Improving Speed

Hey guys! I've been skating for 11 months, and I've been steadily improving in every area of skating pretty well, except for, I feel, speed. I've researched equipment, gotten good bearings (super swiss 6's) and wheels (radar tuners, grippy ones on the left, harder ones on the right for pushing), so I don't think it's a problem with that. I'm also not a heavy girl either (130 pounds soaking wet), so it's not a matter of weight on my skates. Our packs like to get fast, but I've been skating with these girls for awhile now, and it seems like I'm working just as hard as everyone else to go half as fast. Can anyone suggest things that might be affecting my speed as far as technique? Has anyone else had this problem?
Help!
Cat

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Permalink Reply by Vansterdamn on January 27, 2009 at 10:56am: I saw an interview on youtube with Joan Weston, or it might have been Ann Calvello, where they said that in derby you don't push back, but side to side. I'm a big girl and having trouble getting up to speed, but I found that concentrating on pushing out instead of back during my strides has shortened my time around the track. I also found that doing this makes me strengthen my ankles more, and I'm less likely to trip people behind me. It's easier to handle pack situations.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vansterdamn on January 27, 2009 at 11:00am: Just to clarify (I saw the earlier post), I don't mean bouncing side to side, because that throws of your balance. My skates still stride backwards, but it's a different stride than in ice skating.; ▶ Reply to This