Here are the essentials for each of the Fresh Meat testing stations. If you have any questions about any of the stations, please comment here or email us.
JUMPS & FALLS
For falls remember: quick recovery, standing without using your hands (use your core!) and keep your arms and legs tucked in (no flailing or chicken arms).
- Single knee fall (both legs) (engage your core to stay stable)
- Double knee fall (A soft 'tap, tap' fall. ie. don't jump into it, slide into it!)
- Baseball slide (Stomach touches ground, hands tucked into fists (no fingers!))
- Single knee fall with a turn (Turns a full 180. Then stands, turns in same direction, and resumes skating)
- Hopping & coasting (land on both feet during hopping, stay strong and stable)
- Jumping (start and finish with feet together, land on toes first, then heels - to help with stability and shock absorption)
PACK WORK
For pack work remember: communicate verbally and with body language, be a safe skater (no tripping or grabbing other skaters), and look around you - be aware on the track.
- Stopping as a pack
- Leaning
- Clipping wheels
- Avoiding obstacles
BLOCKING
For blocking remember: safety first always! Only give what you can take. Stance - nice and low. Follow through with your blocks.
- Booty blocking (think about your close proximity and peripheral vision)
- Hip checks (both sides, giving and receiving) (remember to use your 'gate stance' and find the 'sweet spot')
- Body checks (both sides, giving and receiving) (think about following through your block)
- Repeated contacted (the 'mouldy sandwich') (practise that solid stance and good recovery)
WHIPS & PUSHES
For whips and pushes remember: whips and pushes are about transferring power from one skater to another. You need to be able to commit to your team-mate, even if that means stopping entirely.
- Pushing (giving and receiving) (coming in close, and then pushing out without unbalancing your team-mate or yourself)
- Hip whip (giving and receiving) (coming in close, taking your team-mates force, and then taking their spot on the track)
- Outside whip (giving and receiving) (use your whole body)
- Inside whip (giving) (remember to make a hole for your team-mate on the inside line, and then close the gap after them)
ENDURANCE
25 in 5!
