Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 November 2014 09:33
By Diane Ness
Lately, core strength has become a buzzword when talking about training for any sport. As I stated in an earlier article, core strength is one of the four pillars of skating. So just to review, why is core strength so important? The simple answer is that it connects our upper and lower body. We use our core everyday, whether it be sitting in a chair, standing up, shoveling snow or raking the leaves … the list goes on. If your core is weak, it can negatively impact how your arms and legs function. A strong core also enhances balance and stability, which may be the most import function in young skaters.
When skating is done correctly it should look effortless. As I watched some high level figure skaters last week, my attention was drawn to the control each skater had with their core. When talking with Anne Edison, the head of the St. Paul Figure Skating Club, she explained how balance and flexibility are a couple of results from having a strong core.
So how does a young player develop a strong core? When learning a skill, let’s say a crossover, you must first learn where your arms belong and how to rotate your upper body in the direction you are cornering. The posture of your core is the first component you need to learn. Once the posture is correct, everything else will fall into place easily.
When working with younger skaters, this is one area that is just generally overlooked. As I have stated in an older article, there is a difference in falling because you are attacking a corner full speed and falling just because of bad balance. As coaches we need to encourage young skaters’ control of their sticks, body and overall balance. There is no reason a kid should just fall over while standing in line, but it happens all of the time. This is why throughout drills coaches must stress “control” while skating. It cannot be emphasized enough.
If you were to look at the NHL level and look at maybe one of the most balanced skaters, you would look no further than Ryan Suter. He makes everything look so easy, and rarely ever gets knocked off balance, and is always in control of his body. It is no surprise to know that he has farmed his entire life. Can you imagine the core strength he has generated from his day-to-day life doing this consistently?
The one skater that I have worked with that is very similar to this scenario is former Gopher Paul Martin. When Paul skates, it is so efficient it doesn’t look like he is working very hard. It is no surprise that Paul was a supreme three-sport athlete in high school. Obviously, he has developed core strength through playing different sports and excelling at everything he has done. Current University of Minnesota strength and conditioning coach Cal Dietz has stated that Paul is one of the best athletes he has ever worked with.
Thank you to Anne Edison, Cal Dietz and Karyn Bye Dietz to contributing some of their own knowledge into this article. Cal has generously given free core and hip strength exercises to anyone who would like them. Please go to my Pro Edge Power website and e-mail me directly and I can send you the drills and exercises with video demonstrations. Good luck.
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.
