QUESTION: I can stop alright on one side but I can't stop on my other which must be my weak slide. I don't seem to be able to twist quick enough to stop on that side. What can I do to work on this so that I can stop on that side. Most of the times I tried I end up turning in the direction instead of stopping.

ANSWER:

The best thing to start learning to stop would be take it ALL from the "TOP"!! Just kidding. - But let's work both sides -- observe and be fully present with all the steps... and what you see working on one side will help you "figure it out" for the other!!

The first thing you need to do is RELAX and work on your CONFIDENCE. The big key here (as with anything NEW) -- is be patient and don't rush yourself. You want to learn to do things "RIGHT" and safe first.

1. THE SHAVE SLIDE

So to start I would recommend you work on the "shave slide" ... to do this face a board (on the ice) and put your two hands against the edge... and then slowly begin "shaving" the ice as you move your legs/skates as if you were skating ... but instead of cutting into the ice apply lighter pressure so that you SHAVE the ice... in a swishing motion... get used to the FEEL of this as you will need to "shift your weight" to this same point so that you can then shave your way to a hockey stop...

2. SNOW PLOW STOP

Once you feel comfortable with this -- you can start skating to try this in motion. Now before you jump into a full 2 skate (side) hockey stop ... work your way up (safely) towards that. You can do this by practicing the "snow plow" stop -- like in downhill (snowplow) skiing.

Have you ever done that ? If not - this is where you point the toes of each of your feet in towards the middle and "snow plow" your way to a stop ... again start slowly. Go at slow speeds and slide your way to stop(s). You can slowly pick up the speed as you FEEL CONFIDENT. TAKE YOUR TIME -- if you rush you may fall and so will your confidence! This extra time invested will yield a good result for you.

If you are in a hurry -- wear some pads -- by falling you can also improve quicker as you will "risk" more and this will speed up the process...

3. ONE SKATE STOP

Then, once you feel good about a two foot snow plow (applying the light pressure you practiced against the boards)... you can then try to do the same type of "move" (toes in) while emphasizing the pressure on ONE skate ... and thereby stopping (in snow plow motion) but with ONE skate --- if not sure at first it's ok to use both - but work your way to using just one foot... (You can alternate at first too -- getting both sides working and shifting your weight from one to the other...)

As this improves you will find yourself beginning to use one (dominant) leg over the other -- while your goal will be to be balanced, for now you can focus on the dominant side.

4. THE HOCKEY STOP

Then as you feel more and more confident -- you can then start shifting your body (and weight) so that you can get both feet "together" to form what is known as the hockey stop... (note: you will have to be going a little faster to accomplish this --- ) as your confidence keeps building you will develop a more "natural" tendency to doing this. With practice you will see yourself naturally working your body into a proper hockey stop position...

So start with stopping first and then you can skate around like the wind knowing you won't go crashing into the boards!!

ENJOY THE PROCESS and good luck.

Martial