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It's very important to get as much "ride" out of your skates as possible or in other words, "be on top of your skates" in the
straight-aways. Most skaters have no trouble at all with the left skate but to try to get them to get over on their right skate is another story. It may take a few years of concentrated effort to develop that technique. The obvious reason for this is the fact that in short track or for that matter, long track pack style skating, there is a risk involved when getting over either skate. The skater can easily lose balance with a slight nudge from another skater so he or she tends to stay more on the inner part of the blades. Also the number of turn strokes in short track skating are many times more than straightaway strokes and the skater rarely gets a chance to get completely over either skate.
Hockey and figure skaters that come into Long Track Olympic Style skating have an advantage because they are comfortable on any side of their blades. The two Erics, Heiden and Flaim, were both good hockey players. Karen Enke was a good figure skater and was almost an instant success. Bonnie Blair had the advantage of living next door to a large indoor rink where she could get in a few more straightaway strokes. There were a good number of California skaters that made Olympic teams, training primarily on a larger indoor rink probably concentrating on getting "on top of their skates".
The other part of "getting on top of your skates" is the fact that most skater are taught at an early age to "get down" and when they "get down" without a good knee bend, their weight is on the front part
of the blade and most of the glide is gone - they are applying the brakes.
Another problem is when skaters get tired and stay down they lose most of their knee bend. They should straighten up a little and keep more glide out of whatever strength they have left.
Weight fall or weight transfer is another technique that cannot be mastered by constant pack style skating. In order to do this a skater has to "use the ice" or utilize a more pronounced zigzag motion but, just imagine what would happen if all skaters in a pack style race were zigzagging down a
straight-away. Strength and endurance are great but sometimes weaker skaters are more successful because of good technique.
Sam Poulos
Coach - Mid America Club - 1985
www.speedskate.org
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