speed racer

spent some time working on my form with julia rosenwinkel this saturday. it’s kind of funny that it took two years for someone to help me figure out exactly how i was wasting all my energy, because, as strong as i am, i really should be a fast skater.

so, this month, i’ll be focusing on the left leg portion of the crossover motion. i’m sure there were other tips, but, for the most part, this involves really putting my weight over my left leg. (typically, this is the part of the motion where i lose my balance and the rest of my form contorts to recover.)

perhaps an even bigger help to my form was loosening my trucks. i can’t remember if i ever did this with my first pair of skates, but everything got clamped down after i came back from my broken leg.

i can’t even begin to tell you how big of a difference a half turn made in my crossover stride. i have always struggled with this and always figured i just had some weird inflexibility in my hip or leg, but the truck adjustment vastly improved the distance i was able to stride out with my left leg.

that said, loose trucks make the weakness in my left ankle markedly noticeable. i’ve got to get back in the habit of at-home PT.

i also need to get my lazy ass to some speed practices, but i’m so damned terrified of them. i should find a buddy…

1 month ago  /  Notes