technique for uphill battles

[chris kane]

I was recently reading that technique is the difference between a good and great skater. I always thought the best technique for attacking hills is to get low and push with the front of the skate. It also said pushing with the back two wheels of your skate results in the best power transfer especially on the long straights. Is there a "best" technique? Perhaps I was reading this in a daze but any suggestion helps. Thanks! C.Kane

[lyke99]

I find the best way for me to achieve my greatest speed on steep inclines is to stand a little straighter in my skates and shorten my stride while quickening my pace a bit.

During my 8 years of avid fitness skating, my stride has evolved from the short, choppy strides of hockey skating to the long, smooth strides of speed skating; but a steep hill usually calls for me to "go back to my roots" in terms of technique.

I also try to do a hill workout (up the big hill, turn, down the big hill) once a week as the summer progresses so that Lemon Drop Hill and the off-ramp at the end of the NorthShore Inline Marathon in September feel like molehills rather than mountains.

[GhostRider]

IMHO, the worst thing you can do is apply a high powered stride in a low stance going up a hill.. its a terrible waste of energy and will burn out your legs much faster. Try one of the following,

1) Quick chop low powered strides, similiar in some effect to sprint but far less power output and in a mid-stance.
2) Medium power quick strides using a mid-stance but using a rythmic quick pace.

The above depends on your skates (wheel size and frame length), your abilities, your physical condition at that point of your training run, length and incline of the hill, and road surface. The trick is to get up the hill as quickly as possible while using a little power as possible. You dont want to be going uphill any longer then needed so as to avoid burnout (or falling seriously behind) but you dont want to burn all your energy trying to go too fast up the hill either.. in essence, a balancing act.

There is no silver bullet method so it just takes practice on various types of surfaces and inclines to see which works best and dont be afraid to experiment as you go. In some cases I have used a medium power snap stride and actually accelerated up a moderately inclined 1/4 mile hill. Point being, a well practiced stride can make a world of difference and if done right you wont drain your energy a high rate going up the hill.

Thanks.