Equipment Needed
- Skates
- Open ice
- Cones (optional)
Well-fitted skates matter most here
Properly fitted, sharpened skates are the foundation every stride mechanic in this drill is built on.
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- Skaters line up at one end of the ice with open space ahead.
- Coach demonstrates the stride pattern slowly before skaters attempt it.
Instructions
- Start in an athletic stance, then push out to the side with one skate while gliding on the other.
- Bring the pushing skate back underneath the body and repeat with the opposite leg.
- Continue the alternating push-and-glide pattern across the length of the ice.
- Focus on full leg extension on each push rather than short, choppy strides.
Coaching Points
- The push should go out to the SIDE, not straight backward, to generate real forward power.
- Full extension of the pushing leg matters more than stride frequency at this stage.
- Keep the upper body relatively calm and forward-facing while the legs do the work.
- This is a skill that takes an entire season (or more) to refine — patience and repetition matter more than speed of mastery.
Variation
Add gentle cones to skate around while maintaining the stride pattern, or race a short distance once the stride is comfortable.