Testimonials
“I know for me skating has always been number one... from learning edge control, stride and glide. Now as a bigger guy it’s something I still work on non-stop. Cathy has been great working with my son also where she can craft him at a young age and make sure he’s doing things the proper way and making it fun... it’s great when you can see improvement right away and the power hour has been great!”
- BRENT BURNS, San Jose Sharks All-Star Defenseman and Norris Trophy winner
“Cathy has been an incredible resource for our three hockey playing boys since moving to the Bay from Canada. From our 8-year-old to our 15-year-old, she has provided the optimal age and development stage appropriate coaching and training, on and off the ice. Our sons have absolutely loved their skill development sessions at her training facility and have benefited greatly from her expertise and attention to detail in refining their skating technique. Most importantly, Cathy truly cares about each one of her athletes and customizes their program based on their unique and specific needs.”
Dr. Rick Celebrini - former Canadian Professional soccer player, Founder & Director of Sport Medicine & Science for the Fortius Institute.
Currently - Golden State Warriors Director of Sport Medicine & Performance.
"Skating is the most important function in the game of hockey. Cathy has mastered the fundamentals of using edges, maximizing stride and using proper technique. She has proved time and again that her acumen for teaching will better prepare youths for the challenges of hockey.
- ROY SOMMER, Head Coach, San Jose Barracuda
"One of the most important components to being an elite hockey player is your skating skills. Developing the proper technique is key and the younger you start the better. Good skating gives you an advantage at any level of hockey. I skated with Coach Cathy once a week from a very early age. I looked forward to working with her each week. She made learning to skate properly fun. Coach Cathy loves what she does and is an exceptional coach. I get compliments on my skating all the time. Not only that, the skating foundation she gave me helped me get to the NHL. I couldn’t have done it without Coach Cathy and I’ll always be grateful for this."
- Hunter McKown
NHL
Columbus Blue Jackets
"I worked with Cathy Andrade during my pro career with the San Jose Sharks. One of the things that I was always told was that my skating was below par. Doing drills with her improved my edges and quickness allowing me to reach a high level in the NHL and ultimately winning the Rocket Richard Trophy.
My son now also works with Cathy; he was a gangly side-to-side skater. Through her help on the ice, she was able to improve his balance and edges. With the skating treadmill, he was able to drastically improve his forward motion stride plus work his edges to become a stronger skater. I am so impressed with the work that she has done with my son and the big strides he’s taken while working with her; it’s really a night and day difference. I would highly recommend Cathy for kids and adults who are looking to improve their skating."
- Jonathan Cheechoo
NHL Sharks Alumni
"Our son Sahil took private lessons and power skating clinics with Cathy Andrade for 7 years (ages 7 - 13). His success as a proficient and skillful skater is due to Cathy's continuous training, focusing on speed through proper stride, body-position, edgework, rhythm, and agility. Cathy emphasizes skating technique and drills for game situations, paying attention to detail and tailoring her teaching to individual needs, effective in both one-on-one and group settings.
She has a gift of demonstrating the technical aspects of proper skating form and adapting the drills to a player’s own needs at any given stage of development. Having trained with numerous coaches, we affirm Cathy is the unparalleled technical and power skating coach in NorCal, marked by her dedication and enthusiasm."
- DURGENDRA (DK) & PARUL PANWAR
AHL Hartford Wolf Pack, Rangers Affiliate
"The importance of supplementing off-ice training with your on-ice training can't be overstated. Growing up, I remember being in my backyard honing my skills by shooting thousands of pucks. The tools at EXTRA HOUR allow you to practice and receive elite coaching; this is invaluable to any hockey player looking to take the next step!"
"Edge work and mobility should be one of the primary focuses of youth hockey and the utilization of professional power skating instruction should be a consistent part of youth hockey players’ training regimen, during the hockey season and offseason.
When coached by a professional skating coach, the skating treadmill is a great addition to on ice training, especially for stride mechanics and overspeed. Adding visual learning by seeing the stride with instantaneous feedback allows on-the-fly corrections, unlike watching video.
Focusing on the elements of hockey skating, both on ice and skating treadmill, and imprinting proper skating mechanics is Cathy’s expertise."
- SCOTT HANNAN, San Jose Sharks Alumni
“In the last 10 years, skating speed has become arguably the most vital attribute of a hockey players physical abilities. Players of all ages and abilities can benefit from not only working on straight ahead speed, but edge work and the turning abilities that contribute to on-ice agility.
I have seen firsthand the success rate when elite professionals, high level amateur players, and youth players participate in Cathy’s skating programs. Her level of knowledge regarding the mechanics of the stride and how to apply the techniques to game-like situations is exceptional. She has applied the use of the skating treadmill to not only work on stride length and technique, but for improved edge work and balance as well. Her programs and resources at Extra Hour allow hockey athletes the opportunity to make an effective change to their skating skills and not be limited by available ice times.
It’s been great to take Development to a higher level with Cathy Andrade’s teaching and develop specific off-ice and on-ice training programs to help NHL players improve the skill of skating. Your off-ice training should complement what you do on the ice in the areas of speed, strength, balance, conditioning and coordination. Cathy provides the players that I work with in the off-season with specific drills that improve weaknesses and strength in single leg positions.”
- MIKE POTENZA, Director of San Jose Sharks Strengthening & Conditioning
“I’ve been skating with Cathy since I was 5 years old, starting at Golden State hockey camp. My dad, a professional coach, recognized the value of working with her and how she could improve my game. Her skating training has helped me get to where I am today, playing in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Her coaching has been a significant part in my development as a hockey player and I continually review what I have learned from her.” Viktor was selected 28th overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft.
- VIKTOR TIKHONOV, Grandson of the legendary coach Viktor Tikhonov, AK BARS KAZAN (KHL)
"As a player, I started with Cathy at 5 years old. Now as a professional coach in the NHL, I still use the same concepts and techniques to develop our players for the NHL that Cathy taught me starting from a young age. Skating ability is such an important part of the game - from generating offense, to playing defense, to battles on the wall. The tools she's able to teach players will make them better in all aspects of the game, not just getting up and down the ice quickly."
- NOAH SEGALL, NHL Video Coach, Edmonton Oilers
“The foundation of hockey, and critical to injury prevention, is mastery of your edges so balance, agility, mobility, and speed can be achieved with proper technique and training. That's what Cathy's Power Hour has been doing in NorCal for over 20 years, and the results speak for themselves. There are hundreds of hockey players, both boys and girls, who have taken their game to the next level because of Cathy's skating techniques and lessons. Cathy's passion and spirit coupled with her ability to teach and connect with her students is second to none.”
- JAMIE BAKER, San Jose Sharks Alumni
“Extra Hour Hockey Training has helped me tremendously with the recovery for my shoulder surgery and helping me to be faster and stronger when I am able to get back on the ice! Cathy has me on the skating treadmill for 30 mins a day. The skating treadmill benefited me in so many ways, but I've seen the biggest difference in my stride mechanics and my quick starts which, as we all know, is important in the game that we all love so much.
The skating treadmill is a necessary tool for all stages of hockey players, from minors to professional. I owe Cathy and the team at Extra Hour many thanks for everything they have helped me with.”
- KEVIN LABANC, San Jose Sharks Player
"Midway through my second year in the USHL, my coach and I were reminiscing about a showcase he had seen me at. We talked about how ‘a player with terrible feet but good hands’ had caught his eye from my old club, the Santa Clara Blackhawks. It took about ten seconds for us to realize that player was me. He said my skating had completely changed since then. I got to know Cathy at a camp when I was 10 years old and started working with her personally when I was 15. Everything from my edges to stride to transitions, Cathy has elevated my skating to the level it needs to be to play college hockey and beyond. When I come back in the off-season, I make it a point to work with her to keep my skating sharp."
- Robby Jackson
St. Cloud State University Huskies, NCAA. 2013-14 USHL Rookie of the Year
“I think it’s very important to learn the mechanics of good skating early before it’s too late. And one thing I learned that Cathy is very good at it. She is helping my son to learn how to skate the right way.”
- EVGENI NABOKOV, San Jose Sharks Alumni Goalie and San Jose Barracuda Goalie Coach
“Cathy has been a tremendous asset to the Jr. Sharks organization. She works with a majority of our 26 teams and continues to improve and impress our players with her knowledge and improvement of their individual skating abilities. As an organization, we place a great deal of focus on skating, and having the best power skating coach in the Bay Area, in our building, is a luxury our club has the benefit of enjoying! Cathy is not only a great individual, private skating coach but she does a great job of teaching in the team setting as well.”
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Mike Janda, Development Coordinator, San Jose Jr. Sharks 16AAA Tier One Elite Coach
"Being a good skater has become such an important skill to have in hockey today. I am able to beat the opposition with speed while using my edges and staying strong on my skates, I owe that to Cathy. She has been instrumental to my development as a player.”
- DYLAN VANDERESCH
"We would like to thank you for all you’ve done to make Leila an excellent skater. She just received her end of the year evaluation, and her skating and edge work received the highest marks. Her coach at NAHA, who has seen hundreds if not thousands of OLYMPIC/DIVISION 1 players over the years, says 'Her skating ability and feet are some of the best I have ever seen. Edge work is amazing.' Thanks again, we think you are amazing!"
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Vince Kilduff, parent and client since 2005
"Cathy created an individualized program for Soren to improve his skating techniques in the areas that would benefit his game most. Cathy’s coaching has helped him to significantly improve his game and advance early. She has been a big part of his success as a hockey player. Cathy taught Soren for 9 years. He played in the 18 AA League at 13 years old and at 14 years old, he joined the Jr. Sharks Midget AAA team. Per EHK Showcase in Chicago write up- Soren Jonzzon is one of the country’s elite. Jonzzon distributes the puck well and made those around him better players. He read developing plays very well and positioned himself well. He still had an extra gear.” Soren is currently playing NCAA Division 1 hockey at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.
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B. Jonzzon
“I have been taking lessons from Cathy since I was a squirt player. I know whenever I step on the ice, even now, there are things that I do that I learned from her. Her power skating techniques, the importance she places on using edges properly and the skills she teaches to improve footwork have all influenced my skating. I know her training has been a major contributor to my success in hockey. No matter what your current skating level, Cathy will be able to improve it. Dalton was a San Jose Jr. Shark 18 AAA 4-time USA Hockey National Select player and received a 4-year NCAA scholarship to University of New Hampshire."
- DALTON SPEELMAN, Division I University of New Hampshire Wildcats