dsjunior1388 81 Report post Posted April 7, 2009 I started playing hockey at 18, about 2 and a half years ago. I grew up skating two or three times a year, just running circles. Since regularly playing drop in for over 2 years, i have improved as a skater, but over the last 6 months or so I have plateaued and have not gotten better or more confident. I am pretty weak skating backwards, especially since switching to grafs with Cobras. I'd like to blame the skates but I know im just not a great skater, I can't even cross over skating backwards. Should I invest in some skating videos, or would it be a better value to take a skating class or some sort of camp. Keep in mind I am a college student with no future in hockey other than Drop in and Beer league, but am really looking to advance as a skater. Also If I were taking a class it would be this summer, when I would have a full time job with weekends free. Is it possible to find a class only on weekends or late weeknights? (I get home from work around 5:30-6 typically) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prenny207 1 Report post Posted April 7, 2009 Check with the Suburban Ice in East Lansing. I know this is a bit of a drive, but not horrible. They have pretty successful programs at their Metro Detroit rinks for Adults. You can go to general lessons, or even work privately with an instructor. They most likely run the same programs at E. Lansing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooah4 12 Report post Posted April 7, 2009 I would take the classes. You can only learn so much form a book/video. On the ice with an instructor they can give you pointers or correct your mistakes (dpending on class size). I struggled with backwarrds crossovers until I took a class with the local college coach. It was a simple explanation but I learned precisely what to do and when to do it. Of course strong quads/hammies are a must for outside edge control IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jarick 5 Report post Posted April 7, 2009 There should be some summer lessons in your area, I believe. Small groups are a good way to go, not nearly as expensive as private lessons, but you still get good instruction. That and practice should help a lot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsjunior1388 81 Report post Posted April 7, 2009 Check with the Suburban Ice in East Lansing. I know this is a bit of a drive, but not horrible. They have pretty successful programs at their Metro Detroit rinks for Adults. You can go to general lessons, or even work privately with an instructor. They most likely run the same programs at E. Lansing.East lansing would be perfect for me. I live in between Lansing and Ann Arbor, but go to school at CMU in Mt. Pleasant. I Will be working this summer in Detroit, so downriver classes would work well too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark#81 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2009 grafs (at least my old ones) have a hefty forward pitch, so that means less blade available off the front for backwards movement. get some K2 inlines and start dryland skating as much as you can. skate the same way you would on ice & then some. there are plenty of drills you can do. i thought i was a pretty hot skater but the skating GO down in club med blew me away. amazing what this kid could do on inlines. i tried his moves, my ankles are just too hooped.Go with a long radius blade for more platform/stability neutral pitch and not too deep on the hollow.K2 road skates are setup with a long radius/rocker & this makes them really stable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chk hrd 164 Report post Posted April 7, 2009 take lessons, watching a video is going to do nothing for you because you cannot tell if you are doing things right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krev 86 Report post Posted April 7, 2009 +1 for lessons. They go a very long way to your development. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkbyte 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2009 +1 for lessons. Books can help theory wise (there are some good tutorials on monkeysee, youtube etc), but unless your skating infront of a mirror you wont be able to see the things that your arent doing right (despite it feeling ok) e.g. hips and shoulders in the wrong spot, bending your ankles when gliding on one foot, not having your foot under your body when your gliding backwards/forwards on one foot.. etc, etc.Even inline skating would be beneficial. Grab yourself a cheap pair of inline hockey skates and see if you can find a rink that holds some skating lessons. It may give you some more options. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HattrickSwayze 3 Report post Posted April 8, 2009 Lessons will help you big time, because as other people noted, the instructor can watch you and point out exactly what you're doing wrong. Sometimes you can notice things you're doing wrong, but unless you watch yourself on video or something you can't find all the flaws in your skating. Maybe at one of your games, you can convince someone to video tape you for a little bit. It might be painful to watch (I know this all too well), but it's eye opening for sure. Check around at some of the local rinks and see if there are any instructors who do 1-on-1 lessons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkbyte 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2009 As an example of the above. I thought I had my one foot glide sussed as I can get from one end of the rink to the other and do a little slalom on the way. Then I saw the photo :( I still have quite a bit to work on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJT14 0 Report post Posted April 10, 2009 Suburban of Farmington Hills may also be a good option. I know they are doing adult power skating but dont know the times. I skated there a few summers ago and thought it was great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stefanmoscow 0 Report post Posted April 10, 2009 Late but anyway. For sure individual lessons. Camp is nice - but you really need to get rid of your own mistakes. If you did learn them for years you will not change in a week. All the theory stuff is entertaining and it makes you focusing on the right things. But it does not help you to make the things right Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
number21 3 Report post Posted April 10, 2009 Check with the Suburban Ice in East Lansing. I know this is a bit of a drive, but not horrible. They have pretty successful programs at their Metro Detroit rinks for Adults. You can go to general lessons, or even work privately with an instructor. They most likely run the same programs at E. Lansing.East lansing would be perfect for me. I live in between Lansing and Ann Arbor, but go to school at CMU in Mt. Pleasant. I Will be working this summer in Detroit, so downriver classes would work well too.Damn! I wish I would have been into playing hockey during my 5 years in E. Lansing and been able to do this. Or take the learn to play hockey kinesiology class for a credit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Croco 0 Report post Posted April 11, 2009 Check with the Suburban Ice in East Lansing. I know this is a bit of a drive, but not horrible. They have pretty successful programs at their Metro Detroit rinks for Adults. You can go to general lessons, or even work privately with an instructor. They most likely run the same programs at E. Lansing.East lansing would be perfect for me. I live in between Lansing and Ann Arbor, but go to school at CMU in Mt. Pleasant. I Will be working this summer in Detroit, so downriver classes would work well too.Damn! I wish I would have been into playing hockey during my 5 years in E. Lansing and been able to do this. Or take the learn to play hockey kinesiology class for a credit.Same here when I was still living in the WB (West Bloomfield)...only it was a money issue and not a desire issue. I'm sure I can find a good place here in the Milwaukee area as that's where I'm at now... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
