The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-04
GOOD ADVICE
FOR SKATERS
Experts Opinion on How to Be-
come Proficient.
PRACTICE is NECESSARY
CHAMPION DAVIDSON GIVES
HIS EXPERIENCE ON ICE.

With a long, cold winter predicted there
is apt to be a lot of skating in this part
OF the country. and what John f. David
son, one Of the worlds fastest skaters,
has to say will be OF interest.
There is an art in speed skating as
well in fancy skating, though the IoI-
lowers OF each sport are unWllllng 70
admit this to be true of the other. TINS
article will treat mainly of attainment
OF speed on ice. and to begin with the
following Injunction is one that must De
observed by all: Practice all you can
and breathe through your nose.
Rhythm of motion is all important 10
one anxious 70 excel in speed skating
The stroke must be long and regular
end the body must SWING along with lIie
stroke always maintaining perfect bal
ance over the leg that is on the forward
The speed skaters arms are usually
held behind his back except IN sprint INT
races. where ne swings them with the
body. adding strength and speed TO the
forward stroke
The rink skater has greater difficulties
to contend with than the outdoor eX-
pQnent Of the sport in that he has many
turns to negotiate. Usually these turns
are very short. In turning a corner at
high speed the skater leans to the side
he is turning at an angle of sometimes 70
degrees. and it's an art to keep MS lsel,
requiring great skill.
For The person who has just mastered
the first principles of the game, and VINO
desires to take to speed skating the 1ol-
The alternate movements of the legs
Of the skater are called strokes
The skater runs or glides forward upon
one leg-say the right-at first nearly IN
a straight line, but toward the end OF
this stroke he curves away toward the
outer side-that is, in the case put the
right side.
At the end of the stroke he thrusts
his skate strongly against the Ice side
wise and backwards, stripping the SURFACE ace
with the inside edge OF the -olade OF the
skate and thus obtains the impetus neces-
sary for driving him 9iong during the
Meanwhile the other leg has been
brought back from the final thrust of the
previous stroke toward and over the mid
die line. and has been drawn wen under
AS the stroke of the right leg is curv-
ing away from the middle line toward It's
finish the left skate IS placed upon the
The skater then throwing his weight
forward rests it upon the left leg, upon
which he runs or glides in a manner
similar to that described for the right
During the time that the skater runs
Or glides upon his skate he MAINTAINS d
steady balance upon IL.
To do this he leans over the leg upon
which he is running toward the outside
SO as TO bring his center of gravity I'M
mediately over his skate.
When he is doing this the skate follows
the direction of the body and leans over
toward the ice on the same side, and
the skater runs upon the outside of the
blade.
The skate can thus run straight and
steady, the edge Of the skate acting as
a guide and preventing the skate from
WObblirg.
Just before the front thrust the skater
ceases to balance himself on the outside
edge. his skate curves outward. but his
weight does not follow it, and he comes
upon the flat of his skate and then fin
lshes on the inside edge.
In racing the stroke is close to the
miG5le line most of its length and the
curve at the finish is not sustained.
To make q vigorous backward thrust
with the leg. and at the same time TO
place the other leg on the middle line and
receive upon IL with steady balance, the
weight of the body thus driven forward,
and to run upon II along this line, is d
feat requiring much practice and skill.
in order to assist him in accomplishing IL
in sprint work. the skater swings his
trms across his body to that side on
which he is running, carrying them as
Tar as they will go
Too much importance cannot be at
tached to the length and steadiness of
the stroke in speed work and the swing
Of the body in harmony with the stroke.