I have been skating now for about 3 months, and now have gotten to the point where I can skate forward laps without feeling like I'm always on the verge of falling. I'm 61, my skates are new Reidell 225 Motions with Astra blades. I was fitted by the manager of the Pro shop at my local rink. My skates feel comfortable now that I think they are broken in and seem to fit well.
1. Where does skating speed come from?
I understand training, skill, practice, experience and all that rot, but there are folks flying past me, who don't even appear to be trying, legs hardly moving, eyes glued to their cell phones, not even concentrating on what they are doing, and I'm out there stroking like mad.
I'm not really interested in skating fast per se, but I'm told the next thing I should work on is trying to glide on one foot. Problem is, at the speed I'm traveling right now, I don't have enough momentum to get very far. My speed drops quickly to the point of imbalance. Is speed something that just naturally comes along?
2. When I'm gliding along on both blades, feet shoulder width apart, and look down at my skates, the left blade looks perfectly right-angled to the ice. The right however, is leaning a little to the inside. My skates are laced up fairly snug. Is this something I should be concerned about? I don't see this on the other really good skaters - just on the little hockey hooligans who think it's cool not to lace up their skates.
I'm trying not to pick up any bad habits or form.
Slowpoke
1. Where does skating speed come from?
I understand training, skill, practice, experience and all that rot, but there are folks flying past me, who don't even appear to be trying, legs hardly moving, eyes glued to their cell phones, not even concentrating on what they are doing, and I'm out there stroking like mad.
I'm not really interested in skating fast per se, but I'm told the next thing I should work on is trying to glide on one foot. Problem is, at the speed I'm traveling right now, I don't have enough momentum to get very far. My speed drops quickly to the point of imbalance. Is speed something that just naturally comes along?
2. When I'm gliding along on both blades, feet shoulder width apart, and look down at my skates, the left blade looks perfectly right-angled to the ice. The right however, is leaning a little to the inside. My skates are laced up fairly snug. Is this something I should be concerned about? I don't see this on the other really good skaters - just on the little hockey hooligans who think it's cool not to lace up their skates.
I'm trying not to pick up any bad habits or form.
Slowpoke