 | ||
 | | |
| ||||||||
| | |
By Patrick Creveling One of the best ways to learn to skate faster is to practice skating on a line in the low position. In my first tip, I explained how to practice skating on a line while landing on the tops of your wheels (rather than on the inside or outside edges). In my second tip, I outlined two dry land exercises (wall sits and low walks) to help you build leg strength. Now it's time to combine the drills and skate on a line while maintaining a low position. To do this, start by finding a nice straight line, such as a bike lane, to skate on. Skate on the line with wheels landing straight up and down, not angled to one side or the other. Now use the strength you gained from walls sits and low walks to lower your skating position. Bend your knees until they form nearly a 90-degree angle. To achieve this, visualize what you looked like doing the low walks and wall sits. At first, you will find this drill difficult. But stick with it. It is so worth it! Start out slowly. Remember that speed is not the answer, it's the result. Practice this drill until you can do it for at least 10 kilometers (the longer the better) while maintaining the low position.
As you skate, push straight out to the side, perpendicular to the line you are skating on. Keep working at it! The speed will come to you. So be ready for it. You're about to be able to go longer and faster than ever before! Final thought: The more quality you put into this drill, the more efficiency you will get back — and with efficiency comes speed. So go slow! (Nov. 24, 2006)
---
Related reading: • Skate Tip of the Week Archive
...
Copyright © 2009 Inline Planet | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | |
