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...