Ice Skating... Getting The Competitive Advantage

Ice Skating... Getting The Competitive Advantage
By Patrick Francey

Speaking in general terms, if you play a sport, you are inclined to seek a competitive advantage. The desire to win, compete, excel, challenge, and improve are just a few of the underlying reasons that a sport is played. Golf is a great example of a sport that sparks the desire to seek a competitive advantage. Purchasing a bigger driver, a nicer putter, a set of custom built irons...the list seems endless. The reality is that all of these things can, and often do, in fact improve your golf game. If you have ever played golf with a set of clubs that are too short...long...wrong flex... etc. then you have likely experienced the frustrating difference it makes to your score when you compare it to the positive results of using a set of clubs that are the correct fit and style for you!

Not unlike golf, the world of skating is the same. Skaters are always looking for a competitive advantage, so... with another summer of hockey schools well underway, and hockey tryouts just around the corner, we wanted to give you some insights into a fundamental way of helping you to help gain a competitive advantage with your skating... all it takes is a little knowledge...

A common question that we get asked by parents of young skaters and, by skaters in general is.... "how are my skates supposed to fit?". This question is generally preceded with such comments and questions as "I hate my skates", "why do my feet always hurt when I skate?", "I'm just not as fast with these skates",or how much growing room is enough?...

Even though skate design and technology have changed dramatically over the past few years, the fundamentals of how a skate needs to fit to be comfortable and perform have not.

Basically, there are three issues to consider when purchasing skates. First and foremost, is the obvious issue of purchasing a pair of skates that are comfortable. Second to comfort, is that your skates must fit correctly to perform ...the correct size (length), and width. (Not unlike the 'right' golf club) The third consideration to the fit of the skates, but as important, is choosing the correct make and model of product. Far too often skaters focus on buying the same skates that they have seen their skating idol wearing or they look only to the most expensive skates, because obviously (to them) they are the best.

Clearly, what we know is... it doesn't matter how much you pay for your skates or what famous skater is wearing the product, if the skates you purchase don't fit properly your skating performace can be adversly affected.Read on for some insights in how to gain the competitive advantage by being certain your skates fit.

The fundamentals of how skates should fit

A skate does not fit the same as a shoe.

A hockey skate...in all cases will fit 1 to 1 ½ sizes smaller than your shoe

½ size growing room is all that is necassary and will generally get a growing foot through one full season of hockey

Allowing more growing room than ½ size can lead to blisters, premature breakdown of the skate and reduced performance of the skate for the skater. Widths in skates are not the same as in a shoe...for example A "EE" width in a shoe is similar to a "D" width

Don't just focus on one make and model!

Different models of skates are built to accommodate different levels of skater ability and physical size, different shapes of feet, and different price points. These are key points when considering what skates to buy. It is important to be honest about the level of skating that you or your skater is at. A skate that is too stiff is the one of the biggest contributors to poor skating performance.

Skate manufacturers skates all fit differently.

It's possible that although you think you would like to try Bauer skates, the skate may not work the best for you because the "last" (shape of the boot) is not appropriate for the shape of your foot. It is important to try on more than one manufacturer skate if you are uncertain. Comparison and a great skate technician is ultimately the best way to help make the correct decision for you.

Skates are meant to fit when they are laced up!

The number one reason skaters end up in skates that are too big is that they don't lace the skate all the way up. Because of the shape of a skate, the foot will only sit back in the boot properly when the skate is laced to the top of the boot. If you look at the profile of a skate boot, it is easy to see the "sweep" up to the top. As the skate is laced up it draws the foot back into the heel. A new pair of skates that fit will almost alway feel short when they are first put on the foot prior to lacing.

Did you know that...

for a non growing foot. When standing with your skates laced up the longest toe of your foot should slightly feather the end of the boot. When you bend your knees...as you would when you skate... the toe should pull away from the front of the boot. Any pressure points that you have on the sides of the foot or ankle bones should be adjusted (made comfortable) by the person fitting your skates.

How much Growing Room is enough?

A ½ size growing room represents about ¼ of an inch. Allowing more growing room than a ½ size puts the skater at risk of things such as blisters on the heel and arches. As well, the performance of the skate diminishes dramatically because of foot movement in the skate combined with a blade that is too long for the boot and hence too long for the skaters foot.

Make sure the foot is measured correctly!

Although it may give you a place to start... fingers... pencils... or looking down the back of the boot is just a big skate mistake waiting to happen. If the store fitting your skates understands the products they are selling and how to fit skates then they will know how to accurately use a measuring stick. To avoid the inevitable blisters, sore feet, and poor skating performance, that occur with poor fitting skates, be certain that a measureing stick is used.

Patrick Francey is the owner of Pro Skate. He is recognized internationaly in the skating industry as a'skate fit for performance' Expert. Patrick and his staff service all levels of hockey and figure skaters, including many NHL hockey players and world class figure skaters. His retail stores have been serving clients for more than 25 years. Pro Skate prides themselves on long distance/mail order 'custom skate fitting'.

Learn more about them at: http://www.pro-skate.com
e-mail proskate@pro-skate.com
Professional Skate Service
Edmonton, Canada
780 481-5532 or toll free 1 866-481-5532
780 438-9059 or toll free 1888 438-3888

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Francey

Inline Goalies - Make The Move From Sneakers To Skates For Less

Inline Goalies - Make The Move From Sneakers To Skates For Less
By Brian Thorward

Are you a non-skating goalie playing in an inline or roller hockey league and ready to make the move to skates? Before you consider coughing up $200-$300 for big name goalie skates, you might want to take an alternative and more economical option.

Consider purchasing a pair of aggressive skates to advance your game to the next level. Goalies on skates can move about their given radius of play a little quicker and can lunge from side to side with more leverage than sneakers. Inline goalies and aggressive skaters have a lot in common:

• Their skating hardware takes considerable punishment
• The skater maintains a low profile/center of gravity compared to conventional skaters/hockey players
• The skater often moves in directions other than that of wheel rotation

Aggressive skates offer a number of features that are very attractive to the roller/inline goalie:

• Sturdy frame construction
• Reinforced sole plate
• Reinforced inner boot side walls
• Grinding bar offers increased rigidity of wheel axis
• Durable outer boot shell protects foot from impact of puck/ball
• Small diameter wheel offers low center of gravity for stability and maneuverability
• Overall construction is built for punishment

How do the two types of skates differ?

• Toe reinforcement is not as hefty on aggressive skate
• Most goalie skates have 5 wheels for stability and maneuverability, where aggressive skates usually have 4 wheels with a grinding bar bridging the gap between inner wheels (no concerns that a puck can squeeze through)
• Aggressive skates tend to have quick release strapping mechanism, where goalie skates are typically lace based
• Aggressive skates generally cost a fraction of that of goalie skates

In my opinion, the differences in skate functionality do not justify the cost difference. Although aggressive skates vary in price, it is not too difficult to find a suitable pair at any of the plethora of online shops for about half the cost of goalie skates. You will probably find that a new pair of aggressive skates is even more economical than a decent pair of used goalie skates selling on your favorite online auction site.

Before you start your search for aggressive skates, keep in mind that all are not created equal. Some are more suitable for goalie play than others. Here is a short list of construction details to avoid:

• Soft outer shell construction, especially in the toe region. A soft skin covering a hard boot shell is acceptable
• Wheels with low durometer (measure of hardness) rating. The ability to move (or slide) laterally will require wheels that are relatively hard. You might want to experiment with different wheels (this is true whether aggressive or goalie)

Once you have purchased your new aggressive skates, you can go ahead and use the money you saved to buy yourself a new composite goalie stick!

Brian Thorward is a contributing writer for Bright Red Tech Hockey, an online portal for hockey equipment information/shopping. Brian spends endless hours scouring online hockey resources for useful information to pass on to fellow hockey players and parents.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Thorward

Skating - An Elegant Sport

Skating - An Elegant Sport
By Piyali Sen

Skating is an elegant sport. It is a sport which can charm and enthrall you and brings magic and enchantment in the air. When you see the performers glide on the skating ring effortlessly and perform stupendous antics, you are bound to feel awed by their talent.

The swirl, the jumps, the glide, the spins, and the twirls may look effortless on the surface but they take eons of perseverance and practice to reach to that perfectionist level. The attire of the skater is also very elegant and eye-catching yet suitable for the purpose of skating, such as leggings, or short skirts, or tight-fitting flexible pants.

There are various types of skating, such as roller skating, ice skating, skateboarding, and snow skating. Each one of the sport is fun and interesting in their own way.

However, amongst them, figure ice skating tends to be the favorite sport of many. Such a sport, performed on frozen ice, is not an easy task specially when it comes to jumping and landing with perfect ease and yet being careful not to put too much pressure on the ice. Figure skating can be performed individually, in couples, or in teams. There have been several competitions in figure skating such as World Championships, Winter Olympic Games, and European Figure Skating Championships.

Such championship events are a pleasure to watch because you come across all kinds of talents and performance at different levels. It is like watching a piece of art. Unlike other sports, which involve cheering, shouting, this is a sport, which imbues an air of sophistication and silent appreciation.

Crazy Skating Fan - Skating: An Elegant Sport Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Piyali_Sen

Inline Skating Technique -- Longer Strides and Glides

Inline Skating Technique -- Longer Strides and Glides

Sometimes, especially on trails longer than 20 miles, and in high heat in the middle of the summer, you may start to fatigue due to dehydration or if your caloric burn has exceeded your caloric intake for the day. Under these circumstances, it’s good to have a way to conserve your energy until you reach the end of the trail.

One approach is to use longer strides and glides. Let me explain!

The Three Forces
There are a number of forces that act on an inline skater while he or she is in motion including the following:

• Rolling friction
• Wind resistance
• Gravitational force

When skating longer distances, we’re primarily concerned with rolling friction and wind resistance. Let’s tackle the frictional force that’s developed when your wheels roll over the pavement, and leave wind resistance for a future article.

Reduce the Rolling Friction
Rolling friction is defined as a force which opposes the motion of any body which is rolling over the surface of another. In our case, the body is the inline skater and the surface is the trail itself. The frictional force is applied against the skater’s wheels when they come in contact with the surface of the trail.

In addition, this force is in the opposite direction and hence opposes the force exerted by the skater to move him- or herself forward. The greater the rolling friction, the more force the skater needs to apply to overcome this resistance. What would happen if the skater were to reduce the rolling friction?

In this case, he or she would need to exert less force to move forward. Since work is equal to force times distance, it follows that the skater needs to do less work to travel the same distance. The skater conserves energy by doing less work. So, how does one reduce the rolling friction? Good question, let’s find out!

Enter Longer Strides and Glides
You can employ a technique dubbed, Longer Strides and Glides. The idea is to minimize the time you spend rolling on both skates, or conversely, maximize the time you spend rolling on only one skate, which in turn serves to reduce the rolling friction.

Longer refers to a greater amount of time for the striding part of the maneuver, as well as a greater distance for the gliding part of the technique. Let’s see how it all works.

To skate using longer strides and glides:

1. Make four or five normal strides to pick up speed.
2. Push outward to your left side as far as possible using the inside edges of your left skate.
3. Hold your left skate in the air and out to the side for 2 to 3 seconds.
4. Balance and glide on the right skate.
5. Circle your left skate back under your body until it returns to the home position on the surface of the trail.
6. Quickly push outward to your right side as far as possible using the inside edges of your right skate.
7. Suspend your right skate out to the side for 2 to 3 seconds.
8. Balance and glide on the left skate.
9. Circle your right skate back under your body until it returns to the home position.
10. Continue to make long strides and glides using steps 2 through 9 above for a mile or so.

Key Benefits of the Maneuver
This technique affords two, key benefits when skating on longer trails. First, it reduces the rolling resistance since you’re now spending most of your time on only one skate, either the right or left skate, but not a lot of time on both skates at the same time. This means you’re conserving much-needed energy, because you’re doing less work to travel the same distance. Second, you’re giving your leg muscles a break by keeping one leg suspended in the air followed by the other leg. Trust me, even these short breaks feel good after 20 miles on the trail.

Summing Up
Use the above maneuver when you need to conserve energy and maintain a fluid style on the return leg of a trail that never seems to end. Until next time, good luck and get fit on the trails this summer!

About the Author
Jim Safianuk is the writer and publisher of the three-part, inline skating series entitled Skating Lessons, as well as the two-part, maintenance series named Skate Maintenance. He is also the developer and owner of the Inline Skating Center, a site which serves as a hub for the adult, recreational, inline skating community. To visit their Skating Lessons site, click here: http://skatinglessons.inlineskatingcenter.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Safianuk

Aggressive Inline Skating - Xtreme Fun

Aggressive Inline Skating - Xtreme Fun

Aggressive inline skating, or commonly referred to as Rollerblading, is an extreme sport that has emerged into the mainstream over the last ten to fifteen years. These skaters usually perform many different kinds of tricks on a variety of courses. The skates used by aggressive inline skaters are usually smaller and softer than other inline skates. This allows the skaters to accelerate or decelerate faster, and also have more control over the skates when performing tricks. However these skates have a slower top speed, and are also usually less durable than normal inline skates, so these skaters have to replace their wheels more often than other skaters.

The courses used by aggressive inline skaters are commonly referred to as Vert, Street, and Park. Vert is when the skaters “drop-in” to a half pipe so that they can gain speed and do tricks when they shoot up and out of the half pipe. Vert skaters usually perform the most amazing and dangerous tricks because they routinely fly more than ten feet or more above the half pipe. Street skating is when skaters use the natural terrain on the streets to perform their tricks. Some of the obstacles used to perform tricks on are handrails, curbs, ditches, and ledges. Street skating is illegal in some areas, but many skaters do not always conform to the laws and skate there anyway. Park skating is basically a combination of Vert and Street. A Park course is usually constructed to have some of the attributes of what skaters can find on the street, but also have small half pipes and boxes that allow skaters to perform some of the higher flying tricks that are harder to perform on the street.

With the increased success of the X games and extreme sports in general, aggressive inline skating has really thrust itself into the mainstream. More and more kids are starting to play extreme sports which means that this sport will just continue to grow. The professionals of the sport continue to strive to out-do one another so the sky is the limit to where tricks will go in the near future.

Interested in Aggressive Skating? Visit the aggressive skating forum. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabriel_J._Adams

Skaters logo

Skaters.com is getting a new logo!

We have engaged a group of young, street designers to design our new skaters logo. They are designers who skate! There are simply no better person to design this logo. We were looking for something fun so we figured we wanted a mascot. The draft came out really nice and the finished product will be out soon.

We will be giving away t-shirts with our logo print in future contests, so watch out for them!

Skaters

Skaters.com-Fastest growing online community for skaters

Started just 6months ago, skaters.com aims to be the biggest skating community in the world! Meet other skaters from around the world. Create your own unique profiles, create your own clubs, upload your own videos and many more new features.

Besides meeting new skater friends, take part in our contest and win cash prizes!

Join us now at: www.skaters.com