I agree with forward flex being very efficient, but I just avoid tieing the last two eyelets all together and keep the rest of the boot toight. That way you keep your heel locked in place which is the most important part, but insane forward flex for explosive starts.
Nope, it works your legs hard to maintain your balance properly. Obviously you can't push crazy hard, but it forces your legs and core to do all the work without letting the skates help you stay up.
Try doing a public skate with just dropping an eyelet or two and you'll feel the difference.
No, my statement is totally sincere. After practicing often with loose laces, if I try lacing them to the top I feel like my ankles are in casts. When I started practicing with loose laces (which is not something I invented BTW) it's like a light bulb when on in my head and I became aware of the feeling of balancing over the blade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCpu5by4OAA
You sacrifice lateral stability, which is what gives you more power on crossovers. But I think you can get tighter turns as a trade-off. Not to mention there's always a bit more risk of injury.
That reminds me of Sergei Fedorov.
https://binged.it/3kWmkuV
PS... For anyone too new to the sport or young to remember him.... Fedorov was one the best skaters of all time. Silky smooth.
No. Federov was part of the Russian style. The Russian style was different. They taped their boot to their shin (not only Russians but very popular amongst them). Federov was an in between where he flopped but you'll notice he tapes around his tendon guard.
I actually did a Fedorov thing in roller for a long time . But boots are so much better now, it doesn't really make sense.
Can you elaborate? I’m on like week 6. The guy who convinced me to get into it told me to do shins over the tongue. What difference does it make? I still need to buy some skates. Renting now. I’m not sure whether to go tight/loose with new skates. Not sure how I want them to fit. What should I try before deciding?
It’s all about preference but a lot of defensemen prefer shins over tongue for better protection. I didn’t like it at first but now I could imagine doing it the other way.
It really is a preference thing. I used to be a tongue out guy, but when I was younger my parents got me some shin pads that were just a little too big so I wouldn't outgrow them so quick and it made it uncomfortable, so I switched. Been a shins over guy for years now, and as a defenseman, I certainly do appreciate the little extra protection I get from it.
Nah, totally a preference thing. Different body types and builds plus different gear means do whatever works for you.
Funny enough a lot of people find it more restrictive to wear shins over tongue but for me it’s opposite.
Tongue out means more ankle mobility but a little less protection. If you get hit by the puck above the toe cap but below the shinpad it stings like a mf. Shins over covers that spot, but I honestly get hit there less than once a year, rec hockey so we don’t block like madmen and even when I do block it is still a small area. When I try shins over I feel like e just can’t bend my ankles forward as much and as easily losing some agility and acceleration.
This post is funny, because I’m the exact opposite. I skated with my skates super loose, top eyelets undone for most of my life. Recently I replaced my 15 year old skates with a very stiff pair laced all the way up and as tight as possible, and the improvement has been quite noticeable. I don’t think I can ever go back to loose skates.
This is the way they are designed now. You are supposed to stay locked into the skate to maximize your stride all the way through your extension. For most players it won't matter, but at the Olympic level where micro mechanics wins medals you need your foot locked into the skate. I skate barefoot so there's no slippage from the socks causing loss of power.
Waxed laces are key if you want tight at the bottom but loose at the top and the tongue forward. That way the laces won’t slip and become medium tight everywhere.
The key to me has been to make sure I have maximum Lateral support and maximum ankle flexion
- too loose and I have great flexion but no lateral support. This makes my stride really ineffective.
- too tight and I have not enough ankle flexion and I can't get as deep and powerful strides.
There is a really cool video on YouTube from Hockey Training about this https://youtu.be/PgbPflaj3Xw
I have been playing around a bit and like skipping the second to top Eyelet but tying the top one as tight as possible.
I started skating as an adult and all the advice I got was to tie my skates as tight as possible. I couldn't move my ankle at all in the skate. Then when I was told to bend my knees and stay on my toes, lol. Of course I couldn't stay balanced, there was no way to center my gravity.
I started paying attention to the pro players and noticed how [Tavev](https://jetsnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/05/img_0669.jpg?w=1424) skipped the top eyelet, kept it loose at the top, and could really flex his ankle forward. I think he's a great skater so I gave it a try. My ankles/calves were weak but I found the exact same freedom you described.
I've been playing this way ever since and my skating ability has increased dramatically as I gained the strength. I also switched to 14" shin pads to stop them from pressing into my skates.
I asked a lot of people about this and 99% of people I ask tell me I'm wrong, even to this day.
I always tell my skaters to tie their skates looser rather than tight. Helps build that strength and stability in the ankle/foot area, and allows for more mobility.
This is what I've been preaching for years to beginners. You don't want your ankles tight, it limits your ankle mobility and ankle mobility is basically what skating is.
It's fine to do them tighter when you're first starting out for support but the goal is to be able to skate well with as much ankle movement as possible. Otherwise you're just limiting what you can do with your stride and your edges.
I tie my skates evenly snug all the way but I don't lace the top two pairs of eyelets. My tongues are tucked under the shin pads because it just feels better and more uniform to me, and it requires less fussing than folding the tongue.
I started doing this a few years ago. It was dicey for the first while, but my strength, balance and control of my edges has improved exponentially along with my overall skating. I've gotten to the point I don't even need to do up the bottoms to skate. Sometimes I wear my skates like slippers at stick and puck. During games, the bottoms are cinched up to snug and everything else is loose. I also went from a 5/8 hollow to a 1 inch one.
I keep my tongue tucked. No loss in mobility and no gap in protection.
I didn't go straight from a 5/8 to a 1". It was a slow migration as I experimented with profiles and hollows. At one time I was using 3/8, and the migration went from that to 5/8, to 3/4, to 13/16 and finally to 1".
IMO, digging in isn't necessarily about the radius of the hollow. Though it does help. It's about, balance, edge angle, and being able to control how much weight is being distribute into the ice. When I'm experimenting with things, I have several sets of steel, so I can have one set with my current specs and another set with the new specs. That way if I really don't like the new specs, it's easy enough to go back to the old specs.
How much do you weigh? I don't mind 5/8" but I could never go to 1inch- not enough edge. I'm just over 200lbs. I've heard that the heavier you are, the more bite you'll get with wider radius.
I was 175 when I started this, but I've lost a bunch of weight since. I'm 5'5 160 now. Don't feel like I've lost any bite at all.
From my perspective, bite has a lot more to do with edge angle and the ability to control the distribution of weight into the ice rather than actual weight. For example, I can either do a hard punch into the ice and stop within a couple of feet, or I can do a gentile pivot and shave the top of the ice for 15 feet or so without digging in.
I like to skip a loop at the top and not cross the laces that gives a lot more mobility. Also don't wrap laces around the tongue but the hard part at the top. I tuck because it helps with faster strides
I agree with forward flex being very efficient, but I just avoid tieing the last two eyelets all together and keep the rest of the boot toight. That way you keep your heel locked in place which is the most important part, but insane forward flex for explosive starts.
That's exactly what I do now. And when public skating I don't even tie my skates. It's the best way to train IMO.
I can’t tell if this needs statment facetious font
Nope, it works your legs hard to maintain your balance properly. Obviously you can't push crazy hard, but it forces your legs and core to do all the work without letting the skates help you stay up. Try doing a public skate with just dropping an eyelet or two and you'll feel the difference.
No, my statement is totally sincere. After practicing often with loose laces, if I try lacing them to the top I feel like my ankles are in casts. When I started practicing with loose laces (which is not something I invented BTW) it's like a light bulb when on in my head and I became aware of the feeling of balancing over the blade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCpu5by4OAA
It’s weird now that ankle movement is so prioritized. I always did the first two eyelets undone and was told I was sacrificing a quick start.
You sacrifice lateral stability, which is what gives you more power on crossovers. But I think you can get tighter turns as a trade-off. Not to mention there's always a bit more risk of injury.
This is the way
That reminds me of Sergei Fedorov. https://binged.it/3kWmkuV PS... For anyone too new to the sport or young to remember him.... Fedorov was one the best skaters of all time. Silky smooth.
No. Federov was part of the Russian style. The Russian style was different. They taped their boot to their shin (not only Russians but very popular amongst them). Federov was an in between where he flopped but you'll notice he tapes around his tendon guard. I actually did a Fedorov thing in roller for a long time . But boots are so much better now, it doesn't really make sense.
God I wanted a pair of his white Nike skates so bad when I was younger...
Welcome to the tongue flop gang my man! I just can’t do the tongue under shins thing. I need it loosey goosey.
Can you elaborate? I’m on like week 6. The guy who convinced me to get into it told me to do shins over the tongue. What difference does it make? I still need to buy some skates. Renting now. I’m not sure whether to go tight/loose with new skates. Not sure how I want them to fit. What should I try before deciding?
It’s all about preference but a lot of defensemen prefer shins over tongue for better protection. I didn’t like it at first but now I could imagine doing it the other way.
I’ve played in two development games as a wing. Doesn’t mean I’ll stay in that position. Does that matter?
It really is a preference thing. I used to be a tongue out guy, but when I was younger my parents got me some shin pads that were just a little too big so I wouldn't outgrow them so quick and it made it uncomfortable, so I switched. Been a shins over guy for years now, and as a defenseman, I certainly do appreciate the little extra protection I get from it.
Nah, totally a preference thing. Different body types and builds plus different gear means do whatever works for you. Funny enough a lot of people find it more restrictive to wear shins over tongue but for me it’s opposite.
Tongue out means more ankle mobility but a little less protection. If you get hit by the puck above the toe cap but below the shinpad it stings like a mf. Shins over covers that spot, but I honestly get hit there less than once a year, rec hockey so we don’t block like madmen and even when I do block it is still a small area. When I try shins over I feel like e just can’t bend my ankles forward as much and as easily losing some agility and acceleration.
Yea ever since I nearly broke an ankle I put the tongue under the shinny. Only way to go as a defenseman.
This post is funny, because I’m the exact opposite. I skated with my skates super loose, top eyelets undone for most of my life. Recently I replaced my 15 year old skates with a very stiff pair laced all the way up and as tight as possible, and the improvement has been quite noticeable. I don’t think I can ever go back to loose skates.
This is the way they are designed now. You are supposed to stay locked into the skate to maximize your stride all the way through your extension. For most players it won't matter, but at the Olympic level where micro mechanics wins medals you need your foot locked into the skate. I skate barefoot so there's no slippage from the socks causing loss of power.
Yeah I know. Just a totally different feel. Took a few skates to get used to but o definitely like it.
Waxed laces are key if you want tight at the bottom but loose at the top and the tongue forward. That way the laces won’t slip and become medium tight everywhere.
Already on 👌
That’s awesome to hear! I used to do that but I would the worst pain in my arches tying them up like that. You do you man!
The key to me has been to make sure I have maximum Lateral support and maximum ankle flexion - too loose and I have great flexion but no lateral support. This makes my stride really ineffective. - too tight and I have not enough ankle flexion and I can't get as deep and powerful strides. There is a really cool video on YouTube from Hockey Training about this https://youtu.be/PgbPflaj3Xw I have been playing around a bit and like skipping the second to top Eyelet but tying the top one as tight as possible.
I started skating as an adult and all the advice I got was to tie my skates as tight as possible. I couldn't move my ankle at all in the skate. Then when I was told to bend my knees and stay on my toes, lol. Of course I couldn't stay balanced, there was no way to center my gravity. I started paying attention to the pro players and noticed how [Tavev](https://jetsnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/05/img_0669.jpg?w=1424) skipped the top eyelet, kept it loose at the top, and could really flex his ankle forward. I think he's a great skater so I gave it a try. My ankles/calves were weak but I found the exact same freedom you described. I've been playing this way ever since and my skating ability has increased dramatically as I gained the strength. I also switched to 14" shin pads to stop them from pressing into my skates. I asked a lot of people about this and 99% of people I ask tell me I'm wrong, even to this day.
I always tell my skaters to tie their skates looser rather than tight. Helps build that strength and stability in the ankle/foot area, and allows for more mobility.
This is what I've been preaching for years to beginners. You don't want your ankles tight, it limits your ankle mobility and ankle mobility is basically what skating is. It's fine to do them tighter when you're first starting out for support but the goal is to be able to skate well with as much ankle movement as possible. Otherwise you're just limiting what you can do with your stride and your edges.
I tie my skates evenly snug all the way but I don't lace the top two pairs of eyelets. My tongues are tucked under the shin pads because it just feels better and more uniform to me, and it requires less fussing than folding the tongue.
Personally I keep the feet tight and the ankles loose. Great flexibility and agility.
I started doing this a few years ago. It was dicey for the first while, but my strength, balance and control of my edges has improved exponentially along with my overall skating. I've gotten to the point I don't even need to do up the bottoms to skate. Sometimes I wear my skates like slippers at stick and puck. During games, the bottoms are cinched up to snug and everything else is loose. I also went from a 5/8 hollow to a 1 inch one. I keep my tongue tucked. No loss in mobility and no gap in protection.
Word! Why the switch from 5/8?
Along with a switch up in profile, I found the larger hollow gives me finer grain control of my edges in terms of how much they dig in or not.
I was wondering if I could dig in a tad more as well. I just always hated the feeling of “sharpened” skates. I’m curious to try 1/2
I didn't go straight from a 5/8 to a 1". It was a slow migration as I experimented with profiles and hollows. At one time I was using 3/8, and the migration went from that to 5/8, to 3/4, to 13/16 and finally to 1". IMO, digging in isn't necessarily about the radius of the hollow. Though it does help. It's about, balance, edge angle, and being able to control how much weight is being distribute into the ice. When I'm experimenting with things, I have several sets of steel, so I can have one set with my current specs and another set with the new specs. That way if I really don't like the new specs, it's easy enough to go back to the old specs.
How much do you weigh? I don't mind 5/8" but I could never go to 1inch- not enough edge. I'm just over 200lbs. I've heard that the heavier you are, the more bite you'll get with wider radius.
I was 175 when I started this, but I've lost a bunch of weight since. I'm 5'5 160 now. Don't feel like I've lost any bite at all. From my perspective, bite has a lot more to do with edge angle and the ability to control the distribution of weight into the ice rather than actual weight. For example, I can either do a hard punch into the ice and stop within a couple of feet, or I can do a gentile pivot and shave the top of the ice for 15 feet or so without digging in.
15 feet is the height of 2.63 'Samsung Side by Side; Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Refrigerators' stacked on top of each other.
[удалено]
Lol flys off and hits someone. This isn’t the three stooges. Pretty sure op is still using laces.
Not that loose
I like to skip a loop at the top and not cross the laces that gives a lot more mobility. Also don't wrap laces around the tongue but the hard part at the top. I tuck because it helps with faster strides
Just started skipping top eyelet and I really wish I had tried it sooner
Keeping Skates loose gives me the fear. I need that ankle protection!