Why Is Moving Backwards on Skates Challenging for Humans?

[akerkarprashant]

TL;DR Summary

Moving backwards with Skates use case.

Can we apply Newton's laws of motion to the following use case mentioned below?

Why is it difficult for Humans to move backwards with Skates? With practice & balance, is it possible to achieve this feat?

Humans do can move backwards with their legs.

 

[Arjan82]

Apparently not that difficult:

 

[akerkarprashant]

Thanks.

Can this be considered as a good competitive sport?

 

[Arjan82]

You can make a sport out of anything ;). But in figure skating it is used a lot:

 

[akerkarprashant]

Thanks.

As per observations in the videos, the backwards skating looks more similar to a circular motion path(it is backwards), will it be difficult to achieve backward linear motion in a straight line similar to a Long jump or Javelin throw?

 

[Drakkith]

As per observations in the videos, the backwards skating looks more similar to a circular motion path(it is backwards), will it be difficult to achieve backward linear motion in a straight line similar to a Long jump or Javelin throw?

It's only circular because the skaters have to stay on the rink.

 

[hutchphd]

One can alternate the "pusher" leg . For Ice Hockey it is sort of required.

But it will become a useless skill because soon there will only be ice available on the planet for 2 days a year...

 

[rcgldr]

Why is it difficult for Humans to move backwards with Skates?

The normal method to move forwards on skates is to orient a skate slightly outwards and push outwards on a stake. The skater alternates between the two stakes to propel forwards. This is a bit more difficult to do backwards since a skater orients a skate slightly inwards and pushes outwards, requiring something like a pigeon toed like stance, which is a bit more difficult to do than a duck footed like stance.

There is also the issue that a skater needs to twist in order to be able to look backwards while skating backwards.

 

[sophiecentaur]

This is less of a Physics question and more of a Physiology one, I think.