We all know how important it is to have strong outside edges while skating. For this article, I would like to make sure everyone really has an understanding and an awareness of an outside edge. We will use an outside edge in any skating maneuver in which we lean over to the outside part of our skate. It may be used for a power turn, crossover or even transition. It is, in my opinion, the toughest and most critical edge to execute.

You will notice in the above photo of an NHL skatersperforming a power turn with a glove touch. During a power turn, you are on both an inside and outside edge. You can see that on both skates, the skater's knees are bent with a good body angle towards that playing surface. One important thing to understand is that their knees are inline and over the skate. 

The reason the drill is designed to have the skater touch is that it will force the skater to drop his hips as well as lean over further on his edges. In a game, the skater will come up a little bit which makes it even easier as these skaters have trained to get in a lower position. Once this position becomes comfortable, everything else becomes easier because you are conditioned to skate in that position.  

It is important to remember that the skate should have an angle towards the ice but still be in a strong skating position. Also, don’t confuse bending at the waist with a body lean. We want to make sure the skater’s chest is up along with their shoulders.  

The skater must also not “rut” into the ice. This happens when a skater gets their weight too far back to their heels and really digs their skates into the ice. This action will slow the skater down or even force the skater to come to a stop. The skater should try to apply the least amount of friction into the ice to avoid slowing down. The skater will cut into the ice (you will be able to hear it), but digging into the ice will be counter-productive to a skater’s speed. The skater should be able to maintain their speed throughout a turn if done properly.  

Finally, a skater should continue with a strong knee-bend and a good body lean when on an outside edge. This will help create speed during a corner as well as give the skater a good stable base to be able to absorb any type of contact. 

Watching speed skating will give you an excellent visual of how a skater should look when cornering. Obviously, hockey players will have a stick in their hands and therefore be a little more upright, but training should always be done with as much knee bend and body lean as the skater can achieve. 

Like any skating skill, quality repetition is the key. Improving an outside edge will benefit almost every skating skill you can execute. Good luck.

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.