Skating Treadmills

[jBlaze3000]

I am wondering if anyone has used these and if the found them benifical in improving skating stride and speed. I just watched the demo video on Acceleration Minnesota's website and I think it would be great for my 10 year old. I just can't justify paying $500 for the program when all the other training looks like things that you can do at home or the garage.

[muckandgrind]

I am wondering if anyone has used these and if the found them benifical in improving skating stride and speed. I just watched the demo video on Acceleration Minnesota's website and I think it would be great for my 10 year old. I just can't justify paying $500 for the program when all the other training looks like things that you can do at home or the garage.

Before you dump $500 at Acceleration, try one of the countless powerskating camps around town in the summer first. I believe a 6 hour (3 day) session with Laura Stamm is under $200 and , from what I understand, is very well run and received.

[My_Kid_Loves_Hockey]

jBlaze check your PM

Now by my math Laura Stamm is $30/hour (I paid $180) with about a 4:1 to 7:1 ratio of instructors to skaters.

I see that Acceleration is $525 for 12 treadmill and 6 plyo sessions(any where from 1:1 to 6:1 ratio)....seems like $30/hour to me. This is what their website says you get.

[Toomuchtoosoon]

The treadmill is good if you have an instructor who knows what they are doing (just like anything else). Stride mechanics are improved if the instructor teaches and gives useful tips after each run. If the instructor just runs them through the motions, then bad habits are reinforced.

I have seen great improvements, and not so great. Velocity has one, But have not been impressed with the instruction there. The shooting deck is a nice addition.

If your kid is 10, sit and watch the person running the treadmill. If they are not instructing, then you are wasting your money.

Laura Stamm is very good, they just seem to be offered at odd times during the year.

[HockeyGuy81]

I did Acceleration many years ago (mid 90's) before my 1st year of Bantams and it helped immensely. The treadmill combined with the plyometrics for agility was extremely beneficial.

I know that was years ago and I'm assuming the program has changed and developed since then but that's just my 1st hand experience

[dogeatdog1]

My two cents.. stride mechanics cannot be developed in 6 or 12 sessions they need constant reinforcement on ice and the final decision on weather a 10 year old can have a good stride lies inside the 10 year old.. Watch him/her when they get tired and remind them that when the stride is practiced incorrectly on ice they develop bad habbits. good coaches break the kids down when practicing incorrectly and try to change the stride during that time and not in a 6 session $ maker... reinforcement on the tread mill is good but 10 is in my opinion too young.

[mnhcp]

The treadmill is good if you have an instructor who knows what they are doing (just like anything else). Stride mechanics are improved if the instructor teaches and gives useful tips after each run. If the instructor just runs them through the motions, then bad habits are reinforced.

I have seen great improvements, and not so great. Velocity has one, But have not been impressed with the instruction there. The shooting deck is a nice addition.

If your kid is 10, sit and watch the person running the treadmill. If they are not instructing, then you are wasting your money.

Laura Stamm is very good, they just seem to be offered at odd times during the year.

You are 100% dead on! My kid was 10 and did 17 sessions over 6 weeks (an incredible promotion was being offered). Experiencing many on ice clinics and camps, this was the best 17 skating lessons he's ever had on the treadmill. Even his crossovers were improved! Stride is incredible!

[pineline]

Checkout breakawayhockey.net. Andy Brink and Dave Snuggerud have some great prices for treadmill training at CCC(Chaska). If you sign up for more then 12 sessions it works out to $12.50 per session.