Cross-Training with Inline Skating
Great for Speed Skaters, Not Recommended for Figure Skaters
Elite skaters understand the importance of cross-training to keep muscle fibers reactive to unexpected activity. Inline skates, however, don't replace figure skates.
Roller blading seems like it would be a good choice for all skaters, especially in the off season. This sport can be a great tool for speed skaters, but it’s not necessarily the best training element for figure skaters.
Roller Blading for Speed Skaters
With so many cross-over athletes dominating the ice after inline racing, it’s no wonder many skaters incorporate roller skating into their training for speed skating. For short and long track ice racers, inline skating in the off-season is an excellent match for either discipline.
Exercise regimens for speed skaters usually include a combination of weight training, stretching, and cardio training that often includes bicycling, plyometrics, and roller blading. Speed skaters report that off-ice skating helps them maintain their physical conditioning over the summer months. There are other specific outcomes from incorporating inline skating into their training.
Because there is more resistance off-ice, inline speed skating requires more push to sustain speed and, therefore, builds cardio and respiratory endurance needed for long-distance racing. Roller blading allows skaters to slow down and focus on perfecting technique. The extra resistance from pavement or cement works the major leg muscles harder so that they can be explosive on the slicker ice.
Inline skates tend to be heavier than speed skates, acting much like weights on the lower leg. Runners who train with weights around their ankles report a lighter feeling when they sprint, skaters who roller blade and then race on the ice say they also feel more powerful and lighter.
While training with weights around the ankles is said to potentially cause knee problems and is not recommended, the idea is simple. The extra weight from inline speed skates may allow ice racers to develop a tolerance to the heavier off-ice skates. This tolerance translates into more speed on the ice when the extra resistance and weight are removed.
Inline Skating for Figure Skaters
There is a type of inline skates that is specifically manufactured for figure skaters. Its front stopper mimics a toe pick. The stream-lined frame boasts more control and less weight than regular inline skates. The boot is designed to bend and support at the same time to make jumps and spins possible.
With the possible exception of using this specialty skate, it is generally not recommended that serious figure skaters cross train with inline skating. Only if ice time is limited or unavailable, roller blading can be a necessary companion to the ice skater. Practicing basic elements on inline skates is better than nothing. But if ice is available year-round, roller blading can actually hinder an elite figure skater’s progress.
The actual form of the blade verses the wheel is the culprit. The two edges on each ice skate blade actually have four sides that expert technicians learn to use during advanced on-ice footwork. There has yet to be a wheel invented that can mimic the concave steel blade.
Some coaches feel that students who learn to use inline skates are at a disadvantage because wheels require a different type of balance and maneuvering than blade edges. Young figure skaters need to learn to skate into and through the ice, but wheels make them skate on top of the surface. Ice skaters who switch back and forth from ice skates to roller blades tend to progress more slowly in the development of balance and edge moves on ice.
Beginning skaters who need to gain strength and steadiness need not worry yet about the adverse effects of roller blading for ice skaters. As athletes progress to edge jumps, spins, and deep footwork, off-ice skating should be limited. The two sports are simply too different.
The good news is that there are many different and equally effective cross-training options for figure skaters. These include resistance training, plyometrics, pilates, dance, mountain biking, jogging and hiking. Bad mitten, tennis, swimming, soccer and racquetball are just a few other fun activities that encourage the high level of fitness required of serious ice skaters and racers.
