Skating

• Use Long Full Strides - Try to extend your legs and feet out to their maximum length each time you stride. This can only be accomplished with proper knee bend and try to avoid bobbing up and down when striding.
• Bend Your Knees - It is very difficult to generate power without using proper knee bend when skating. Be sure that you are bending at the knees and ankles and not at the back
• Recover Fully - Recover your skates fully under the middle of your body after each stride. Try to pull skates back in a direct line as quick as possible.
• Push At A 45 Degree Angle - Push you legs out from your body at a 45 degree angle when striding. This is the angle where maximum forward power and speed is generated from.
• Toe Flick - At the end of each stride use your angle and toes to flick/rip the ice. This helps gain extra boost at the end of each stride.
• Move Arms Front To Back - Try to avoid swinging arms side to side when skating. Instead move arms in a front to back motion much like a dry land sprinter.
• Upper Body Still - Keep upper body movements, such as head and shoulders, to a minimum when skating. Extra upper body movements will throw off balance and are unnecessary.
• Keep Stick on the Ice - When not expecting a pass, take one hand off your stick but make sure it stays on the ice when skating. Never skate with your stick completely off the ice.
• Use Quick Starts - Stay low and use the toes of your skate blades when starting from a complete stop. The first few strides will be quick and short then gradually lengthen to full long stride as you gain speed.