The SkATE Program, Capturing the Pro's Hockey Moves ...
...And Transferring Them To Every Player On Earth
Currently, there is no device used to evaluate skating technique, stride length, skating endurance, and comparison between left & right legs in a skating biomechanics setting. Trainers assess players based on a many abstract requirements borrowed from other sports like weight lifting and track*, because that is the standard; not because they believe this is a true way to test the level of mastery in the many skills needed to play hockey well.
But that's about to change with the introduction of SkATE, an acronym for the "Skating Analysis Testing Evaluator" a platform that will record the most winning hockey player's mechanical movements to form a standard or benchmark, to which other players can model themselves. It will also be used to test player potential by providing a detailed biometric footprint against which they can be evaluated in a standardized, repeatable and accurate manner.
SkATE: Digital Capture, Archive, And Transfer Of The World's Best Hockey Skating Mechanics
Powering Athletics has a proven skating motion training product that consistently molds a hockey skater's stride, posture, force levels and other mechanics. This plyometric (using varying force elastic bands to provide the correct resistance across the players stride) trainer has been used by hockey professionals and amateurs for over ten years. It's maker, Powering Athletics, is now adding electronics to the device to capture skating:
-Stride Length
-Stride frequency
-Stride power levels
-Anaerobic capacity / endurance
-Comparison between legs of the above factors
-Drop off strides Analysis of stride technique / mechanics
The mechanical component of SkATE will physically attach electronic sensors to the PowerSkater to measure movement in distance and time for each track as well as the installation of a electronics portal in a secure and safe location.
The digital electronics component of SkATE will use advanced biometric motion detection sensors to measure a selection of a reliable sensing mechanism to detect movement, length, time, and frequency of each truck movement on each track and the selection of electronic components for portal design to capture and interface with a common lap top computer.
SkATE will use an computing platform to analyze movement - user, load (weight resistance selection), length, frequency, time, comparison between each side, skating mechanics analysis (waist to ankle measurement) (distance and height calculation to analyze depth of stride mechanics), chart all of the above, and calculate power in watts; all in a set block of time on the device.
Establishing A "Digital DNA" for the Best Hockey Skating Mechanics
Our goal is to use SkATE to establish a data base profile, gleaned from the technique of the some of the world's best and most successful hockey players. This data will be categorized into different skating styles, conditions, skater physical attributes and the like to allow coaches and players in training to analyze and then emulate these winning biomechanical dimensions. Our plan is to make this data available on an ongoing basis, with regular updates based on additional capture sessions with both professional and amatuer skaters that have proven their worth. The current state of SkATE is that we have developed working prototypes and are now in the commercialization phase. For those individuals and organizations that wish to participate in making SkATE available on a widespread basis, we encourage you to contact Powering Athletics and Peter Twist. We are looking for interest and help from the following groups:
- Professional hockey teams, players, trainers and coaches to serve as skating models and to provide input into how the data can best be presented for training
-Skating biomechanical specialists to help us refine our data collection algorithms and analysis
-Those who are interested in purchasing the finished product for use in their training, coaching and recruiting programs We desire to be able to put athletes all over the world on the SkATE device to collect, measure, analyze, and evaluate our criteria laid at the beginning of the project. We are inviting any and all interest and help in making this ground-breaking effort a reality.
*For example, the National Hockey League's (NHL) Central Scouting Group uses the following equipment to test players: Grip Strength Device; Weight Bench; Medicine Ball; Vertec; Timing Mat; Flexometer; Bike; and VO2 Max machine to evaluate potential recruits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
Powering Athletics International and Peter Twist Team Up to Drive
Activity Specific Training Products
-Fort Wayne, IN- February 15th, 2012
Powering Athletics International, a leading innovator in sport specialty training products, is pleased to announce that it has formalized an international partnership with Peter Twist and Twist Sport Conditioning. . Powering Athletics, a leading innovator for the past decade, has brought many new and innovative products to the sports performance and physical medicine industries. Peter Twist is a world renowned educator, sports physiologist, speaker, innovator, and leader in the world of athletic training over the past 2 decades. Peter Twist and Twist Sport Conditioning of Vancouver, BC Canada have been early adopters and strong advocates of Powering Athletics products since June 2000.
Twist Sport Conditioning and Powering Athletics share a common vision on sport performance training and products. . Powering Athletics is pleased to announce that the two companies are teaming up to bring new and innovative products and education to the sports performance market place. Peter will play a big role in marketing, education, and direction of Powering Athletics products for the sports performance market Worldwide.
Ron Bulloch, President of Powering Athletics, says “We are delighted to have teamed up with such an industry icon in our business. Peter and his company bring a wealth of knowledge to our products. Through the years, we have modeled much of our equipment around their training methodology. Having Peter behind our company and helping guide us in the future is not only exciting but will generate some interesting opportunities for us for existing and new products.”
Peter Twist, President of Twist Conditioning, commented that “Ron and I have had a long business and personal relationship since he started in the business with the PowerSkater. Powering Athletics is one of the most innovative brands out there and their ability to be unique and clever on product development is unparalleled in the industry.
Powering Athletics has built a strong brand of high quality equipment with over 15 products across multiple sports and applications. We look forward to accelerating their brand by bringing a strong education component to the company and helping promote the product at conferences, through social media, and personal introductions to industry leaders. Powering Athletics is a sleeping giant; it is unbelievable how they have been operating under the radar screen of so many training professionals in the industry.”
About Powering Athletics
Powering Athletics is a leading developer of activity specific training and rehabilitative products for the sports performance and physical medicine industries. The company holds many patents for their truly innovative and unique designs. The Powering Athletic Brand is recognized for quality, strength, and functionality. The company’s products are used worldwide by athletes at all levels, from youth to professionals, on playing fields and training facilities around the globe. Powering Athletics International is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with distribution throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
About Peter Twist
Peter Twist, MSc. is the President of Twist Sport Conditioning. He is an exercise physiologist with a specialization in coaching science. Having coached in the NHL for 11 years, Peter has worked with over 700 professional athletes, including league MVPs Mark Messier (hockey), Justin Morneau (baseball) and Hakeem Olajuwon (basketball). He has published over 400 papers, 10 books and 19 DVDs on athlete development. Peter is the Global Education Partner for IMG’s Combine 360, powered by Under Armour. He was honored with the National Strength and Conditioning Association's President’s Award, the Can-Fit-Pro Specialty Presenter of the Year and was recently named the 2010 IDEA Program Director of the Year.
About Twist Sport Conditioning
Based in Vancouver, BC, Twist Sport Conditioning is world class in athlete training services, sport performance and functional fitness products manufacturing and distribution, professional educational programs, and franchised sport conditioning centres. Twist has developed and introduced many new coaching methodologies through certifications. Twist Conditioning will distribute and market Powering Athletics products and training methods in Canada.
Powering Athletics can be contacted at 260-672-1700 or go on line to www.poweringathletics.com. The company is located in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Peter Twist and Twist Conditioning can be reached at 604-904-6556 or go online to http://www.twistconditioning.com in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
