“It doesn’t matter how you skate — as long as you’re having fun and getting exercise.”
It’s a lovely idea.
And yes — skating is fun.
And yes — any movement is better than none.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
If your stride mechanics are inefficient, you’re not actually getting the strength and fitness benefits skating could be giving you.
Most beginners and a LOT of intermediate skaters unknowingly regroup in the “V” position (toes pointing out slightly i.e. not parallel). It feels normal. It feels natural.
But that regroup position shortens your glide.
And when your glide is short:
- your push becomes weak
- your glutes don’t fully engage
- your knee bend doesn’t sustain
- your aerobic stamina never really builds
You’re working hard…
But you’re not moving efficiently.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQXWn_jDF3N/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Now compare that to a technically sound stride:
- A longer, cleaner push (glutes doing their job)
- A controlled regroup under the body (glutes maintaining their job)
- A longer glide (core and lower body stabilising)
- Sustained knee bend that builds real endurance
Suddenly, skating becomes:
- Strength training
- Aerobic conditioning
- Balance training
- And flow — all at once
The difference isn’t effort.
It’s mechanics.
Fun matters.
But if you’re going to spend an hour skating, wouldn’t you rather:
- strengthen the right muscles
- build real stamina
- and feel smoother doing it?
Technique doesn’t remove fun.
It multiplies the benefits of it.
It you’d like to turn your skate time into productive, fun, physical training with observable and feelable rewards, start using some of our FREE Stride Training Drills for Beginner & Intermediate level skaters.
