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Double Push technique Question
Question
I have a question about the double-push technique. You have used the term Ąpullą in the past to refer to the inward motion of the active leg during the glide. Shouldnąt it therefore be called the push-pull technique?
Answer
You are correct that the term ‘double push’ is a bit of a misnomer. Let’s consider the facts. First, let’s clarify the meaning of push versus a pull. A push refers to a motion away from the centre (midline) of the body. A pull is the opposite action; moving a limb toward the center of the body. There is little question that the conventional pushing action of the leg is, in fact, a push. The complication is with the support leg (which is normally motionless, or static, during the glide). With the double push, the support leg/skate is set down outside the midline, full body weight is applied, then it moves towards and then across it before arcing out into the next push. So, the ‘pull’ actually contains two parts: The initial part of what I refer to as the pull is indeed a pull. But in actuality, the pull becomes a push once it crosses the midline under the body. I.e. This one action begins as a pull then becomes a push while moving in the same direction. So if you want to be technically accurate, the double push should be called the push, pull-push technique! But because of the fluidity of the motion it is far simpler to just call the motion a ‘pull’. Are you confused yet? If so, read my double push article in this very issue.
Question
In your book explaining the double push technique you state the recovery leg is touching down just as the pushing leg is finishing its push. You mention how this differentiates from the classic technique's recovery leg being placed close to the pushing leg.
In the classic technique you push against the recovery leg, that's why you want it near the pushing leg, to get the most benefit of the push. What is pushed against in the double push technique if there's no recovery leg down until the very end of the push?
Answer
This is a bit of an elaborate thread to discuss in the A.T.E. column, so I will leave this for discussion in a future article. However, I will make a few comments. First off, with classic technique you don’t push against the recovery leg per say. Whether one skates classic or double-push, the object you ‘push against’ is the same: body weight. In classic technique you begin your push as the weight transfer occurs and body mass moves AWAY FROM the direction of push. In double push skating the concept is much the same: using the weight transfer and body mass as a point of leverage, the pushing leg extends in an opposite direction to that of the weight shift. E.g. when you push with the left leg the body weight is moving to the right.
The difference is in the set-down! In classic technique the skate sets down early on in the push and provides the base of support for ‘catching’ the weight transfer and subsequent glide. With the double-push the recovery skate sets down much later, with the pushing more than half way extended. Remember, the body weight is always moving AWAY from the pushing leg. In double push skating, the recovery skate sets down and then ‘pulls’ in the same direction as the pushing leg… always AWAY from the direction of weight transfer.
This is a difficult concept for most to visualize. I have some good photos to illustrate this point but unfortunately they are not high enough resolution to print. I will try to get some high-resolution photos taken and discuss this is a future A.T.E article.
opyright © 2004 Barry Publow. All Rights Reserved.
