Publow revelations
so, i found a couple of real nuggets of technique this weekend in the Barry Publow clinic we hosted in Santa Monica.
The first was "the fall". I had never really consciously noticed how important the fall which initiates an outward (or inside edge) push is to forward momentum. Once i started dwelling on it a bit it showed me how my previous form even discouraged much of a fall because of the attention i paid to conservation of energy.
The second is the importance of placement of "the plant" after "the fall". I've discovered i favor my right side greatly. The closest i came to an epiphany this weekend was realizing that my plant was just past my centerline (before the underpush on the outside edge). The guys showed me how to plant outside my centerline, adding another 6-8" to my underpush.
I found some speed. Did anybody else get anything they'd like to talk about? I'm very curious if everyone else thinks they got as much from their $200 as i did.
This clinic really hammered home my lack of proper skating technique. Learning proper knee placement, correct use of outside edges and highlighting what pronation is and how to bring myself back to center was invaluable for me. My son's epiphany was seeing and learning the double push. Like Jenny, he also learned that his foot plant was waaay too shallow, robbing him of extra power. Yes it was hot and yea our skin got cooked, but a little pain was worth ALL the gain, and then some. We'd definitely do it again!!
Since Cody and I are fairly inexperienced racers I would have liked to hear more about race training and pack techniques during a race so questions could have been asked. Given that some of this is addressed in the new FASST Times and in Barry's book, that helps some.
Barry's wonderful world of speed skating.
Clinics???? Yep, there is a reason why we do them. The sooner the better for we will have less to correct. Barry, oh I could tell you stories of the wonders he laid before me. The challenge to change bad habits and strive to learn the more efficient at the skill of SPEED SKATING. But you NOW have your own tails to tell. Yep, when it clicks, when you nail it, you say to yourself, “That’s what it feels like!” You so you continue to practice, practice and practice hoping to have that exact experience again and again till it become second nature. Yes to the fall, Oh boy, THE FALL!! Body weight doing the work, what a great concept. The plant, Oh Yes, just where to start the push whether double or classic knowing is half the battle. It is very exciting to be able to have the tools that will take you to your next level that is for sure. Sometimes if come quick and easy and then other times it just takes lots of practice and reviewing Barry’s tape over and over till it does click. Yes, it will click for you too and then you will be flying at warp speed!!!!!. You have your home work to do to get ready for a summer of FUN RACING.
The Publow Clinic
I thought the clinic was great. For me it could not have come at a better time. I guess it's always a good time to learn about form and go back to basics.
I realized I still need to work on edging- outside edge vs inside edge. I'm at a plateau in my skating speed and only better form will help.
I call this the "thinking skaters" clinic. A lot of the focus was on why we do what we do- very technical. Attention was paid to details like frame adjustment. Barry and Aaron drove home the point that the smallest adjustments in frame alignment, posture, weight transfer, etc. will eventually make the biggest difference in an individuals' skating.
Not sure what I want from the next clinic, too soon to tell. Can't really say what was not included in this clinic that I would have liked to work on. I was concentrating on the tasks presented at the moment.
The ball's back in my court now to practice and incorporate what I learned.
Re: The Publow Clinic
I too thought the clinic was great. We had the best weather weekend that we have had since summer. The pavement was good and with the exception of the testosterone loaded hockey players we had no trouble. (By the way - hockey guys got to the lot at 8 am this past Sunday to make sure we weren't going to hog the lot again - found it very funny). I think the clinic was more successful than most because of the experience level of the group.
I have only attended one other clinic and I think I was too new to speed skating to really take in what I was learning (in other words too focused on how much my feel hurt). I like the method they used to teach and how much we focused on each drill. I can now practice the drills they taught. I had my epiphany when Aaron demonstrated for me how I was skating - I was setting my skates down next to each other and pushing out - not transferring my weight and using the fall to propel me forward. Aaron suggested to me that I practice the dry land classic technique drill going forward for at least 10 minutes a day..... While I did not learn the double push, I do know the drills to practice it and hopefully soon will be able to implement.
Barry's clinic
Glad to hear just what you all got from the clinic. Barry does an excellent job of breaking it down and drills to practice. Double-Push, well this will take some time for it to click in, It was so hard for me that I told myself 1 year to learn it. Then Gary White started just using the double-push, learning, refining no matter what his times or results ended up at races for he was committed to learn it. So with him SO committed to it I had to give in and just focus on the drills and reviewing the tape. Well guess what, I learned it and now I use it 85-90% of the time. You too will learn it and when it clicks in, you will just love how it preforms and feels. It is a great tool in your progress. Roooooger
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