My Roller Hockey Saga (Part Seven)

Question
Okay, so I finally went out skating in a very large open parking lot with a couple of people, and it definitely was a lot different than just skating around in my laundry room, lol.  They were all telling me that my way of turning (using crossovers) wasn't very effective in hockey however, and they were doing this like coasting-turn that I tried to imitate but just couldn't.  I was like they put their right foot out front to turn right, and left in front to turn left, but I just seemed to keep continuing in the same direction, lol.  I don't know if I have explained it well enough, but if you could shed some light on this type of turning, I would very much appreciate it.  Also, I had a "race" (if you can call it that) with another guy, and that was pretty embarrasing.  He could easily go three times as fast going backwards as I could go forwards, so I was wondering if there were some exercises or something that I could do to improve the efficiency of my stride.  More on that note, however, it is becoming more and more apparent that I do not exactly have a body type "fit for hockey", lol.  At only 5'5" and a very pudgy 160 pounds, I'm not the most in shape 16 year old male.  If you know of some exercise regime that could also be helpful for rollerblading, I would be very appreciative.  Also, I recently went ice-skating for the first time because I thought that it was going to be similar to rollerblading.  Now I know that it really isn't, lol.  I don't know if this is out of your range of expertise, but I figured I could still ask you.  My biggest problem was that I couldn't keep my ankles straight and my skates perpendicular to the ice, they always seemed to bend one way or the other, almost to the point where the side of the skate was touching the ice.  I don't have this problem with rollerblades, so do you think that I just didn't have them tight enough, or is it something that you just have to practice and get used to?

Answer
Hey Andrew,
  I'm so happy that you finally skated in a larger area.  That's what you've needed to do all along.  Keep skating outdoors where there's room and you'll see an improvement more quickly.

  About turning.  I taught you crossovers just so you could get the feel for it.  Once that became comfortable then you'd have the idea of what your friends are doing.  They are doing a modified crossover.  It's more like a very sloppy cross that doesn't really cross but it comes around in front of the other skated just enough to make you curve either to the right or left.    Try it in terms of thinking that your going to step ahead with your right skate and as you do, lean to the left.  As the right skate takes the floor it should curve and continue without losing any speed.

The difference in the cross over that you're doing is that you're completely crossing over.  What they are doing is stepping ahead with their toe curing slightly in front of their other skate.

You want to improve the efficiency of your stride?  All you need is to keep skating outside or in some big area where you have room to take longer pushes.  Then just practice, practice, practice.  Focus on pushing till you run out of space then use your modified crossover to turn you around then skate the other direction till you run out of room, then do it again and again.  The only way to improve is to keep skating in a larger area.  Bring a water bottle and keep skating fast until you think you can't skate anymore....then go one more lap.  Work up a good sweat,  build your endurance and build leg muscles.  

I'm sorry but there's no other way to get good at skating unless you skate a lot.  

Skating hard, drinking a lot of water and watching your diet will help trim you down.  But you have to be strict with yourself and really watch what you eat.   The skating hard will take care of the exercise part and burn calories but if you don't watch what you eat, then you will gain back all that you've lost during your skating workout. Skating alone won't do it, so stock up on carrots, celery, fruit, etc and stay away from pop and junk food.  Before you know it you'll be a lean, mean skating machine.  

Start a skating/diet journal.  Write down how much you weigh and the date.  Then each day write down how long you skated, how much water you drank and what you ate.   Do this every day but only weigh yourself once a week.  If you're true to your schedule you'll see the pounds start dropping off and the muscle in your legs build.  It's not easy, I know but believe me....once you see a couple pounds disappear you will be inspired to keep going and you'll start feeling better about everything right away.

As for your ankles turning in when you went ice skating?  It could be caused from a combination of things.  Yes, perhaps the skates were not laced tight enough or your feet were to far apart.  It takes practice and focus like everything else but keeping your feet close together makes keeping your ankles straight up a little easier.  Ice is very different than roller blading as you saw but once you're more comfortable and natural on your blades then the ice skating will be easier too.

So get out there tomorrow and skate like crazy.  Even if you skate in the street by your house that would be fine.  Long as you have a fairly long stretch of surface to skate on it's all good practice.  Just stay off the sidewalks....you need more room to maneuver.....like the street or parking lots etc.

Take care and keep me posted on your progress.  I know you can do it!

Pat