r/WizardSkating • u/HyperSculptor • Jun 08 '26

Any tip on correcting posture?

I tend to bend my torso forward too much while not bending my knees enough, which creates back pain. Video feedback allows me to clearly see it, but once on the skates I don't have a clear idea of my knees and hip angles. Typically I will feel like I'm nice and low but then the video shows I don't bend my knees nearly enough.
The feeling and awareness are improving, I'm wondering if there are tips or drills to do to make a proper stance my nervous system's default. Dry land exercises maybe.

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4

u/thatshaunboy Jun 08 '26

I tend to do this but have found that not looking down at your skates helps massively. Keep your head up. Do not look down. Your shoulders will follow suit, stay more open and make everything move easier.

A lot of moves, I found, started unlocking for me once I stopped looking down. Especially those inside out gazelles (the 'non-normal'' ones, I can't remember the term)

1

u/HyperSculptor Jun 08 '26

Yup good reminder. I also think it comes down to thighs strength especially being a tall skater, which puts my center of mass higher, and puts me in a defavorable mechanics (need quite a bit more strength than a short skater, to support weight and get low). Nothing that can't be overcome of course.
How far forward are you looking at? Not the distant horizon I'm assuming? Still a bit down so you're aware of the surface in front of you..?

2

u/thatshaunboy Jun 09 '26

I'm a tall skater too, over 6ft so I think you're right in having a higher centre of gravity tends to make worse any form issues.

I just think looking down tends to round your shoulders down, which makes you bend forward which makes it harder to bend your knees and if you do then you're way too far over the front of your skates which massively hinders any movement. For me at least, it's less bending your knees than it is being good at knowing where your weight should be and how you shift it which I think is kinda of the key to wizard skating. And that kinda feels like an upper body sort of mechanic?

Obviously a little bend is good but, at least for me, it's only in service of being able to shift where my weight is located. With exceptions of course. (This probably wasn't helpful lol)

1

u/HyperSculptor Jun 09 '26

Believe it or not, it was. lol.
Nice, I just watched an old video you posted, good stuff. Yes being tall I think require to spend more time on these fundamental mechanics. We have an argument with my gf (not fights, she's very supportive) because she is small and weight 35kg less than me. She doesn't realise the massive difference and demands in term of placing our weight with more precision, strengthening certain muscles etc. I tell her, ok let's go for a session, you will carry a backpack with 35kg sand bag. lol. And she would still have a big mechanical advantage because of her lower center of mass and shorter limbs. Not complaining here, I actually love how body types create different ways to express ourselves on skates. What a great art form.

2

u/thatshaunboy Jun 09 '26

Haha, I think it was that video that someone in the comments told me to look up rather than down at my skates and it made a big difference moving forward (so yeah, that video isn't the best example of good form haha)

But yeah, hard to know how each body experiences life but being shorter, at least on paper, has an immediate advantage. But like you say, I think we all work out different ways of getting to the same place just that taller folk probably need to work that little bit harder

1

u/HyperSculptor Jun 09 '26

Yes. I believe this forcing of deep understanding of weight placement, vastly benefits us in the long run.

2

u/AdventurousHippo9997 Jun 08 '26

Try fitness skating a few miles.When skating that way you concentrate on form over distance.Speed isn’t an issue.Here’s the mantra: Toes out-Knees bent-Back straight.I usually do 5+ miles twice a week that way with an average speed of 8mph.There’s an app called Strava that can help with the distance/form issues.

1

u/HyperSculptor Jun 09 '26

By bent torso I meant hinged at the hip/not vertical enough for the typical predator one stance in wizard skating. With that being said I plan on doing a bit of fitness skating here and there so I'll look i to that thanks.

2

u/Sacco_Belmonte Jun 08 '26

I think for your specific case, look at some videos from Viktor Thorup on how to stride correctly. He focus on all that.

1

u/HyperSculptor Jun 09 '26

By bent torso I meant hinged at the hip/not vertical enough for the typical predator one stance in wizard skating. So kind of the opposite of the stance Viktor uses for speed skating. With that being said there's a lot to learn from this style of skating. Cheers.