Mission Hockey Skates Inline
How can I be a better inline hockey skater?
I’ve been a strong ice hockey skater for a long time, playing AAA for 8 years now. My friend convinced me to try inline hockey for the first time this year and I feel like a complete beginner again. It seems like the skating is totally different and on every turn or stop I find myself wiping out. Also, the explosive acceleration I had in ice hockey seems to make my skates slip out every time i try to rush up the ice. The concrete surface seems impossible to find any purchase on for that smooth skating style with sharp cuts and fast acceleration which were my bread and butter on ice. Any advice on skating styles or drills that would help me improve my inline hockey game would be much appreciated. I acquired a pair of Mission DSX skates for the record.
Step 1: Get the proper wheels so you can grip the surface better when exploding out of the corners down the court. Are you playing on asphalt or sport court? 84A for the former and 76A for the latter are good starting points to keep your grip. Second: whatever diameter the back two wheels are the front two should be the next diameter below (ie. 76mm 76mm 74mm 74mm) You can also go with a three wheel approach 76 74 74 72. You’ll find that order will enable you to cut better on turns.
The biggest different with inline vs. ice is the stop and go capability ice skates offer you.
Work on your 180s counter and clockwise for stopping when coming to dig the ball/puck out of the boards. You’ll want to go into the boards with your back as opposed to your face or even worse, outstretched hands (good bye wrists)
Lastly, depending on your league / pick up rules regarding contact I play no ['incidental'] contact, the lack of start and go that you have on ice will see you needing to give the offense a little more of a buffer (not much though) when covering man to cut off the rush at an effective angle.
I also recommend learning how to fall properly all over again. Going from ice to inline let me just say…powerstops can be a b!tch.