Last Updated on Sunday, 08 July 2012 20:03
By Diane Ness
The mohawk turn is one of the most vital skills to learn in skating and the game of hockey no matter what position you play. Whether you are a forward or a D you will use this maneuver because you are continually turning to face the puck. It is a skill worth working your practice around.
What is a mohawk turn? The terminology seems to be confused by some skaters. It is an old figure skating term in which the skater will go from forward to backward or backward to forward from edge to edge (not to be confused with a heel-to-heel).
We will focus on just turning from forward to backward. The skater goes from one inside edge to another inside edge while transitioning. The basic idea it to transition without skidding, stopping or slowing down. This is why it is important for the skater to understand the three basic steps.
First, the skater should glide on one foot forward while rotating your shoulders the direction you would like to go. As the shoulders are rotating the other foot will then be picked up and put down backwards. It is important to know that if you put your foot down too soon you will create a skid which in-turn will slow your transition down.
Finally, the skater will finish by continuing to skate backwards. The skater should remember to keep his/her chest and shoulders up as they transition from forward to backward because bending too far forward will cause the skater to slow down or even fall forward.
The mohawk turn is a hard concept to grasp for the young player so the coach may want to explain it and walk through it on the boards (like in the photos). Using and holding the boards will help give the skaters the support they need to go from one edge to the other edge (forward to backward).
For the higher level skater the mohawk turn should be done in two steps instead of three. The skater will still be turning from forward to backward again but the trick is to carve a backwards C cut with the pushing foot at the exact same time you set the gliding foot down. Make sure you are gliding straight back. By carving that C cut right out of the turn you will gain speed as you use the pushing foot correctly. You are also in a good position with the gliding foot to continue your speed. Make sure there is no body lean forward as this will slow the skater down.
All players regardless of positon will have to use a mohawk turn sooner or later. Transition is such a huge part of the game, learning this maneuver is a skating cornerstone.
Diane Ness has been a full-time professional skating coach for over 35 years. She has coached both figure skaters and hockey players alike and is a former U.S. gold medalist in figure skating. She is the Director for the Pro Edge Power hockey camps and the Learn to Skate program at Highland Park Arena. Ness is the skating coach for the New Jersey Devils, the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey teams and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team. She has trained players in the NHL, AHL, NCAA, USHL and NAHL.
