> |
> |
Classic Skating Stride
by Carl Britney
O K, so I may not be the worlds expert on advanced inline strides nor always exhibit the ideal or proper stride, nevertheless, I will offer some of my observations and benefits since joining the OUISC last year.
On my first Tuesday last year, I was introduced to advance strides plus a couple of drills to help achieve them. This, almost immediately, pushed me past my current speed/endurance plateau. Despite some bumps on the way, my speed, balance and endurance increased significantly over the season. (Thanks to Dominique and Steve for putting me on the right track [pun intended]). As it turns out, the most tangible evidence of this improvement was the reversal of wear from the front wheels to the back wheels, and a pressing need to rotate them more often.
This past winter, and with help from the other Dominique (you know who you are), I tried my hand at ice speed skating and ended up on short track blades with the Concordes, a local club. To my surprise, the drills and balance and push for ice were basically the same as advanced inline skating. However, compared to inline, ice is more demanding in terms of precise placement or you quickly test the resilience of the bumpers, strategically placed at each end of the rink, with various body parts. I even entered an ability race (dont faint) in April and did not come in last. I would recommend ice speed skating as a natural complement to inline as it enhanced my balance and edging plus taught me how to accelerate during crossovers.
As with inline, I searched around the www and discovered what I consider to be the definitive representation of the advanced stride. The Pendulum is reproduced below with permission from Mid America Speedskating.
Everything is brought together in one diagram:
- Proper body and edge positions
- Heel push at 3/2 oclock direction
- Balance and coasting
- Outside edge balance on non-pushing skate
- Etc. etc. etc.
Although intended as a training aid for ice, The Pendulum equally applies to all forms of inline skating. I view it as a goal for all skaters to achieve.
Reviewing this diagram has helped me further in trying to achieve a better stride. The biggest problem that I have encountered is that I find myself going much quicker than I used to for the same energy expended maybe not a problem at all.
So good luck and good striding.
