Anyone use ice skating for cross training?

Skating is a great cross training exercise to improve cycling. I have used cycling to improve my hockey team's skating for many years. There are many Olympic speed skaters who race bikes in the summer as it uses most of the same muscle groups. Although, I would caution you doing it to help your ITBS problem as you could make it worse if you are not a comfortable skater. Stick with what your physio tells you to do to mend it.

Edited by oldrunner 2010-11-29 8:30 AM

as a form of cross training its a fun activity, but to get a real workout you'll need to know how to skate decently or else you wont be getting the workout you are looking for.

My wifes main interest is ice skating. She was a swimmer in high school. Basically, when she feels like doing a tri, she trains for a week or two and is usually a MOP finisher. So it's got to be pretty decent for cross-training

There are much better ways to overcome and prevent ITBS.  The underlying problems that are causing your symptoms will probably not be solved by skating, and will most likely grow worse.  See a good PT or massage therapist for some rigorous deep tissue massage.  Once you break up the adhesions that restrict your ITB elongation, you can start to strengthen the associated muscles and correct the condition.  If your case is not severe, then you can expect reasonable progress within 3-6 weeks.  Otherwise, give it a few months before you seriously consider getting back into full training mode.

Sorry, for the record, I am not only doing this to cure my ITBS.  It is mainly another form of cross training as well as to strengthen my glutes and legs (which I think is causing my ITBS).  I am a very proficient skater.  I gave up playing ice hockey two years ago to focus on tri's after playing for the past 10 years as well as playing in high school.  All the info sounds very positive.  I might make this my new Monday exercise.

Edited by Jeepguy2358 2010-11-29 4:59 PM

then yes go for it.

If you have been off the ice a while, be prepared for IT band and back to be tight if you skate hard/play hockey the first few times.

I too played peewee and then high school/college, and its a great workout, but getting back on the ice is always a bit interesting for the few days after if i have not done it in a while.

Umm, no. But there's a good reason for that.

The first time I ever ice skated I broke my leg and had to have a rod put in it. But the upside is that it was during recovery when they weren't sure if I would have full mobility again, that I took a personal inventory. I decided I had taken movement for granted and would run a marathon as soon as I recovered. During my searching about marathon training I came across BT. I signed up for my first tri two months later.

So scratch the no, for me it was cross training, got me trained from winter sports to triathlon. But I wouldn't recommend following in my foot steps.

I would say yes, but, since I am "just" a goalie, the other guys say I just stand there in the nets and don't really have to skate.

As a form of cross training it is great. I don't play hockey, but I am a very good skater and take my daughter and nefews to open skate atleast twice a week. It is easy for me to get skating in, we have four different indoor rinks and a couple outdoor here where I live. It really works your glutes as well as lower back and upper legs. Just take it easy so you don't hurt yourself more.