Skate - Outside Edge

An instructor, Mile Van Erp had been holding some speed skating drill sessions over the winter. It wasn't so much a lesson but he got us doing strange exercises that focuses on specific areas of your technique.

For me I had no interest in speed skating but it was an evening during the week where I got to do some skating/exercise with my friends.

The drills were pretty weird, the drill names were weirder. Lemons, Awoogas, etc. Mike said we should all be aiming to land on our outside edge, this concept sounded frightening.
        It wasn't until one evening I watched a slow motion video of a speed skater that the pieces started coming together and I began to understand what we're aiming towards.

Being able to already do lots of slalom tricks I decided that I should be capable of doing this outside edging technique. Difference is that slalom tricks are generally done at a slow pace when compared to speed skating, that's what made the idea a little scary.


With this edging technique I've tried a couple of times but lacked the confidence to go for it. Today at Victoria Park was the first time I got a nice outside edge with both feet. Today it really clicked and my skating style has changed since. It's far from perfect but I can already notice being more efficient on the longer stretches.