How to Make a Hockey Slide Board

A slide board is a great training tool traditionally used by hockey players and skaters but can be beneficial to any athlete. It's designed to enhance lateral movement and strengthen leg power all in one smooth exercise. The simple construction of a slide board is easy and inexpensive to create and provides an intense training workout for the serious athlete or an aerobic exercise for the occasional user.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Long, smooth surface
• 2x4 wood
• Rubber foam
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Hammer
• Nails

1. Choose a smooth, flat surface to use as your sliding area. This can be any material such as laminated wood like that used for counter tops or old white boards, as long as it's smooth. It needs to be 22 to 24 inches wide and anywhere from 7 to 10 feet long. The shorter length is good for beginners, while the longer is intended for more advanced athletes.

2. Create two bumpers. Cut two pieces from a 2x4 to the width of your board. Staple a soft padding such as rubber foam to one long edge of each bumper. Cover each one with vinyl material, stapling it to the wood. Nail these pieces to the board with the padding facing inwards and being sure the nails don't come through the bottom of your board.

3. Wax the surface of your board using a car or bowling alley wax. This should be done as often as needed to decrease friction.

4. Make booties to wear while sliding on the board. These should be made of a slippery yet durable material like nylon or wool. Make a simple drawstring bag to slip your foot into and tie it around your ankle. It's best to only wear socks under the booty, not shoes.