Ask Dan Question & Answer

(An index of subjects covered on the Q & A page of the web site,

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 Index of Subjects page)

Question #110:
Dan: Many instructors stress a 45 degree angle blade position to begin a full-stride push-off. Yet it appears most NHL players have their feet straighter - more like 30 degrees. Also, some players look like they run on their skates and mix in a few cross-overs and shuffle strides for most of their shift. Could you comment on the "philosophy of skating?" R.R., New Jersey

Dan Replies:
Dear R.R.: Good question and good observation. First about 30% vs. 45% angle. The reason we recommend a 45% angle for teaching skaters is that a 45% angle gives a lighter skater (younger player) more edge against the ice than does 30%. As he becomes heavier and more accomplished (and strides more to the side) he may be able to put enough force or pressure against the ice at 30% for the edge to hold against the ice for a powerful push-off.

On running on your skates - sometimes you need a burst of speed and by running on your skates for two or three strides you can get yourself up to speed more quickly. This is still done by leaning forward and using your edges near the toe give you enough edge or resistance to spring into the air. You don't land the second foot on your rocker and glide as in the normal skating stride, but rather again you use more of the edge near the toe to give you a temporary edge and your leg action is more like a sprinter than a skater. But after you are up to speed (so to speak) then you should return to the seated position and striding to the side for reasons of speed, balance, and being in control. A good example is a speed skater using the run to get from a standing start up to the speed where the push, stroke, glide is effective. Perhaps an example that will be meaningful is that running on your skates is the equivalent of first gear in a car - more power getting up to speed to where third gear can be used which is more efficient and faster once the car is "up to speed".

Regarding players who do cross overs and shuffle - not everyone in the NHL is poster boy for perfect skating technique. We're all trying to improve our technique. But I’m willing to say with a high degree of confidence you haven’t seen anyone use cross overs and shuffles when they're trying to catch someone or out-skate someone. Sometimes you do need one cross over to go from a standing start facing in one direction to full strides in a different direction than the one you were facing when at rest.

I’m not sure I know what you mean by the "philosophy of skating", but take a look at the first newsletter www.danbylsma.com/newsletter21.htm and in the second section I review the techniques we emphasize in my hockey school. If I can take a guess at your meaning, the philosophy of skating is to get as low as you can (seated position) and stride as far to the side and as long as you can -that will help you go as fast as you can. Keep your head and chest up and your weight behind your front leg - that will help you be in balance. I don't know where you live but if you watch Paul Kariya, Sergi Federov, or Nelson Emerson - they look like little people on the ice, and they're not small men, but they get so low, they look small. And the lower you can get your butt, the longer your stride can be and the longer your stride can be, the faster you will go

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