Crossover styles

[Katzenjammer 1]

.

Many years ago my power hockey instructor (Stamm-derived style), told me not to push much with my inside leg. He said it would cause balance problems. Basically, this was the figure stating, smooth style, which I never really got or understood or followed - and so, from watching the better players/pros, I proceeded to develop a hoppy, snappy style that resembles Skinner's style - which also includes a pronounced push on the inside leg.

Watching Skinner again, though, I still feel there's something missing in his crossovers. His blades are fairly flat on the ice. I use a very strong toe snap in my forward stride, and over the years I've gradually incorporated that into my crossovers. Does anyone else do that? Is there any reason not to taht you can think of?

Just looking for what other peeps have been taught and what they do regarding refining their crossovers generally. Or what they observe in the best skaters.

.

[ktang 34]

When I "hop" my crossovers I go from the heels to the toes on both skates.

[Katzenjammer 1]

When I "hop" my crossovers I go from the heels to the toes on both skates.

Yes, that's what I do.

Another thing I learned very early on was not to drop your shoulder - what's the reason for this? Again with this too, I'm pretty sure I see many pros and very good skaters doing exactly that.

[Caz 0]

The way I teach Crossovers is this;

• Stick perpendicular to where you are going
  
• Core tight
  
• Shoulders parallel with the ice
  
• Keep knees bent oh-so-slightly more than you usually would
  

Stride;

• I like to call it "Skateboard", but push off with the outside skate first using 75% of your inside edge, just as you would if skating in a straight line.
  
• Then after you fully extend that leg, physically lift it over your other stake, your bottom half should then angle 45% away from your stick.
  
• Last, your other skate should get a 6-12 inch push as your first skate is moving over the it.
  

I teach all 3 movements seperate from each other, then I bring them all together.

[Katzenjammer 1]

The way I teach Crossovers is this;

• Stick perpendicular to where you are going
  
• Core tight
  
• Shoulders parallel with the ice
  
• Keep knees bent oh-so-slightly more than you usually would
  

Stride;

• I like to call it "Skateboard", but push off with the outside skate first using 75% of your inside edge, just as you would if skating in a straight line.
  
• Then after you fully extend that leg, physically lift it over your other stake, your bottom half should then angle 45% away from your stick.
  
• Last, your other skate should get a 6-12 inch push as your first skate is moving over the it.
  

I teach all 3 movements seperate from each other, then I bring them all together.

Yes, that's generally the way it's taught to kids; perhaps, to some extent, one has to start with the figure-style step over, and it's a good start.

On the shoulder issue - I never quite understood why instructors insist on this with their kids.

[Caz 0]

Yes, that's generally the way it's taught to kids; perhaps, to some extent, one has to start with the figure-style step over, and it's a good start.

On the shoulder issue - I never quite understood why instructors insist on this with their kids.

Its because once you drop your shoulder, unless you are REALLY experienced, your COG will be lop-sided, and your balance shifts away from your center, and more on the side where you are, technically falling, and picking yourself up every time you take another stride.

[Katzenjammer 1]

Its because once you drop your shoulder, unless you are REALLY experienced, your COG will be lop-sided, and your balance shifts away from your center, and more on the side where you are, technically falling, and picking yourself up every time you take another stride.

I see - that makes sense. In a way, the hopping style (technically you are falling, that is correct - rather like the acceleration phase! but that's my next thread!) evolves naturally with a falling shoulder. I've seen adults try to do crossovers dynamically (not smooth stepping, figure style) while still keeping shoulders parallel to ice and it looks liked they learned it a long time ago and are still trying to force it.

[Katzenjammer 1]

.

btw, of course we're talking about forward crossovers - backward crossovers are an entirely different animal; with backwards, unless you're doing just a few steps, it's much more like the smooth figure skating, shoulders parallel to ice, etc.

.

[jds 20]

Skinner was an accomplished figure skater when he was younger. That may explain his skating style somewhat.

[Katzenjammer 1]

Skinner was an accomplished figure skater when he was younger. That may explain his skating style somewhat.

Wow, I didn't know that.

[ktang 34]

Skinner was an accomplished figure skater when he was younger. That may explain his skating style somewhat.

Jeff Skinner? or Sean Skinner?

[jds 20]

Jeff Skinner? or Sean Skinner?

Jeff Skinner. Isn't that the Skinner mentioned in the first post?

[Caz 0]

btw, of course we're talking about forward crossovers - backward crossovers are an entirely different animal; with backwards, unless you're doing just a few steps, it's much more like the smooth figure skating, shoulders parallel to ice, etc.

Exactly. Backwards, is precisely like you said....a totally different animal.

Jeff Skinner. Isn't that the Skinner mentioned in the first post?

Pretty sure they are talking about Sean Skinner I could be wrong, but most people know Sean more than Jeff.

[Katzenjammer 1]

Yeah, I meant Sean. Thus the "wow!"