Thread: Skating backwards

Can anyone recommend anything specific I can do at the gym (as opposed to on the ice) to improve my backwards skating?

Practice on the ice, not the gym.

Not really man. I have played for 15 years and it's one of the hardest things for people to learn. Practice makes perfect. The gym is not gonna help much unless you lack leg strength and then its the obvious squats and leg press.

Originally Posted by fansince67

Practice on the ice, not the gym.

Not entirely true...some people can have issues pertaining to stamina, leg strength, etc. That can certainly be helped by gymtime.


DH, What are you trying to improve? Speed? Or can you not skate backwards, period? If speed is the problem, try transitioning forwards to backwards. Slow to make your transition, then as you do - speed up and churn your legs. Be sure to make sure to skate with your weight forward (almost as if you were skiing) and drive those edges into the ice. If you can't skate backwards, describe your problem and I'll try to give some advice but you need to be specific. Certain people can either have a problem with balance (forgetting to lean forward), or they forget to bend their legs properly, etc.

A really good technique I learned is in skating a few mph and then transition backwards to the point where you're going kind of slow... then, start cutting C's. One leg. Then the other. So bring one leg out, make a C (USING YOUR EDGE), bring it back in under you. Then the other leg. That'll make a reversed C. After a few, your speed should increase. Practice that to death and you should start maintaining speed in no time.

Try hockeyshot.com. They offer good visuals and cues to adopt in your skating and shooting.

I don't mean to discourage the thread originator, but in my experience, there is no substitute for one-on-one coaching. Gotta (a) hire a figure skating coach at public skates, or (b) hire a hockey coach at sticktime, or (c) go to one of the following camps:

http://sonyaskatingschool.com/
http://www.audreybakewell.com/
http://www.dynamicskating.com/
http://www.edgeofexcellence.com/
http://www.elitepowerskating.com/
http://www.garryhebert.com/
http://www.hockeyskating.com/
http://www.icehockeyskating.com/
http://www.laurastamm.com/
http://www.overspeed.info/
http://www.powerskating.ca/
http://www.robbyglantz.com/
http://www.ultimateedgepower.com/

Yeah the whole C cut thing works but thats the very beginning basics. Are you trying to learn how to skate backward with speed? If you are then crossing over skating backwards will really help pick up speed quickly.

simplest advice, keep your knees bent. nothing will send you toppling faster than standing up straight.

Originally Posted by fansince67

Practice on the ice, not the gym.

Here's the deal - I don't get all that much ice time, and what time I get is divided up among all the skills. I'm just noticing that the muscles I use skating backwards are not ones I use in everyday life. I thought maybe there were some specific things I could do when I'm not on the ice to help speed up that development.

Originally Posted by DanteHicks

Here's the deal - I don't get all that much ice time, and what time I get is divided up among all the skills. I'm just noticing that the muscles I use skating backwards are not ones I use in everyday life. I thought maybe there were some specific things I could do when I'm not on the ice to help speed up that development.

Bottom line is that you need to get yourself more ice time. The more you skate, the better and faster you get and the faster your muscles develop. Honestly, I don't recall doing anything special with my legs, ie. exercises, to help speed up the development. It just happens the more you play.

You're like a fat person that's trying to find a short-cut to lose weight. You just don't diet and take those diet pills. You get your ass to the gym 4 or 5 times a week. In this case, to the ice rink 4 or 5 times a week. DO IT, MAN!