Learning skating for beginners (kids and adults)

It's the second time some family friends ask me to teach their kids to skate. To me, this translates to take the kids skating on a public skate session. And I would absolutely love to. And I would also love to present to the parents that don't skate themselves and are not familiar with skating,  what options they have for their kids AND for themselves.

The first option is to skate around during public skate, nothing fancy. Learning to skate around the rink I would say is like learning to ride a bike. You need a little help (few private lessons or lessons from friends) to start, and then you get more comfortable as you do it more and more. Public skating is usually offered just during the weekend. I'm talking about the covered rinks, but of course  there are the outdoor rinks in the winter. You can rent the skates.

Now if the kids (or adults)  love it and they want to learn some fancy skills, that is gonna take time. The skills need to be broken down and learnt step by step and the body needs time to get comfortable and memorize the strange positions we are trying to get to. It takes time, patience and commitment to a schedule. The options here are group lessons and private coaching. And buying your own skates... Beginner skates are around $150, intermediate around $250. Specialty stores also sell used skates, a good idea because kids feet grow quickly plus used skates are already "broken in".

Most skating rinks are affiliated with the local park district and they have group classes, for different ages and different level. The price in my area is around $100 for 2 months of once a week class. You can rent skates for around $5 per class. I decided after skating twice that I need my own skates as the rental ones were too wide for me so hard to control. Group lessons have a curriculum for each level and a testing in each session. There are 5-6 beginner levels, and then 8-10 Freestyle levels and specialty classes like for example Ice Dancing. Beginner kids  are encouraged to practice once more a week. Now, for the first level beginners is hard to practice on their own as they don't know what to practice, but even being on ice on public skating time is helpful. Beginners usually pass a level after one or two sessions.

I think group lessons are great for all levels, as they offer skating buddies that inspire and motivate each other. Being enrolled in group lessons also allows the students to participate in the ice show each rink organizes every year. Parents also get to meet other parents and learn from their experiences.

My biggest regret in my learning to skate journey is that I didn't start private coaching earlier. I started when I was in Freestyle 4 level. Private lessons are expensive as you pay for the ice time $7-12 per hour and the coach time $50-90 per hour. As the student gets to Freestyle level, there is no way for a correct understanding of technique without personalized explanation. But starting private lessons from beginner level will get the basics solid from the beginning. Private lessons started later will anyhow have to correct the basics...

There are local competitions starting from beginner levels. The entry fee I think is around $100-200. Most of the kids get excited to dress up, skate on music and be a star and they are motivated to work harder and polish their skills.

The last thing I want to mention is progress expectation. Firstly, while a beginner, a skater doesn't look much like the skaters we see on TV. I would say students start to look as skaters just at intermediate level. So patience!!!  Secondly, how quickly somebody progresses varies a lot depending on personal abilities and how much time is put into it. Let's say these beginners skills could be learnt in 6 months to 2 years.

Skating technique: edges - Forward Circle Eight

Edges - part 4.

I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.

This continues ideas from  previous blogs that covered an introduction to Edges and Lobes, Basic Forward Edges and Advanced Deep Forward Edges.

Forward Circle Eight is a more difficult skill, thou still in the beginners range (like an advanced-beginner), and is part of the Preliminary MITF Test and Adult Bronze MITF Test.  Here is the diagram. I was first thought to do it on a hockey circle, actually inside a hockey circle. Starting in the middle of the dot and shooting to touch the line of the circle at each half of the circle eight. But at test time you could be asked to do in the center of the rink, as the diagram shows. It's allowed to start with either foot.

As with all the skating forward, the point where you should feel your weight on the blade, is the back part of your foot arch. I find good posture with the core engaged and looking up is helpful at this level.
First circle: outside edge
1. You start from standing in a T-position with a good push both described here, with the upper body and arms set as for Basic Forward Outside Edges, so the back at the circle or same hand and foot forward. You need to keep a erect posture after the push, don't allow the body to drop forward, because you'll loose control and speed trying to balance. It is important to set the blade on an edge! Again, if you put the foot down on a flat edge, you will have to adjust your body to get to the outside edge and that will affect your balance and slow you down. When you learn this, is gonna be a continuous negations between the need for strong push to go around, and the ability to control the body after a push that is too strong.
2. After the push you bring the free foot at the back of the ankle of the skating foot. The skating foot will be a little bent. This bent knee helps with both keeping a good posture and keeping the weight over the skating hip. One tip in bringing the weight over the skating hip is to lift the free hip or don't drop the free hip...different words work for different people. Lean your body a little toward the inside of the circle. Stay square to the circle tracing (the direction of travel).
3. At half circle you bring your free foot near your skating ankle, simultaneously with lowering the arms. Keep you free foot touching the skating foot, if you let it go around you will loose the edge.
4. On the second half of the circle, in my coach's words, you lift yourself over the skating hip. You straighten the skating knee and bring your free arm and skating foot forward, over the imaginary tracing of the circle.  It's helpful to pigeon toe the free foot over the circle tracing. That will also help in holding the free hip up (I, for once, used to drop my hip) and the body square with the direction of travel.

Second circle: outside edge on the other foot
1. The arms starting position will the same as the ending position from first circle. The rest is the same.
Third circle: inside edge on the foot used on the first circle but same on same tracing as second circle
1. You need to change the arms position between second circle and third circle, so when you start the inside edge, you'll have the opposite arm from skating foot in front.
2. After the push you bring your free foot laterally near the ankle of skating foot. The skating knee is bent.
3. At half circle lower the arms.
4. Continue the arm movement, rise on the skating hip and bring the free foot forward over the imaginary circle tracing. Hold a strong core. Don't pigeon toe the foot this time but don't turn it out either as can  make you drop the free hip and loose balance.
Forth circle: Inside edge on the other foot.

I underlined what seamed to help me when I learnt it.
When I tested this  move, I didn't do everything I explained here. Some things I didn't understand at the time, some things I couldn't do consistently, or I just forgot to do when I tested (the pigeon toe comes to mind). Any skating skill is a work in progress and could be improved...

Here is a video of the outside edge circles, where I think I do everything I was describing, except on the second part of the circle, I should have brought the free foot over the circle tracing and I should have pigeon toed. I have to say that seeing yourself in a video is very, very useful, after I saw this video I always remembered to pigeon toe!

Skating technique: edges - Deep Forward Edges Outside and Inside

Edges - part 3.

I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.

Continued from the previous blogs where I covered the importance of Edges and Lobes, and the Basic Forward Edges.

As I was saying, the deep edges are not a beginner figure skating skill. I would say it's a intermediate level. They are a basic skill for Ice Dancing and are done on deep lobes. For Freestyle, good crossovers can use them as a foundation. I also see Freestyle skaters using a version of them called edge rolls, as a warm up. These are done quickly and on straighter and smaller lobes.

This is how Deep Forward Outside Edges should look like. Now, they are national ice dance competitors, what I'm doing is not quite that. I think is fair to say I'm working on it...

These are the differences of forward outside deep edges from the basic edges.
1. More speed, way more speed. You start with taking 2 strokes along the end of the rink to get some speed and you do them on alternating direction lobes on the length of the rink.
2. It's all about the lean: blade into the ice, ankle and the whole body are leaning towards the inside of the circle. The body should look like a straight line, tense, core engaged, hip shouldn't stick out. To achieve this takes probably years, so practice, practice, practice...
3. At the beginning of the lobe the body is positioned with the chest towards the inside of the circle (like crossovers), not with the back towards the circle as the basic edges.
4. The extension is held from the initial push to I would say 3/4 of the lobe, and it is not on top of the tracing of the lobe, but 45 degrees laterally towards the outside of the circle, to give you balance for the body leaning towards the inside of the circle.
5. You finish the lobe with a very quick roll from the outside edge to an inside edge... whaaat? This took me a while to understand, and it's a work in progress.
So... When there is a 1/4 left of the lobe you start to rise/ gather/ draw the free leg in, while still on an outside edge. This is coordinated with an upper body counter movement. It's important to stay on the outside edge until the axis. It actually feels like I'm deepening the edge and I'm crossing the axis to continue the circle. Then, as you are on the highest point of the rise, while still keeping the weight on the skating foot!!! very important, you roll/ flip from the outside edge to an inside edge and press and re bend to have a strong push. And here is what the ice dancers say.
Update 4/20/209: The point of balance for these is, as for all forward skating, the point of the blade align with the back of your arch foot. The body alignment is an imaginary neck zipper over your skating foot.

And here are the Deep Forward Inside Edges.
3. On this, you start the lobe as on the basic edges with the back at the circle (more like the free shoulder forward).
4. The video shows the free leg brought at the ankle of the skating leg, but it could be extended too.
5. There is no roll when you start the new lobe. The trick here is to and to have your weight over your skating hip and foot and allow some space between the skating foot and where you place the new foot and not to drop the weight on the new foot too quickly.

I like to remember the important points on each skating skill. On deep edges they go hand in hand... Still, they are: speed, lean, pressure into ice, square body (perpendicular to an imaginary tangent to the circle) while riding the edge, posture. Roll on an inside edge before you push on an outside edge. Be sure to place the blade on an outside edge to start with. The point on your blade where you feel the weight of your body is still on the back part of your arch of the foot.

Skating technique: edges - Basic Forward Edges Outside and Inside

Edges - part 2.

I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.

Read about the importance of Edges and Lobes in the previous blog.

Basic consecutive edges are a beginner skill and are part of the Pre-Preliminary MITF Test and Adult Pre-Bronze MITF Test. They are done on a short line of the rink. There are 4 edges: forward and backward, outside and inside so we'll have 4 lines. And the test pattern suggests 6 lobes, alternating the direction. You can start on either foot. Here is the diagram.
For forward edges, as for all the skating forward you should feel your weight on the back part of your foot arch. The speed is on a slower side.

Left Forward Outside LFO and  Right Forward Outside RFO Edges:
1. Start on a T-position covered here, with the left foot in front, perpendicular to the line that we use as an axis. I was thought to have the left hand (and shoulder) forward, right hand back, waist level, palms facing/ pressing down. So you are with your back at the circle (half in this instance) you'll skate. An easy way to remember was: start with the back at the circle, or same hand as skating foot.
2. First part of the lobe: Bend and push with the right foot on the left foot, keep the left shoulder slightly forward, so the back at the circle and look over your left shoulder into the circle. Hold the right foot at back of the left foot, over the tracing you are making so the right hip is slightly back and the right foot is turned out from the hip. All this will make you lean a little towards the inside of the circle. An alignment check is to have the top part of your zipper, so the middle of your chest over your skating hip and ankle.
3. Middle of the lobe: Coordinating the hand and feet, lover your hands near your sides and bring the right foot near your ankle, this will square your shoulders and hips.
4. Second part of the lobe: Rise your right hand forward and left hand back and bring the right foot forward over the imaginary lobe line. The right shoulder and hip will be slightly forward, the left hip slightly back. Don't turn out your free foot, but make an almost pigeon toe to hold it over the lobe.

To start the next lobe you hold your hands and shoulders in the same position and bring the free foot at the ankle, bend and push

Left Forward Inside LFI and  Right Forward Inside RFI Edges:
1. Start on a T-position covered here, with the left foot in front, perpendicular to the line that we use as an axis. We still have start with the back at the circle, but this time we have opposite hand from the skating foot in front, so right hand and left hand back. Hand at waist level, palms facing down. Right shoulder is a little forward and left hip a little forward.
2. First part of the lobe: Bend and push with the right foot on the left foot, maintain the shoulder and hip start position, right foot goes behind the left foot. Look towards the inside of the circle  over your right shoulder. The inside edge happens easier as the free side is towards the inside of the circle already.
3. Middle of the lobe: Coordinating the hand and feet, lover your hands near your sides and bring the right foot near your ankle, this will square your shoulders and hips.
4. Second part of the lobe: Rise your left hand forward and right hand back and bring the right foot forward over the imaginary lobe line. The left shoulder and right hip will be slightly forward, the left hip slightly back.

Update 11/6/2018 The body alignment for the forward inside edge is rib over same side hip.

 To start the next lobe you hold your hands and shoulders in the same position and bring the free foot at the ankle, bend and push.

To be continued with the backward edges later...

Monthly skating review: I feel defeated

Mid month skating review...

I feel defeated... not in the sense that I'll give up on skating. But I decided not to skate Friday and Saturday, the only days of the week when I can train in the summer (the rest of the days is crowded), and I canceled my next week private lesson.

The hip is ok... I think, and I really hope is not wishful thinking. I mean is not 100%, but I could skate around it without feeling that I don't allow it heel. I did develop some bad habits of staying off that hip, but I'm confident I'll correct them in no time. I also don't train what I want to train, but what I can. I'm ok with that too.

The problem is that I took few uncharacteristic falls, I think because I protect the hip. I also haven't fall as I usually do, on the roundest part of my buttock, but on the lower part, where the bone is, and it actually hurts... So now I'm afraid to not hurt the hip again, trying to protect myself from the pain in the butt. Have I just made a joke? It's soo not funny...

As with all my frustrations, this one is coming from having an expectation. I was expecting to feel good by now, instead I had a setback.

Skating technique: edges - Edges and Lobes

Edges - part 1.

I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.

The figure skating blade has curved shape (a rocker), and is sharpened to form 2 edges, an inside edge and an outside edge. I would say the all figure skating is done on an edge, so on a curve. I cannot thing of anything but beginners moves that is done on a flat. Freestyle jumps and spins enter on edges, MITF turns are edges and Ice Dancing is all about edges on lobes.

Depending if you go forward or backward, on the left foot or the right foot, and if you press onto inside or outside of the blade there can be 8 possible edges. LFO is Left Forward Outside and there are LFI, RFO, RFI, LBO, LBI, RBO, RBI.

So skating is done on edges that form curves that we call lobes. An imaginary line called axis is the line where a lobe starts and ends, and many skating skills are done on alternating lobes to the left and right on that axis.

There is a quality associated with edges as with any other skating element. So there are basic edges that are learned as beginners and deep edges that are a more advanced skill. There are also skills you practice to get there. The difference between them is given by the angle of the blade bite into the ice, the lean of the ankle and boot towards the ice, the lean the body, the speed, the depth of the lobe (curve) created and the quickens you achieve the lobe.

The deep edges create deep lobes quickly. To get deep lobes you need the deep bite into the ice. For that you need speed to create that centripetal force. You also need your body to lean towards the inside of the circle, without breaking at the hip. As I said this is an advanced skill, a beginner doesn't have the kind of control to be able to do that.

The basic edges introduce the notion of lobes. I think the most important think to understand is that the lobes start perpendicular to the axis and then they curve around, finishing perpendicular to the axis. They are quite slow and the lean of the body and blade is small, so the upper body is used a little to help steer into the wanted direction. Working on basic edges helps the beginner find the balance point on the blade and understand the idea of staying over the skating hip. Basic edges also teach upper body and lover body coordination and the concept of being square (shoulders and hips are forming a rectangle on the same plan).

A more advanced edge skill (still beginner level) I can think of are Circle Eights where you hold an edge all around a circle not half circle and edge presses. At this level I fell you learn to stay square to the direction of travel and you work on gaining speed and balance.

I'll cover each of these skills in future posts...

Monthly skating review: progress and goals adjustment

So how did last month go?

Freestyle: I worked consistently on the back spin. I get now more then 3 rotations but at low speed and I always end up rocking back and forth on my blade. The corrections were:
- To to stay further back on the blade as I was on the front part of the ball of my foot touching the toe pic. I need to be on the ball of my foot but towards the arch and on the outside edge.
- Move the weight onto the skating hip, the axis of rotation is between the neck and right shoulder not the shoulder
- Lift the free hip
- Press into the ice while spinning, it seams that I'm lifting the upper body thinking that I press.

I didn't work much on the scratch spin as is on the bad hip. It seams that I'm entering the spin somehow around, I do a full 3 turn, then I center. I need to shorten the second edge, the inside edge of the 3 turn and start spinning.
- Press the entry edge and transfer the weight onto the skating hip while turning the 3 turn
- Bring the free hand and leg around quicker
- Bring the free leg more towards front then to the side
- Cross the free foot over the knee, close the free hip and push the foot straight down

I didn't do jumping in the lessons and just a couple here and there on my own.

MITF: When testing, you have to have each element "good enough" for that level. And for this level (pre-juvenile) I just need more power. As I cannot work on power because of my hip, my coach gave me more corrections for making them more exact. I work on what I can... So more corrections on the 3 turns, like extensions of the free leg. I was asked for a bigger backward circle eight and to not rush moving the arms on the inside circles. The secret for not falling out at the beginning of the inside edge while holding the back to the circle is to look inside the circle, over the shoulder. Backward power pulls are ok on my right leg but still wimpy on my left leg and I think it's because I unconsciously protect the hip, so I didn't push it. And we changed the extension on the back step on the 5 step Mohowk towards back, now that edge is longer so I need to make all of them longer.

Ice Dancing: They are right there where I left them 2 months ago. I'm relieved!

Off ice I did yoga once a week, better then nothing...

Goals for next month:

Freestyle: Keep working on the spins and start jumps in lessons. On crowded sessions I can work comfortably on spins and jumps compared with MITF or pattern dances.

 MITF: I don't feel motivated to work on them as I kind of think I have them. The next announced testing session at my rink is in November. But if there are requests, there may be one in August. I plan to think I'll test in August so I'll keep myself motivated. I cam warm up with the power ones  and also asses the hip status, then "work" later in the session on the 3 turns and circle 8.

Ice Dancing:  As always with the pattern dances, I have to hunt for emptier sessions  to work on them. But I don't want to make them a priority because I'm still not comfortable to fully hold the extensions. I feel can run trough everything but not "work" on them.

Keep up with yoga. It doesn't fit easily in my schedule but I feel amazing after.