Improve Speed and Acceleration with Slide Boards
The following is a product review from the archives. As one of our most popular product reviews of all time, we thought it was worth another look.
Hockey Slide Boards claim to help improve the lateral speed and power for hockey players. Many consider the slide board to be the best piece of training equipment available for off-ice training. So are they worth it? Here’s our review of Hockey Slide Boards:
Overview: Slide boards are a helpful training tool for a hockey player wanting to improve lateral speed and power. Using a slide board for 10-20 minutes, 2-4 times per week can improve a player’s skating speed and acceleration, as well as a player’s overall conditioning. Slide Boards are currently being used by most hockey schools and training centers, and becoming very popular with home users.
Purpose of slide boards: The slide board develops lateral speed, agility, coordination, balance, and explosive power. It’s designed to condition and target the specific muscles used in skating without the need to be on the ice. Many consider the slide board to be the best off-ice piece of training equipment for hockey players. The fact that it’s used by most hockey schools and many professional hockey teams worldwide, give merit that the slide boards work and players get results.
Prices: Prices for the hockey slide boards range from $109.95 to $329.95. Here’s is a breakdown for each:
- $109.95 for the 6-foot Junior Slide Board
- $149.95 for the 8-foot long PowerSlide Board
- $154.95 for the 10-foot PowerSlide
- $219.95 for the 8-foot G1 Slide Board
- $234.95 for the 10-foot G1 Slide Board
- $329.95 for the G1 Extreme Extra large 5′ x 8′ Slide Board
All slide boards come with slide board booties that offer better sliding on the slide board surface. The slide board booties are available in small, medium, large and extra large sizes.
Video: Here is a video detailing some of the training features of slide boards.
Top Features: The slide boards are made from a specially formulated sliding surface designed to give players a smooth slide. All slide boards are equipped with solid end stoppers to help players push off when executing sliding strides. (All slide boards sold at HockeyShot.com come with a pair of sliding booties designed to help provide maximum slide.)
Knowing what off-ice exercise to perform can be difficult with all the products and various training programs out there. A benefit of the slide board is that it is a simple and effective tool that can be incorporated with every hockey player’s off-ice program.
Below are some other key slide board features mentioned on the HockeyShot website:
- Will help improve your skating speed and acceleration.
- Improves core stability and agility, leading to a more efficient skating stride.
- Great for injury rehabilitation and physical therapy.
- Improve overall fitness and endurance.
It’s important to note that the hockey slide board is not the answer for players who are not motivated or do not enjoy the game. There is no sense in purchasing the hockey slide board if your player is not motivated to practice on their own. However, if your child enjoys the game, then the hockey slide board will help them improve their performance.
Examples of how to use slide boards: Below are examples of how a hockey player can use a slide board. The slide board can be used to improve puck control, improve skating stride, as well as help with shooting technique.

Slide Boards can help your child become a stronger and faster skater. If you are looking for a training piece of equipment to help your child’s off ice training, the slide board is a proven option. HockeyShot offers various slide boards at different price levels. Click here to view the different slide boards available.
Final period: The slide board is an excellent tool for hockey conditioning. The slide board works important muscles that aid in improving the biomechanics of the hockey stride. The slide board also improves core stability while taxing the anaerobic energy system. These are all benefits of training on this piece of equipment. The slide board, if used correctly is an excellent tool for ice hockey conditioning.
Parent and Player Perspective: The 8-foot PowerSlide Board Package, designed for off-ice conditioning, is above all fun — like skating on your socks on a slick hardwood floor. You roll out the “board,” adjust it for your size, put on the little booties, and slide away. Use it in front of a mirror (or even a reflective surface such as a window or TV) and concentrate on keeping your head up. In addition, the anchors on either side of the board force you to focus on lengthening their stride. While the booties are too big for Mites, socks work fine on the surface as well.
The $149 PowerSlide is a hit with the whole family — for mom and dad, it’s a cheap treadmill; for hockey players, it’s great for conditioning and improving form; for little kids, it doubles as a Hot Wheels track (maybe not recommended…). The portable PowerSlide rolls up into a shoulder bag and is slightly bulky but not terribly heavy. You can easily store it in a closet, but it tends to remain out as it beckons even the most reluctant exercisers.
Editor’s Note: For a limited-time, when you use the code “teamcares″ at HockeyShot.com, you will receive 10% off any purchase.


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