Middletown transcript., 1892-01-07
FAST SKATING.
AMATEUR CHAMPION DoNo.
GHUE's TERsE ADVICE.
ow TO SKATE CoRREcTLY-sENsI-
BILE METHODS OF TRAINING
WHEN THE ICE is SAFE.

u
skate. It has blade Is inches long
and one.sixteenth of an inch in thick
ness, made of steel, set in wooden
frame. 1t is fastened to the foot by a
screw at the heel and by straps at the
toe and heel. The skate should pro-
trude equally in front and rear of the
foot. Under the ball Of the foot is a
small steel pin which prevents the
skate from sliding sideways out of
osition, which is little to the inside
the centre of the foot. The bot
to-. of the blade is rounded slightly
away from the centre so it will run
over rough ice and is equally as good
ON a smooth surface. On small Kinks
or where there are sharp turns the
blade should be rounded more so as
to swing arouRd the turns without
loss Of speed. The blade should be
made ofthe best tempered steel, and
apple-wood is best for the tops. The
straps should be extra wide in order
to prevent cramping the feet. They
should be made Of calfskin, extra
high around the ankle and tightly
laced.
The first thing skater must learn
is to stand perfectly even on his
skates that is, to keep the edges Of
his skate from cutting into the ice,
waich increases the friction. Having
gained headway, lean forward at an
angle Of about As degrees, place the
hands behind the back, and, clasping
them, let the arms rest loosely on the
hips. This throws back the shoul-
ders and brings the chest forward.
making the lungs expand, and enables
the skater to breathe with greater
freedom, and it keeps the arms from
swinging and enables the skater to
keep q better balance. With the ex-
ception of short dashes and turning
sharp corners the arms should not be
used, as this violent swinging onlv
tends to exhaust without giving any
material increase of speed. After
balancing the body on the left foot,
give slight sidelong 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 be has put all his power in
the stroke quickly bring up the right
foot on o level and close by the left,
placing the weight Of the body on the
right and with sidelong 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 continiie as
before, always bear in mind to keep
an even balance.
Some writers have said / throw my
weight on the outside edge Of my
skates, but this is incorrect. have
found in skating over q field Of
hard ice made no marks
whatever, except 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 call
ed the Dutch roll, and many labor
under the delusion that this is the
style Of Hollands speed skaters. But
such is not the case, as the Dutch
strike out as straight
ahead as possible. In skating against
q strong wind bend as, low down as an
angle offs degrees SO as to present as
little resistance to the wind as pos.
sible. In skating with the wind
stand up little straighter than ordi-
nary so as to getas much help from
the wind as you can. in racing dis
tances of a quarter of mile or under
The stroke should be shortened and
1uickened, and the arms should be
swung rapidly from side to side. The
skater should always endeavor to
breathe through the nostrils and keep |
his mouth firmly closed. At first it
may be little hard to do this, but
with practice it can easily be accom-
plished. If he finds after. sufficient i
rial that he cannot keep his mouth
closed a pad should be worn over the
and fasten il around the head
With an elastic cord. A pad made Of
two or three thicknesses Of chamois
kin is the best. This will keep the
,old air from blowing directly on the
ungs, which might produce fatal re-
;ults.
Now as to training for racing. |
Starting about the middle of Noyem-
Der, long, easy walks Of from eight to
EN- miles should at first be taken |
iaily. After weeks practice the |
muscles having become hardened, in
,rease the PAGES and finish the walks |
With short easy runs. About twice q
week take walk up steep hill or
mountain, if such eau be found in the
,icinity. This tends to strengthen
he muscles of the thighs, which are
he ones mostly used in skating. In
ur latitude there is generally a few
lays skating to be had in the early
,art of December, which should be
AIKEN advantage Of by long, easy
pins. When a thaw ends this skat-
ng resort should again be taken to
Yalking and running. About Christ
nas the winter generally sets in and
here is generally skating to be had
aily. As tho muscles have now be-
ONE hardened, the skater takes short
pins at top speed, besides taking a
God, long skate at moderate rate.
Skaters who 60 in for racing are
oc like runners, who are divided
ito sprinters, middle distance and
,ng distance men, and who only
ain for whatever may be their spec
Elty. but must race all the distances
ON 200 yards up to and in cluding
ard thoraforo cannot make