During her Edge and Power class, Jackie has her students (ages 8-adult) doing three cross-strokes then a knee as they progress down the ice. As with every drill, she wants to see the chest stay open.
Next, they skate inside edge circles with two pulses on the blade. She describes these pushes as “baby power pulls.” Sometimes she has them skate this pattern in full circles, but for this video she sticks with halves.
This drill is good for teaching power and control, but the main take-away is learning to ‘unweight the blade.’ These are like little heartbeats. The skating foot is being worked as well as the “weight distribution over the blade.” The heal should drive into the ice.
This same drill is repeated using the outside edge. Jackie gives us some insight regarding the purpose of these drills. Not only is it for edge control and power, but to teach the athletes the terminology of their skates and body mechanics to use them.
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