This video is from a Pro Edge group class for older skaters. The topic is striding, which Diane describes as the ‘hardest thing to really accomplish right away, it’s gotta be worked on over and over.”
Three components are: downward force, pushing to the side, and recovery. With great detail, she breaks down each component. Diane has a long history of coaching and she shares her wisdom of how things used to be taught versus how we teach them today. Some of these older ideas still permeate the sport, so hearing coaches rectify these old fashioned teachings is important.
She warns against hip flexor and groin injury by keeping the forward knee pointed in the direction of skating and not angling out.
Regarding the upper body, Diane likens it to ‘pulling a rope’, keeping it very quiet.
Diane goes on to describe that all the components need to meld together for the perfect rhythm and motion. Smooth and easy, not being stagnant.
To learn this, Diane has her demonstrator show a speed skater drill on two feet – done at 90 degrees or below. She likens it to a wall sit feeling, or a vertical leap.
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