Skating

Question
QUESTION: I have been playing roller hockey for about a year and i can't skate real fast i have like the cheapest pair of skates that your can get. (50 bucks) I have taken a learn to skate class and it helped a bit but not much.  I think my form is off so is their any drills that you know to help my form and just overall skating and also how to pick a pair of skates?

ANSWER: Hi Hunter,
   Before we talk about your skates, let me ask this?   How is your balance when you skate?  Are you pretty much in balance most of the time or do you have to fight for your balance all the time?  Then on a 1 - 10 scale, how well do you skate in general?

   I would think if you've been playing roller hockey for about a year and have taken a learn to skate class, your skating should be pretty decent?

   If your skating in general is pretty good then we need to look at your wheels and bearings.  It's ok to have an inexpensive pair of skates because you can always upgrade the wheels and/or bearings.  I'm assuming you're skating on inlines?

   Whether on inlines or quads do this......spin your wheels (by hand) one at a time.  If they stop spinning rather quickly, you need to invest in a better pair of bearings if you want to skate faster without pushing so hard or if you haven't oiled your bearings for a while try that before investing in new bearings.  

   Also check to make sure your wheels aren't too soft.  Softer wheels grip better but make it harder to push and they also slow down faster.  If your wheels spin fast and continue to spin evenly for quite a while, then that's not the problem... then write me back and I can give you some info on drills for pushing and balancing

   If you're thinking of new wheels or bearings, I would talk to your friends to see what their using.

   If you need to, write me again and we'll figure it out.

Take care
Pat

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for answering my last question and i would say my balence is pretty good.  On a scale 1 to 10 i would say about a 6.  Also I have never oiled my inlines before.  I dont have my skates with me at the moment so i cant see how soft and fast the wheels are.  I have had my skates for almost 2 years do you think i might need new wheels.

Answer
Hi,
  So your balance is somewhere in the middle of not being bad but not being consistently good. Practice Hunter, practice!   When you skate you need to feel that your right on top of your skates and that most of the weight is carried over your ankles.  You want to try to keep the weight off of the front of your skates because it makes you tip forward and lose your balance.

  Normally I would say, to stay in balance you need your shoulders and hips over the ankles but when playing hockey the skaters tend to lean forward while maneuvering so that could be what's throwing your balance off and keeping you from going faster.  Constantly recovering from being out of balance will slow you down.

  Make sure you do oil your bearing as soon as you can, ok?  After 2 years of skating on them, they are long over due.  Depending on how often you skate, you need to mark your calendar and every 3 or 4 months put a couple drops of oil in each bearing...then spin them around and wipe off any excess oil so it doesn't get on your wheels.

  You can tell if you need new wheels by looking at them to see if they show signs of wearing down.  They may look smaller or look lopsided. If they are still perfectly rounded, they they're ok.  If one side of the wheel is worn down a lot more than the other side, then it's time for new wheels.  

  So practice on your balance by paying attention to how you feel when just skating forward.  Feel in control and solid on your skates and oil your bearings.  

  Most roller rinks sell what they call Uncle Charlies Oil.  It's a small clear plastic tube maybe 1/2" in diameter and about 4" long and has a needle type end where the drops of oil come out.

  You take care and if you need anything else, write me again

Pat