Last Updated on Thursday, 21 February 2013 11:00
By Diane Ness
When you see beginning skaters, you will notice that they tend to naturally start off on their inside edges. For them, it is a natural and safe feeling to be on two inside edges. The challenging part is to begin to get the skater on a strong outside edge.
How are we able to get that skater to feel comfortable to get on an outside edge?
With younger skaters, it is very difficult to have them hold it on a one-foot outside edge. What tends to happen is the skater will pick up his/her skate and immediately put it down right away. This never really gives the skater a chance to “feel” what it’s like to be on an edge. Another problem is that the young skater usually does not have enough speed to hold his/her outside edge.
The best option is to eliminate both problems. We like to teach younger skaters by “feel” rather then by just telling them. We will actually take the skater and literally pull them around on their outside edge (above photo). You will be providing the speed as well as being able to manually pull them over on their outside edge on a circle or just on a curve (instead of just telling them to get on their edge). A skater will then get the “feel” for what it is like be on an outside edge. The faster you go, the more challenging you can make it for the skater.
In the photo, the skater is holding the instructor’s stick; this can also be done by having the skater hold the instructor’s hands. It is amazing the improvements and confidence a young skater will get if this drill is done correctly and worked on consistently.
For the older, advanced skater, we will have them take a corner at full speed and hold one foot (outside edge) on the ice. To create more of a challenge we will have them touch their inside glove while leaning into their turn (photo #2). Remember, a bent back and a lean are completely different. If this is done correctly and consistently, it will help the skater with stronger power turns, more powerful crossover, and just overall better stability on the ice.
In photos 3, 4, and 5, you will be able to see Kyle Okposo, Zach Parise and Chris Porter holding a strong outside edge at our camp in the summer. Even the pros still need to get back to the basics, the key is to add speed and make it challenging for them.
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.
