"Rock Those Edges"

Although DA is one of the fastest skaters in our club, he is not necessarily one who is quick to offer unsolicited advices. We carpooled to Detroit a couple of weekends ago. During those many hours of driving, we had a chance to chat about many things, skating or non-skating related. When describing his warm up before the race, he used a phrase that I really like..."rock those edges". I was skating behind him during warm up so I have a complete picture of exactly what he meant by that phrase. In every stride, there was a very clear distinctive outside edge setdown, a powerful underpush, followed by a smooth rolling over to the inside edge to complete the push. Someday, I will be able to have such good control of the edges too. On my road to achieve this, "rock those edges" will be my mantra.

DA did give me some advices and what he told me was completely unexpected. I would imagine with so many flaws to pick apart about my skating technique, he would probably say something along the lines of pronation, incomplete recovery, two-footing, not fully extending my pushing leg, etc...basically feedback that I've heard from many different skaters over the last couple of years. Instead, he told me that I already know how to skate (I do?). What I need to do is to skate without thinking through every little movement along the way. Just skate in a flowing and fluid manner. The day when I am able to skate with flow will be the day I throw my Robogirl moniker out the window.

Comments

[Aaron Richard]

Yo, the phrase is mine.

patent pending...

ara

[Candy]

Well, then you should have said it sooner so I didn't mistake it for Dean's. :D