Many ways to train

 

The training sessions should vary the specific focus:
• Endurance and work to rest ratio;
• Developing the skating stride form;
• Foot speed;
• Pushing force;
• Quick recovery time;
• Skating stride using resistance tubes;
• Stickhandling;
• Passing and shooting;
• Catching and throwing a ball;
• Self monitoring measurements; and
• Dynamic stretching and exercises.
Resistance tubes and bands should be used with caution.

 

 

Fits all strides and angles

 

Customize Platform
Made to suit your individual preference for the stride angle. A platform “angle adapter” can be placed between the two left and right platforms, thus providing you with your ideal stride angle.

 

 

Corrects leg imbalances

 

By the sound and/or distance covered from the pushing leg on the StrideDeckTM, you will quickly notice that one leg is stronger than the other. By focusing on developing the weaker leg, on-ice speed, balance and agility will immediately improve and the player will be encouraged to do more training on the StrideDeckTM.

Guide markers on the wall or some other place that the player can see without having to look down will assist with mastering the optimum skating stride. The guide marker is for the player to know where to place his returning foot from the end of a stride or to reach the desired length of a stride before returning the leg.

 

 

Develops hard to master skating skills

 

A deceptive skater is a hard skill to develop on the ice. On the StrideDeckTM, by skating with a musical metronome the cadence of the stride will be constant but the amount of pushing force from hard to soft should be practiced. This skill will make it difficult for the opposing player to key in on your speed just by focusing on your foot speed (cadence). As soon as you come close to the opposing player, without increasing the foot speed but only the amount of pushing force, you will be able to manoeuvre with surprising ease and agility around your opponent, creating on-ice space. Vice versa, without changing the foot speed, simply decrease the pushing force, and again, you have created more on-ice space as the opposing player over shoots you.

 

The toe flick at the end of the stride is also a difficult skill to master on the ice. At the very end of the stride, the ankle should be off the platform and the weight on the toes. Just before the toes leave the platform another push or flick comes from the toes. The toes after the flick should be pointing away out and the rollers should have a quicker spin from the pressure of the toes.

 

For a quicker recovery time (the phase at the end of the stride when the leg is returning and is in the air), the leg should be just above the surface of the platform. Most players tend to kick the foot high at the end of the stride. This takes away precious time for the next stride to begin. Most speed increases comes from a quick recovery time and proper pushing of the stride.

 

 

Self monitor your skating progression

 

Skating on the StrideDeckTM allows, in real time, the ability to compare and quantify your current skating speed and power with your optimum skating speed and power. You will be able to detect leg imbalances (which may have gone unnoticed) and fatigue levels and develop strategies to best manage physical and mental performances, thus enabling a player to recognize the need and to make the necessary adjustments during games.

 

Optimum Skating Speed
Under restful conditions with the proper warm-up, the player can count either the number of strides in a given time, or the time it takes to do a certain number of strides. For each leg, the desired distance (length) of each stride can be marked on the StrideDeckTM.

 

The player may wish to do a few of these sets to get an accurate assessment of his optimum skating speed and power.

 

The Current Skating Speed
The player may wish to do the test before a practice or game, in between periods, or after a game or practice and then compare the results to his optimum skating speed and make the necessary adjustments for on-ice performance.

 

Testing Conditions:

 

Footwear
To make it consistent, use the same footwear: running shoes, skates, or skates with specially designed skateguards.

 

Timing

To minimize the delay response from the word “go” at the beginning of the testing, one can start the timing when the first stride begins.

 

Data

Strides: the number of times for each leg that reached the mark (desired distance in length) on the StrideDeckTM and the toe flick at the end for each stride.
Force: equal sound coming off the rollers from each leg for each stride that indicates consistency from the first to the last stride in the testing session.
Amount of testing time: This is an individual taste. Some may wish to test only for three seconds, some for 5 or 10 seconds or more. The effect is to determine the current performance level without training to exhaustion.

 

 

 

 

Instantly corrects stride mechanics

 

In real time, the skater, trainer or coach is able to immediately correct the mechanics of the stride for each leg. The coach is not fifty feet away, shouting across the ice, but is right next to the skater to see and correct the mechanics on the spot while the stride’s muscles are working.

 

The most energetically efficient stride will be the most powerful and effective. A stride that is performed without thought and in the highest precision is the mastered skill. Many players can perform the perfect stride in a practice or in a power skating drill, but once a puck is added or in a game situation or when the player is tired, this technique is compromised.

 

 

Levels of difficulty

 

Level 1: Wear running shoes on the StrideDeckTM.

When first attempting any new move in a training session, always start with wearing running shoes. The StrideDeckTM is a challenging and demanding training tool. It is much easier to balance on one leg and push while wearing running shoes to first establish muscle memory for the correct form before balancing on skates. To ensure success, the introduction of new moves in a training session should begin by using running shoes. Once the correct body stride movement has been mastered, then and only then should the player advance to the next level, wearing hockey skates with skateguards.

 

Level 2: Wearing hockey skates with skateguards on the StrideDeckTM.

The next level of difficulty in balance, strength and developing the small supporting leg muscles and core body is wearing the hockey skates with the skateguards. Balancing on one leg with skates on the StrideDeckTM is much more challenging than wearing running shoes. The level of difficulty now increases by adding a requirement of balance and strength on a narrow surface area of a skateguard as compared to the wider surface area of a running shoe’s heel. Once this balance and movement has been mastered, the next level of difficulty is wearing only the hockey skates.

 

Level 3: Wearing hockey skates without skateguards on the StrideDeckTM.

The StrideDeckTM surface is composed of precision angled rollers which makes wearing hockey skates quite difficult. Most skaters go through a period of correcting skating technique before they are able to skate on the StrideDeckTM with the same ease as on the ice
The StrideDeckTM magnifies and identifies any improper skating techniques and imbalances that could have been previously undetected. Any weaknesses or irregular form of the stationary leg are quite noticeable and can be corrected while using the StrideDeckTM.

 

 

Follows latest principles of muscle learning

 

The Physiology of Muscle Learning

 

The real secret of the StrideDeckTM is that by skating in a controlled training setting doing a specific on-ice skating movement, the player is developing skating proficiency using the latest principles of muscle learning. In real time, the skater, trainer or coach is able to immediately correct the mechanics of the stride for each leg. The coach is not fifty feet away, shouting across the ice, but is right next to the skater to see and correct the mechanics on the spot while the stride’s muscles are working.

 

The most energetically efficient stride will be the most powerful and effective. A stride that is performed without thought and in the highest precision is the mastered skill. Many players can perform the perfect stride in a practice or in a power skating drill, but once a puck is added or in a game situation or when the player is tired, this technique is compromised.

 

There are three phases of motor learning

 

Phase One
Acquisition (conscious thought) and sensory feedback from visual, verbal and proprioceptive;
Motor output from tuning and adaptation of doing the same exact movement. High quality improvement will come from doing the same exact movement as the brain is finding the most efficient pathway.

 

Phase Two
Consolidation. One should initiate the first training session about 5 – 6 hours after learning the new movement. This is known as the “delayed-gain phenomena” which results in long-term potentiating (LTP).

 

Phase Three
Retention which is correct muscle synergies. The ultimate test is from changing the conditions and variables and muscle retention is constant. There is no change in technique, power and speed. Changing conditions can easily occur during a game: at the end of a shift; at the end of a period; at the end of a game; or not sufficient resting time between shifts. Variables can change from the stress and intensity levels: missing a check; missing a scoring chance; making a mistake; causing a turnover; afraid of making a mistake; or the importance of the game.

 

 

Unlimited skating at full speed

 

Each platform consists of a series of specially designed rollers which provides longer wear and tear than other skating treadmills. The rollers also provide resistance that requires the user to “push” during each and every stride. As there is no “gliding” on the platforms, skating on the platforms is quite demanding and is a high calorie burn! For longer roller-life, the platforms can be rotated and replacement parts can be ordered. The platforms allow for unlimited skating and is equivalent to about $16,000 in ice and power skating fees.