LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Linda J · Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 210

SPEEDCAMP London 11-12th August.

Barry Publow is coming to the UK for the first time to run a weekend Speed workshop in London. This is an opportunity to gain insight into a wealth of knowledge and benefit from Barry’s expertise in speed skating, racing and coaching.

Fo anyone who's not heard of Barry Publow, he is considered a leading authority in the areas of sport-specific technique, biomechanics, and training application. He is well known as the first author to study, dissect, write about and create a teaching method for the double-push. His book Speed on Skates is the only one of its kind and therefore something of a bible for speedskaters.

An accomplished skater in his own right, Barry is a former National (inline) Champion and still holds Canadian records in the 300m and 500m. He has competed for Canada at both World Championships and Pan American Games, and was a member of the National Team 1994-2000. He is currently a member of the Bont North America Racing Team and gives workshops all over the world.

The workshop will run roughly as follows:

Session 1 - Friday, August 11
8:00 - 10:00 pm: Friday Night Skate - Meet Barry - maybe and ask a question or two.

Session 2 – Saturday, August 12
9-1 pm Dryland skating drills, imitations, and alignment/balance exercises
1-3 pm Lunch break
3-5 pm On-skate technical training
6-8 Video Review

Session 3 – Sunday, August 13
9-1 On skate technical training
1-3 Lunch break
3-5 On-skate and off-skate technical training

Barry has a comprehensive and methodical way of explaining technique combined with practical drills and challenges to try out at each step.

His video reviews are extremely revelatory both because of the way he films you and because his comments can be astonishingly specific.

See http://speedcamp.ca/london.html for full itinerary or ask me for more details; Linda@skatefresh.com / 07807 919438

p.s. I'm a bit late in posting this. You need to register for this by the 27th August.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Linda J · Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 210

Oops! Yes I meant deadline for registration was 27th July.

However there are still places available so book up now if you're interested.

Just so you know, this is likely to be the only time Barry Publow will ever do SpeedCamp in the UK. If you still want to take part after that, you'll just have to go to Canada!

Linda J · Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 210

General info to participants.

We're meeting at 7.30 ish on Friday for introductions etc before the LFNS (Wellington Arch - Hyde park Corner).

On Saturday morning its a 9am start at the Albert Memorial (in Hyde park opposite the Royal Albert Hall). You'll finish at around 8pm in the pub.

Thanks.

Linda J · Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 210

bump*

Any feedback fellas? Either nice or constructive. I'm pretty sure you all had a good time, but it would be great if you could also PM me or write here so I can feedback to him and also so other people can refer to it for future reference.

Simon · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 621 Location: Out side edge

From Week on Weels (before Nats made it read correctly)

Barry Publow was not expecting the LFNS. He said ‘I could not believe the level of energy by the second set of lights. I was expecting every one to be dead by high time, but you were all still going at the end. Barry also said is going to make his own sound bike!

But for us what the weekend was really about was having an ex-Canadian speed champion and world class coach train us for a full weekend.
One of Barry’s other qualifications is a degree in bio-mechanics. This gives him a unique perspective when it comes to speed skating. Understanding how the body works when it’s skating and so why we should skate how we do was fascinating. Also covering a lot of warm up and why our body needs it (I for one will skip this a lot less often). Also dry land training for both tacked and body workout.
One of the more controversial parts of the course was the double push. We were given a very clear expansion of what it is, why it works and even better how to do it. What I also liked about it is there was little or no conflict with what I have been told before.
Over the two days not only did my skating improve but my understating of my skating got better. Barry even kept us entertned between sessions with his stories (120kph on skates down a hill drafting a car!).
A big thanks to Barry and also to Linda for sorting out the weekend.

peterc · Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 1284 Location: M3 somewhere

Oh, BTW.

Big poster and lots of flyers on the Aldwitch notice board (Where I do short track at Guildford)

Linda J · Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 210

Duracell · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:03 pm Subject:

peterc · Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 1284 Location: M3 somewhere

Barrie · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 1380 Location: Putney

Feedback - pretty much as per Duracell's.

I was suprised with the large amount of useful information he gave, both formally and informally, and how easy it was to absorb. The background information re-enforced the key points well.

Tammy · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 144 Location: Twickenham

Now that I've had a chance to concentrate on what Barry was saying, I'm finding it really does work. I was just thinking bigger recovery, early lean, and carry momentum forward and to the side - and seemed to be going at much the same speed for less effort.

I agree - Barry has a v helpful and clear teaching style with lots of explanation. Now it's just a question of remembering to do it.