Matthew Blair Davis shares some valuable off-ice workouts for figure skaters. These videos are publicly available on YouTube, but we’re publishing them here at iCoachSkating.com because they are important and very few skaters or coaches have seen them. Please watch them as soon as possible, as iCoachSkating.com does not have direct control of this video and it may be removed at any time.
In this first video, Matt shares a full workout for increasing a figure skater’s jump power. This is obviously an important topic for figure skaters, as jump air time is almost always a limiting factor when young skaters first attempt double and then triple jumps. Notice the continual focus on power and quickness in these drills and how each drill is relatively short in duration (usually not longer than 10 seconds). This allows the skater to apply 100% effort, remaining focused mentally and physically with minimal fatigue. Some of the exercises are classic plyometric drills for developing quick twitch muscle fibers, such as the drop off a small box and immediate jump onto a large box. This is a difficult and draining workout designed to build overall strength and quickness with a focus on vertical jump improvement.
In the second video, Matt explains another off-ice power training workout with a more advanced athlete. This workout is designed not just for vertical jump improvement, but overall strength and power development and the ability to hold positions and stabilize one foot landings. You’ll notice a few similar exercises to those in the video above, but it’s mostly new information in this video. Although Matt doesn’t narrate this video, you get a clear view of each exercise and see the entire progression for the workout. As in the first video, notice the constant use of the stopwatch. Not only does it measure progress over time, but it provides motivation on every repetition of an exercise! Notice the inclusion of core exercises, ankle stability exercises, and good old-fashioned power lifting exercises.
Taken as a whole, this is a grueling workout. But it should be obvious that skaters participating in this type of off-ice training are more likely to maximize their personal potential. Those skaters who skate 4 times a week and dream of the Olympics don’t stand a chance against highly trained athletes who skate more and are stronger and quicker. Becoming a champion takes discipline and dedication, on the ice and off.
We will provide a few more of these workouts from Matt in the future. Matt used to run a website for figure skaters called off-icestrength.com but the website is no longer available and Matt no longer trains figure skaters on a regular basis. Nevertheless, Matt left a nice legacy of information that will be helpful to figure skaters for a long time to come. Thanks Matt.
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