Muse back!
February 06, 2010 / Saturday
RGPSC 2010
Another year, another Robby Glantz power skating camp. I took notes, but not nearly as many as I did last year. Still, I learned a few new things that either didn't stick or I didn't absorb from the last time around.
Forward Skating
Once again, I was horrified by my forward skating video. I *still* flail my arms way too much.
Arms:
- Swing forward, not sideways.
- Left hand should NOT cross to the right side when in front.
- Right hand should NOT cross to the left side when in front.
- Hands should NOT swing above the knees when in front.
I've recently been troubled by stick/wrist over-rotation in my forward stride. I had no idea what I was doing wrong, but we talked about how to carry the stick and handle the puck, which definitely lit a bulb over my head.
Stick:
- To the side, carry puck wide on backhand.
- Cock wrist to keep stick from flipping when pulling arm back.
My footwork is better, though. At last year's clinic, I learned to finish the stride with my toes. I'm more conscious now about feeling that final crunch, and in order to do that I have to push sideways at least a decent amount.
Stopping
I stop using only my outside skate. The inside one chatters. It chattered at last year's clinic also, but I never figured out why.
This year, as Robby explained how he wanted us to stop, he said one very key sentence. "The weight on your bent leg should be on the front 2/3 of your skate." Weight on your heel makes your skate chatter. OH.
We talked a lot about form, too. I tried to put it all together, and actually started coming close to stopping with both feet after a few tries. There's hope for me yet!
- Bent leg: weight on front 2/3 of blade to reduce chatter.
- Straight leg makes straight line through body.
- Bent leg thigh (eventually) parallel to ice.
- Body and hand low.
- Shoulders level with ice.
- BOTH legs are ahead of body relative to direction of travel.
For everything but the note about where the weight should be on the skate blade, it boils down to this: Get down low. Commit. Don't be afraid.
Straddle (?) Step
I honestly can't remember what they called this, but they showed us this move where you pick up speed, get into a wide straddle, and change directions quickly by lifting a toe. Well, it's not quite as simple as lifting a toe. It's more like lifting a toe while pivoting on the side of the inside edge of the heel by pulling on your skate with your leg, which is straight. I'm thinking if I can learn to do this well, I can deke a goalie with it someday. We'll see. I'm many practice hours away from being able to do this with a puck. But still, new trick! I love new tricks. :)
Looking forward to next time. If they offer another adults-only session, I'm there!