Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-02-03
ANNAPOLIS MD. WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY g. 1892
FAST ICE SKATING.
OPINIONS BY JosEPH E. ooNoG-
HUE. TIE EXPERT.

The Heat skate The Correct stroke
Havv 10 Learn 60 skate skating Tor
spssd-Cars OF the Health amer skAt-
tag Training.
The best skate Is the Hndsou River
skate lt has a blade Is inches long and
onesixteenth Of al inch IN thickness.
made of steel aud set in wooden frame.
II is fastened to the foot 10y screw at
the heel and by straps at the toe aud heel.
The skate should protrude equally in
front and rear of the foot. Under the
bali Of the foot is q small steel piu. Mhic.,
prevents the skate from sliding sideways
out OF position, which is little 20 th5
inside of tile center of the foot The
bottom of the blade is rounded slightly
away from the center 80 il will run over
rough ice, and is equally rs good on y
smooth surface. On small rinks. OF
where there are sharp turns, the blade
should be rounded more SO as 10 swing
around the turns without loss Of speed.
The first thing skater must learn Is
10 stand perfectly even on his skates.
that is 10 keep the edges Of his skate
from cutting in the ice, which increases
the friction. Having gained headway,
lean forward at an angle of about Is
degrees, place the hands behind the bacS
and clasping them, let the arms rest
loosely on the hips this throws back the
shoulders aud brings the chest forward.
making the lungs expand, and enables
the skater 70 breathe with greater Free
dom, and it keeps the arms from swing.
ing and enables the skater to keep a bet.
ter balance. With the exception of short
dashes and turning sharp corners the
arms should not be used, az this violent
swinging only tends TO exhaust without
giving any material increase OF speed.
After balancing the body on the left foot
give a slight sidslong push with the
right; at the same time swing the body
forward as the skate glides along the ice.
As soon as the skater feels that he has
put all his power in the stroke quickly
bring up the right foot on . level and
close by the left, placing the weight Of
the body on the right, and with side
long 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 continue as
before, always bearing in mind TO keep
OH even balance.
The skater should strike out as straight
ahead as possible and not swing off from
a straight line as do many skaters. This
swinging off on the outer edge OF the
skate is called the Dutch roll, and many
labor under the delusion that this is the
'tyle Of Hollands speed skaters. But
ch is not the case, as the Dutch cham
lions strike out as straight ahead as pos.
sible In racing distances of a quarter
OF a mile or under the stroke should he
shortened and quickened, and the arms
should be swung rapidly from side to
~i,le The skatershould always endeavor
e. breathe through the nostriis and keep
Une mouth firmly closed. III he finds
after a sufficient trial that he can not
keep the mouth closed pad should be
worn over the mouth. and fssten il
around the head with an elastic cord.
Now as to training for racing Start.
Ing about the middle of November long,
easy walks of from eight 10 10 miles
should at first be taken daily. After 2
weeks practice. muscles having becoin E
hardened increase the pee and finish
the walks with short. easy runs About
twice a week take a walk up steep hill
or mountain, il such can be found in the
vicinity. This tends to strengthen the
muscles of the thighs which are the ones
mostly used in skating.
Skaters who go in for racing must race
all distances from 200 yards up to and in
cluding 10 miles, and, therefore. can not
make a specially of training for one dis
tance. A skater who intends to compete
/ 10 mile race should skate FIVE mile
trial against time once q week, and for
short distance racing should take trials
FRO n 200 to 400 yards daily.
On leaving the ice after a hard spin
a heavy oyercoat should be wrapped
around the body, or if this is not con-
yenient, walk briskly home to prevent
taking cold. Under no circumstances
should skater, after exercising, ride in
an open vehicle 1t is almost sure to
bring on a heavy cold. Abstain from
spirituous liquors, and do not uss tobacco
ia any form. Take the meals regularly
and get plenty of sleep. The skater
should be clothed in warm woolen
clothes Of soft texture that viii give with
the motion Of the legs and body.
During the winter there are numerous
warm days and the streets are generally
filled with running water or snow and
slush which would give one the impres.
sion that there was no skating TO he had.
but placing thermometer in shady
spot and watching it one may often be
able TO indulge in spin which, from out
side indications, il would look impossible.
On day when the sun does not shine
very brightly the ice remains hard until
the thermometer reaches a. degrees above
zero. When the sun is very bright,
skating can be had at Ss degrees. One
must always bear in mind that it is
always colder in an open space as on .
river or lake than ia cities where the
houses are grouped.
In the first part Of the winter comes
the old caution, do not venture ON the
ice until it is safe. Most people think it
should be four inches thick, which, how
ever, viii hold horse. As soon a. the
ice is two inches thick il is safe. / al.
ways get on the ice rs soon as IL reaches
one and half inches and | weigh l6e
pounds at the beginning Of winter The
first of the winter the ice is strong and
elastic and two inches win hold as much