We are all really lucky to be able to participate in the wonderful sport of figure skating.  But the sport is changing and evolving so much, that in order to help improve on ice performance, the importance of Off Ice Training is increasingly critical.  If you haven’t already, you should start your off ice training along with your on ice training!  Make a schedule for your off ice training, just as you have your schedule for on ice skating.

Off ice training improves overall fitness levels to make skating skills that much easier to accomplish and master.  For example:

Cardio training – makes it easier to complete a run through of your solo, several rounds of a dance or all the exercises of a skills test.  Think about how tired and out of breath you are when you first run through your entire solo and how much you improve after repeated run throughs.  In addition to what you do on the ice, you can improve your cardio fitness by running, biking, walking, skipping, or any other exercise where you keep your heart rate up for a period of at least 20 minutes at a time, at least 3 times a week.  If skipping becomes part of your cardio training, it can also be an excellent way of getting your body warmed up on a test or competition day.

Flexibility – is important in all the field moves and spin positions that you work on in skating, such spirals, spread eagles, Ina Bauer’s, laybacks and Beilman’s.  Stretching regularly is not only good for muscle conditioning but improves flexibility.  Working with a Maxiflex is a great way to improve flexibility by holding stretched positions without the need for someone to help.  And just as a coach my help you develop the “feel” of a jump by assisting you in jumping harness, the Maxiflex helps you find the balance point for spins like a layback or spiral positions by supporting your body in that position before you add the thrill of movement!

Agility and Core Strength – go hand in hand with skating.  Improved core strength helps you jump higher making rotating a jump in the air easier.  It helps your agility as you fly across in the ice in your footwork sequence.  And agility and core strength help you hold a landing position that may be slightly less than perfect!  Balance pods are a great addition to training you get from ballet, Pilates and yoga classes that many clubs offer as part of their skater development programs.

“Spinners” are great for helping develop body awareness for not only spin positions but also any rotational aspect of skating, from footwork sequences to the position of a jump – especial take off positions for edge jumps.

Finally, one of the most important but most overlooked aspects of off ice training is mental preparation.  Synchro teams spend a lot of time practicing their routines to music off the ice.  It is important for single skaters to also take the time to know their program, where each move is to coordinate with the music, think about where to breath and how great you will feel as you complete each move “perfectly”!  The power of positive thinking should never be underestimated.  Remember, if you’re not doing those clean run throughs again and again in practice, your chances of doing them perfectly in test or competition are reduced.  Practice the perfect performance on and off the ice.

Skate Exchange Page –                          whether you have skates to sell or are looking for used skates, check out the Skate Exchange Page from the home page of our website at www.dresswright.com.  If you have skates to sell, send an email with all the details to info@dresswright.com and we will post it, at no charge, on the Skate Exchange Page

                                                                  Our skate sharpening hours are Monday – Friday 10:00 – 5:00 pm, and Saturdays from 10:00 – 3:00pm. For evenings, please call ahead to ensure someone will be available, or you can leave them overnight! We also mount blades!

And this year – we are introducing a         Skate Sharpening Card –  pay for 4 sharpening and your fifth is free!

Skating Equipment Check List:

• Good quality, well fitted skates, appropriate to height, weight and skill level of the skaters

• Helmet – for Canskaters

• Skate Bag – check out the new colours and designs on our website www.dresswright.com

• Skate Guards – Hard Guards to walk in

• Soft Covers – to absorb the moisture when storing the skates

• Clean cloth or chamois to dry the skates

• Skating Tights, Skating Skirt, Gloves – fashion and function!

Your Email address is your best way of being FIRST to know about upcoming events and specials!! So please ensure that we have your latest email address on file! We’ll make it worth your while by emailing a special coupon code that you can use for online or in store purchases at special times each month.

From the Hot Line - Hot Tips From the Fashion Police!

Leg warmers are HOT this fall, not only for street wear but also on the ice!  Team them with a funky new ruffle skirt or hologram box skirt for the latest in cool ice fashion.

Mondor have introduced a new “Evolution Performance Skating Tights”. They come as either footed tights or over the boot tights with new sturdy clip fasteners. The tights are a super soft microfiber that dries quickly to keep you warm and dry without the heaviness of cotton tights. Try them and see for your self!

Good Luck, Skate Hard - 'tll next time!

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