The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-27
EAST SKATING.
How TO Learn-Thc Best Skate-The Correct
sstroke-skating for Speed-TrnIning.

1
| How to I.earn-Thc Best Skate-The Correct
| stroke-Skating for Speed-TraIning.
| BY the Champion Amateur skater Of the World.
COPYRIGHT 1894 by s. s. Mcclure.
| Tho best skate is tho Hudson River skate.
It hns blade IL inches long aud one-siS-
| teenth OF an inch In thickness. made OF steel
| and set In wooden frame. 1t Is fastened to
the foot by a screw at tho heel and by straps
at tho too and hoel. Tho skate should pro-
trudo equally in front and rear OF the foot.
| Under the ball Of the foot is II small steel pin.
| which prevents tho skate from sliding side
| ways ont of position. which is n little to the
| inside Of tho centre Of the foot. The bottom OF
| tho blade is rounded slightly away from the
centre so 1t will run over rough leo and Is
| equally as good on a smooth surface. On
small Kinks or where there are sharp turns
tho blade should be rounded more. 50 as to
swing around tho turns without loss OF speed.
Tho blade should be made of tho best tenn
pcrod steel. and applewood is tho best for the
tops. Tho straps should BIO extra wide. in
order to prevent crampng tho feet They
should be made OF ca iskin, extra high around
the ankle and tightly laced.
The first thing n skater must learn Is to
stand Perfectly even on his skntes-'hat is. to
keep tho edges of his skate from cutting in the
ice. which increases tho friction. Having
gained Roadway. lean forward at an angle OF
about 40 degrees. place the hands behind the
back. and clasping them let tho arms rest
Loosely on the hips this throws back the
maks hs and snabrs tho
skater to breathe with greater freedom. and it
keeps thearms from swinging. and enables the
skater to keep better balance. With the eX
ception OF short dashcs and turning sharp
corners tho arms should not be used. as this
out giving material increase OF Spppu.
After t balancing the body on the LEFT foot
skater feels that he has put ali his power in
level and close BY tho left. placing the weight
OF the body on the ri$ht and i with a., sidelopg
body forward on the right foot as the skate
Elides along tho ice: after all the power has
been put in the stroke bring up the left foot
Some writer's have said throw my. weight
ncorrect i have e fSsnd in skatns over er ed
OF smooth. hard ice. that made no marks
sfss at e s ot ssokf
straight line. Is DO many skatefs r, Who think
ing of on the outer edge Of the skate is called
the Dutch roll; and many labor under the delu;;
skaters. But such is not the case as the Dutch
champions strike ont as straight ahead as
e ssd low as sns nsa nRs asa.s w9s
Is possible. Win .a, skating ylth The wind.
dlnnrily. SO as to get as much help from the
wind as you can. In racing distances Of
he shortened and auickencd. and, the arms
bs Pc y side to s
the nostrs sni keep the mouth % rm
lly closed. At first it may BIO u little hard to do
ths but With practice it can he easily nGc ON
no cannot keep tho mouth closed n pad should
b worn over tho mouth and fastened around
T. tho best This will Keep the cold air from
6I9TTng direety 2P the lungs which might
the middle Of November. long. easy, walks Of
daily. After a week, s practice tho muscles
having become hardened; increase the pace
About twice week take n walk up II steep hill
or m9unt rhi II snsh can be ;,nnd in the
OF the thighs. which are the ones mostly used
In skating. In our latitude there are generally
few days skating to be had in the early part
of by long easy spins. When u thaw ends this
skating resort should again be had to walk.
usually SCI in and there is generally skating
to be had daily; As the muscles have now be-
ut top speed besides taking u good long skate
ut Q moderate rate.
Skaters Who go in for racing are not like
die distance, and long distance men. and who
2niy train for whatever may be their specially.
to and including ton miles and therefore. can
nn5 make bsc'Sty Of tsanifG for one dis
ten e9 racs 's shSua sEats + tra
take tri I ron ;Sa 100
yards daily. All these trials should DO taken
On leaving DO ice after hard spin heavy
Or il this is not eonvenisht. walk brsky home;
stances should 4 SKATER. after exercising; rido
on n heavy cold As regards diet. cat plenty
OF plain; wholesome food; avoiding pastry.
spirituous liquors; and do not use tobacco in
any form. Take II" meals regularly and get
woSsn 81 sot IL Sa
will give with the motion of the legs and body
dd During the winter there are numer roy warm
give Civ. ono ths impreession that there was no
II SHADY SPOT and S wa t may aten
s sc sDs G SSss wD in
brightly tho leo remains hard until tho ther-
mnmeter reaches ~ degrees above zero.
be lad at nst Gha m Skatn awsys
bear in mind that it is always colder in
in Stiles Where the houses Uses are 'u sron ra
@ a n nsop link G the sh6 SG pp 81 @
inches Thick. which however. will hold q horse n
AZ son as the ice is two inches thick it Is
reaches one and a hall inches. and weigh 100
pounds at the beginning ofthe winter, During
elastic and two inches will hold as much weight
as four inches in the latter part OF the season.
whom 1t becomes soft and sponIy
JOSEPH +. DoNoGHuE.