Spread Eagles--easier to do on hockey skates?

[lutefisk]

Yes, yes, I know spread eagles require excellent hip turn out and yes, I realize that some have this and some don't.  But here's a little observation I've made over the past couple years skating at publics on my home rink in Bowie, MD:  more than a few boys on hockey skates who seem to be what I'd call low level skaters can easily do inside and in some cases outside spread eagles. Now these guys can skate forwards and backwards and, of course, do the hockey stops which are de rigueur for their demographic, but their overall skating quality seems low and in some cases a little shaky.  Hence my question:  is it easier to perform this element on hockey blades by virtue of the rocker of the blade (or some other design feature) or are these guys just naturally gifted in this single skating aspect?  Have others observed this phenom?  Just one of life's little mysteries...

[davincisop]

I've noticed this, too, and one thing I've noticed watching a guy do them ALL OVER the rink I skate at is he is moreso closer to his heels on the blades, whereas on figure skates you can't do that. He also cuts huge divots because he will stop doing them or do sharp turns doing them.

But I've found that the part of the blade they are on is different than where ours would be.

[Icicle]

I've heard that it's easier to do spread eagles on inline skates. Unfortunately, I'm not good at inline skating so I can't check it out.

[Doubletoe]

I think it would be easier to do spread eagles in hockey skates because you don't have to worry about the heel of the blade of the back foot (hockey blades are rounded in the back) getting stuck in the ice when you place it into position.  I have done spread eagles in inline skates and it is a little awkward, but only because the "blades" extend so far behind the heel.  Another problem you wouldn't have with hockey skates.

[lutefisk]

All interesting observations.  What we need is input from that rare somebody who skates both with figure and hockey skates.  Unlike davincisop I have not seen these spread eagling (might be a word) hockey guys creating ruts any deeper than what the heavy ice tourist traffic churns up in general.

[FigureSpins]

All interesting observations.  What we need is input from that rare somebody who skates both with figure and hockey skates.  Unlike davincisop I have not seen these spread eagling (might be a word) hockey guys creating ruts any deeper than what the heavy ice tourist traffic churns up in general.

You're not looking closely enough.  Check out the end circles - they're usually rutted from hockey skaters.  The age-old debate between hockey and figure skaters has always been about how they each use the ice.  The hockey players complain that figure skaters "make holes" in the ice when they jump.  The figure skaters argue that the hockey players make the ice around circles unskateable with grooves and ruts.  (They use the curved front/back of the blades to handle deep edges.  Most lack the blade control, so they end up on the ends instead of the rockers.)

Figure skaters' longer, flatter blades require them to evenly distribute weight, using their ankles for support. 




However, the new trend among hockey players is to copy figure skater Michael Weiss' famous heelie spreadeagle:



Note: Weiss is wearing John Watts' Freedom blades, which have rounded blade tails.

That position concentrates the skater's weight on a small portion of the blade, resulting in much more "digging" into the ice.
They also do a heel-and-toe inline glide that makes absolute trenches in the ice.  One of our skate guards, who skates more than he guards, does this constantly during public sessions with his little sister.

[davincisop]

The guy I've witnessed actually DOES that heel move. I'm waiting for him to wipe out doing it someday, or run into someone. Because he changes direction on a dime and has almost taken me out before.

I'd be curious to hop into some hockey skates just to see if it was easier, because I have the turnout off the ice for spread eagles, but on the ice I can only hold it if I am holding onto the boards.

[lutefisk]

Our guys don't do wheelies, just regular and enviable spread eagles.  Nice pix in your post!

[sk8lady]

YES.
It is ABSOLUTELY easier to do spread eagles in hockey skates.
I learned to do them consecutively on alternating feet (well, really a Besti squat) when I took a hockey coaches' clinic with the UMaine hockey coach. No problem in hockey skates, but I still struggle with them in figure skates!
The heel move and the one toe one heel move come from inline skating.

[lutefisk]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions, sk8lady.