How to Skate Fast: What Really Matters!

[@BobSacamano226]

As an older adult player, having heard so much advice over the years, I find you have a great “Keep it simple” teaching style. Great lesson, thank you.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You’re most welcome! Yeah I try to explain everything so that pros but also beginners can understand. I think if you can only explain things in a way that an expert can understand then you are not a good coach.

[@occultustactical6138]

In 2007 I had an opportunity to skate with some of the Stanley Cup winning NY Rangers. Mark Messier, Adam Graves, and even Glenn Anderson who was a known speedster. Just for context I’m more of a beer league guy who played some competitive hockey while I was at NATO in Germany when I got to play with the local Canadian team. It was an absolute blast playing with the Canadian guys. Getting back to playing with the Rangers I spent four days on the ice, one day at MSG. What amazed me was how little movement it took for them to get going, high speed. Mess would literally glide up the ice and pass people who were actively skating. He never really had to do much. The skating and the overall talent was so far beyond my beer league comprehension. It was amazing. Glenn, like the others, had been retired for a few years at that point but could absolutely fly up the ice like he had rockets on his skates. I can’t imagine what Conner McDavid must be like…. Anyway thanks for the video. Very helpful.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

you're welcome! Yes once they get going the best players can keep their speed very easily. Also, having a flatter hollow with the skate sharpening helps as well.

[@jeffholt3841]

Keep your blade in the ice as much as possible. You don't need to pick up your feet much when you skate. Transitioning, turning, crossovers, keep the blade down, work on being fluid. Fluidity is very important and saves energy and keeps speed up.

[@mkslave9108]

As an ex pro too and former youth coach, this video is priceless. Very good, worthy and reasonable observations.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks so much!

[@hunterrobinson6635]

Dude your videos are so ridiculously helpful for someone who’s trying to learn how to play hockey on a budget and can’t afford lessons. Thanks so much, and seeing your videos and hockey’s popularity in Germany has me very excited to study abroad there! Danke von Amerika!

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Hey, that’s a lot, you’re most welcome! Hockey is getting more popular in Germany, but soccer is still by far number 1, and always will be over here 🤷‍♂️

[@humancentered3447]

skating fast is like 3rd on priority because its SO rare that you're going any long distance in one go. skating QUICK is the most important dimension to the average player since change of speed both gets you time, space and should be used as a deception tactic and you work in very SMALL sections of the ice during any given play/series.

[@H4WK09]

my brother the word you are looking for is acceleration

[@fliptactics2524]

Dude, this is INCREDIBLE. The fact that you put this out there for free is awesome! So much great knowledge!!!! If I were to get a coach, you DEFINITELY would be the one I choose! Respect!

[@joseph-fernando-piano]

As someone who started skating and playing hockey as an adult in my late 20s, the hardest thing for me has always been remembering to keep my legs bent and to "sit down" into my skating stance, which is especially counterintuitive coming from a running/sprinting background... even after 7 or 8 years and having gotten much better at hockey, I can still tell from videos of myself skating that my form is not quite natural compared to someone who grew up skating and playing hockey...

[@clancypants]

This comment speaks to me on a very deep level 😂 it's the one thing in my game I just can't seem to get right

[@blindguardian1979]

as a former high level speed skater, but also a coach to my sons hockey, there are a lot of really good points being brought up. Obviously a different sport with different skates, a lot of the technique are very transferable. I think the key techniques speed skaters use like knee bend, direction of push, etc.. are the same. Weight transfer of the hips is never really brought up in hockey skating but can see why as probably only utilized in straight skating and barely used in games...it would also lengthens the stride more so which would negatively affect agility. Although players have their preference on what works for them, but I would say there are techniques that are more efficient, such as pushing to the side. I'd also say a lower upper body is faster as at the speeds you go, air resistance is real...of course in games, you want to see the puck so not ideal there but for pure fast skating, all else being equal, a lower upper body would equate to being faster.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Very good points. Weight transfer of the hips is actually being brought up more and more, at least over here in Germany (they call it "Line of Power" here), but it's still not a very big topic. And yeah, the lower you can go, the less resistance, but it's just so hard to carry the puck that way, so I try to get my players to get as low as possible without having their head drop. I'm also used to push out to the side and find it better, but I was surprised how fast Larkin can skate while pushing more to the back (even though of course he took a running start in the lap which affected his time positively).

[@blindguardian1979]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool totally agree that the fastest way to skate, isn't necessarily the best to play hockey. Being really low does prevent one from seeing the full ice which you need in a game. As for Larkin, sure he pushes a bit more back (would be nice to see the head-on view as well), but his knee angle at 12:25 is almost perfect which maximizes his push. I'm sure he could go even faster with a push to the side, but there are so many more things to work on in hockey that minimal improvements to top end speed wouldn't be worth it for him. I haven't seen any weight transfer in hockey videos but would be curious to see it. In speed skating, the premise is to use your center of gravity (hips) to work with your push to be more efficient. Essentially, if you're pushing with your left leg, your hips are "falling" to the right at the same time so your body is helping your legs do the work rather than if your center of gravity is in the middle, it's only your legs/quads working. Like other things i mentioned, this in theory makes you faster/efficient but in reality, hockey is short bursts of speed, not constant speed like a skating race so would it actually be helpful? not sure Either way, really like your videos and definitely use some of your drills when helping out our team with skating

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@blindguardian1979 glad you like the vids and thanks for the ideas and feedback!

[@BenBreeg1138]

I remember that outside edge to inside edge roll they used to teach on the recovery leg. Definitely gives that “long smooth” stride appearance but then guys like Crosby and others came along and planted the recovery foot right under their hip and instantly were using that leg to stride.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Yes, but I think that you can still be very fast with a long stride. I’m glad though that the shorter stride is also more accepted now because it used to be totally frowned upon.

[@BenBreeg1138]

Agree. I think the portion of the stride in both that is actually pushing is probably the same or similar. The old way had that landing on the outside edge roll to the inside edge that wasn’t actually doing anything. So the actual length of time you are pushing in both may not be as drastic a difference as it looks, but the modern way may be more efficient. Would love to see more testing on these mechanics (because I am a nerd :) ).

[@BobbyReifenberger]

I just wanted to say great job and awesome videos. My daughter and I just started playing this year and we absolutely love your videos. Keep up the great work!

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks so much! I’ll do my best!

[@RandyOney-w5f]

Decent job explaining. I took power skating lessons and they told me I don't need lessons. It's like walking it just came au natural

[@BMack37]

I've done well in the past by telling them to bend their knees enough that they can't see their toecaps in full gear. It gets them in the ball park of a deep knee bend. To jump you bend your knees deep before you extend for your jump; its the same thing, you're using the most out of your leg muscles by getting low and extending. You're also a lot more stable which is just as important, if not moreso. I also learned from the same school as you, pushing out is like pinching a marble, except the force is going outward, it naturally pushes you forward. Toe down first, so you "Skate downhill" with an emphasis on the toe flick follow through. Hands in tight, bent elbows but allowing the body to twist as if you were swinging your arms. Worked for me, I learned the arm thing from Smarthockey's Lecavalier training CD haha Great video, wonderfully done.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks! Knees over the toecaps is a good idea because it’s simple to follow👍

[@Compos-Mentis-123]

I skate since 40+years and this tutorial pretty much sums it up. The two most important messages regarding powerskating (and I teached numerous casual skaters): There are no two identical skaters, everyone has his own style and "GET LOW" hahaha (which gives you a low center of gravity as a bonus, which is always good in skating) ! Long stride/short stride...you'll be 100% faster on the first meters with short strides...but only, when you're young. Forget about the short strides the older you are, they won't be fast enough. Sadly the teacher here missed out on one important point and the disadvantage of the long stride: Beware of the "death zone". It sometime happens, that you push you're leg too far and disrupt your run. You then have to pull it back into position, which costs you speed and more important rhythm. Of course it's a mistake, but it happens, especially, if you really want to push your speed to the limit.

[@tkoze]

I would agree on the nuance of different body types. Eichel is touted as a fast skater and he's a very upright skater. Different styles for different bodies. I think of it like there's being fast, and there's being quick. They're not the same thing, and you can be one or the other, or both. Being quick has to do with having a good start, so I tell the kids an analogy of using different gears on a bike, or if they can relate, not starting my car in 6th gear or dropping to 1st on the highway. Quick feet to get going, longer strides for power and efficiency. Hockey is like rock paper scissors, something can beat something, and something can be beat by something. So know everything and pick and choose the right tool for the right situation. Great video, cheers

[@KevinDoole]

the long stride short stride thingy is SUCH a good observation. With long strides, if you time it perfectly, you can actually blaze down the ice while only really pushing for about 300ms, i think kinda when your feet are approaching their widest part of the stride. Combining the arm swing and shifting the body weight side to side, again, perfectly timed, seems to give these little nitro bumpos. Finally, remembering to kick the toes behind you at the last possible second, and idunno if this is just some kind of placebo, but that part makes you literally take off from the ice and fly around above everyone, haha. Anyhoo, this is a freaking rad vid; you are unbelievably good at explaining this stuff!!!!

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks a lot! I don’t really focus on flicking the toes anymore (I used to), because I find that when you just focus on a full leg extension your toes are going to flick pretty much automatically.

[@KevinDoole]

Sweet, can't to try that, thanks!@@MarcelsHockeySchool

[@tysonmann3555]

Hey man this is a great video and you are bang on, on every point in this video. I've studied ground based sprinting and biomechanics (as well as for skating as my son is a hockey player) and if you dig and research it enough, the best sprint coaches advocate what you are saying for sprinting. Usain Bolt had different strategy for sprinting than Bob Hayes, Carl Lewis, Ben Johnson, Donovan Bailey, Micheal Johnson, Asafa Powell, and Christian Coleman. Yet they were all very fast using their own unique strengths based on their anatomical structures and solutions to running fast. Coaches though both for sprinting and skating like to point to certain individuals to base their entire speed philosophy (which is so wrong).

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Exactly. Everyone is different. You have to Maximize the strengths of your athletes, and minimize the weaknesses. You can’t completely change them into a totally different style of skater or sprinter.

[@alexandrumoisac4910]

Couse all your videos was very helpfull for me and a lot of secret for free ! thanks a lot for all! Excuse my English , i want to tell you and your viewer a little secret to go faster on ice. To be in a good balance when skating some advices : Teach your body first and your feet will follow! First use your upper body ( trunc) to transfer the weight from one leg to other then the arms, the weight transfered will helps to improve speed !2) the longer blade on the ice, the slower the skater! 3) the hands must move in this way ... side to side and before the skating leg touch the ice or in other words touch the ice when oposite arm arrive on the middle of the body! the arms will move upper body a little bit rapidly than upper body and will be to the side before skating leg touch ice! a good exercise is to skate with both hands on the stick mooving side to side to feel how the weight will be transfered from one leg to other and helps to speed! thanks a lot! i hope you understand me ! so in one phrase Move weight with upper body and hands before skating leg touch the ice!

[@pyqio]

as an adult new player, I think the most difficult thing is to remember to keep the legs bent whilst you're going full speed. I cannot even count how many times I've fallen on ice because my legs were like spaghetti haha...

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Haha absolutely! The biggest difference between beginners and pros is definitely the knee bend.

[@RobertStJohn-ro1hp]

To encourage shin angle I always cue "chest over your toes" in addition to "get low". That also helps prevent kids falling backwards because of too much weight on their heals.

[@dloc999]

Thanks Marcel! As a new coach myself do you have any videos/ are you thinking of making a video on how players can comfortable staying low? It's something I try to teach my players but haven't been able to think of drills that really help them get more comfortable being in a low stance

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Hey thanks! Yeah a made a whole video about this a couple of years ago. It’s in German but I subtitle all my German vids: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3Suk6J6gq2Bb9Usi=mvFTueOaZ6kyhiqZ

[@dloc999]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool this is perfect. Danke!

[@authentichealthcoach4142]

Power skating has mostly ruined players ability to determine their own skating style- there are things you can can coach to improve some efficiencies but by in large the best players of all time learned how to skate on their own - on the pond or in small towns at the rink during unstructured practice- free skating. I love that you focused on skating style. Finally someone that understands - i am seeing more and more players have less variability in their skating style- meaning more players look the same. Simple coaching tip which works for most players… head over foot. Helps with stride, edge control and arm swing. Remember technique is as simple as a response to the task. And most of what you said hit that… technique is in response the outcome you want (task)

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks! Yes you can’t completely push a player into one specific mold. You just have to maximize their own unique mechanics and physical advantages/limitations

[@jugglejazz]

Great video! There’s lots of dogma out there. Good to simplify again.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks a lot!

[@nickknez8294]

The other critical component to skating fast is leg strength that’s achieved off ice in the gym. More strength will creat more speed whatever your individual technique and style.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

True. I just wanted to focus on the technical stuff here.

[@paologrisanti4627]

Thank you so much. Always love your videos. For me what I find hard, as dumb as it may sound, is to keep staying low.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Well, stating low is actually way harder than people think😃 Here is a video with a bunch of drills that could help you with that though: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3Suk6J6gq2Bb9Usi=adnwmwN9H4R0zOmo

[@mattetjus]

Great vid! I would also like to stress the importance of core strength - one large reason behind the "skating with arms draging the ice", "swinging puppet arms" or the "popeye-like aggressivly tense arms", i believe is due to lack of core strength - or, insufficient control of their core muscles (which both is more common with the high amount of e-sport/gaming)

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks, yes the core is super important and also leg strength. I just wanted to stay focused on technique here because otherwise the video would have been way too long.

[@MaskSwabe]

So much useful information. Thank you for sharing this 🙏

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You’re most welcome!

[@jwaynes71]

so glad after all these years a real pro agrees with me on how arm swing front/back is not natural and that there is some side movement, and I might add that it's arm+shoulder

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@jwaynes71 Well, it took me a while to change that too because I was also taught front and back. But it just makes zero sense and like you say is not a natural movement

[@lightweave]

Great video, with good tips! I would love to see a similar video on how to skate backwards fast!

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks a lot! I have a backward skating tutorial in German, but yes, I should do one in English as well.

[@lightweave]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool I can watch the german as well. I looked through your videos but didnt see it. Can you give me a link or the title? I will look again. Sind die deutschen Videos in einem seperaten Kanal? Edit: Habs jetzt doch gefunden!

[@stevemcqueen15]

Great vid. You have awesome form. Growing up we were taught chest up 2 hands on the stick. I received a lot of laps and pushups for skating like you 😅 I am still one of the quickest in my 40’s lol

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks! Yeah I was taught chest up as well. It’s not completely wrong, because leaning too far forward is bad as well…somewhere in the middle is best!

[@LjubaPantovic1]

I like it👌🏆 Its great when people like me,who like to practice hockey and they aren’t players,can learn and improve skills by watching and listening simple but very useful advices,like yours⭐️

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

I’m glad that I could help you out, and my advice is for everyone, beginner to pros!

[@LjubaPantovic1]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool l am already Pro but in other sport (hockey is my love forever),and ofcourse l support motivation theme “beginner to pro” because if you really want something you can achieve it 🏆🥇

[@joemichael4053]

It’s amazing class and about skating so fast and the shape about your explication is so clearly, and were the bonus when you did the comparative about the both the athletes.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@joemichael4053 thanks a lot! I’m glad you liked the video!

[@BirTek-93]

Was never into hockey or skating, 10 years ago i decided i might try since i was rollerblading for whole my childhood. And I fell in love and went to same rink solo after school for few months.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

That’s cool! I’m glad you found a new passion! I like rollerblading too but I like ice skating better!

[@jeremyyan437]

I was trying to emphasize to my 10U A team last year that skating form is so important. I had roller hockey players that skated almost completely upright. The upper body angle was good in description, but for the lower body, I used to make a simple measure by having the kids look down, and see if their plant foot has to visibility. If they could see their toes, then their shin angle wasn't correct. I'd also measure their knee angle by seeing if their knee was in line with their toes. Mind you, these were house league quality players on a travel team. I worked on form before I worked on speed. I had to build them up.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Looking to see if you can see your toes is a great idea for getting into the proper stance👍

[@jeremyyan437]

@MarcelsHockeySchool I had to start off slow with these kids, but the parents had bigger and better ideas. Obviously you know the importance of edge work with stick handling synchronization and the proper form. It's refreshing for someone like me to hear you emphasize the form and not just fall into the USA Hockey scripts.

[@lightweave]

I already knew about this "getting low", but I never did it right. I took a video of myself to see how it looks and I was shocked. I thought I'm well low, but when I saw the video I though it looks like I'm standing upright. 🤪 So I started to keep reminding myself, when I want to get fast, to get down , down, down. A few weeks ago I managed to get so fast that I was actually afraid I cant break well enough, as I was not used to being so fast. 😄 I still have to keep reminding me, it takes some time until you start doing it automatically without thinking anymore. You can even easily check this for yourself. Even if at a low speed, you can see the difference that you get faster without adding more power to it, just by getting lower. Take a few strides, see how fast you are, and then get low and do it with the exactly same effort. You will see immediately that you are much faster.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

We are never as low as we think we are 😃

[@lightweave]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool LOL! Yeah, thas true! When I told somebody else to tell me if I'm low enough, it was quite weird. I went down, and he said lower, lower, lower. In the end I felt as if I was already sitting on the ice. 😄

[@spazemunky]

Listen to all this, but one tip that really showed improvement for me.. jumping rope off ice. Regularly. Like every day. It really gave me better speed and stamina on ice.

[@darylwizzard5832]

Bathurst Dundas streets rink is my favorite rink.

[@lydson]

Really useful information. It's helping me improve a lot. Thank you.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You’re very welcome! Glad I could help!

[@82caferacer]

Eishalle in Füssen ……. Danke für das super Video 👌🏻

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Yes! Sehr gerne!

[@SaccoBelmonte]

I'm mostly impressed on how you glide stop so gracefully. I can't understand the mechanics of that knowing the blades can really grip the ice. How do you prevent it from gripping and making you fall over? I have seen many videos about the hockey stop and in practice I always end turning because I cannot prevent my skates from gripping.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Hey, thanks! I have a full video on fixing your hockey stop: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moWoeaKLbtKGgaMsi=ZL5_kH0KHKVRrWnA Also, using a flatter hollow on the skate sharpening is a big help as well. The skates will still be sharp, but they won’t feel as sharp and you’ll be able to shave the ice better rather than feeling like you’ll fall over

[@SaccoBelmonte]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool Yeah I saw your video right after I commented. I'm sure I'm too much on my heels. I have a 5/8 radius so it should be fine. Is my rollerblade technique that is conflicting with my ice technique. :) Thank you Marcel!

[@SaccoBelmonte]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool Ok. So if I put my skates over a flat surface, the profile along the blade is so, that my flat spot is quite small, like 5 or 6cm. These are blades for inline skates. I do inline slalom/figure tricks and wizard a lot on rockered 4x80 wheels so I'm used to having a strong radius. I'm having a blast at the ice rink with these blades, doing my usual tricks but somehow the hockey stop is still not unlocked. I can do plough stop with my right foot so perhaps I should start testing with different weight in that foot to try to understand the feeling. See, with inline skates, if you don't lean enough when sliding, you go down hard haha! so is pretty scary on the ice to get used to glide without as much lean. Anyway, enough rambling, sorry. I wanted to ask you: Would such a small longitudinal radius blade make the hockey stop impossible due to too much bite? I'm 80Kg, 49 y/o adult. RoH is 5/8 which I'm enjoying very much. Thanks again Marcel. Servus aus Salzburg!

[@SaccoBelmonte]

Oh never mind. I seem to have a 11 foot radius profile with pivot point at the middle and a contact lenght of about 6cm at the center. So I'm good. Just need to practice more :)

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@SaccoBelmonte yeah your radius and profile ist totally fine for stopping (although I use a 1 inch radius). But like you said, stopping on inline skates and ice skates are completely different so making the switch can be difficult. Keep on practicing!

[@OnlyOneDSK]

Another helpful video! You have helped me tremendously with your videos, thank you kindly! From western Ny, USA

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You’re most welcome! Greetings from Germany!

[@406gto]

That looks like HC Davos arena. Nice rink with lots of additional ice pads around the main indoor arena. 👍

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

It's actually the second rink in Füssen, Germany.

[@Sincopare]

Love how that was design, with wooden barrel roof and clear wall ends to create all that natural light.

[@rinzler9775]

Your right about the arms - look at some of the street speed roller bladers on KZbin, and they hold a camera and a drink while speed skating.

[@elchanabensimon6085]

Great vid. Thanks for the content. I little bit struggle with the curves when I skate fast. How can I handles the curves without slowing the speed too much?

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@elchanabensimon6085 for speed in the curves you need to learn crossovers very well. I have a couple of tutorials out about them (in German but I subtitle them).

[@frankz6881]

I can’t agree more!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You're most welcome!

[@RB-nv4ri]

Beautiful message, thank you!!

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You’re welcome!

[@Polyaxis]

I believe I been doing this naturally. No coaching advice. Just learning on my own.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

A good coach is definitely a help though for some fine tuning

[@aleempeermohamed870]

This really is a great video, what would you suggest working on to keep the knee bend, especially in game situations ? My tendancy has always been to get upright and when that happens stride shortens become easier to knock off the puck, etc.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks! Here is a video of drills that kind of force you to get used to staying low: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYaacqB8irqkZrcsi=hP0kzE4LDTWBaN36 Other than that, leg strength/endurance does definitely play a role, because as we tire, we straighten up.

[@aleempeermohamed870]

This link took me back to this video, can you try again please ? Thank you

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@aleempeermohamed870 oops! Sorry about that! This should work: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3Suk6J6gq2Bb9U

[@youWoNtLikeMe04]

Years and years ago I went to hockey camp at the University of Maine, hosted by the Black bears coaches, trainers..etc.. The greatest thing they taught us on day 1 was to stop doing the crossover for a quick start. None of us believed them, cause that's how we all started to skate. Then they timed us.... we were all faster without using a crossover start. Knees bent and inline with your shoulders.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

The biggest problem with using a crossover for a start is that you cannot use it in a game. Like, when would you ever turn sideways to crossover and start? The only time it’s beneficial is when you need to change direction quickly, like coming back into your zone, stopping of the wing, getting a quick breakout pass and heading back up ice. Then a crossover change of direction is good.

[@youWoNtLikeMe04]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool at 7years old and you learn to crossover start and a coach never corrects it.... it was a tough habbit to break.

[@crystalsaete]

I use the long hard strides on a break away or a chase but maneuvers i use the quick short strides.

[@viccycling7862]

Good video thanks. Just one correction for you. Larkin had a 25ft run up to the red line before his time started. Mcdavid started on the redline. Anyone who knows considers McDavid having the record for the fastest lap. No way Larkin would slip and still beat McDavid, let alone beat him in a perfectly executed lap.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Yes you are correct. No idea why they had two different standards for the two. Nevertheless, both are great skaters, and it’s funny that a lot of people say that McDavid has a short stride, because although it‘s shorter than Larkin‘s, it’s not really that short.

[@viccycling7862]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool ya it was done in different years the competition. I think Larkin was a year or two before McDavid arose as the fastest skater and maybe they were still figuring things out. I agree, my stride is more like yours in the fact that I push out to the side more than Larkin but not as short as McDavid. My cross overs were more long and powerful than McDavids but have learned to do them more short and fast over the years after watching how effective it is for McDavid. Interesting the science behind McKinnon's cross overs and that he holds the outside edge longer on the inside foot. It would be too difficult to adopt his rhythm at this point but wondering if I should be teaching the kids I coach to try it.

[@alekseimarkov1665]

What about 'toe flick'? And collapsing the shin in the end? Toe flick (similar to what one does in crossovers) gives extra push

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

The thing with toe flick is, pretty much everybody with a proper leg extension is going to be automatically toe-flicking. It's a natural movement (just like the arms swinging) after your hips and knees have extended. So I don't focus extra on it. I find that a lot of players focusing on toe flicking will flick extra while the foot has already left the ice, which doesn't help. With collapsing the shin, I'm not sure what you mean.

[@xskinyx]

Some people say to run on your toes for the first few strides - running is faster than skating. It's definitely not natural for me to get up on my toes to grip the ice but I do see relatively new skaters skate very fast using this technique. Also keep in mind skating speed is correlated to running speed, so some aspect of it is just pure athleticism

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Nobody runs on their toes. Watch a slow-motion video of a fast skater starting. Their entire blade hits the ice while pushing off, and only the very last part of the push is on the toes. Nobody can start exclusively on their toes.

[@xskinyx]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool watch the slow-mo video of Mackinnon racing Hamelin. You will clearly see the first step (right foot) mackinnon does NOT put his whole blade on the ice. Hamelin also starts by digging one toe into the ice. As a matter of leverage the whole blade will usually still contact the ice, but the fastest skaters focus weight on their toes and run for the first few strides. You might even do it, and just not realize?

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@xskinyx weight over your toes: definitely. Start exclusively on you toes: no. MacKinnon has one single contact where the entire blade doesn’t hit: the first step with the right foot like you mentioned. The initial starting foot as well as every other step after that first right step the entire blade is hitting. As for Hamelin I don’t know speed skating well enough to understand the mechanics of their start with a long blade. So I think it’s better just to focus on having your weight far forward than running on your toes.

[@xskinyx]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool I think it's surprising to most skaters that Mackinnon has any strides at all where his heels don't touch the ice. I think most coaches would tell you "no way, nobody skates like that" 😛. So maybe "running" isn't a great instructional term, but it does explain *why* normal strides don't work at slow speeds. Try racing someone that's outside the rink in shoes - they will crush you on acceleration, every time. There's a video somewhere of a figure skater running on her toe picks for giggles... she is not going slow lol. And relatively new skaters with poor technique can sometimes still accelerate *very* fast - this is the best I can figure out as to what they're doing

[@balazstoti5535]

Szuper tippek, köszi Marcel!

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You’re very welcome!

[@bernardthefourth]

Thanks bro. Running I am one of the faster guys but it doesn't translate to skating, I'm just average. Gonna try some of this.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You’re welcome! I does translate a bit actually, especially in straight line speed.

[@run2fire]

Mario Lemieux is a tall guy and would take long strides but he was deceptively fast.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Yes. He had are relatively low stride turnover but lots of power in his strides.

[@oscarg6260]

Ok, that’s great!! Now, How to stop fast!!!

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Got two tutorials out on the hockey stop.

[@ToBeFranklyn]

Thank you Coach. 🙏🏼

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You’re very welcome!

[@SC2013hockey]

Love the English videos Marcel!

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks! I try to switch back and forth from German to English as much as I can.

[@SC2013hockey]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool I know you do! I appreciate all the work you've done.

[@one2_2]

good good good teaching!! thanks~~

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You're welcome!

[@sebastienroy5857]

No problems with skating. It’s stopping my problem 😂 From an ashame Canadian lol. Good video tho 👍

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Then check this video of mine out about stopping: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moWoeaKLbtKGgaMsi=S1wIHnRZv8bV-Ky_

[@thecount1001]

you forgot the most important aspect of fast skating.... be strong or get strong! strong legs, glutes and core equals fast stable skating. the stronger and fitter you are the better. competitive players spend a lot of time on leg strength and power. of course you know all this.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

I don’t think it’s the most important part because then you could just take an weightlifter, throw a pair of skates on them, and they would be fast. So I still think that technique is more important. But yes, strength and sprinting speed off-ice will definitely have a huge correlation to on ice straight line speed. With turning and other more technical elements I find the correlation drops a bit.

[@SileX406coup]

Any suggestions on how to stay loose? Every time I try to skate fast I experience my quads or the whole leg to kind of stiffen up and I rrreeeaallly need power to go forward... but remain going quite slow. The few time I really felt loose in the legs everybody on my team (including myself 😅) was "shocked" on how fast I really could go... but that also was the downside, since everybody was blaming me not to be motivated enough, "since I could go so much faster!".... but I have no clue what I can change or what I did differently that it worked out those times. Dealing with it for decades now but still wants to improve or at least minimize the personal frustration! 😇

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

That’s a tough one because I think that staying loose is just a matter of practice, practice, practice. Any skill I teach to a beginner, or anything advanced I’m trying to teach a pro, they are automatically tight at the start because they are trying to focus so hard on doing the skill correctly. With time, as the skill comes more and more naturally, they loosen up because they stop thinking about all the steps they need to perform.

[@gerardnadrowski5672]

Good vid.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thank you!

[@janrueticlips]

Hallo Marcel, welches Profil benutzt du für deine Schlittschuhe?

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Hi, genau weiß ich es nicht 😃 Glaube entweder ellipse oder Quad Zero.

[@morgangentle1515]

First few seconds when you said about being like this guy or that guy etc so true remember when all goalies looked different like Roy vs Hasek or hextal vs potvin or cujo vs Artis for example, goalies used to be so unique now all same shit 💩

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

I think though, that goaltending is a bit different. Like, there's no way certain styles would work any more. However, I still love Marc-Andre Fleury's style- love that active stick!

[@elemeno0pee]

The only reason Larkin holds the record for fastest skater is because he was allowed to start from the blue line. He was nearly full speed by the time.he got to the red line. McDavid had to start from a stand still at the red line. Rant over lol

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Yeah I noticed that and found it give of weird that he was allowed to take a running start 😃 Still a great skater though.

[@bfish9700]

I've gotten a ton faster in the last year, but I still have problems with "grip" in the first like 3-5 strides. I know part of my problem is I shouldnt come to a full stop ever and once I get going, I am generally ok fast, but those first few strides I look like flintstones car. . .

[@fumbleb33]

Launching and skating are two separate movements. If you try to take off the same way you skate in stride you aren't going to be efficient. Check out in this video each time Marcel takes off. His skate is basically parallel to his direction of intended movement, he has a little hop and then he's off.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Part of it is how quick your muscles can contract. The rest is just getting low, turning your feet way out, and getting as much distance with those first few steps as possible. As you gather speed, your push will go more to the side, but at the start your feet need to be going back with your blades turned out.

[@OPstoriesofreddit]

When skating forward your weight should be going side to side like if your striding left foot your body is going to the right and right foot is going to the left maximizing the power right?

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Yes. There is a skating concept about this called “Line of Power”, but again, I don’t want to make things more complicated than they already are.

[@yourmother1631]

Literally how you run its that simple

[@OPstoriesofreddit]

how do you always have the rink empty to yourself?

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

I don’t. We had some kids practicing on the other side. Other times, I work full time as a coach at my club so sometimes I can get on the ice if there’s an ice slot open.

[@romahnae]

15:47 😂

[@alwaysfootball841]

I really need to skate fast because i got tryouts Tomorrow

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Good luck!

[@alwaysfootball841]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool thanks

[@monte8069]

does barzal being bull legged factor in?

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Well, most hockey players are actually a bit bow legged, because the abductors get worked way more when skating than the adductors. So I don’t really think it’s a Barzal-specific advantage

[@schwamieboy1]

As a professional marine biologist I could agree more with what has been said here today.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Thanks!

[@eugwong]

shin angle was copied from belfry's pressure on skate tongues coaching cue and renamed. Maybe the kids will understand the original cue better?

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

I find that most kids do very well if you just tell them to bend their knees. Some might need extra cues if their upper body stays vertical. Pressing on skate is definitely easier to understand than shin angle though👍

[@ramymelhem]

You failed to mention the Larkin set the record in vastly different conditions. It was the only year where players had a running start, so dont say its an NHL record because its not. Mcdavid did not compete in the event that year. Horrendous comparison.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

You are correct in that. The fact that they are both very good skaters with different styles is however not a horrendous comparison.

[@ramymelhem]

@MarcelsHockeySchool It's still a horrendous comparison. There's a lot of good skaters in the league, but very few elite ones. Larkin is fast, but Mcdavid is elite. They played head to head yesterday and it was quite obvious how much faster Mcdavid was all over the ice both with and without the puck. He's not even in the same stratosphere.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@ramymelhem Well you’re entitled to your opinion. The fact is that not everybody will have a skating style similar to McDavid‘s and they still can be, as you say, „elite“. That was the main point of the video, not comparing McDavid vs Larkin.

[@jorditheg3960]

Gewachsene Schnürsenkel nehmen oder umgewachste nehmen kannst du mir dabei helfen bin mir unsicher was besser ist habe da keine Erfahrung

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Ich mag lieber gewachsed aber das ist wirklich Geschmacksache

[@RealAlone2012]

He is in Germany

[@friedrichkoenig6687]

Es sah gut aus. ;-)

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Danke schön!

[@hr1meg]

If you watch Olympic speed skaters you will see wide leg strides, and wide arm swings.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Yes, but they also have an absolute extreme recovery under the body, which is tough to do in hockey, and no hockey stick in their hands, which allows them to swing like they do.

[@osraneslipy]

Maybe you should watch a video “How to take a little cardio every now and then so that you do not run out of breath after skating for 5 seconds😂

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Naw, I did enough cardio so that I could play pro for 12 years. Now I’m just enjoying coaching.

[@1rtt1]

Send this to Adam Fox of the NY Rangers

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Why?🤔

[@RenanSCstratocaster]

I can go way faster than I do but I’m afraid to skate faster because I can’t stop propperly😂 is it only me

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

😃😃😃 like Carlos Mendoza from Mighty Ducks 2 😃🐧

[@bfish9700]

My problem is I'm never just skating, the only time I skate balls to the wall is on a breakaway so I have to control the puck and not get too close to the goalie so I can actually do something with it. . .

[@RobertBennett-fs3sd]

Mcdavid didn’t get the head start that Larkin did. Invalid record

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

True, I was wondering about that. But still both very fast skaters

[@alexeym311]

Why do Olympic-level 100m sprinters run the same?

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

What do you mean?

[@alexeym311]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool All sprinters have exactly the same running technique. Some people move their legs more often and push to the side, others more slowly but back. This is not true!!! In fact, there is correct skating and at high speed you need to push to the side!!! That's why all Olympic sprinters run like clones!

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@alexeym311 I never said that. I said some people have shorter and faster strides while others have longer and slower strides. I did not mention anything about pushing out or pushing back in relationship to stride speed. But as the examples of Larkin and McDavid show, you can have a different stride angle and still be fast on the ice. This is different on shoes because it is possible to push directly back with shoes, without any hip rotation.

[@alexeym311]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool Whoever has shorter legs has more legs. Whoever is longer has a longer stride. But you meant that whoever pushes back returns his leg faster and that it doesn’t make any difference how you skate.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@alexeym311 No, I didn’t🤷‍♂️

[@geneh2972]

So true. Everybody has a different body anatomy and build. Different leg length for example.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Exactly

[@subiesteve2578]

Respect my Wu-Tang style

[@romahnae]

Lol, who was the 3rd fastest then? He's probably the 2nd fasted now. 😄

[@Dork2017]

I think Antonio Stranges has the most insane skating style. Mohawk skating style, and does it quick.

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

Yes he’s really good at that. I did a coole of vids about this. Here‘s one of them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2jUdH2LabKakNksi=JOSt-C2twCr2kSSN

[@Giovanni-fh6bw]

Magyar fordítást nem tervezed?

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

No, because sadly I don't speak Hungarian so the video is only in English or German :(

[@burossiggumunn5100]

train 2.0, 2.0 =D

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

😃😃😃

[@KeiMishi]

覚えやすい？😊

[@Rivers-edits-p7f]

How difficult is it to type in your language, just wondering as a stupid Canadian

[@rinzler9775]

Before learning to skate fast, learn how to stop fast first 😂

[@БьярмГипербореев]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpS6e3xobK52pKc - That's how to skate fast in real hockey! You puck players in your heavy gear will never be able to run so easily..😂

[@RussPeter-wd3wj]

My mans cardio is bad lol

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

😃😃 your man is getting older 😃😃

[@RussPeter-wd3wj]

@@MarcelsHockeySchool i know how that feels haha is it ok to ask your advice on something??

[@MarcelsHockeySchool]

@@RussPeter-wd3wj of course!

[@Evgen1-c6n]

С конькобежцем встаньте на старт и пробегите 100 м за 9.6🎉