Laura Stamm's 'Power Skating' book

[danielb 0]

Morning folks,

So after about three months of learning hockey and skating from scratch I finally bought a copy of Laura Stamm's 'Power Skating' book (I think there is a DvD version too). I'd not bothered with it before thinking it was just for advanced players/skaters but boy was I wrong! The level of detail that I'd thought was too much when I first flicked through the book in chapters a couple of months back is now exactly what I'm craving to try and help me understand skating and to improve.

I think that book and private hockey lessons have made the biggest improvement to my skating and my game so far, before I'd been struggling with my stride and crossovers and now I'm improving so much and my technique is so much better. The intense level of detail she uses to cover each stride and manoeuvre is exactly what I'd been need now e.g. I had been doing crossovers totally wrong based on what I had understood from group skating lessons I hadn't even realised there was a second push with the inside leg involved!

Anyone else found this book useful or had similar experiences with any other great skating technique resources?

PS: Not sure where to post this but thought I'd share...

[Luckystrike 0]

I bought it when I first started out and it helped me learn how to turn but I found that advanced moves were more of trial and error kind of thing. Its good to use after you "get" how to make a move and then use the book to perfect your technique.

[jbyun04 7]

I used it when I first started as well..gives some good drills and tips

I also like the Complete Conditioning for Hockey by Twist as well. That one comes with a DVD

[Jarick 5]

I found a lot of things helpful in that book, but quickly lost interest. I've been thinking about getting the DVD, but a guy on my team has been promising to lend me another skating DVD.

The big things I took out of it were were to put your weight (on the ball of the foot going backwards and on the heel going forwards) and how to lace the skates properly (tight at toes and heel, loose in the middle).

[N!! 0]

I found a lot of things helpful in that book, but quickly lost interest. I've been thinking about getting the DVD, but a guy on my team has been promising to lend me another skating DVD.

The big things I took out of it were were to put your weight (on the ball of the foot going backwards and on the heel going forwards) and how to lace the skates properly (tight at toes and heel, loose in the middle).

Skate lacing is a HUGE concern for skaters of any level. Skating with the laces tight all the way up would be like watching sprinters trying to clomp around in a walking boot, yet I see it every day. Wasted energy, wasted motion, and too much pressure going where it shouldn't go.

[Konig von Kuhlem 0]

I found the book very useful in pointing out the fine points that the instructors at powerskating courses don't explain fully. However, I found the DVD shows everything too fast, but the book lets you fully understand how to skate.

[danielb 0]

I found the book very useful in pointing out the fine points that the instructors at powerskating courses don't explain fully. However, I found the DVD shows everything too fast, but the book lets you fully understand how to skate.

I must admit I've not found DvDs too helpful so far in learning skating or hockey technique (I also have the Team Canada skill drills DvDs), there is too much going on that isn't shown (e.g. centre of balence) or explained in video. As long winded as the text descriptions and photo series in the book are I don't think I could think of a quicker or shorter way to explain something as complex & stuble as a skating stride in any detail...

[pdchockey 0]

If you get the chance, go to one of their clinics. Same principles as the book but what a way to immediately reap dividends on the ice. Nice to see it done in real time.

[Hockeydog 8]

tight at toes and heel, loose in the middle)

I thought it was loose at the toes, tight in the middle and loose at the top.

I have the book and I thought she said the tightest area should be around the counter area of the boot with the laces at the top moderate for ankle flex.

I did like her book too, really can't go wrong with doing it her way.

She's one who teaches starting a tight turn with a C cut. Many people who instruct never tell you that.

[danielb 0]

I did like her book too, really can't go wrong with doing it her way.

She's one who teaches starting a tight turn with a C cut. Many people who instruct never tell you that.

Ooo, I've not got to the turning part of the book yet (still in crossover chapter) but tight turns is something I'm struggling with at the moment. Looking forward to getting to that part now :)

[TheBeatGoesOn 0]

How much did she pay you to write this review? jk

[Aussie Joe 0]

I used it when I first started as well..gives some good drills and tips

I also like the Complete Conditioning for Hockey by Twist as well. That one comes with a DVD

I have both and they are great books. PT's book is really full on I found, which for some beginners might be too much; but for most players its one of the better books to understanding performance on the rink.

[english15x 3]

dvd was helpful

[Aussie Joe 0]

Agreed, gave me lots of great ideas for coaching etc.

[3lapfancy 0]

Has anyone attended one of these clinics? I am thinking about signing up, I currently skate 5 times a week, but I want to improve every aspect of my game, just curious what the opinions are about these power skating clinics. Worth it? Will this make me a better faster skater?

Thanks!

Steve

[NuggyBuggy 0]

Has anyone attended one of these clinics?

I took one of her clinics in Burlington, ON a few years back. It was very well done - both the caliber of instructors and the instructor to student ratio was very high. By the end of the third day I was skating noticeably faster. I found my form could deteriorate quickly, however, without someone skating beside me and yelling about form every time I went down the rink. But it was well worth it and I would do it again in a minute if it fit in my schedule.

Unfortunately, I believe that Steve, the guy who ran the Laura Stamm operation from Burlington, has moved to the East Coast (Nova Scotia ? New Brunswick? ), so AFAIK there are no regularly scheduled Laura Stamm clinics in my area anymore. But they do travel around a bit.

[scorer75 9]

I own, have read, and would recommend the book.

I can't say I really "learned" much from the book but I really enjoy the mental aspect of learning about skating and hockey so I enjoyed reading it.

[danielb 0]

The power skating book really helped me a lot as I'm a self taught beginner so it made me realise just how bad my technique was and helped me correct allot of problems I had.

I've not tried the conditioning book, what is the general opinion on it, is it worth the $30?

[biff44 0]

I have sat in the bleachers watching many a Laura Stamm class going on. They are very good, in that they make sure everyone is using the correct technique.

But I never thought much about the book.

I think the best thing out there for self-instruction is the video put out by Huron Hockey School.

[jmiro 55]

you can get the book for a couple bucks used online. I got the dvd as well. I sold the dvd shortly after i got it. I didnt think it was worth it. The book was worth it (if you learn that way).

[Aussie Joe 0]

When I bought Peter Twist's book from Boarders, it was tagged as 54.95. But when she scanned it the price said 19.95, so thats what I paid. Stupid Boarders.

[zebra_steve 11]

Has anyone attended one of these clinics? I am thinking about signing up, I currently skate 5 times a week, but I want to improve every aspect of my game, just curious what the opinions are about these power skating clinics. Worth it? Will this make me a better faster skater?

Thanks!

Steve

It will absolutely make you a faster and more powerful skater as you will be MORE EFFICIENT, have better ballance, and a stronger stride. It's called power skating because it helps you to develop the technique that maximizes your effort. The thing is, if it's a one day cinic, you are on your own to go out and practice\perfect what you've been exposed to. Also, with a good one day clinic you will be HATING life the next day 'cuz your legs will be very sore from wouking muscles in ways you never have.

[kakos26 0]

I have had the book for a year now and it is really good and explains a lot of different techniques as well as drills, only problem is I learn better visually rather than just reading about it. I think it just depends on what kind of a learner you are!

[danielb 0]

I just ordered her DvD from amazon, looking forward to watching it.

[kakos26 0]

Yea Daniel let me know how it is, I am better with looking at videos. So any insight would really help!