How can I improve my ice skating leg muscles? I'd like workouts that I can at home.?

Question

I already do some upper body workouts like pushups and situps, but I can't seem to find anything to work my legs. Also would it help my skating a lot to do some stretching? If so, what stretches should I do?

I'd appreciate some good answers. Also, any thing that might improve an area in my skating would be nice.

Um... I didn't think I'd have to mention this but I will. I am not a figure skater, I play Ice Hockey.

Answer 1

You need to build both strength and endurance.

Jump rope, ride a stationary (or real) bike, do squats.

If you happen to live in an apartment building, the stairwell can be a great training tool. Go up and down the stairwell for 20 minutes straight, it's a great workout. You'll work your legs AND your lungs, which will help your skating, especially late in games.

Answer 2

Get out and rollerblade as much as possible during the offseason. The added friction helps strengthen the legs. Also, do lots of squats. I read somewhere that Jaromir Jagr does like 4000 squats a day. Another type of squat other than the basic is a jumping squat. You just jump in the air as you come up from the squat and then back down and repeat. This is also a good cardio workout. Back when Dan Jansen won the gold medal for speed skating they had a small piece with him on television doing that jumping squat. We all know how large and strong those speed skaters thighs are.

Answer 3

One summer when I was about 12 or 13 I took a job caddying at a local golf course. My hockey coach at the time instructed me to carry a golf bag on each shoulder and walk on my tippy toes. By the time fall came around my calfs were huge and my acceleration had increased a ton! If you don't have access to carrying around golf bags, leg presses and squats and ideal. Using a lighter weght and pressing with your toes is the most effective way to tone your calf muscles and give you more acceleration out of your cross-overs.

Answer 4

Definitely squats, and stationary bike. Whenever they show those 'inside the locker room' type specials during the hockey season, they're always working out on the bikes or doing tons of squats. If you can get your hands on those mats that allow you to glide (what speedskaters train on), it would probably help out quite a bit. HTH.

Answer 5

try inline skating, it's helped for me! also you could try jogging or running (on the spot???) or getting one of those home trainer thingies, either to run on or to cycle. oh, cycling is very good for leg muscles as well! or maybe kicking a boxingbag (what's the word for that?????), you know, like boxing only with you feet/ legs, it really makes them stronger! (not kidding, very serious!!)
or use a skipping rope and practise everyday (sorry, don't know the verb).
there's a lot of ways to make your muscle legs stronger, but i doubt strechting is one of them, helps to warm the muscles up though, so not a bad idea before training or a match...

Answer 6

Anything where you can feel your quads burn. That's where 90% of all your energy comes from when skating. And keep those knees bent.

Answer 7

Squats, without weight, weight sumo squats. Squats are the king of leg exercises.

Answer 8

i would say inline skating at home, and i also heard that skiing helps build hockey muscles because u use the same muscles or sumthen....

Answer 9

well you probably could look up alot of workouts for figureskaters.. BUT running is a great one.. a lot of running.. um do alot of hamstring stretches.. your basic calf stretches.. you know basic stuff.. but running does the body good for everything.. and drink alot of water.. but you probably could get better help by looking it up..

Answer 10

I find that simple squats are the best.
When it gets easier, just hold more and more weight in your hands.
It works.