For those that don't know i'm passing my 25 in 5 shortly but in order to help me along I was wondering if anyone has any tips? Should I crossover the whole way? Should I be in derby stance? How do I do the diamond technique? Should I carry a kitten for encouragement?

Advise!

Lingus

Um, I'm sure people will post with loadsa helpful advise on technique but something really simple and easy to both remember and do, is to use your arms, pump them as if you are running. Often it can just be a matter of seconds between making the 25 and just missing it and that bit of extra momentum can really help. Admittedly, this seems really obvious (and I haven't really seen you skate so you may well do this already), but it was a belated revelation to me so thought I'd share!

you need to average 12 seconds a lap, so if you can sprint one at 10 seconds you can rest and have one at 14 seconds, etc.


you should be in derby stance for everything, connie, you know that!

and yes, debris is right, use your arms, resting your arms on your knees makes you go slower.

pick someone and chase them.

give it your all! it's only 5 minutes, it doesn't matter if you feel like you're going to explode and die for *5 minutes*

haha, yes!

Great tips already

Your Diamond formation when your doing your laps is your best friend! If you can hit the correct points on the track then you should be able to keep moving your feet for the WHOLE lap ie. NO coasting on the corners.

I think all the Fresh Meats should try to be at practice nice and early on Sunday as the hall is usually free early.

There should be plenty Wise Owls hooting around who you could ask if your unsure about the diamond formation. Its just a very precise and 'economical' way of skating so that you get the most out of your lap without too much effort!

You can do it! Connie YES!

I was thinking about getting there ridiculously early to have a play about on the harder wheels and get used to them more. I'd like some kind owls to maybe show me how to start off quicker because I waste a good 10-15 seconds just getting going. Although that might be different now i'm not on sludgy slow wheels of slowness.

I've already decided i'm passing 22 this week and 25 next. Connie, YES!

Hey Connie,
if you are losing speed from building momentum, practice your toe stop runs(or duck runs)!

Seriously, they will give you a nice little boost and get you speeding off the line.

This is going to be my mantra. By about 14 laps, I feel like I'm going to explode and die, and that's when the coasting around the corners starts.

It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes
It'sonlyfiveminutes

Oh, and btw - GO CONNIE GO!

I managed to get my 25 in 5 at QMU on Tuesday (just a practice though, not official).

I did a couple of things differently this time; moving my feet ALL the time and swinging my arms, so, what Debris and Tarty said worked for me.

FN

I have the say the most important thing I found was to keep your feet moving. Like all the time. I tried to avoid coasting at all, and obv I do it a little bit on the corner, but like the rest of the time, just keep moving.

Also, don't get stuck behind people. That was my problem, I would finally catch up to someone and get stuck because I didn't have the nerve to get past them. Just be aware of who is in front of you and pass them!

And yeah the diamond is a thing of beauty!