is the size of a tea tray, and a weird shape is open to question though. I skated on the Plymouth rink about 15 years ago, when me late mum was living in Brixham.
6
Skate camps and courses / Re: Adult figure skating workshop at Whitley Bay with Mark Hanratty
« Last Post by Snufkin on August 10, 2018, 09:12:52 AM »
This was terrific, by the way. I know Mark Hanretty does skating camps often all over the country, so I would recommend everybody catching one if they get the opportunity.
7
General Ice Skating Chat / Re: Ice rinks near me
« Last Post by WednesdayMarch on August 10, 2018, 08:11:10 AM »
I had no idea that there was a Plymouth hockey team!  :o. That's great.
8
General Ice Skating Chat / Re: Ice rinks near me
« Last Post by Leif on August 10, 2018, 08:07:44 AM »
The Plymouth rec hockey team (Plymouth Pirates?) trains at Cardiff! We've even had some of them training with us at Bracknell!!!!
9
General Ice Skating Chat / Re: What did you do in today's lesson?
« Last Post by Leif on August 08, 2018, 10:09:28 AM »
Quote from: WednesdayMarch on August 07, 2018, 09:27:23 PM
More/deeper kneebend and better use of edges should get you stronger pushes and more power; those equal speed.  When I trained at Basingstoke, I took two pushes from end to end.

There's a definite order and rhythm to good forward stroking, and it involves changing edge at the right moment and pushing from the inside edge.  I can't explain it in writing but I can teach it in person, which isn't much use here...  :(

Much the same goes for forward crossovers.

Thanks, I do seem to be getting better edges on crossovers, and forwards skating now. I've booked a one hour one to one session with our hockey coach this Friday, and hopefully he can pick up on mistakes and areas to improve. I gave up on figure skating coaches. I do think people learn much quicker one to one with a coach going by people I see at the rink.

Interestingly the really good skater mentioned that skating to music helps as skating is about having a good stroking rhythm. I can see what he means especially when watching speed skaters.

I've also adopted a 'just do it' approach. During ice hockey someone said I should have shot when he gave me a pass. I said I can't shoot for peanuts. He said "Just shoot the [censored] puck". On another occasion someone said I should have transitioned from backwards defence to forwards. I said I can't transition at that speed. He said "Well you need to learn, so do it, and if you fall you're no worse off". It seems to be good advice, a lot of people seem scared to commit, and I have to admit to an element of that in my own skating, a belief that you can gradually learn a move when in fact it requires adopting an unstable position from the start. I suspect good figure skaters do this anyway since spins and jumps are so scary.  :o
10
Ice Skating Videos / Re: Old Man Ice Skating Prank
« Last Post by WednesdayMarch on August 07, 2018, 09:52:15 PM »
Interesting to see who bothered to help him up when he "fell"... 
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10