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The load, the push, the extension

02/19/2019, 9:30am CST
By Andy Ness

Understanding of the three main elements that go into a skating stride.


The load

I have come across some great photos of young NHL skaters while we were working on their stride during a summer session. While looking at the pictures, it should give you a better understanding of the three main elements that go into a stride: the load, the push and the extension. Although there is more that goes into a stride than that, I would like to revisit these three main components.  

The loading phase comes from loading all of your power with a bent knee on one leg. Similar to a one-legged squat jump or using a Russian box, power must be stored on the leg that is ready to push. The more power loaded, the more power that will be transferred to the push.  

In the first photo of Anders Lee, notice how all of his power is loaded onto one leg. His power is ready to provide downward force into the ice. The key is to make sure your legs/skates are underneath you so you can generate power.

After loading, the skater will then grip and push on an edge outwards, remembering that downward force creates speed. This means that the more the skater pushes against the ice, the more powerful the stride will be.  

Notice how in the second photo how Ryan McDonagh’s push goes out to the side, forcing the body to travel forward. This is sometimes commonly misunderstood because it looks like the skate is being pushed back, but it is actually being pushed out. The skate will naturally go back on its own right before the return. 

Another common mistake on the push is not fully extending the leg all the way out. Some skaters cheat themselves out of being more efficient by picking the skate up too soon or getting a high leg-kick.  

The last component is the extension. Keeping your skate on the ice throughout the entire push will help make sure you get to full extension. In the third photo, notice how the skater is not cheating himself by cutting his extension short. The extension is key and is much like a followthrough on a golf swing or a followthrough when throwing a ball. It is the key to finishing this skill and finishing your stride. 

The technique can be improved on the ice, but the power and strength of each push can definitely be strengthened off ice. Plyos and strength training are great ways to improve power which in turn will help in having a more explosive, complete stride. Good luck and keep working.

 

Andy Ness is the head skating and skill coach for the Minnesota Wild. He has also been an assistant skating instructor for the New Jersey Devils, the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey teams and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team.


The push


The extension

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Tag(s): State Of Hockey  News  Andy Ness