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.