Off ice training for adult skaters?

Question

What do you guys do for off ice training? I have started going to pilates and yoga classes at my gym once a week each...and i also have a yoga dvd that i plan on using at home on days that i don't go. I do cardio and some light weights 3x a week. Just wondering if there's anything else i should be focusing on. I know core strength and flexibility is a must. I am also curious about adult ballet classes since i just found out that like adult skating, adult ballet is pretty popular for fitness. I don't compete or anything, this is more for my personal satisfaction and fitness, although who knows maybe I'd compete in the adult circuit in the future. Right now I just participate in my rinks' ice shows.

Share your thoughts !

Answer 1

start stretching to. there are some 350 pound football players who can do full splits. im not saying to hurt yourself, just gradually stretch your splits to the ground. if you try to do full on splits the first time, trust me, it will DEFINITELY hurt you "you know where".

jumping is good too.

10 jumps up then landing

10 jumps knees 2 ur ches

10 jumps from the ground up

single jumps

double jumps

triple jumps

jump rope

ANYTHING! you'll see an inprovement in your jump height on the ice too.

Answer 2

That's great as an adult that you have the time to do all that!!  I used to have a schedule like that  . . . but I cannot even squeeze in skating now . . . someday again!  Well, sounds like you have quite an awesome cross-training program going on already!!  

Are there any off ice stretching classes offered at your rink?  Stretching is important, but stretching specifically for skating would be help in your sport.  There was a class offered right when I started skating (taught by a skater/ballet instructor) and til this day I still use much of the same routine (added with what I learned in yoga!).  I don't skate now, but I still do off ice stuff for when I do ever go back!  

And how about off ice training classes?  I worked with a coach who was heavily into off ice training (stretches, strength training with doing squats a certain way, hyper jumping and rotating, sometimes working with a harness).  I had friends that did take the class at their rink.  Skaters can try to jump off the ice, but it's not the same as jumping on the ice . . . the ice technique can be ruined by bad off ice muscle memory . . . so it's good to learn proper ways to do these exercises that help with jumps/rotation.  

The cardio should help you with your stamina . . . which I lacked at the time.  It seemed only when I knew I would be competing that I would get serious about stamina.  I did a lot of jump roping and quick side steps (with my program music looped) and that helped A LOT.  I was totally lazy in that department . . . but my coach said most adults needed to work on stamina.

Have you checked out this link from the USFSA site?  It gives some good off ice exercise tips.

USFSA OFF-ICE FITNESS

http://www.usfigureskating.org/content/O...

    

I loved ballet . . . I took a "standard" adult ballet class AND ballet for skating.  Even though ballet helps with skating (arms, posture, grace, working on both sides, etc), I didn't want to "master" ballet . . . I only wanted to "work" with the essentials for skating.  Though they go hand in hand, ballet and skating are also 2 different worlds (like with knee bend isssues or spiral/arabesque positions) so I found that ballet specifically for skating was particularly more useful.  

On that note, I took all kinds of dance classes including jazz, latin, hip hop, ballroom, etc for the heck of it . . . I got exposed to many different styles that made me a more versatile skater.  A friend of mine swears that her tap dancing has helped with her footwork.  I love choreography, so I loved learning about body movements through dance, hopefully being able to take many of them to the ice.  My focus was not just athletism, but being entertaining/expressive to my audience.      

Although off ice stuff is great, it's also important to "do the time" on the ice.  That's the only way to sharpen your skating technique - even though everything else can help.  Power stroking, ballet on ice, moves in the field, footwork . . . take advantage of these types of "on ice" group classes if it's offered at the rink!          

I do caution about doing "too many" things.  I got caught up with doing too much at one point . . . on top of tolerating injuries.  Eventually I was pooping out and couldn't give it my all in skating - which the extra activities were supposed to help with.  Remember resting is just as important too - physically AND mentally.    

Anyway, those are my "adult" ramblings!!  Best of luck with your skating . . . whenever you do decide to compete, sounds like you will be well prepared!!

Answer 3

Actually, I don't do anything!  I wish I had more time, but I work 2nd shift and lots of crazy hours, so a lot of cool yoga and pilates classes aren't offered when I can go.  I try to get to the rink at least three days a week for a few hours and when I have some free time at home (haha) I work on stretching.  I guess I get my core work out going up and down the stairs doing laundry! :)

You're right...core strength is very important for skating.  If you watch little kids new to skating, you can tell when they have good core strength and not.  They wobble like they don't have a spine.  I have found that even as an adult skater, flexibility can be re-gained, maintained and increased just by keeping up with it.  I got a Maxiflex from Rainbo Sports, which is kind of a cool system to increase flexibility without having someone around to help you.

http://www.rainbosports.com/shop/site/pr...

The yoga and pilates are going to increase your flexibility and the ballet will help with grace and posture.

Good luck!  :)

Answer 4

what youre doin and ballet,dance,stretching,

Answer 5

just train more