The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-28

too and heel. The
skate should protrude equally in front and
rear or the foot. Under the ball OF TIL
foot ia a small steel pin which prevents
the skate from sliding sideways out OF posi-
ton, which ia a little to the inside of the
center of the foot. Thu bottom Of the
blade is rounded slightly away from the
center SO 1t will run over rough Joe and is
equally as good aa u smooth surface. On
small Kinks or where there are sharp turns
the blade should be rounded more 80 as to
swing around the turns without loss of
speed. The blade should be made of the
best tempered steel and apple-wood is the
best for the tops. The straps should be
extrn wide in order to prevent cramping
the feet. They should be made of calfskin.
extra high around tho ankle and tightly
laced.
The first thing a skater must learn is to
stand perfectly even on his skates. that is
to keep the edges of his skates from cut
ting in the ice, which increases the friction.
Having gained Roadway, lean forward at
an angle Of 45 degrees, place the hands
behind the back and olasping them let the
arms rsst loosely ontthe hips, this throws
back the shoulders and brings the chest
forward, making the lungs expand and en-
ables the skater to breathe with greater
freedom, and it keeps the arms from
swinging and enables the skater to
keep a better balance. With the exception
of short dashes and turning sharp corners
the arms should not be used, as this violent
swinging only tends to exhaust without Civ
ing any material increase of speed. After
balancing the body on the left foot give a
slight Bidelong push with the right, at the
same time swing the body forward as the
skate glides along the ice. AS soon as the
power in the stroke quickly bring up
the right foot on a level and close by the
left, placing tho weight of the body on tho
right and with a sldelong push with the
left throw the weight OF the body forward
on the right foot as the skate glides along
the ice; after all the power has been put in
the stroke bring up the left foot and con-
tinuea as before, always bearing in mind to
keep an even balance.
Some writer's have said I throw my weight
is incorrect. l have found in skating over
n field of smooth hard ice l made no marks
whatever excepta at the end of the stroke.
The skater should strike out as straight
ahead as possible and not swing off from a
straight line as do many skaters who think
they must do this to be graceful. This
swinging off on the outer edge of the skate
is called the Dutch roll and many labor un-
der the Gelusion that this is the style of
Hollands speed skaters. But such is not,
the case, as the Dutch champions strike out
as straight ahead as possible. In skating
against a strong wind bend as low down as
an angle of rs degrees so as to present as
little resistance TO the WIN as possible.
Skating with the wind stand up q little
s%traighter than ordinarily so as to get as
much help from the wind as you can. In
racing distances of a quarter of a mile or
under the stroke should be shortened and
quickened, and the arms should be swung
rapidly from side to side. The skater
should always endeavor to breathe
through the nostrils and keep
the mouth firmly closed. AT first it may be
u little hard to do this but with practice it
can be easily accomplished. If he finds
after a sufficient trial that he can not keep
the mouth closed q pad should be worn
over the mouth and fasten it around the
head with an elastic cord. A pad made of
two or three thicknesses of chamois skin is
the best. This will keep the cold air from
blowing directly on the lungs, which might
produce fatal results.
Now as to training for. racing. Starting
about the middle of November, long, easy J
walks of from eight to ten miles should at
first be taken daily. After a weeks prac-
tice, the muscles having become hardened,
increase the pace and finish the walks with
ehort, easy runs. About twice a week take
. walk up a steep hill or mountain, if such