Pivoting/Transitioning from Skating Forward To Backward

[The Playoff Beard 0]

I'm an okay backward skater, and an okay foward skater, but for some freakin' reason I can't pivot/transition from skating forward to skating backward. What the deuce?!?!??! I see old men and old ladies to this like it's nothing. Even kids goofing around on the ice, but not me.

Can anyone give me any tips/drills on how to learn to pivot from forward to backward?

[TCsnipes9 0]

Balance is the key. You gotta keep your weight on the balls of your feet.

Sometimes going at an angle will help learn. EX: instead of skating straight down the ice forward, and trying to turn and go backwards at, say, the blueline... try doing russian circles while always facing one end. That way youre not going 180*, but closer to 100* or a little more.

Keep working and youll get it, and eventually get used to it.

[Super Star 0]

try practicing 3 turns or just use moahak step to turn around

[kukakid 0]

Like TCsnipes say it is much easier to learn if you are turning. Try skating around the lines for each circle and make sure you face the same end of the rink the entire time. The idea is to start your turn and then kick your back leg (right leg if you are going counterclockwise around the circle) behind your front leg. Then begin gliding on this leg you just kicked back and you will have transitioned your momentum and should be skating backwards.

Obviously as you are swinging your back leg around you need to be pivoting on your front leg so you will be lined up correctly to be skating backwards.

If you are having trouble with these steps just try it while hanging onto the boards. Just practice swinging your back leg and making sure the front pivots.

BTW this maneuver is called the Mohawk step if I remember correctly.

[qmechanic 17]

I'm an okay backward skater, and an okay foward skater, but for some freakin' reason I can't pivot/transition from skating forward to skating backward. What the deuce?!?!??! I see old men and old ladies to this like it's nothing. Even kids goofing around on the ice, but not me.

Can anyone give me any tips/drills on how to learn to pivot from forward to backward?

I sympathize. I can only do the "cheating way" where you swivel from forward to backward on the middle part of your blade. The correct way to do it is the Mohawk, as people have mentioned already. The swivel only works at low speed where as you can do the Mohawk at high speed.

[The Playoff Beard 0]

I love this board. Thanks homeboys/girls!

[Zamboni 6]

Good advice on the Mowhawk-I'll add a few common errors to look for, I ran 1.5 hour class Sunday so its fresh in my mind. Very important is to transition with 1 hand on the stick, 2 hands restricts your weight shift. I like telling the kids their stick is controlling them and not the other way around when doing a pivot with 2 hands on the stick. As you master the move/balance and exit with a good power stride that finishes with a strong push you will be able to keep the second hand on stick when game situations warrant that-for now 1 hand.

A good knee bend is mentioned often describing skating-on weekend I saw kids who 'straightened up' while pivoting. Keep those knees bent, learn to pivot properly....you will be stronger on your skates with better balance when you skate low. Don't compensate with a back bend-slow down the move, master it slow speed with a good knee bend and then increase speed.

Its too wordy to describe much more-there's some good video on net if you google.

[biff44 0]

http://www.humankinetics.com/products/show...n=9780880118217

Have a video with a section on pivots.

I always thought it was important to get your full body into it. Turn your head, then your shoulders, then your torso, then have the feet follow through.

[RadioGaGa 162]

http://www.humankinetics.com/products/show...n=9780880118217

Have a video with a section on pivots.

I always thought it was important to get your full body into it. Turn your head, then your shoulders, then your torso, then have the feet follow through.

I think that is my problem...I try to start at the bottom and work up.

[Jarick 5]

Here's a page about it:

http://www.hockeyshot.com/skating_trans.htm

Are those video clips the "correct" way to do it?

I just try to stay light on the balls of my feet and turn my body so I'm going the other way. I have no idea if it's right or not but I don't lose my balance or anything. The big thing for me was working on my timing on my weak side.

[Maka 0]

Don't be afraid to throw that leading hip out there! That will really help you to force you to start transitioning back to your inside edge of your outside foot.

[D aka speck 0]

I've personally found that doing some edge drills have helped me with everything, insluding transitions. Is that just me, or can anyone else here relate?

I love threads like this, I think everyone could improve thier skills if they try.

[NTKT10 0]

Important to remember: let's say you're pivoting around a cone. As you go past the cone and transition from going forward to going backward you want to do it in one fluid motion. You should be facing away from the cone as you start to pivot and NOT going half way around forward, facing the cone before turning back the other direction to pivot. If you look at the two diagrams below you want to do what it's showing on the right: you go straight into the cone hard like you're stopping and use your momentum to pivot backward, relying on your edges to keep you on your feet. The diagram on the left is the wrong way, where you kind of stop twice to slow down, almost like you're scared of falling by going in too fast. The arrows show the direction you're facing as you go around the cone. This is to pivot from your left to right, you face the opposite direction if pivoting from right to left. Tried my best to explain it using dash marks, sorry.

[trox_355 0]

I've personally found that doing some edge drills have helped me with everything, insluding transitions. Is that just me, or can anyone else here relate?

I've been taking powerskating lessons from a figure skating coach, and I'd say roughly 75% of what she stresses is solid edgework.

A ridiculous number of 3-turns goes a long way in improving balance, too.

A good way to learn to make the mohawk work is to learn to open your hips more and repeat the move along a circle. If you're familiar with edges (RFI = Right Front Inside, etc.), this would be shifting your weight back and forth between a RFI and LBI (for a counter-clockwise circle).

Jarick: It looks like that guy is letting his feet lead his head. For me, turning my head where I want to go first then letting my feet follow leads to a more stable turn.

[GSHL99 0]

I've had some luck explaining it this way:

It's basically just like a hockey stop, expect instead of putting pressure on the foward skate to stop you just continue on the edge until you turned 180 degrees.

[TheBeatGoesOn 0]

I was able to transition from forward to backwards going at a pretty decent pace my first time ice skating. All because of muscle memory from when I roller bladed a ton back when I was like 11 (I'm 21 now). hah

I'm glad all my random dicking around on roller blades payed off later down the line. It has made ice skating a lot easier to pick up. I know this isn't of any help to anyone I just felt like sharing.

[gxc999 7]

Is it just me or is transitioning way harder on rollerblades? I'm a beginner ice-skater now, and it feels much easier on ice, maybe just me...

[TheBeatGoesOn 0]

I can't remember how difficult it was myself for rollerblades. It's relatively easy on ice skates though. A little harder turning counter clockwise though. Can't do that at a fast pace yet.

[M.W. 0]

I've been taking powerskating lessons from a figure skating coach, and I'd say roughly 75% of what she stresses is solid edgework.

I did a lot of powerskating with a coach with a hockey and figure skating background, and it was also very heavy on the edge control. I started doing the classes my second season of minor hockey, every tuesday before school, and went from being a very poor skater to generally being one of the best skaters on the ice over the course of the season. It was, by far, the best thing I ever did for my game, and for just enjoying playing hockey.

[TomMc#4 0]

Remember to turn your upper body as this will make your hips open up as you turn and then your feet will follow your hips