1. What age is the PowerSkater designed for?
2. Is the PowerSkater angle adjustable for different ages?
3. How big is the PowerSkater?
4. How heavy is the PowerSkater?
5. How high off the floor do you stand?
6. How easy is it to assemble?
7. What resistance cords should I buy?
8. What setting do I start my child on?
9. How many adjustments are there?
10. Will the PowerSkater have any adverse effects to my skating technique?
11. Will a PowerSkater replace Power Skating clinics?
12. How often should I workout?
13. How soon will I see an improvement?
14. My child is in the awkward growth stage and seems to have lost some of his/her skills. Will a PowerSkater help?
15. How does the PowerSkater compare to a lateral board?
16. Do you have a return policy after 30 days if I don't like the PowerSkater?
17. Can I go to a sports store and buy a PowerSkater? I would like to see one first.
18. Do you have a video?
19. My child skates with their weight too forward and back bent. Will the PowerSkater help correct his posture?
20. How do I buy a PowerSkater in Canada?
21. Do you have a payment plan?
22. My child is a goalie. Is the PowerSkater designed only for forwards?
23. I am a Figure Skater. Your web site is geared to hockey players. Will the PowerSkater help me in my sport?
24. Do you have any Pro's using the PowerSkater?
25. Why would a NHL Professional team buy a PowerSkater, they are already proficient skaters?
26. What about backward skating? Does the PowerSkater help backward skating?
27. I am an in-line skater. Will the PowerSkater help me?
28. What parts could possibly break?
29. What about maintenance?
30. What about the "toe flick". Can I train my foot to execute a "toe flick"?
31. Do you have used PowerSkaters for sale?
32. What is the difference between a single and double crossunder attachment?
33. Why would I buy a double crossunder over a single one?

1. What age is the PowerSkater designed for?
Ages 7-to-adult. We recommend that children from ages 7-8 use the PowerSkater under adult supervision. A 6'5" adult should be able to make a full leg extension with a 90° glide leg knee bend.
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2. Is the PowerSkater angle adjustable for different ages?
The track is set in a ninety degree angle design and is not adjustable. All skaters from beginners to pro's should extend their pushing leg out from their hip at a 45 degree angle. The foot rests are adjustable to allow a thirty degree push at the hip with your leg traveling back at forty five degree angle.
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3. How big is the PowerSkater?
Vision a triangle where the base of the triangle is approximately 8' and sides are 5 ½' making the top of the triangle 4 ½' from the base.
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4. How heavy is the PowerSkater?
The unit weighs 85 lbs.
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5. How high off the floor do you stand?
The track is low profile at 2 ½" high. The foot truck platform height is 3" from the floor, about the same height as being on skates.
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6. How easy is it to assemble?
The unit comes with some pre-assembly already in three cartons. There are five components to attach to one another and (2) foot rest to install. The tracks are bolted together with the hook mounting plate. The cross brace needs to be assembled then bolted to each track. Assembly requires (2) 7/16" wrenches only. Depending on your mechanical talents, complete assembly will take you 15-30 minutes.
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7. What resistance cords should I buy?
The unit comes with a standard 5/16" red cord which we recommend for ages 6-13 or for rehabilitation. The Medium Duty blue cord (3/8") is for 13 to adult. The Heavy Duty black cord is for the skilled and physically fit player at the Junior, College, and Pro ranks.
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8. What setting do I start my child on?
This depends on the age, skill level, and purpose for using the PowerSkater. If you are learning technique and posture and you are a young age then begin with the standard cord at the first setting. As you improve your technique and strengthen you muscles move the cord to the next setting etc. If you want strength and conditioning then start out with the Standard cord (ages 6-13) at a comfortable setting that you can sustain a 20 minute workout. The same is true for the Medium Cord (age's 13-adult). The Heavy Duty cord is a brute and should only be used for well-conditioned players at the Junior, College and Pro Level. Start at the first setting. Ask your trainer or conditioning coach for a program to your specific needs. For those interested in rehabilitation, then consult your therapist or doctor for your specific program.
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9. How many adjustments are there?
The unit comes with 8 eyebolts, and space for 8 more. You can fill the whole cross brace with eyebolts, and stretch the cord all the way across.
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10. Will the PowerSkater have any adverse effects to my skating technique?
Not if you use it properly and follow the instructions. The PowerSkater can teach a skater to use the correct technique. It does not replace ice. This is a dry land training device. When used correctly you will get mind memory and muscle memory, which can transfer to the ice. The PowerSkater allows you to break down the skating technique into a mechanically and methodical movement. When repeated routinely you will learn the proper motion, which you can then transfer to the ice. You can correct many bad habits such as short strides, but if you "bob" up and down as you skate and you get on the PowerSkater and do the same thing then you will not correct this bad habit.
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11. Will a PowerSkater replace Power Skating clinics?
No. They complement each other. Power skating clinics focus on the same movements, but on the ice. You still have to transfer the correct technique to the ice and practice over and over again until you perfect the skill. The PowerSkater allows you to practice in the comforts of your own home. Skating skill requires the use of your edges - this you can only get on ice with proper teaching and practice. The PowerSkater will improve your balance, stride, posture, and strengthen the muscles used in skating. This will give you an advantage in understanding and performing the skill your Power Skating instructor is teaching you. There are many, many great clinics. We recommend Robby Glantz as one excellent school to attend. RobbyGlantz.com
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12. How often should I workout?
This depends on your goals and reason for using the PowerSkater. Everyone is different. Write to us or ask your instructor or coach for a program for your specific need.
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13. How soon will I see an improvement?
Once again, this depends on your program, your level of skating skill, and objectives. I have witnessed remarkable and significant improvements in many players in 60 days. You need to set goals, objectives, design a program around your goals and objectives and then routinely follow your program.
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14. My child is in the awkward growth stage and seems to have lost some of his/her skills. Will a PowerSkater help?
Absolutely. The PowerSkater forces a certain amount of coordination and reinforces the correct technique. The muscles as they grow will strengthen and help "memorize" your movements.
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15. How does the PowerSkater compare to a lateral slide board?
It doesn't. The lateral slide board has been used by many hockey players to strengthen their muscles, improve their stride and knee bend. The movement does not mimic skating, for it is from side to side as well as thrusting your weight from side to side. You can create bad habits on a lateral slide board which will actually slow you down on the ice. The PowerSkater replicated the skating movement and uses your energy and muscles correctly.
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16. Do you have a return policy after 30 days if I don't like the PowerSkater?
No. We have confidence in our product and we have many satisfied and qualified customers who have proven that the system will produce excellent results.
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17. Can I go to a sports store and buy a PowerSkater? I would like to see one first.
We sell direct to the end user cutting out the cost of distribution in order to keep the PowerSkater affordable. We have many units across the country and may have one near you, however the majority are in private homes. We have units with NHL teams and players, medical facilities, training clinics, etc. We do not give out personal names and phone numbers. If there is a public facility or training facility near you, then we would be glad to provide such details.
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18. Do you have a video?
Absolutely! This detailed and informative video is described in the Reference Literature section of this web site. The video comes with a PowerSkater and should you like us to send you one we would be happy to, however there is a shipping and handling charge. You can order on line or call toll free at 1-866-672-1700.
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19. My child skates with their weight too forward and back bent. Will the PowerSkater help correct his posture?
Yes. This kind of skater will step off the machine when they use this posture. The PowerSkater forces you to have good balance and makes the skater stand more upright. It helps to put a mirror in front of them so the can see their posture. Hold your chest high, bend at the hips, and not in the back.
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20. How do I buy a PowerSkater in Canada?
Go on-line to www.powerskater.com or www.powerskater.ca. Twist Conditioning is the exclusive distributor for Canada. Call (604)904-6556 or toll free (888)214-4244 or go to their web site at www.sportconditioning.ca.
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21. Do you have a payment plan?
Yes. Call us for details for you cannot sign-up for the payment plan on line. We require a credit card to charge the payments to and we charge 36% of the total purchase price including shipping and handling (plus Indiana sales tax if you live in Indiana) up front plus $40 finance and transaction fee charge; then 4 equal payments of 16% each of the above total price..
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22. My child is a goalie. Is the PowerSkater designed only for forwards?
No. Goalies must be excellent skaters. They demand great balance and explosive lateral power. It is a myth that goalies do not need to be good skaters. We have several goalies using the PowerSkater even at the NHL level.
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23. I am a Figure Skater. Your web site is geared to hockey players. Will the PowerSkater help me in my sport?
Yes. There are some minor differences but the muscle groups used for skating and stride power, endurance, balance, stride length are all important to figure skating. Have your instructor visit our site and they will be able to help you transition the language to figure skating for technique, conditioning, and skills. Figure skaters own PowerSkaters.
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24. Do you have any Pro's using the PowerSkater?
Yes. We currently have units with several teams (Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, St. Louis, Tampa Bayand Carolina) and players (Toronto, Minnesota, North Carolina, Vancouver, Floridaand Colorado). Peter Twist former Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Vancouver Canucks and is one of our strong supporters. He has stated that "the PowerSkater is the best dryland system on the market today that works the same muscle groups used in skating". "It over-works the Pro's".
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25. Why would a NHL Professional team buy a PowerSkater, they are already proficient skaters?
There are 3 primary reasons why an NHL team will buy a PowerSkater: improve skating technique; strength and conditioning; and for rehabilitation. Athletic trainers, Medical trainers, Therapists and Strength & Conditioning Coaches all have their specific reasons for wanting a PowerSkater. NHL teams hire Power Skating instructors to help individuals improve their skills.
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26. What about backward skating? Does the PowerSkater help backward skating?
Backwards skating requires similar technique to forward skating such as a proper knee bend, bend at the hips not in the back, 45-degree pushes, proper arm swing etc. Strengthening and conditioning your muscles through forward skating will help you in backwards skating. The Lateral Crossunder attachment also teaches pushes and pulls used in backwards skating.
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27. I am an in-line skater. Will the PowerSkater help me?
Yes. I do not share in the opinion that "in-line skating is a good dryland skating substitute." If you have poor in-line skating technique then you will have poor ice skating technique. In-line skating techniques are identical to ice-skating so the PowerSkater will help teach, train and condition athletes to be excellent in-line skaters.
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28. What parts could possibly break?
You can break the hooks. Our experience indicates that about 5 to 7% of our customers have broken their hooks on the front mounting plate. This is due to the fact that the user allows the foot truck to slam into the front of the machine as opposed to controlling the return. When you push off with your striding leg, you are pushing a foot truck down a track under the resistance of an elastic cord. The foot truck becomes "loaded" and wants to return to the front at a high velocity. You need to return the truck at the same rate as the push off with a low impact stop. This action is important from a training perspective and prevents damage. The push off and return is an eccentric and concentric muscle contraction. These two kinetic movements provide flexibility and elasticity in your muscles for power and speed.

Taking the weight off the foot truck by not controlling the return greatly diminishes the eccentric movement. A good analogy is to lift a weight up in a bicep curl, then drop it to the table on the way down. You in effect are training the muscle in one plane only. The PowerSkater trains both concentric and eccentric muscle movements.
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29. What about maintenance?
Keep the track and hook mechanism clean and dry. Depending on the amount of use bumpers and cords should be replaced annually. Tighten hook plunger screws every 90 days under normal use (3 times per week).
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30. What about the "toe flick". Can I train my foot to execute a "toe flick"?
No. Not at this point in time and it is not critical that you do so in this environment. A well executed toe flick is important, but many experts will agree that there are several other techniques higher or more critical in skating than a toe flick; such as proper knee bend, full length strides, low profile, back straight, full recoveries, pushing power, chest & head up, and effective arm swings. As an example if I can’t sustain a low profile with deep knee bends (90°) to develop power and full strides; what good is the ability to execute a toe flick? Work on toe flicks on the ice with your skating coach, but after you have mastered more important skills and techniques.
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31. Do you have used PowerSkaters for sale?
No. We do not deal in used PowerSkaters, however we have had on rare occasions a demo unit for sale from Trade Shows. They are generally $100 off list. We have seen a 3 year old PowerSkater sell on e-bay for more money than a demo unit. We are glad to know that they retain their value well.
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32. What is the difference between a single and double crossunder attachment?
The crossunder attachment is an accessory for executing crossunder and crossover moves. It consists of a top and bottom plate. The bottom portion fits around the track. A top platform plate is bolted to it. If you buy a single then you have only one top platform plate. If you add another top plate, you now have created a double top platform configuration.
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33. Why would I buy a double crossunder over a single one?
When you have a single crossunder unit you must pick up the track and reposition the crossunder unit to the other side of the track to work the other leg (left or right). When you have a double you simple turn your body to work on the other leg (left or right). It is a matter of convenience only. (If you purchase a double: remember to alternate tracks from time to time so that you do not overly use one cord)
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