Nils Van Der Poel: Straightaway timing/use of body weight

Radical. Don't try this at home kids, unless you fully understand it.

[@ottoelg2748]

He just broke the 10000m world record whilst winning an olympic gold medal!

[@Zane_Zaminsky]

Hey, Coach! Watched Van Der Poel break the 5,000m World Record today! What a performance!

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

And Friday was by far the slowest ice. Nils would have been under 6 likely 5:57 or so on Sunday when the ice was fast.

[@danielstuessi262]

The laws of science and physics don’t change. Interesting how Nils techniques have changed the view of the push, replacing the push to the side motion with load the blade in the power box underneath by pendulum swing.

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

Yes indeed. This is something I've been implementing in my coaching since 2011.

[@ApaX1981]

The moment he is transerring his wheigt from the pyshing leg to the gliding leg the angle of the blade is close to 90 degrees. Glides better.

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

Yes, this is very dynamic but difficult to do. Severe blade angle creates severe pressure and release.

[@mariekejacobs9243]

A question: You mention quite often that is a good thing that the 10k men speedskaters elevate a little bit just after their recovery skate touches the ice and the start to stand on it to prevent lactic build-up. But, what about the air resistance? Don't you think that the velocity loss of air resitance is higher than the energy loss of lactic built-up when staying a little bit lower? Not sure, just a question about your thoughts :)

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

If it were windy outside and the ice was frosty and they were skating on fixed blades it would be a factor. Not now. Excellent comment Marieke! Thank you so much!

[@slowsk8r33]

Please explain the foot mechanics from set down, push, to blade pickup. Meaning is it mostly pressure thru the heel, mid arch push to ball of foot but without "toeing"? Or??? thank you!

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

You want to "ride the wave" like you're on top of the crest of a wave. That's how it feels to me when I'm skating well. I try not to think about the smaller details. Please refer to the library of videos for more specific tips on the details ok? There are plenty of good ones you can look at to help. For example I discuss recovery, blade angle, setdown, all these things in almost every single one. I hope that assists!

[@rpenguinboy]

What is the best position to be in setting up to push? What will you see the top skaters look like or what should I look for when watching good or bad setups to pushes?

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

Hi there, big question. But the essential factor is that things are lined up and the timing is brief. Explosion is rapid and robust, allowing set-up again. I go through how in lots of videos. Avoid 2 skates on the ice, avoid "broken lines" between hip-knee-ankle. I hope that helps!

[@rpenguinboy]

@@speedskatingdeconstructed5435 thanks so much!

[@nicklamia1456]

I am trying to find things we can take away from speed skating to better perform in ice hockey. Any suggestions we can transfer from this to hockey? Thank you!

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

Of course. Skate with your hips and glutes and keep centered, keep all the pressure under you, then you can pivot with more control and power. It's a mistake to think you are pushing to the side. Push down and move away from the pressure you produce and you will fly!

[@1Skeeler1]

Yes, drive the knee, and lead with the hip. Fall into the glide, and push. Placement of the body core, at the right moment, is what carries you through!

[@amitesh7979]

Biggest mistake of inliners when they switch to ice (technique)?

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

Not sure I understand...?

[@amitesh7979]

@@speedskatingdeconstructed5435 when an inline speed skater tries long track speed skating, his technique is a bit contaminated because of Inline Skating. What are the key things to focus?

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

On the straights work on a single application of power into the ice - all at once, very very fast. Then completely let go as you move rapidly out over the opposite skate. In the turns think of a single skate on the ice only, and move your entire mass forward against the pressure. We have dozens of videos up on these principles...please study and let me know if they make sense. Good luck!

[@kraatshenk7665]

What do you think is this technique also possible on the other distances and going faster?

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

That's a good question. I'm not sure actually. I will give it some thought ok? Thanks!

[@Lwd400mIJSBAAN]

@@speedskatingdeconstructed5435 On the short distances the "hanging only" delivers not enough power to skate 62 km/h. Than you have to place your new skate wide but direct on the inside of the blade, there is almost no gliding time straight above the skate because power is zero than. So on the short distances it is like riding a bike, keep delivering power left and right without pause.

[@jonwahlstrom5963]

Since hi has such a short push, does he benifit anything from the clap skate? Maybe go back to oldschool fixed skates? 🙄

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

Jon, no Nils gets plenty from the klap, at least in the straightaway. He has a very brief load and a long rest period, very near impossible to achieve on fixed blades. In the turns you are correct, not using the klap as much as many others due to his decision to keep his frequency up and pressure pretty low...only pushing just under him..."walking the turns.." Thanks for the great question!

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

You are right about the klap in the turn. He has made the decision that it is more effective to have a clipped timing, which cuts off all the nonsense and keeps it simple, like walking.

[@1Skeeler1]

This is how I skate LT -- very short, high-tempo, speed-building turns. When I skate in a paneling, I usually come close to plowing people down, from behind. It takes them most of the straight, just to catch up. It's what works for me.

[@jorritwoudsma7530]

Im sorry to ask but what do your lines represent? I would love to understand you better.

[@speedskatingdeconstructed5435]

Lines? A skater has to keep it clean and simple. No amount of muscles anymore (see for example Aadne Sondral) can overcome the true power of a clean delivery of energy into the ice in a micro-fraction of a second using the machine on the blade now. This requires clean lines. No break of the knee, of the hip, of the ankle, of the blade. It all moves together. The better a skater can move down the ice without breaking these lines means he or she is more efficient, gets more rest, and goes faster with less conflict. In the turns, the lines are from blade to ankle to knee to hip, and if you break any one of these, your timing is messed up.

[@slowsk8r33]

@@speedskatingdeconstructed5435 It's still not clear to me. The body's center of gravity (CG) is always acting straight down. I grasp blade, ankle, knee alignment. But in all speedskating, inline, long track (LT), short track (ST) the pendulum effect of the CG disturbs the hip position relative to the line, no? Eventually the hip leads or lags the line?