In this video Kathleen teaches an exercise that utilizes lunges in order to improve power in strides. Using a toe-dragging lunge exercise, the student starts from a stand still and pushes off a full blade. Once in the lunge position, the student drags the back foot before collecting it back under them. “Go as far as you can with each push” is Kathleen’s goal, while pushing “out of the blade” and keeping just the back toe on the ice.
To emphasize the toe pointing, Kathleen has the skater try to jump up as high as he can with straight legs and point his toes down. Then we he tries the lunge drill again he is able to gain more power with each press.
The final layer to this lunge exercise is to lift the extended leg so the toe doesn’t drag. It is especially challenging to maintain balance, so Kathleen instructs the skater to tuck the foot back beneath them to “get your balance back before you push off to the other foot.” All the while staying low and keeping the push as long as possible.
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