As I feared, I haven't got to skate my regular schedule. This time of the year is busier, and I also did the Nutcracker on Ice that took a lot of time. To add to that, we've had our holiday on ice annual party, where each of us brings a treat. We do skate but there is lots of talking especially because people that don't skate regularly come to this session to catch up. Then, I woke up one day with a stiff back, I think I may have been cold during the night. It doesn't feel injured, just painful. And next two weeks the ice schedule it's gonna be even less manageable.
I've decided to concentrate only on the Ten Fox and hopefully get that tested mid January. I was able to add an extra lesson this week and next week, so even if I skate less time, I'll have more of my coach's guidance. And I think this will work, because the majority of the work left to be done on this dance is for partnering. There are few spots where I go on my own way, instead of following my partner. And, because of that, I'm slower on those spots and I fall behind the music.
Besides the dance, I'm going trough the Pre-Juvenile moves each time I'm on ice.
But, what I'm really trying to work on, is the basic alignment. To progress to the next level I need develop and to show more power, and that usually is described as speed. But is confident speed, and that is only possible with a good lean, pressure/ grip into ice and these are only possible with good and quick balance and alignment. Skating forward, I was paying attention to the spot on the blade where my weight should be, and for skating clockwise I was always forward on my blade and leaning/reaching forward, and I think I improved that a lot. Now there is mostly that the skating hip sticks out. I'm quite sure that I don't use my core muscles enough.I'm trying to make myself do some core exercises, but I'm not good at sticking with it. Skating backwards needs even more work, it seams that I do all kind of things with my hips with the back push (like allowing the free hip to go back after the push, and/ or dropping this free hip).
I'm sure everybody goes trough these rebuilding of the basic skills phases. And I'm wondering how everybody approaches it. It used to be frustrating for me. I think I felt that feeling frustrated was counterproductive to my skating and I've blocked it, repressed it. But the feeling may still be there in a different form, because I still have a negative emotion about this process. And I'm wondering now if repressed frustration isn't actually worse then acknowledged frustration.
Friday, December 20, 2019
Monday, December 16, 2019
Ice show: The Nutcracker on Ice
The Nutcracker on Ice happened this last weekend. I saw it last year and I loved it so much decided I had to be in it. It was the 45th anniversary of the show. Also it is the last year it's gonna be done on this particular rink, as a new rink is being build and this old one it's gonna be demolished.
What can I say. It was grand! The music goes uninterrupted and numbers align in the back and they are cued when to come in. And as the Nutcracker is a party, it honestly felt like a party. It was beautifully decorated, the costumes were over the top, tutus included.
We were around 30 adults participating as guest to the party and we had a group number, but some adults also had solos and duets. The queen and king were adults and they hand a dance together. There was a duet with two maids that did an amazing fun number. The magician, Clara's godfather, was played by different adults. And at least one adult had a solo in the second act.
As we rehearsed, the main instruction was to have fun, be comfortable and present big. Almost half of the adults did the show in the previous years, some, going back 20 years! And they were of course big help. Basically we were told to not stress out about anything, and just follow their lead. These adult skaters are part of a theater on ice team and they create each year a new number and they compete to ISI nationals and take part in local shows. They are a truly lovely group of people. The one day, Saturday, when we had two shows too close together for most people to be able to drive home, one of the skaters from this group invited us over to his place to eat. He made huge pots one with chili and one with vegetarian ratatouille, and the rest of us brought sides and deserts. Drinks were suggested but I was actually impressed that nobody went to it. What a responsible group!
Now, the only not so little negative thing, is that this is not my home rink. It's 40 minutes away without traffic, but it took me more then an hour with traffic. We had 6 rehearsals, 3 of them last week and 5 shows during the weekend, two shows each day on Friday and Saturday. I thinks this schedule is close to a professional performer schedule. And besides work, it is the time of the year that is most busy. So, as much as I enjoyed every little bit of it, I may not do it next year.
It all went so fast I didn't remember to take pictures, I took just a few. I will share only if they look good enough to make justice of how beautiful was everything. Otherwise I'll let you use you imagination.
What can I say. It was grand! The music goes uninterrupted and numbers align in the back and they are cued when to come in. And as the Nutcracker is a party, it honestly felt like a party. It was beautifully decorated, the costumes were over the top, tutus included.
We were around 30 adults participating as guest to the party and we had a group number, but some adults also had solos and duets. The queen and king were adults and they hand a dance together. There was a duet with two maids that did an amazing fun number. The magician, Clara's godfather, was played by different adults. And at least one adult had a solo in the second act.
As we rehearsed, the main instruction was to have fun, be comfortable and present big. Almost half of the adults did the show in the previous years, some, going back 20 years! And they were of course big help. Basically we were told to not stress out about anything, and just follow their lead. These adult skaters are part of a theater on ice team and they create each year a new number and they compete to ISI nationals and take part in local shows. They are a truly lovely group of people. The one day, Saturday, when we had two shows too close together for most people to be able to drive home, one of the skaters from this group invited us over to his place to eat. He made huge pots one with chili and one with vegetarian ratatouille, and the rest of us brought sides and deserts. Drinks were suggested but I was actually impressed that nobody went to it. What a responsible group!
Now, the only not so little negative thing, is that this is not my home rink. It's 40 minutes away without traffic, but it took me more then an hour with traffic. We had 6 rehearsals, 3 of them last week and 5 shows during the weekend, two shows each day on Friday and Saturday. I thinks this schedule is close to a professional performer schedule. And besides work, it is the time of the year that is most busy. So, as much as I enjoyed every little bit of it, I may not do it next year.
It all went so fast I didn't remember to take pictures, I took just a few. I will share only if they look good enough to make justice of how beautiful was everything. Otherwise I'll let you use you imagination.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Ice Dancing: Hickory Hoedown
As nothing new is happening with my skating these days, I'll write about a pattern dance I've tested and not described yet.
I tested and passed the Hickory Hoedown (the first and easiest of the Bronze level pattern dances) in January 2018. It is quite a long time ago and I'm not sure how well I'll remember my challenges when learning it. I suspect I will remember while going through the steps.
It is a country/ western style dance, and should be danced like a fun, happy dance. But, my coach said that when it was invented, it was meant to be a tango... honestly that makes more sense to me. Maybe you can read in between the lines that this was not a favorite dance of mine. I don't particularly like country music..
Here is the judging form for this dance: https://www.usfsa.org/content/hickory-hoedown.pdf. As always, I will describe the dance in lobes, or groups of steps that stay on the same circle.
Intro steps: four strokes, left right,left, right, starting along the short end of the ring, and planing to start the dance on the long axis (made by hockey dots) of the rink.
The pattern dance:
1.2.3. Left Forward Chasse (1-1-2, total 4 beats)
4.5.6. Right Forward Chasse (1-1-2, total 4 beats)
7.8.9. Left Forward Progressive (1-1-2, total 4 beats)
10.11. Right Forward Cross Roll (1 beat) Left Forward Slide Chasse, that felt to me like just an inside edge, but it is called chasse because you don't push into it, you just put the left foot down while you point the right foot forward, then you bring the right foot in, outside of the felt knee and kick it out (total 3 beats) I think this is the first spot where I had a little trouble. I had to remember to finish the lobe perpendicularly to the axis and bring the feet together so I can push into the next lobe that is towards the right, the more uncomfortable side...
12.13.14. Right Forward Progressive (1-1-2, total 4 beats)
15.16. Left Forward Cross Roll and Right Forward Slide Chasse with a kick. (1 and 3 beats, 4 total)
17.18. Left Forward dropped 3-turn (2 beats) and Right Backward Swing Roll (4 beats). These continue on the same circle as the previous lobe. The 3-turn technique was hard for me at that point in time. For this dance the specific instruction was to start it going towards the end of the rink, not try to go across from the beginning as it felt natural to me. The not so perfect 3-turn seams to be acceptable for this level and I didn't have a comment from the judges. What wasn't acceptable was me rushing everything from this point on. My coach must have told me a hundred times to just finish the swing roll. But up to the present days I'm not 100% on a solid outside edge finishing the backward swing roll and that made me fell insecure to start the next step, so I think I was rushing the swing roll to have extra time to re balance for this next step.
19.20. Left Backward Outside (2 beats) edge, to Right Forward Swing Roll (4 beats). As I said when I described other pattern dances, when you make a mistake, it has a ripple or domino effect, it shows in the next steps.... So doing a solid back swing roll put me in an impossible position to do a strong left back edge (plus I knew it and that added to the frenzy), and that made it difficult to step confidential forward to the next step. And this is where I had the comment from the judge that I was rushing...
21a.21b.22.23. Left Forward Chasse of just two steps not 3 as before, continued with Left Forward Progressive of two steps, not tree. (each 1 beat, 4 beats total). The reason the first two steps are named 21a and b is because the partner does a single step during these.
The first part of this dance (up to the 3-turm) is on a Killian hold (so, side by side) and it goes on a waltz hold for the end of the pattern. Then, during the last lobe, the lady lift the left arm from the partners back and bring it forward (without hitting the partner), to get into a Kilian hold again. I do remember, when I was first learning this dance, this arm change was the part that made me the most nervous. But i have to say, it kind of happen on it's own.
I was quite confident to test this dance, so not nervous. I felt confident enough to fell I can show off a little, so I've made a new dress for it. And... unfortunately I don't have a video of the test.
I tested and passed the Hickory Hoedown (the first and easiest of the Bronze level pattern dances) in January 2018. It is quite a long time ago and I'm not sure how well I'll remember my challenges when learning it. I suspect I will remember while going through the steps.
It is a country/ western style dance, and should be danced like a fun, happy dance. But, my coach said that when it was invented, it was meant to be a tango... honestly that makes more sense to me. Maybe you can read in between the lines that this was not a favorite dance of mine. I don't particularly like country music..
Here is the judging form for this dance: https://www.usfsa.org/content/hickory-hoedown.pdf. As always, I will describe the dance in lobes, or groups of steps that stay on the same circle.
Intro steps: four strokes, left right,left, right, starting along the short end of the ring, and planing to start the dance on the long axis (made by hockey dots) of the rink.
The pattern dance:
1.2.3. Left Forward Chasse (1-1-2, total 4 beats)
4.5.6. Right Forward Chasse (1-1-2, total 4 beats)
7.8.9. Left Forward Progressive (1-1-2, total 4 beats)
10.11. Right Forward Cross Roll (1 beat) Left Forward Slide Chasse, that felt to me like just an inside edge, but it is called chasse because you don't push into it, you just put the left foot down while you point the right foot forward, then you bring the right foot in, outside of the felt knee and kick it out (total 3 beats) I think this is the first spot where I had a little trouble. I had to remember to finish the lobe perpendicularly to the axis and bring the feet together so I can push into the next lobe that is towards the right, the more uncomfortable side...
12.13.14. Right Forward Progressive (1-1-2, total 4 beats)
15.16. Left Forward Cross Roll and Right Forward Slide Chasse with a kick. (1 and 3 beats, 4 total)
17.18. Left Forward dropped 3-turn (2 beats) and Right Backward Swing Roll (4 beats). These continue on the same circle as the previous lobe. The 3-turn technique was hard for me at that point in time. For this dance the specific instruction was to start it going towards the end of the rink, not try to go across from the beginning as it felt natural to me. The not so perfect 3-turn seams to be acceptable for this level and I didn't have a comment from the judges. What wasn't acceptable was me rushing everything from this point on. My coach must have told me a hundred times to just finish the swing roll. But up to the present days I'm not 100% on a solid outside edge finishing the backward swing roll and that made me fell insecure to start the next step, so I think I was rushing the swing roll to have extra time to re balance for this next step.
19.20. Left Backward Outside (2 beats) edge, to Right Forward Swing Roll (4 beats). As I said when I described other pattern dances, when you make a mistake, it has a ripple or domino effect, it shows in the next steps.... So doing a solid back swing roll put me in an impossible position to do a strong left back edge (plus I knew it and that added to the frenzy), and that made it difficult to step confidential forward to the next step. And this is where I had the comment from the judge that I was rushing...
21a.21b.22.23. Left Forward Chasse of just two steps not 3 as before, continued with Left Forward Progressive of two steps, not tree. (each 1 beat, 4 beats total). The reason the first two steps are named 21a and b is because the partner does a single step during these.
The first part of this dance (up to the 3-turm) is on a Killian hold (so, side by side) and it goes on a waltz hold for the end of the pattern. Then, during the last lobe, the lady lift the left arm from the partners back and bring it forward (without hitting the partner), to get into a Kilian hold again. I do remember, when I was first learning this dance, this arm change was the part that made me the most nervous. But i have to say, it kind of happen on it's own.
I was quite confident to test this dance, so not nervous. I felt confident enough to fell I can show off a little, so I've made a new dress for it. And... unfortunately I don't have a video of the test.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Monthly skating review: progress and goals adjustment
I'm happy with how my skating went last month. And then, as I haven't skated for almost a week because of the Thanksgiving, it all went back to me being cautious and stiff on ice. But this should be a very short set back, few sessions on ice should bring me back.
So, last month I was able to skate 3 times a week plus one half hour private lesson, plus one group lesson. At the beginning of the month I was accepting that I cannot progress if I skate without focusing on pushing forward any of the elements. I also wasn't finding the motivation and maybe even the confidence that it will make a difference, to make me skate focused. Before these last few months, I found motivation in testing, and I trusted that my skating skills will get better during the process of learning for tests. Now, I almost got to think the opposite... not concentrating on the process of skating I've started to concentrate on my skating skills, and on all of them, not just the ones for the tests, and they felt not as strong as I wanted. I think this awareness made it a vicious circle because it made me feel I'm not ready to test...
I was telling a little about this to my coach and he said that the moves are right there, all I need is to decide to test them. Then, on the following week, while working on the Ten Fox and stopping during the dance to ask a correction, he said, well if you want to test it mid December you have to go for it, don't stop the dance. I wasn't planning to test it mid December, in fact I cannot, because the test date is the same with one of the Nutcracker performances. But the fact that my coach thought that both the dance and moves are ready for testing, gave me quite a bust of confidence.
But more than my coach's opinion, is me feeling stronger, more stable, more fluid on ice. And that is progress. At this point I really feel I can build on it.
So, the plan for this month is to get both the Ice Dancing Ten Fox and the Pre-Juvenile Moves ready to test on mid January. At this point, the dance is good enough for this level, in the lessons we mostly do partnering. And while I still work on it on my own, I have plenty of time to work at the moves too. My club doesn't always have dance tests. I may have to test the dance on another club, where they have a whole session just for dance, and that may be for the best, get it done, and only then focus just on moves.
Freestyle I'll just maintain. My group lessons session ended, and I won't register again for it, for now at least. It was a kids group and we did a strong warm up, that I was grateful for, but then we mostly worked on spins, because the kids had already have the jumps for this level. I'm grateful for working at spins too. I've learned two big adjustments. But I'm mostly grateful that I saw clearly that I have to stay half hour on the spins and not rush and take it methodically, in order to make a difference. Anyway, my goal was to get my Loop jump back in order to have another program choreographed for Adult Bronze level, and we haven't work on jumps. I'll have to work at the Loop with my private coach, but maybe only after I test the dance and the moves.
I'm a little worried if my rink ice schedule and my schedule will allow enough skating time this month. My skating schedule is now Monday when I have my private lesson but as an extra session, Wednesday, Friday, no more Saturday group class. This week I'm not sure I can skate on Friday, and at my rink there is no convenient ice on the weekend. Then, next week, I'm gonna have 4 Nutcracker rehearsals and 5 performances, so I don't know how much I'll be able to skate on my own. I feel that some days I will be stuck at the Nutcracker rink, from noon to evening as the few hours break wouldn't be enough to come home and go back. I'm also wondering how tired will I get and how cold. Hopefully I will not catch a cold... And quick update, the rehearsals, up to now, went very smoothly. Then, around Christmas, the rinks schedules will be different, with less ice time for skating in general, plus the practice ice will be full of kids as they are off from schools. I'll have to keep focused when on ice because surely I'll skate less then I normally do.
So, last month I was able to skate 3 times a week plus one half hour private lesson, plus one group lesson. At the beginning of the month I was accepting that I cannot progress if I skate without focusing on pushing forward any of the elements. I also wasn't finding the motivation and maybe even the confidence that it will make a difference, to make me skate focused. Before these last few months, I found motivation in testing, and I trusted that my skating skills will get better during the process of learning for tests. Now, I almost got to think the opposite... not concentrating on the process of skating I've started to concentrate on my skating skills, and on all of them, not just the ones for the tests, and they felt not as strong as I wanted. I think this awareness made it a vicious circle because it made me feel I'm not ready to test...
I was telling a little about this to my coach and he said that the moves are right there, all I need is to decide to test them. Then, on the following week, while working on the Ten Fox and stopping during the dance to ask a correction, he said, well if you want to test it mid December you have to go for it, don't stop the dance. I wasn't planning to test it mid December, in fact I cannot, because the test date is the same with one of the Nutcracker performances. But the fact that my coach thought that both the dance and moves are ready for testing, gave me quite a bust of confidence.
But more than my coach's opinion, is me feeling stronger, more stable, more fluid on ice. And that is progress. At this point I really feel I can build on it.
So, the plan for this month is to get both the Ice Dancing Ten Fox and the Pre-Juvenile Moves ready to test on mid January. At this point, the dance is good enough for this level, in the lessons we mostly do partnering. And while I still work on it on my own, I have plenty of time to work at the moves too. My club doesn't always have dance tests. I may have to test the dance on another club, where they have a whole session just for dance, and that may be for the best, get it done, and only then focus just on moves.
Freestyle I'll just maintain. My group lessons session ended, and I won't register again for it, for now at least. It was a kids group and we did a strong warm up, that I was grateful for, but then we mostly worked on spins, because the kids had already have the jumps for this level. I'm grateful for working at spins too. I've learned two big adjustments. But I'm mostly grateful that I saw clearly that I have to stay half hour on the spins and not rush and take it methodically, in order to make a difference. Anyway, my goal was to get my Loop jump back in order to have another program choreographed for Adult Bronze level, and we haven't work on jumps. I'll have to work at the Loop with my private coach, but maybe only after I test the dance and the moves.
I'm a little worried if my rink ice schedule and my schedule will allow enough skating time this month. My skating schedule is now Monday when I have my private lesson but as an extra session, Wednesday, Friday, no more Saturday group class. This week I'm not sure I can skate on Friday, and at my rink there is no convenient ice on the weekend. Then, next week, I'm gonna have 4 Nutcracker rehearsals and 5 performances, so I don't know how much I'll be able to skate on my own. I feel that some days I will be stuck at the Nutcracker rink, from noon to evening as the few hours break wouldn't be enough to come home and go back. I'm also wondering how tired will I get and how cold. Hopefully I will not catch a cold... And quick update, the rehearsals, up to now, went very smoothly. Then, around Christmas, the rinks schedules will be different, with less ice time for skating in general, plus the practice ice will be full of kids as they are off from schools. I'll have to keep focused when on ice because surely I'll skate less then I normally do.
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Intermediate Backward Skating and Backward Swing Rolls
I've worked on the Swing Rolls (both forward and backward) very little since I've hurt my hip (a year and a half ago), because I feel that when I hold the extensions I put more strain on the hip muscles. But I need the Backward Swing Roll in the Ten Fox, so I have to work at it a little.
I've wrote a post about the Backward Swing Rolls not long ago, here, but I feel I've got enough corrections for an update:
- Push straight back, find a good edge with a good, high extension of the free foot forward.
- After the push, the free leg ending a little away from skating knee (free foot is 6 inches away from the edge's tracing)
- Level shoulders, don't drop the free hip back, pointing the free foot's toes forward, helps keeping the free hep forward.
- Rise over skating shoulder, draw free foot towards the skating foot.
- Don't swing too late, swing at middle and quickly
- Press into the ice, straighten the skating leg and push the hips forward
- Free shoulder very back over skating hip
- Feel the weight over skating side
- Free leg very back, don't let the hip open
I've written here about how I plan to work more on my backward skating and I'm doing it... Every single day I'm on ice, I do these (boring and frustrating) backward exercises as much as my patience allows me. Some days it is not much, but some days I've stuck with them for half hour. My coach's wisdom (all coaches' wisdom) is that after you've understood how to do something correctly (and that can take a while), do it a thousand times (yes this can take a long, long time), so it becomes body memory. To bring my backward skating to an intermediate level I feel I need to look and feel more confident and that implies finding my balance quickly, good erect posture, high extension on the free leg forward, no wide stepping, comfortable speed.
Backward stroking concentrating on:
- going slowly
- look up and straight posture
- re bending before pushing (my coach asked me to actually stay few seconds in the bend position). If I rush, I bend forward as I push back, then I loose the press into the ice as I straighten and I don't have a strong push.
- holding the core engaged. I think I'm overdoing this, I feel tense and I think I look tense, but generally it seems it helps me to overcompensate for a while and then pull back to a more balanced approach so after the push the whole body moves like a block, doesn't twist
- not allowing the pushing foot hip to go back after the push, pointing the toes forward help too
- not allowing the upper body to twist after the push, hold it square
- press into ice as I rise (on the front of the arch foot, or just back of the ball of the foot)
- bring the free foot in tense, as I would have an obstacle in it's way, like the arms of a scissor
- feel the boots touching
- re bend
I think my biggest problem is the rise while pressing into the ice and holding the balance and posture... and that will affect the re bend so the push, so, everything....
Backward Chasses on a circle:
- posture (straight, almost back, with the shoulders rolled back)
- pushing the heals back (to the direction of traveling) to balance the shoulders rolled back
- touching the boots
- pressing into ice and pushing from the ankles. For the chasse you push just from the foot outside of the circle you are creating, the foot that is towards the inside just lifts of the ice and goes back on it. The pushing foot is always on an inside edge, and the foot that does the chasse is on an outside edge. It is a good exercise to train this push from the pushing leg that is on an inside edge to the other leg that is on the outside edge. That includes holding the boots pressed together so you can place the foot towards the inside of the circle on an outside edge.
This is a good exercise to teach your body to push from an Backward Outside Edge to an Backward Outside Edge as you have to do to change the lobes on Backward Chasses on alternating lobes exercise that I described here. And the secret is that as you rise to finish one lobe on the BO edge, you flip that foot on an inside edge just before pushing on the other foot BO. Holding the boots together while flipping the pushing foot on the inside edge, puts the other boot in the perfect position to be placed on the outside edge on ice. Again I think I'm not always balanced as I rise, and that makes re bending hesitant so I rush and I put the free foot down. That inevitably is a wide step and an inside edge. It's gonna be a long road to do this correctly.
I've wrote a post about the Backward Swing Rolls not long ago, here, but I feel I've got enough corrections for an update:
- Push straight back, find a good edge with a good, high extension of the free foot forward.
- After the push, the free leg ending a little away from skating knee (free foot is 6 inches away from the edge's tracing)
- Level shoulders, don't drop the free hip back, pointing the free foot's toes forward, helps keeping the free hep forward.
- Rise over skating shoulder, draw free foot towards the skating foot.
- Don't swing too late, swing at middle and quickly
- Press into the ice, straighten the skating leg and push the hips forward
- Free shoulder very back over skating hip
- Feel the weight over skating side
- Free leg very back, don't let the hip open
I've written here about how I plan to work more on my backward skating and I'm doing it... Every single day I'm on ice, I do these (boring and frustrating) backward exercises as much as my patience allows me. Some days it is not much, but some days I've stuck with them for half hour. My coach's wisdom (all coaches' wisdom) is that after you've understood how to do something correctly (and that can take a while), do it a thousand times (yes this can take a long, long time), so it becomes body memory. To bring my backward skating to an intermediate level I feel I need to look and feel more confident and that implies finding my balance quickly, good erect posture, high extension on the free leg forward, no wide stepping, comfortable speed.
Backward stroking concentrating on:
- going slowly
- look up and straight posture
- re bending before pushing (my coach asked me to actually stay few seconds in the bend position). If I rush, I bend forward as I push back, then I loose the press into the ice as I straighten and I don't have a strong push.
- holding the core engaged. I think I'm overdoing this, I feel tense and I think I look tense, but generally it seems it helps me to overcompensate for a while and then pull back to a more balanced approach so after the push the whole body moves like a block, doesn't twist
- not allowing the pushing foot hip to go back after the push, pointing the toes forward help too
- not allowing the upper body to twist after the push, hold it square
- press into ice as I rise (on the front of the arch foot, or just back of the ball of the foot)
- bring the free foot in tense, as I would have an obstacle in it's way, like the arms of a scissor
- feel the boots touching
- re bend
I think my biggest problem is the rise while pressing into the ice and holding the balance and posture... and that will affect the re bend so the push, so, everything....
Backward Chasses on a circle:
- posture (straight, almost back, with the shoulders rolled back)
- pushing the heals back (to the direction of traveling) to balance the shoulders rolled back
- touching the boots
- pressing into ice and pushing from the ankles. For the chasse you push just from the foot outside of the circle you are creating, the foot that is towards the inside just lifts of the ice and goes back on it. The pushing foot is always on an inside edge, and the foot that does the chasse is on an outside edge. It is a good exercise to train this push from the pushing leg that is on an inside edge to the other leg that is on the outside edge. That includes holding the boots pressed together so you can place the foot towards the inside of the circle on an outside edge.
This is a good exercise to teach your body to push from an Backward Outside Edge to an Backward Outside Edge as you have to do to change the lobes on Backward Chasses on alternating lobes exercise that I described here. And the secret is that as you rise to finish one lobe on the BO edge, you flip that foot on an inside edge just before pushing on the other foot BO. Holding the boots together while flipping the pushing foot on the inside edge, puts the other boot in the perfect position to be placed on the outside edge on ice. Again I think I'm not always balanced as I rise, and that makes re bending hesitant so I rush and I put the free foot down. That inevitably is a wide step and an inside edge. It's gonna be a long road to do this correctly.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Skating Technique: Intermediate Droped 3-Turns (Ice Dancing)
I'm working lately a lot at 3-turns. I do the Ice Dancing dropped 3-turns, and also the ones for the MITF
Pre-Juvenile test (Forward Outside to Backward Inside and Forward Inside
to Backward Outside. I had a
post describing Beginner Forward 3-turns (FO 3-turns and FI 3-turns),
and I kept writing the new instruction I've got in different posts.
Today I'm writing about the Ice dancing Forward Dropped 3-turns. I've done one Left, or ccw, as part of the intro steps to the Swing Dance, the same one in the Hickory Hoedown, the on Right or cw, in the Willow Waltz, and there are two Left ones (one as intro step and one in the dance), in the Ten Fox. They are getting better and better, but after I'll test the Ten Fox I'll start working at the Pre-Silver Dances, and the European Waltz is basically just 3-turns... And they have to be good.
Look at this video, these are really good ones. She is an Olympic medalist in Ice Dancing...
Instructions:
Stroke (not step) into the 3-turn, hold the outside edge and extension and pressure into ice.
As you rise:
- keep pressing into the ice
- turn the head into the circle and look up
- turn the upper body toward the center of the circle, lean in the circle
- feel the inside shoulder scapula going back
- bring the free foot near the other foot (some do a T at the back).
- bring the hips around (it will still be a little back).
- don't think and try to turn backwards, just 90 degrees, the rest is done automatically by the blade sliding and body inertia
Turn and Check
- roll to the front of your blade (the ball of your foot)
- boots are touching
- the turn is happening from the knee,
Hold the Back Inside Edge for a little
- after the turn, balance on the front of the blade
- press into ice
- the boots are still togheter
- hold posture, butt in, look up
Re bend holding the weight on the skating foot
- press the foot into ice by feeling the shoulder pressing down (and lift from the rib cage as for plie in ballet)
- press the boots together, creating tension. The skating, pushing foot is on a back inside edge and as the free foot boot is hold pressed on the pushing foot boot, it is getting in a goot position to be placed on ice on an outside edge
Push to a outside back edge straight back
- keep the pushing foot pointed forward, don't let the hip go back, that will make the upper body twist
And for 3-turns done one after the other
- Rise on the back edge with the back align over the circle
- Re bend
- Open the feet on a T position
- Stroke into a new 3-turn , push forward without leaning forward
Tracking the partner:
- you stroke towards the inside of the circle.For a ccw 3-turn that is towards the left of the partner. It is counter intuitive, because the partner feels in your way, but trust me it is gonna work. It was proven to me by my coach, by drawing it on the ice, demonstrating with another skating so I can watch, and doing it with me at vary slow speed... yes I was very stubborn in my disbelieving
- as you rise, look up, at the partner, lean towards the partner, don't stick the butt out, and square the shoulders with the partner
- the turns happens by itself....
I had to fight hard to do every single line I wrote in the instructions. I'm still not always looking into the circle before the turn, even when I do the 3-turn on its own not in a dance. In a dance, I still do randomly all the mistakes that I thought I've fixed long time ago. Instead of stroking I was stepping and not holding the extension and not pressing into the ice. But you need a good outside edge and reasonably fast, the extension and pressure into ice hold that outside edge. Then keep pressing into the ice. Then twist the upper body, then lean into the circle...I'm still not holding the exit edge and I rush to push what it should be backwards but it is in fact a hook around, while breaking at the waist (butt out). And don't ask me about partnering... some days I do it, and some days I'm just not. I mean, I am getting better, but painfully slow.
Update on dropped 3-turns on Jan 2020 here
Today I'm writing about the Ice dancing Forward Dropped 3-turns. I've done one Left, or ccw, as part of the intro steps to the Swing Dance, the same one in the Hickory Hoedown, the on Right or cw, in the Willow Waltz, and there are two Left ones (one as intro step and one in the dance), in the Ten Fox. They are getting better and better, but after I'll test the Ten Fox I'll start working at the Pre-Silver Dances, and the European Waltz is basically just 3-turns... And they have to be good.
Look at this video, these are really good ones. She is an Olympic medalist in Ice Dancing...
Instructions:
Stroke (not step) into the 3-turn, hold the outside edge and extension and pressure into ice.
As you rise:
- keep pressing into the ice
- turn the head into the circle and look up
- turn the upper body toward the center of the circle, lean in the circle
- feel the inside shoulder scapula going back
- bring the free foot near the other foot (some do a T at the back).
- bring the hips around (it will still be a little back).
- don't think and try to turn backwards, just 90 degrees, the rest is done automatically by the blade sliding and body inertia
Turn and Check
- roll to the front of your blade (the ball of your foot)
- boots are touching
- the turn is happening from the knee,
Hold the Back Inside Edge for a little
- after the turn, balance on the front of the blade
- press into ice
- the boots are still togheter
- hold posture, butt in, look up
Re bend holding the weight on the skating foot
- press the foot into ice by feeling the shoulder pressing down (and lift from the rib cage as for plie in ballet)
- press the boots together, creating tension. The skating, pushing foot is on a back inside edge and as the free foot boot is hold pressed on the pushing foot boot, it is getting in a goot position to be placed on ice on an outside edge
Push to a outside back edge straight back
- keep the pushing foot pointed forward, don't let the hip go back, that will make the upper body twist
And for 3-turns done one after the other
- Rise on the back edge with the back align over the circle
- Re bend
- Open the feet on a T position
- Stroke into a new 3-turn , push forward without leaning forward
Tracking the partner:
- you stroke towards the inside of the circle.For a ccw 3-turn that is towards the left of the partner. It is counter intuitive, because the partner feels in your way, but trust me it is gonna work. It was proven to me by my coach, by drawing it on the ice, demonstrating with another skating so I can watch, and doing it with me at vary slow speed... yes I was very stubborn in my disbelieving
- as you rise, look up, at the partner, lean towards the partner, don't stick the butt out, and square the shoulders with the partner
- the turns happens by itself....
I had to fight hard to do every single line I wrote in the instructions. I'm still not always looking into the circle before the turn, even when I do the 3-turn on its own not in a dance. In a dance, I still do randomly all the mistakes that I thought I've fixed long time ago. Instead of stroking I was stepping and not holding the extension and not pressing into the ice. But you need a good outside edge and reasonably fast, the extension and pressure into ice hold that outside edge. Then keep pressing into the ice. Then twist the upper body, then lean into the circle...I'm still not holding the exit edge and I rush to push what it should be backwards but it is in fact a hook around, while breaking at the waist (butt out). And don't ask me about partnering... some days I do it, and some days I'm just not. I mean, I am getting better, but painfully slow.
Update on dropped 3-turns on Jan 2020 here
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Progress... slow progress
I haven't really worked at my skating skills and for progress, since the beginning of the summer. The reasons were the lingering pain after the small hip injury, getting upset and put off by the politicking in the skating world, to what it was added the inconvenient summer ice schedule. As a result of all that, I've got both unmotivated and out of my skating rhythm. I've tried to get them back in the fall and I just couldn't find a way. So I've decided to skate for my own enjoyment, which I have lost when I was working too hard, for progress, and I wrote about it here. Ideally would be, of course, to work for progress and enjoy the process, but I couldn't find a way to do that just yet.
I wrote here, over a year ago, about progressing from a skating Beginner level to a High Beginner level. I though at that point I was at a High Beginner level, and I think I was right. I was wondering then and I'm still wondering, how to push into an Intermediate level (a beginner Intermediate level). I think I'm at the threshold. I need just a final push to get over it. And I think working towards finally testing the Pre-Juvenile MITF and the Ten Fox will finally get me there. So I'm trying to pump myself up to work for testing. And I'm shooting for testing in mid January. There are few test sessions in mid December that that's after the week and week end I'll be busy with the Nutcracker on ice, so I expect I'll be too tired. Testing though, is just a symbol of passing a threshold. What I'm wondering is what skills should be acquired for a skater to be (look like) an Intermediate level skater.
I'm so grateful to my coach that he asks and listens about me feeling stuck and unmotivated, not confident even, and trys to help. Lately, instead of going trough the MITF exercises and the Ten Fox, he actually went for skills developing exercises. I mentioned them here and here.
So, just to review what I need to work on with awareness:
- posture and looking up,
- alignment over edges,
- pressure into ice
- touching the boots before pushing (so no wide stepping)
- bending into the ankles at pushes
- pushing perpendicularly away from the axis
- holding the whole body engaged (I think of it at tense, but is more like core engaged, upper body lifted, keep the tension after the push to have straight knee and pointed toe for the free leg.
- speed
I feel quite solid on forward skating. On backward skating I still don't find the balancing point quickly, I feel the push on the left outside edge is "empty". I immediately loose the good posture after the push and I'm not always on the edge. Theoretically I know I have to work on all the things I mentioned, and allow them to became body memory. So I plan to do lots and lots of backward stroking, chasses, progressives both on a circle and on alternating lobes, swing rolls. And of course, the turns (the dropped 3-turns from Ice Dancing and the forward to backward 3-turns from the moves) will get better when the back edges will be better.
I wrote here, over a year ago, about progressing from a skating Beginner level to a High Beginner level. I though at that point I was at a High Beginner level, and I think I was right. I was wondering then and I'm still wondering, how to push into an Intermediate level (a beginner Intermediate level). I think I'm at the threshold. I need just a final push to get over it. And I think working towards finally testing the Pre-Juvenile MITF and the Ten Fox will finally get me there. So I'm trying to pump myself up to work for testing. And I'm shooting for testing in mid January. There are few test sessions in mid December that that's after the week and week end I'll be busy with the Nutcracker on ice, so I expect I'll be too tired. Testing though, is just a symbol of passing a threshold. What I'm wondering is what skills should be acquired for a skater to be (look like) an Intermediate level skater.
I'm so grateful to my coach that he asks and listens about me feeling stuck and unmotivated, not confident even, and trys to help. Lately, instead of going trough the MITF exercises and the Ten Fox, he actually went for skills developing exercises. I mentioned them here and here.
So, just to review what I need to work on with awareness:
- posture and looking up,
- alignment over edges,
- pressure into ice
- touching the boots before pushing (so no wide stepping)
- bending into the ankles at pushes
- pushing perpendicularly away from the axis
- holding the whole body engaged (I think of it at tense, but is more like core engaged, upper body lifted, keep the tension after the push to have straight knee and pointed toe for the free leg.
- speed
I feel quite solid on forward skating. On backward skating I still don't find the balancing point quickly, I feel the push on the left outside edge is "empty". I immediately loose the good posture after the push and I'm not always on the edge. Theoretically I know I have to work on all the things I mentioned, and allow them to became body memory. So I plan to do lots and lots of backward stroking, chasses, progressives both on a circle and on alternating lobes, swing rolls. And of course, the turns (the dropped 3-turns from Ice Dancing and the forward to backward 3-turns from the moves) will get better when the back edges will be better.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Ice Show Rehearsals
This year I'm doing an ice show at a different rink than where I usually skate. I watched it last year and it was charming so I wanted to be in it, the Nutcracker on Ice. They do it every year and it actually follows the ballet quite closely and I love ballet. I'm in the adult group number. The adults are the "guests to the party" so we are on ice the whole first act. I'm impressed that they allow adults to have solo numbers too (at my regular rink, they don't).
We've had two rehearsals and they were soo relaxed, especially compared with my old rink rehearsals. You can find my posts about the ice shows I did, under the tab "ice shows". The choreographer/ instructor started by saying that he wants us all to feel safe and enjoy, and we don't have to do anything that doesn't feel like that. Then, he explained the process: we'll try different things and depending on what they look he'll decide the choreography for the next week. He asked who can do what, and had us do some things together.
On the second week rehearsal he gave us the backbone of the choreography. We are split in 3 groups, filling the middle and the ends of the rink and will do 3 main things, a line with some steps and a spiral for who wanted to do it, then some steps into waltz jumps, then pinwheels. We haven't actually put it all together, but some of the skaters do this show every year and they seam confident that it's all gonna work, plus they are very used to work with each other and they are part of each of the three groups on ice, so I feel they'll lead the rest us well. I also loved that it allowed for each of us to choose the costume. No stress there, again, compared with the previous shows I did, where we had quite strong unhappy voices about the costumes. And then, we went to breakfast, almost all of us.
We have a two weeks break, then four more rehearsals all on the weekend and week before the show, two one after the other on the same day, then a matinee for the neighborhood school kids, not open to the public, then three performances.
Up to now it aligns well to my idea to skate for my own enjoyment, as a balance to skating hard to progress. I'm especially happy because I feel I'm finally starting to get some desire to push for progress again, and for testing.
We've had two rehearsals and they were soo relaxed, especially compared with my old rink rehearsals. You can find my posts about the ice shows I did, under the tab "ice shows". The choreographer/ instructor started by saying that he wants us all to feel safe and enjoy, and we don't have to do anything that doesn't feel like that. Then, he explained the process: we'll try different things and depending on what they look he'll decide the choreography for the next week. He asked who can do what, and had us do some things together.
On the second week rehearsal he gave us the backbone of the choreography. We are split in 3 groups, filling the middle and the ends of the rink and will do 3 main things, a line with some steps and a spiral for who wanted to do it, then some steps into waltz jumps, then pinwheels. We haven't actually put it all together, but some of the skaters do this show every year and they seam confident that it's all gonna work, plus they are very used to work with each other and they are part of each of the three groups on ice, so I feel they'll lead the rest us well. I also loved that it allowed for each of us to choose the costume. No stress there, again, compared with the previous shows I did, where we had quite strong unhappy voices about the costumes. And then, we went to breakfast, almost all of us.
We have a two weeks break, then four more rehearsals all on the weekend and week before the show, two one after the other on the same day, then a matinee for the neighborhood school kids, not open to the public, then three performances.
Up to now it aligns well to my idea to skate for my own enjoyment, as a balance to skating hard to progress. I'm especially happy because I feel I'm finally starting to get some desire to push for progress again, and for testing.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Skating technique: Intermediary skating skills (power, press, alignment, lean)
I usually have my private lessons on Monday and I get to skate before the lesson, so I'm warmed up already. I cannot skate next Monday so I asked for an extra lesson this week. It was on the first hour of the "Freestyle practice ice" so i had to start with a warm up with my coach watching and obviously helping and correcting.
After slalom forward and backward I did the forward outside edge presses. First the forward outside. My coach said that the hip is sticking out. That is the hip inside the circle. I am supposed to lean into the circle, with the shoulders parallel with the ice, but the rest of the body being a straight line. Like here. I tried and tried again and we ended at the boards looking into the glass and modeling my body to achieve the hip in, so the straight body line, the lean into the circle. This lean should be achieved on all edges forward, backward, outside, inside and it is always the same visual of not having the hip inside the circle sticking out. Another way I was asked to not stick the hip out was to feel, to make a hollow, that somehow doesn't work for me. I was even allowed to look down, at the hip... blasphemy! I've learned that the hip that is mentioned in the skating instruction is lower then I thought of it. That may make a difference in trying to align it. One other words I remember I've red about this hip in, were to push with the hip from inside the circle into the hip from the outside of the circle. Whaaat? No, actually that made sense when I've tried it, that's why I'm mentioning it here. To add to that is to make a hollow under arm of the arm towards the inside of the circle. That is to help the lean but I suspect also to not drop that shoulder. And also, on all the edges the upper body should be align over the circle.
After this anatomy (or contortion) lesson, I did the crossovers to inner edges from the PreJuvenile MITF test as my next warm up. My coach said to press into the ankle, so ice, the inside edge on both forward and backward. Not to just glide there. Use each step energy into the next step. We've run this 3 times. But it seams the coach was happy seeing that I was able to incorporate some of these corrections (that I've heard many times before), so he decided to continue with all this concept of power in skating. I mentioned the concept of power in skating many times, like here. The first step in building power in your skating is the correct push, (from underneath you, and pressing into the ice, that I described before (forward and backward)
So we've continued with the rest of the MITF test exercises. Next were the power pulls. There, the biggest correction today was on the backward ones to align the upper body over the circle (the edge) so on the back outside edges pull the opposite shoulder back to lead with it, and on the back inside edges, the same side shoulder. Obviously on the power pulls you press into the ice. The 3-turns had less corrections then usual! But the focus was the same, the same alignment over the circle and lean into the circle. And then it was mentioned probably the biggest component of power on ice, the speed. I have to put more speed into the 3Turns. But generally, speed goes hand in hand with feeling confident in the edges, lean, alignment, press into the ice. You cannot have speed without having the others, and I think when all these "others" work, the speed increases automatically.
Back circle 8, you've guessed, we've insisted on the exact same points... On the inside ones I'm leaning out of the circle as I bring the foot in at the top of the lobe, then I'm twisting too much facing inside the circle (that would be not align over the circle) and that's slows me down. I worked at this alignment over the circle when skating backwards mostly trough backward edge presses, that I'm realizing I've never described, but I will soon...
I'm very happy with this lesson. It made me feel that I'm on track to getting the power.
After slalom forward and backward I did the forward outside edge presses. First the forward outside. My coach said that the hip is sticking out. That is the hip inside the circle. I am supposed to lean into the circle, with the shoulders parallel with the ice, but the rest of the body being a straight line. Like here. I tried and tried again and we ended at the boards looking into the glass and modeling my body to achieve the hip in, so the straight body line, the lean into the circle. This lean should be achieved on all edges forward, backward, outside, inside and it is always the same visual of not having the hip inside the circle sticking out. Another way I was asked to not stick the hip out was to feel, to make a hollow, that somehow doesn't work for me. I was even allowed to look down, at the hip... blasphemy! I've learned that the hip that is mentioned in the skating instruction is lower then I thought of it. That may make a difference in trying to align it. One other words I remember I've red about this hip in, were to push with the hip from inside the circle into the hip from the outside of the circle. Whaaat? No, actually that made sense when I've tried it, that's why I'm mentioning it here. To add to that is to make a hollow under arm of the arm towards the inside of the circle. That is to help the lean but I suspect also to not drop that shoulder. And also, on all the edges the upper body should be align over the circle.
After this anatomy (or contortion) lesson, I did the crossovers to inner edges from the PreJuvenile MITF test as my next warm up. My coach said to press into the ankle, so ice, the inside edge on both forward and backward. Not to just glide there. Use each step energy into the next step. We've run this 3 times. But it seams the coach was happy seeing that I was able to incorporate some of these corrections (that I've heard many times before), so he decided to continue with all this concept of power in skating. I mentioned the concept of power in skating many times, like here. The first step in building power in your skating is the correct push, (from underneath you, and pressing into the ice, that I described before (forward and backward)
So we've continued with the rest of the MITF test exercises. Next were the power pulls. There, the biggest correction today was on the backward ones to align the upper body over the circle (the edge) so on the back outside edges pull the opposite shoulder back to lead with it, and on the back inside edges, the same side shoulder. Obviously on the power pulls you press into the ice. The 3-turns had less corrections then usual! But the focus was the same, the same alignment over the circle and lean into the circle. And then it was mentioned probably the biggest component of power on ice, the speed. I have to put more speed into the 3Turns. But generally, speed goes hand in hand with feeling confident in the edges, lean, alignment, press into the ice. You cannot have speed without having the others, and I think when all these "others" work, the speed increases automatically.
Back circle 8, you've guessed, we've insisted on the exact same points... On the inside ones I'm leaning out of the circle as I bring the foot in at the top of the lobe, then I'm twisting too much facing inside the circle (that would be not align over the circle) and that's slows me down. I worked at this alignment over the circle when skating backwards mostly trough backward edge presses, that I'm realizing I've never described, but I will soon...
I'm very happy with this lesson. It made me feel that I'm on track to getting the power.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Monthly skating review: progress and goals adjustment
I started last month with not much of a plan, but a "laissez-faire" attitude (the economic concept of free market translated as "let it happen"). I work on Ice Dance, Moves in the Field and Freestyle and I used to prioritize only one at a time so I can push it for progress and test. Now, I skate less time then before because I don't have enough energy (physical from my hip still not being 100% after the injury and emotional even) so I cannot push for progress on any of those. So I let them all be, progress or not, and try to enjoy the process. In a way I also wanted to experiment and see what happens if I don't push. And I think I've got confirmation that progress doesn't happen unless I push. So I have to be ready, at some point to start pushing again. But not this month... I think this month will go more or less like last month. Here is how last month has gone:
Ice Dancing: The private lesson went towards Ice Dancing, I think I took just 3 lessons. I'm getting more and more comfortable, with the basic steps exercises and the Ten-Fox. I didn't prioritize Ice dancing in my training for close to a year now, from when I tested the Willow Waltz. Whenever I want to work on Ice Dancing I need to do it when the ice is emptier so I have a better chance to hold the pattern, so I have to prioritize at least from that point of view. And I'm doing this now.
MITF: I still do them but without trying to add power. I hope I do maintain them because I certainly don't improve.
Freestyle: I started taking group lessons for Freestyle. I've had 3 lessons. And we did a review of spins and jumps (scratch spin, back scratch, waltz jump, salcow, and toe loop), that was most welcome. We didn't get yet to my targets, the sit spin and the loop jump. I feel it would be beneficial to work a little more on freestyle, but then again as I'm taking more time for Ice Dancing, I do not have more time for Freestyle.
Falls and Injuries: In my almost 10 years of skating I've never caught a toe pick. But I've caught one today. I was late to the group class and I joined as they were just finishing the warm up with bunny hops. The first line, on the easy leg, was fine, but on the second line, on the harder leg... toe pick. I really blame it on not being warm up, I just didn't jump high enough... And I splashed on ice in a "superman" position, and slid... Yeah, it was a good one. I have scratches and a big blue bruise on my left knee, the side where my hip is still hurting and I had an ankle injury few year ago. It seems it is my favorite side to injure. I think I'm fine, but I'll know for sure just in few days.
Off ice: I said I have to do off ice strengthening exercises... I'm not doing them regularly... I'm also not warming up before I get on ice, because I'm always late. So, I hope I'll do better. At least the ballet class is on again and I feel that helps with strengthening. I also did some stretching after few of the skating sessions and that seemed to help.
The kittens are doing fine, but they still take soo much time and energy.
The Skating for my own enjoyment saga: Because I don't push for progress I don't get frustrated. So at least I have that. On the other hand I don't think I'm really consciously enjoying. I'm comparing this enjoyment with the feeling of being present in yoga and with the feeling I get sometimes at ballet (not always), and that is again a feeling of being disconnected from the regular day and connected with the music and feeling lighter both body and soul. I've had another lesson with the new coach that helps just with this. On the first lesson we established some concepts of musicality and soul involvement but we also did 3 clear exercises that I can practice. We polished some things from the first lesson when and did 3 new exercises. It's all I wanted from these lessons, my only disappointment is again, that I don't have more time to practice them. I firstly need to "get" the movement before I can incorporate soul and music into them.
NEXT MONTH, as I said, I expect it's gonna be the same and... more.
The Nutcracker on Ice: I'm gonna have 2 rehearsals this month, the first one this coming week. I'm very very excited.
Skating training: My main coach pushes the Ice Dancing, that it's covered. I don't feel I have to work much harder on my own. Most of the work it's happening during the lessons, especially now that we started partner the Ten-Fox. The Freestyle I plan to keep at the same intensity... On the MITF I plan to train the 5 minutes warm up for the test, but not on the first 5 minutes on ice. I feel that was throwing my whole session of. And I'm thinking at this point that is the thing that I'm least confident about the test day, go figure, the warm up...
Ice Dancing: The private lesson went towards Ice Dancing, I think I took just 3 lessons. I'm getting more and more comfortable, with the basic steps exercises and the Ten-Fox. I didn't prioritize Ice dancing in my training for close to a year now, from when I tested the Willow Waltz. Whenever I want to work on Ice Dancing I need to do it when the ice is emptier so I have a better chance to hold the pattern, so I have to prioritize at least from that point of view. And I'm doing this now.
MITF: I still do them but without trying to add power. I hope I do maintain them because I certainly don't improve.
Freestyle: I started taking group lessons for Freestyle. I've had 3 lessons. And we did a review of spins and jumps (scratch spin, back scratch, waltz jump, salcow, and toe loop), that was most welcome. We didn't get yet to my targets, the sit spin and the loop jump. I feel it would be beneficial to work a little more on freestyle, but then again as I'm taking more time for Ice Dancing, I do not have more time for Freestyle.
Falls and Injuries: In my almost 10 years of skating I've never caught a toe pick. But I've caught one today. I was late to the group class and I joined as they were just finishing the warm up with bunny hops. The first line, on the easy leg, was fine, but on the second line, on the harder leg... toe pick. I really blame it on not being warm up, I just didn't jump high enough... And I splashed on ice in a "superman" position, and slid... Yeah, it was a good one. I have scratches and a big blue bruise on my left knee, the side where my hip is still hurting and I had an ankle injury few year ago. It seems it is my favorite side to injure. I think I'm fine, but I'll know for sure just in few days.
Off ice: I said I have to do off ice strengthening exercises... I'm not doing them regularly... I'm also not warming up before I get on ice, because I'm always late. So, I hope I'll do better. At least the ballet class is on again and I feel that helps with strengthening. I also did some stretching after few of the skating sessions and that seemed to help.
The kittens are doing fine, but they still take soo much time and energy.
The Skating for my own enjoyment saga: Because I don't push for progress I don't get frustrated. So at least I have that. On the other hand I don't think I'm really consciously enjoying. I'm comparing this enjoyment with the feeling of being present in yoga and with the feeling I get sometimes at ballet (not always), and that is again a feeling of being disconnected from the regular day and connected with the music and feeling lighter both body and soul. I've had another lesson with the new coach that helps just with this. On the first lesson we established some concepts of musicality and soul involvement but we also did 3 clear exercises that I can practice. We polished some things from the first lesson when and did 3 new exercises. It's all I wanted from these lessons, my only disappointment is again, that I don't have more time to practice them. I firstly need to "get" the movement before I can incorporate soul and music into them.
NEXT MONTH, as I said, I expect it's gonna be the same and... more.
The Nutcracker on Ice: I'm gonna have 2 rehearsals this month, the first one this coming week. I'm very very excited.
Skating training: My main coach pushes the Ice Dancing, that it's covered. I don't feel I have to work much harder on my own. Most of the work it's happening during the lessons, especially now that we started partner the Ten-Fox. The Freestyle I plan to keep at the same intensity... On the MITF I plan to train the 5 minutes warm up for the test, but not on the first 5 minutes on ice. I feel that was throwing my whole session of. And I'm thinking at this point that is the thing that I'm least confident about the test day, go figure, the warm up...
Friday, October 25, 2019
Skating technique: Intermediate Chasses and Progressives (Ice Dancing)
As I didn't work much on Ice Dancing lately, it seems I regressed. My coach said so, but I do feel it myself. I don't balance the positions as fast as before, or at all.
My coach starts every Ice Dancing lessons with 15 minutes of some the basic steps, whatever the time allows: stroking, chasses, progressives, swing rolls, 3 turns... And on my last lesson we did forward and backward chasses and progressives. Seeing my disappointment after so many corrections, my coach said that some of these, are new corrections, plus he's asking more from me then before (extension, timing, geometry and better transitions between lobes). That may be so (it is so), but even not trying to incorporate these new corrections, I felt unsure. Luckily I have my notes (on paper and here on the blog) and as I went back and review them, I was able to correct many things.
Here is a review of beginning technique of these steps:
Balance point on blade for forward skating is the back of the arch of your foot and for backward is the front of the arch of the foot. This I do.
Posture: lift ribs up, ached back (push shoulders back) and core engaged. AND look up...And keep a controlled tension (engagement) in all the body.
Posture forward: torso a little forward, allow the lower back to curve to accommodate the leg rise back
Posture backwards: torso straight, feels like leaning back, lower ab engaged, butt in, like ballet, push the heals back to balance, after push, don't let the free hip go back.
This I've lost and I really feel that nothing will work if this is not "on"
Stay square on the circle you are forming (mostly square, just a little twisted into the circle, more like lean into the circle then twisted). I've allowed myself to twist too much into the circle, as for crossovers, and then I cannot untwist it all, and twist it all the way for the next lobe when I change the lobes without loosing balance.
Press into the ice. This would help with keeping the tension in the body.
Bend the knees more! HaHaHa... and more... That actually made a difference in stability
Press the boots together before each push, helping with the tension...
Push the whole body, like it is a wall.
-Forward: feel that the push forward pushes the knees, tailbone, middle of ribs
Backward: push from the upper thigh, feel that the push backward pushes the heels, tummy (lower -back sides), shoulders blades, don't let the free hip go back after the push.
- push perpendicular away from axis
- at top of lobe push along the axis, don't hook
Geometry of the lobe and timing (count 1-2-3,4 and 1-2-3,4....)
- initial push is before the axis
- second step is at a quarter of the lobe at count 1
- 3rd step is at half, top of the lobe, at count 2
- start rising approximately at an eight till axis
- at "and" re bend and push before reaching the axis
Extensions: HOOOLD...
- hold each extension, on each step
Re bend before the push
- re bend while on one foot, then push, or don't re bend while you push
- keep the weight on the pushing foot
- Forward: after re bending, flip the pushing foot 45 degrees so you can push on an outside edge
And particular corrections for each step...
Forward Chasse:
- hold the first extension extension longer1 beat
- lift the chasse foot higher and hold one beat
- start rising at a eight till changing lobes,
- change upper body while rising
- re bend after rise
- after re bending, flip the pushing foot 45 degrees so you can push on an outside edge
- keep the weight on the pushing foot
Forward Progressives:
- geometry
- push perpendicular to axis and along axis at middle
- hold first extension 1 beat
- start the under push while still extending, and "fall" on under push, let the hip go under
- hold under push
- under push not lateral but to the back
- under push extension not lateral (as for crossovers) but more to the back to match the partner
Backward Chasse:
- geometry and push
- finish perpendicularly to the axis of travel
- push straight back, perpendicularly to the axis, not around
- step on outside edge (keep weight on the other foot until pushing)
- rise on the outside edge to bring free foot at ankle
- flip on the inside edge, bend into the knee and ankle and keep the weight on inside edge until push
- inside edge bring boot higher (sole of free boot over the skating boot)
- don't lean out of the circle on inside edge, feel the weight under your armpit, like somebody pulls your arm
- change arms between lobes while rising
- extend higher
Backward Progressive:
- same...
- point the toes on both inside and outside pushes
My coach starts every Ice Dancing lessons with 15 minutes of some the basic steps, whatever the time allows: stroking, chasses, progressives, swing rolls, 3 turns... And on my last lesson we did forward and backward chasses and progressives. Seeing my disappointment after so many corrections, my coach said that some of these, are new corrections, plus he's asking more from me then before (extension, timing, geometry and better transitions between lobes). That may be so (it is so), but even not trying to incorporate these new corrections, I felt unsure. Luckily I have my notes (on paper and here on the blog) and as I went back and review them, I was able to correct many things.
Here is a review of beginning technique of these steps:
Balance point on blade for forward skating is the back of the arch of your foot and for backward is the front of the arch of the foot. This I do.
Posture: lift ribs up, ached back (push shoulders back) and core engaged. AND look up...And keep a controlled tension (engagement) in all the body.
Posture forward: torso a little forward, allow the lower back to curve to accommodate the leg rise back
Posture backwards: torso straight, feels like leaning back, lower ab engaged, butt in, like ballet, push the heals back to balance, after push, don't let the free hip go back.
This I've lost and I really feel that nothing will work if this is not "on"
Stay square on the circle you are forming (mostly square, just a little twisted into the circle, more like lean into the circle then twisted). I've allowed myself to twist too much into the circle, as for crossovers, and then I cannot untwist it all, and twist it all the way for the next lobe when I change the lobes without loosing balance.
Press into the ice. This would help with keeping the tension in the body.
Bend the knees more! HaHaHa... and more... That actually made a difference in stability
Press the boots together before each push, helping with the tension...
Push the whole body, like it is a wall.
-Forward: feel that the push forward pushes the knees, tailbone, middle of ribs
Backward: push from the upper thigh, feel that the push backward pushes the heels, tummy (lower -back sides), shoulders blades, don't let the free hip go back after the push.
- push perpendicular away from axis
- at top of lobe push along the axis, don't hook
Geometry of the lobe and timing (count 1-2-3,4 and 1-2-3,4....)
- initial push is before the axis
- second step is at a quarter of the lobe at count 1
- 3rd step is at half, top of the lobe, at count 2
- start rising approximately at an eight till axis
- at "and" re bend and push before reaching the axis
Extensions: HOOOLD...
- hold each extension, on each step
Re bend before the push
- re bend while on one foot, then push, or don't re bend while you push
- keep the weight on the pushing foot
- Forward: after re bending, flip the pushing foot 45 degrees so you can push on an outside edge
And particular corrections for each step...
Forward Chasse:
- hold the first extension extension longer1 beat
- lift the chasse foot higher and hold one beat
- start rising at a eight till changing lobes,
- change upper body while rising
- re bend after rise
- after re bending, flip the pushing foot 45 degrees so you can push on an outside edge
- keep the weight on the pushing foot
Forward Progressives:
- geometry
- push perpendicular to axis and along axis at middle
- hold first extension 1 beat
- start the under push while still extending, and "fall" on under push, let the hip go under
- hold under push
- under push not lateral but to the back
- under push extension not lateral (as for crossovers) but more to the back to match the partner
Backward Chasse:
- geometry and push
- finish perpendicularly to the axis of travel
- push straight back, perpendicularly to the axis, not around
- step on outside edge (keep weight on the other foot until pushing)
- rise on the outside edge to bring free foot at ankle
- flip on the inside edge, bend into the knee and ankle and keep the weight on inside edge until push
- inside edge bring boot higher (sole of free boot over the skating boot)
- don't lean out of the circle on inside edge, feel the weight under your armpit, like somebody pulls your arm
- change arms between lobes while rising
- extend higher
Backward Progressive:
- same...
- point the toes on both inside and outside pushes
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Skating technique: Beginner Back foot Spin and the Change Foot Spin
A requirement in ISI Freestyle 3 level is a Change Foot Spin that is a tree spins combination: from
forward one foot spin (free foot at ankle or crossed) to back spin (free
foot at ankle or crossed) to forward spin again. Each has to have 3
revolutions. Another requirement is that each spin should not be started
further away then hips width.
My old way of doing it in Freestyle group class was from a short forward inside pivot-pump lift the right foot to the left ankle (so forward spin) and hold 3 revolutions, put the free (right) foot down on the toe pick and do a quick back inside pivot style pump, lift the left foot at the ankle of the right foot and hold 3 revolutions, then again forward inside pivot to forward spin. Here is my video:
As I was saying in my previous post, there are some tricks for these spins, both forward and back.
- finish the pivot bringing the foot that pumps to the ankle of the spinning foot, before lifting it (so you won't throw yourself off center)
- the spinning is happening on the middle of the blade not on the ball of the foot (as the forward spin)
- keep the weight over the spinning foot
- keep the upper body square over your hips
- press into the ice
- lift the upper body (that would hopefully help keep it straight)
My private coach wants me to start with a forward spin from winding up from back crossovers, hold 3 rotations, put the free (right) foot down for a short 2 foot spin and pick up the left leg for the back spin for 3 revolutions, and same again for another forward spin. This last spin should be held as long as comfortable to give the impression you are in control. I cannot do it... Firstly, starting with winding up from back crossovers, I have too much speed to control the change of foot. But even with my regular slow pivot entrance, I'm off balance on that 2 foot spin in between the first forward spin and the back spin. Then, I often allow the left side to go back, instead of holding it square. He also says I'm not pressing into the ice, that's probably why I like using the pivot, because I press into that and I re balance. Also I'm still rocking back and forth on my blade, the coach says I'm too forward on my blade. I do occasionally hit the sweet spot that is more towards the middle of the blade... As I start the spin (I'm still talking about the back spin) from the pivot, I have the toe pick in the ice, and I think it is quite impossible to hit that sweet spot and balance of it going from the toe pick over the place where the blade is most curved. And that is why I rock back and forth...
My coach from the summer group class said to hold the arms out laterally for the whole first forward spin and during the transition to the back spin, maybe even on the backspin and bring them in just for the last forward spin. That's actually helping a little. I spent few month on this on group classes, few years ago, then stopped doing it and it was lost. So I had to spent again, few months to get it but this time with more awareness of what I was doing.
Despite all the "challenges" I was having, my private coach wanted me to stick with this back spin without the free foot crossed, until I've got comfortable, so the fear was almost gone. I don't know if you can read the frustration between the lines. Just in case you cannot not, I'll say it... Learning the back spin and the change foot spin as describe in these 2 last posts, must have been the most frustrating time in my skating. And it took me between 6 months and a year to get to the point described here. But then, when I started to do the back spin from an inside 3-turn (that gets you on the sweet spots more smoothly, plus it's crossing the free foot by itself, literally), everything got on a path that made sense. I will describe this intermediate back spin with the free foot crossed, so the back scratch spin, after I describe some more beginner stuff, plus I progress a little more, so I'll be able to describe it a little better.
My old way of doing it in Freestyle group class was from a short forward inside pivot-pump lift the right foot to the left ankle (so forward spin) and hold 3 revolutions, put the free (right) foot down on the toe pick and do a quick back inside pivot style pump, lift the left foot at the ankle of the right foot and hold 3 revolutions, then again forward inside pivot to forward spin. Here is my video:
As I was saying in my previous post, there are some tricks for these spins, both forward and back.
- finish the pivot bringing the foot that pumps to the ankle of the spinning foot, before lifting it (so you won't throw yourself off center)
- the spinning is happening on the middle of the blade not on the ball of the foot (as the forward spin)
- keep the weight over the spinning foot
- keep the upper body square over your hips
- press into the ice
- lift the upper body (that would hopefully help keep it straight)
My private coach wants me to start with a forward spin from winding up from back crossovers, hold 3 rotations, put the free (right) foot down for a short 2 foot spin and pick up the left leg for the back spin for 3 revolutions, and same again for another forward spin. This last spin should be held as long as comfortable to give the impression you are in control. I cannot do it... Firstly, starting with winding up from back crossovers, I have too much speed to control the change of foot. But even with my regular slow pivot entrance, I'm off balance on that 2 foot spin in between the first forward spin and the back spin. Then, I often allow the left side to go back, instead of holding it square. He also says I'm not pressing into the ice, that's probably why I like using the pivot, because I press into that and I re balance. Also I'm still rocking back and forth on my blade, the coach says I'm too forward on my blade. I do occasionally hit the sweet spot that is more towards the middle of the blade... As I start the spin (I'm still talking about the back spin) from the pivot, I have the toe pick in the ice, and I think it is quite impossible to hit that sweet spot and balance of it going from the toe pick over the place where the blade is most curved. And that is why I rock back and forth...
My coach from the summer group class said to hold the arms out laterally for the whole first forward spin and during the transition to the back spin, maybe even on the backspin and bring them in just for the last forward spin. That's actually helping a little. I spent few month on this on group classes, few years ago, then stopped doing it and it was lost. So I had to spent again, few months to get it but this time with more awareness of what I was doing.
Despite all the "challenges" I was having, my private coach wanted me to stick with this back spin without the free foot crossed, until I've got comfortable, so the fear was almost gone. I don't know if you can read the frustration between the lines. Just in case you cannot not, I'll say it... Learning the back spin and the change foot spin as describe in these 2 last posts, must have been the most frustrating time in my skating. And it took me between 6 months and a year to get to the point described here. But then, when I started to do the back spin from an inside 3-turn (that gets you on the sweet spots more smoothly, plus it's crossing the free foot by itself, literally), everything got on a path that made sense. I will describe this intermediate back spin with the free foot crossed, so the back scratch spin, after I describe some more beginner stuff, plus I progress a little more, so I'll be able to describe it a little better.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Mid month update
Many updates to the plan for this month...
One of the kittens I took in, didn't make it. I'm terribly sad. I'm not gonna go into details. I'll say that I did the best I could, but I wish I could have done more.
The skating goes reasonably well. I still skate only 3 times per week and I work equally on everything, as planned, so as I said, I don't expect much progress. I still start with a little Freestyle. Then I do the moves without thinking to make them ready to test. My private lessons, as always when I don't ask for something else, went towards Ice Dancing. My coach is primary an Ice Dancing coach so that's were he goes. But I have no complains, I actually felt progress in Ice Dancing! We've started to partner the Ten Fox!
I've registered to a Freestyle group class, starting next week. It is Freestyle 4 on USFSA not ISI that I was doing until now. It works on the same things the Loop Jump, Sit Spin and Back Spirals. So I'll get help on those, and also it will add an extra skating session per week but an easy one, because in the group classes there is some lost time and the class is just 45 minutes to start with. But that is not even the reason I registered to it.
The reason is that that rink (not my home rink), has an annual production of the Nutcracker in December, and I wanted to be in it. The requirement is to be registered in their group classes. I'm very excited about it, because I love ballet in general, I also love winter and "that time of the year". But it's a big time commitment. I plan to enjoy every second of it! That is a new thing for me, skating for my own enjoyment, that I first mentioned here. And because I lost my regular private lesson this week, due to Columbus day scheduling, I also planed a lesson with the new coach that works with me towards skating for my own enjoyment. I mentioned my first lesson with him in the plan for this month.
There is more... That is Figures. That is the old style tracings that were done in the past including in competitions. They are not popular anymore but they are the foundation for the skating edges. A friend told me she is doing them at a certain rink and it would be easier to keep using that time slot if more people would join in. It is too far away from me and not fitting my schedule, but it made me think that the Figures are easy on the body so I can add skating time to my 3 days of skating I do now, without being afraid I hurt my hip... I asked my coach about figures and he teaches them. He also said that there is no way he can teach all (Ice Dancing, Moves, some Freestyle and Figures) with one lesson per week so I would have to add one more.
Feels like a lot, but I think I will be able to enjoy it all for this next two months (until the show), IF I don't expect and push for progress.
One of the kittens I took in, didn't make it. I'm terribly sad. I'm not gonna go into details. I'll say that I did the best I could, but I wish I could have done more.
The skating goes reasonably well. I still skate only 3 times per week and I work equally on everything, as planned, so as I said, I don't expect much progress. I still start with a little Freestyle. Then I do the moves without thinking to make them ready to test. My private lessons, as always when I don't ask for something else, went towards Ice Dancing. My coach is primary an Ice Dancing coach so that's were he goes. But I have no complains, I actually felt progress in Ice Dancing! We've started to partner the Ten Fox!
I've registered to a Freestyle group class, starting next week. It is Freestyle 4 on USFSA not ISI that I was doing until now. It works on the same things the Loop Jump, Sit Spin and Back Spirals. So I'll get help on those, and also it will add an extra skating session per week but an easy one, because in the group classes there is some lost time and the class is just 45 minutes to start with. But that is not even the reason I registered to it.
The reason is that that rink (not my home rink), has an annual production of the Nutcracker in December, and I wanted to be in it. The requirement is to be registered in their group classes. I'm very excited about it, because I love ballet in general, I also love winter and "that time of the year". But it's a big time commitment. I plan to enjoy every second of it! That is a new thing for me, skating for my own enjoyment, that I first mentioned here. And because I lost my regular private lesson this week, due to Columbus day scheduling, I also planed a lesson with the new coach that works with me towards skating for my own enjoyment. I mentioned my first lesson with him in the plan for this month.
There is more... That is Figures. That is the old style tracings that were done in the past including in competitions. They are not popular anymore but they are the foundation for the skating edges. A friend told me she is doing them at a certain rink and it would be easier to keep using that time slot if more people would join in. It is too far away from me and not fitting my schedule, but it made me think that the Figures are easy on the body so I can add skating time to my 3 days of skating I do now, without being afraid I hurt my hip... I asked my coach about figures and he teaches them. He also said that there is no way he can teach all (Ice Dancing, Moves, some Freestyle and Figures) with one lesson per week so I would have to add one more.
Feels like a lot, but I think I will be able to enjoy it all for this next two months (until the show), IF I don't expect and push for progress.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Skating technique: Beginner Back Spin from Back Pivot (free foot not crossed)
The back spin is a difficult one for adults. For counter clockwise spinners, it spins on the outside edge of the right foot, just back of the ball of your foot. You should shift the weight so the right side of the mid and lower back is over the skating hip and foot, and that is the axis around of which you spin. Oh, yes... the feet should be crossed at the ankles, left over right... very scary.
Next are few approaches that I remember for learning the back spin. Different approaches work for different people.
Beginner back spin (free foot not crossed over the skating foot):
The first approach to back spin is starting with a two foot spin, lift the left foot so you'll continue spinning on the right. This was also the first approach for the forward one foot spin. I could never do it, for both forward and backward spins. I balance the two foot spin between the left inside edge on the ball of the left foot and the inside edge on the tail of the blade of the right foot. So, how to get to the outside ball of the right foot? Maybe if the two foot spin is done on the center of both blades...
And here is a video with me trying and not succeeding much.
BUT, this approach was the least scary so it is worth trying it even just to get you started. It also bring awareness of were the weight should fall and that is on the right side, and hip. You can also stand by the board, hold onto them and lift the left foot.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the free foot should be brought straight up, near the ankle of the skating foot, not back as I did of my first try.
Then you can try a back inside pivot into a back spin.
At first I just did lots of back pivots pumps on a spot, trying to put my weight over my right foot in between the toe pick and ball of the foot on an outside edge (first part of the video).
Second part of the video is few back pivot pumps into a back spin. The trick here is to finish the last pivot bringing the left foot near the right while still on ice, if you try to lift it while feet are shoulders apart, it will trow you off balance. Still, I feel that doing more then one pivots pumps will take your weight off the toe pick as you push around (you can see this clearly in the video), so will take you off balance. I actually started to be able to do it only after I started working on the "Change Foot Spin" from ISI Freestyle 3 level. That is a 3 spins combination: a foreword spin to a back spin to a forward spin. I'll describe it one of my next posts. For now, I'll say that it seems that doing the regular, forward spin first, put my upper body in a better position, that I kept then for the back spin. That position would be square, straight over the hips...
For me the best outcome was to spin after just one pivot pump and that's the third part of the video. I will add that it took me months to get here, practicing 2,3 times a week...
Here is a video from you tube, first part is the back spin from back pivot, second part is the more advanced scratched back spin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZjTbmFRpEE. He holds the upper body twisted a little towards right. I have the feeling that when I first started working at the back spin, I was over rotating the upper body and stop it towards my left side. So, I suppose, try for the upper body both square and hold to the right, definitely not to the left.
Next are few approaches that I remember for learning the back spin. Different approaches work for different people.
Beginner back spin (free foot not crossed over the skating foot):
The first approach to back spin is starting with a two foot spin, lift the left foot so you'll continue spinning on the right. This was also the first approach for the forward one foot spin. I could never do it, for both forward and backward spins. I balance the two foot spin between the left inside edge on the ball of the left foot and the inside edge on the tail of the blade of the right foot. So, how to get to the outside ball of the right foot? Maybe if the two foot spin is done on the center of both blades...
And here is a video with me trying and not succeeding much.
BUT, this approach was the least scary so it is worth trying it even just to get you started. It also bring awareness of were the weight should fall and that is on the right side, and hip. You can also stand by the board, hold onto them and lift the left foot.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the free foot should be brought straight up, near the ankle of the skating foot, not back as I did of my first try.
Then you can try a back inside pivot into a back spin.
At first I just did lots of back pivots pumps on a spot, trying to put my weight over my right foot in between the toe pick and ball of the foot on an outside edge (first part of the video).
Second part of the video is few back pivot pumps into a back spin. The trick here is to finish the last pivot bringing the left foot near the right while still on ice, if you try to lift it while feet are shoulders apart, it will trow you off balance. Still, I feel that doing more then one pivots pumps will take your weight off the toe pick as you push around (you can see this clearly in the video), so will take you off balance. I actually started to be able to do it only after I started working on the "Change Foot Spin" from ISI Freestyle 3 level. That is a 3 spins combination: a foreword spin to a back spin to a forward spin. I'll describe it one of my next posts. For now, I'll say that it seems that doing the regular, forward spin first, put my upper body in a better position, that I kept then for the back spin. That position would be square, straight over the hips...
For me the best outcome was to spin after just one pivot pump and that's the third part of the video. I will add that it took me months to get here, practicing 2,3 times a week...
Here is a video from you tube, first part is the back spin from back pivot, second part is the more advanced scratched back spin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZjTbmFRpEE. He holds the upper body twisted a little towards right. I have the feeling that when I first started working at the back spin, I was over rotating the upper body and stop it towards my left side. So, I suppose, try for the upper body both square and hold to the right, definitely not to the left.
Friday, October 4, 2019
Monthly skating review: progress and goals adjustment
I wrote a post in the summer about my other passions, besides skating. One of them is helping alley cats. My skating plan for last month got derailed by 3 orphaned kittens, 3 weeks old, needing assistance. That is bottle feeding every 3-4 hours, including during the night. They are doing fine!
The skating wasn't much for first 2 weeks of the last month, when I've got the kittens, I was just too tired. Then, as they started to sleep trough the night, I've followed the skating plan from last month to build up my skating (muscles, balance and stamina). And it didn't go to well... I was slow, stiff and nothing I've tried to do worked. But then, finally, this week I've got my soft knees back... I'm not daring to hope that it will be just smooth sailing from now on, but at least I know I can still get better, because, honestly, I was kind of giving up hope.
I've started my sessions with a short warm up. Then I did Freestyle not moves, as I used to do. I did two to five jumps of each, trying to maintain and gain more confidence on the Waltz Jump and Salcow, improving the Toe Loop that I can do but it is hesitant, and trying to get the Loop back. I didn't work with my coach on them, there is just not enough time. Then I did few spins of each (scratch, back and some idea of a sit). Next were the Moves, but as I said I couldn't get myself to put power into them. I've also became impatient with the 3-turns. Then, I've run dance exercise and the Ten Fox. The one little piece of bad news is that I "feel" my hip, meaning I had some pain that I hope is just building the muscles not the old injury acting up.
On the week my skating didn't go well I didn't get to see my regular coach and I've asked another coach for a lesson towards learning to "skate for my own enjoyment". I wrote about that idea last month and during the summer. I didn't get into competing, there are no adults at my level that I know and compete. The only way to motivate myself was trough following progress and testing. When that doesn't go well I get frustrated. Anyhow I always wanted the artistic part of the skating, the self expression and emotional involvement. And I'm soo relieved that the new coach understood what I wanted and had a plan. We did simple exercises involving the whole body and the "soul". That's exactly what I wanted. I wrote about my desire to involve my soul in a post in the summer, but I didn't mention it to my new coach. I was quite surprised he went there, and pleased. I'll continue working with him but not on a consistent way.
Before thinking of what to do next month I have to accept that I still have to restrict my skating schedule to 3 times a week to allow the hip to have rest days. I also have to accept that I HAVE TO DO the off ice strengthening exercises consistently.
Even when I was skating 6 sessions a week I felt I needed to prioritize whatever I wanted to push for improvement and test. I cannot decide now, with only 3 skating sessions per week, if I should push something (moves, dance or Freestyle) or continue on working all of them expecting slow(er) progress. My desire and what logically made sense to me always, was to work on everything. My coach also supports this. But, in the past I've just felt that I've did better on focusing on something specific. That of course could change, so maybe I should give a try to balancing working on Moves, Freestyle and Ice Dancing. Interestingly when I was telling my coach that I was puzzled how two weeks ago I couldn't make myself skate well even if I was rested and not hurting, he mentioned somehow, I don't remember the exact words, that I was maybe "too eager". Working on everything would mean giving up on the idea of testing the moves at the end of this month. I am so "eager" to test them! I felt almost ready to test them before hurting my hip (that was a year and a half ago). Then I felt really ready to test them at the beginning of the summer, when I've registered to test and found out two days before the test day that I couldn't because of some scheduling error.
It seams I don't have a plan for this month. Work a little at everything and enjoy!
The skating wasn't much for first 2 weeks of the last month, when I've got the kittens, I was just too tired. Then, as they started to sleep trough the night, I've followed the skating plan from last month to build up my skating (muscles, balance and stamina). And it didn't go to well... I was slow, stiff and nothing I've tried to do worked. But then, finally, this week I've got my soft knees back... I'm not daring to hope that it will be just smooth sailing from now on, but at least I know I can still get better, because, honestly, I was kind of giving up hope.
I've started my sessions with a short warm up. Then I did Freestyle not moves, as I used to do. I did two to five jumps of each, trying to maintain and gain more confidence on the Waltz Jump and Salcow, improving the Toe Loop that I can do but it is hesitant, and trying to get the Loop back. I didn't work with my coach on them, there is just not enough time. Then I did few spins of each (scratch, back and some idea of a sit). Next were the Moves, but as I said I couldn't get myself to put power into them. I've also became impatient with the 3-turns. Then, I've run dance exercise and the Ten Fox. The one little piece of bad news is that I "feel" my hip, meaning I had some pain that I hope is just building the muscles not the old injury acting up.
On the week my skating didn't go well I didn't get to see my regular coach and I've asked another coach for a lesson towards learning to "skate for my own enjoyment". I wrote about that idea last month and during the summer. I didn't get into competing, there are no adults at my level that I know and compete. The only way to motivate myself was trough following progress and testing. When that doesn't go well I get frustrated. Anyhow I always wanted the artistic part of the skating, the self expression and emotional involvement. And I'm soo relieved that the new coach understood what I wanted and had a plan. We did simple exercises involving the whole body and the "soul". That's exactly what I wanted. I wrote about my desire to involve my soul in a post in the summer, but I didn't mention it to my new coach. I was quite surprised he went there, and pleased. I'll continue working with him but not on a consistent way.
Before thinking of what to do next month I have to accept that I still have to restrict my skating schedule to 3 times a week to allow the hip to have rest days. I also have to accept that I HAVE TO DO the off ice strengthening exercises consistently.
Even when I was skating 6 sessions a week I felt I needed to prioritize whatever I wanted to push for improvement and test. I cannot decide now, with only 3 skating sessions per week, if I should push something (moves, dance or Freestyle) or continue on working all of them expecting slow(er) progress. My desire and what logically made sense to me always, was to work on everything. My coach also supports this. But, in the past I've just felt that I've did better on focusing on something specific. That of course could change, so maybe I should give a try to balancing working on Moves, Freestyle and Ice Dancing. Interestingly when I was telling my coach that I was puzzled how two weeks ago I couldn't make myself skate well even if I was rested and not hurting, he mentioned somehow, I don't remember the exact words, that I was maybe "too eager". Working on everything would mean giving up on the idea of testing the moves at the end of this month. I am so "eager" to test them! I felt almost ready to test them before hurting my hip (that was a year and a half ago). Then I felt really ready to test them at the beginning of the summer, when I've registered to test and found out two days before the test day that I couldn't because of some scheduling error.
It seams I don't have a plan for this month. Work a little at everything and enjoy!
Monday, September 30, 2019
Skating technique: Backward Swing Rolls
Here is a video of mine, done on alternating lobes.
Read the post on the Backward Chasses, as there are similarities between these steps.
Intro steps: I do 2 forward strokes, Mohowk, 2 back strokes, that would bring me to the axis going on the lenght of the rink.
First lobe:
1.Right Back Outside Edge (RBO). Use the backward push into it, and push straight back, perpendicular from the axis, put the right foot on an outside edge as you push and hold the free foot extended (when partnering, it should and will match the partner extension stroking forward). The skating leg is bent at the knee. The upper body is turned a little toward the inside of the circle.This is the same as for the Back Chasse, with the mention that you hold the edge until the middle of the lobe. Also the extension of the free leg is emphasized more (it has to match the extension to the back in the second half of the lobe). Also, I was surprised when my coach mention it, but, concentrating on having a higher and longer extension, puts you on a better back edge... As for errors, I can see in the video that after the back push I allow the upper body to open towards the outside of the circle immediately. If I would hold it slightly towards the inside of the circle, again, I would have a stronger back outside edge.
2.At the top (middle) of the lobe, you straighten the skating leg and bring the free foot at the ankle of the skating foot. You keep your weight over the skating hip and press into the ice. This is where you would square the upper body (that should have been kept facing inside the circle until now).
3.Continue the RBO Edge. The free leg goes back (in a controlled manner, not a swing) and should be kept back for the whole second of the lobe (not dropped down immediately). The upper body turns slightly with the back at the circle, and the free leg and the arm on that side are moving together.
Changing the lobes:
- When there is a foot left till the axis you bring the free foot in, pressing into ice, holding the core engaged and keeping the weight over the skating foot and hip. The upper body doesn't change (it did at the top of the lobe)
- Still keep the weight over the skating foot and re bend and flip your outside edge on an inside edge and push and start a new lobe
Swing Rolls (both forward and backwards) hurt my hip so i didn't work at them at all. I'm sure I'll get more corrections and tips from my coach when we will work at them.
Update on 11/30/2019 with new corrections (here).
Read the post on the Backward Chasses, as there are similarities between these steps.
Intro steps: I do 2 forward strokes, Mohowk, 2 back strokes, that would bring me to the axis going on the lenght of the rink.
First lobe:
1.Right Back Outside Edge (RBO). Use the backward push into it, and push straight back, perpendicular from the axis, put the right foot on an outside edge as you push and hold the free foot extended (when partnering, it should and will match the partner extension stroking forward). The skating leg is bent at the knee. The upper body is turned a little toward the inside of the circle.This is the same as for the Back Chasse, with the mention that you hold the edge until the middle of the lobe. Also the extension of the free leg is emphasized more (it has to match the extension to the back in the second half of the lobe). Also, I was surprised when my coach mention it, but, concentrating on having a higher and longer extension, puts you on a better back edge... As for errors, I can see in the video that after the back push I allow the upper body to open towards the outside of the circle immediately. If I would hold it slightly towards the inside of the circle, again, I would have a stronger back outside edge.
2.At the top (middle) of the lobe, you straighten the skating leg and bring the free foot at the ankle of the skating foot. You keep your weight over the skating hip and press into the ice. This is where you would square the upper body (that should have been kept facing inside the circle until now).
3.Continue the RBO Edge. The free leg goes back (in a controlled manner, not a swing) and should be kept back for the whole second of the lobe (not dropped down immediately). The upper body turns slightly with the back at the circle, and the free leg and the arm on that side are moving together.
Changing the lobes:
- When there is a foot left till the axis you bring the free foot in, pressing into ice, holding the core engaged and keeping the weight over the skating foot and hip. The upper body doesn't change (it did at the top of the lobe)
- Still keep the weight over the skating foot and re bend and flip your outside edge on an inside edge and push and start a new lobe
Swing Rolls (both forward and backwards) hurt my hip so i didn't work at them at all. I'm sure I'll get more corrections and tips from my coach when we will work at them.
Update on 11/30/2019 with new corrections (here).
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Skating technique: Backward Chasses
Backward Chasses are advance beginner Ice Dancing steps appearing first in the Swing Dance, a Pre-Bronze pattern dance.
They are done as a 3 step on alternating lobes, or a 2 step on a circle, but the name Chasse is for one particular step where the foot is lifted and "chases" the other foot.
When I first started talking about Ice Dancing technique I talked about "Edges and Lobes" and that covers the forward and backward edges. Then, before I described the first forward Ice Dancing steps (forward Chasses, Progressives and Swing Rolls), I described the "Deep Forward Edges" and an exercise called Forward Edge Presses. I will describe the Backward Deep edges later because I think the Backward Chasses are easier to do (having 3 steps on a lobe) then the Backward Edge, which requires to hold that edge for the whole lobe... I'm bringing back the talk about the lobes because transitioning between lobes (changing direction) is a skill in its own, separate from any step. For backward lobes it is the same principle as on the forward lobes, just harder to do at beginner level.
I described in my previous post the backward push and the posture and balance when skating backwards.
Here are my chasses on alternating lobes:
Intro steps: you need some speed going into any pattern. I've got used to do 2 forward strokes, Mohowk, 2 back strokes, that would bring me to the axis going on the lenght of the rink.
First lobe:
1.Right Back Outside Edge (RBO). Use the backward push into it, and push straight away, perpendicular from the axis, put the right foot on an outside edge as you push and hold the free foot extended (it should and will match the partner extension stroking forward). The upper body is turned a little toward the inside of the circle.
2.Left Inside Chasse. There is no push to get on the inside edge, you kind of fall into it. Lift free foot flexed and keep it close to the skating foot. And press the inside edge. The inside edge should bring you to the top of the lobe (middle).
3.RBO Edge. There is a push from the inside edge onto this outside edge and it is straight back, parallel with the imaginary axis (I'm not doing it, you can see in the video, I push around). You put the skating foot on an outside edge and that edge and the lean of the whole body into the circle should bring you around the lobe. And you hold the extension again.
Changing the lobes:
- When there is 1/4 left of the last outside edge lobe, you rise keeping the weight on the skating foot, that is straighten your skating leg while pressing into the ice, bring the free foot near the skating foot (using the inner tights muscle like a scissor motion), and holding the core engaged, square the upper body to be perpendicular to the circle, when you'll take the new push back, the upper body will be over the imaginary axis)
- Still keep the weight over the skating foot and re bend and flip your outside edge on an inside edge to prepare for the new backward push while rotation the upper body slightly to face the new circle and... push and start a new lobe
- I certainly couldn't do this holding the weight over the skating side, I was "falling onto the new edge, so basically I was transitioning between lobes on two feet. And that is acceptable for a beginner and for the Pre-Bronze pattern dances. At this point I was still working in finding the balance going backwards. Nowadays, after 2 years I've learned the backward chasses and I work and test the Bronze pattern dances, I have days when this transition is better. The one exercise that I felt helped is the edge presses. I've described just the forward ones, but I'll describe the backward edge presses soon.
And here is a video and instructions for doing the chasses on a circle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7aV-IbyElA&t=73s
They are done as a 3 step on alternating lobes, or a 2 step on a circle, but the name Chasse is for one particular step where the foot is lifted and "chases" the other foot.
When I first started talking about Ice Dancing technique I talked about "Edges and Lobes" and that covers the forward and backward edges. Then, before I described the first forward Ice Dancing steps (forward Chasses, Progressives and Swing Rolls), I described the "Deep Forward Edges" and an exercise called Forward Edge Presses. I will describe the Backward Deep edges later because I think the Backward Chasses are easier to do (having 3 steps on a lobe) then the Backward Edge, which requires to hold that edge for the whole lobe... I'm bringing back the talk about the lobes because transitioning between lobes (changing direction) is a skill in its own, separate from any step. For backward lobes it is the same principle as on the forward lobes, just harder to do at beginner level.
I described in my previous post the backward push and the posture and balance when skating backwards.
Here are my chasses on alternating lobes:
Intro steps: you need some speed going into any pattern. I've got used to do 2 forward strokes, Mohowk, 2 back strokes, that would bring me to the axis going on the lenght of the rink.
First lobe:
1.Right Back Outside Edge (RBO). Use the backward push into it, and push straight away, perpendicular from the axis, put the right foot on an outside edge as you push and hold the free foot extended (it should and will match the partner extension stroking forward). The upper body is turned a little toward the inside of the circle.
2.Left Inside Chasse. There is no push to get on the inside edge, you kind of fall into it. Lift free foot flexed and keep it close to the skating foot. And press the inside edge. The inside edge should bring you to the top of the lobe (middle).
3.RBO Edge. There is a push from the inside edge onto this outside edge and it is straight back, parallel with the imaginary axis (I'm not doing it, you can see in the video, I push around). You put the skating foot on an outside edge and that edge and the lean of the whole body into the circle should bring you around the lobe. And you hold the extension again.
Changing the lobes:
- When there is 1/4 left of the last outside edge lobe, you rise keeping the weight on the skating foot, that is straighten your skating leg while pressing into the ice, bring the free foot near the skating foot (using the inner tights muscle like a scissor motion), and holding the core engaged, square the upper body to be perpendicular to the circle, when you'll take the new push back, the upper body will be over the imaginary axis)
- Still keep the weight over the skating foot and re bend and flip your outside edge on an inside edge to prepare for the new backward push while rotation the upper body slightly to face the new circle and... push and start a new lobe
- I certainly couldn't do this holding the weight over the skating side, I was "falling onto the new edge, so basically I was transitioning between lobes on two feet. And that is acceptable for a beginner and for the Pre-Bronze pattern dances. At this point I was still working in finding the balance going backwards. Nowadays, after 2 years I've learned the backward chasses and I work and test the Bronze pattern dances, I have days when this transition is better. The one exercise that I felt helped is the edge presses. I've described just the forward ones, but I'll describe the backward edge presses soon.
And here is a video and instructions for doing the chasses on a circle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7aV-IbyElA&t=73s
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Skating technique: Backward Stroking and Backward Push
When I first started writing about technique I looked into the ISI levels to follow their progression in difficulty of the skills I describe. I was surprised to find backward stroking in the Beta level (early beginner). For once, I don't remember learning it at all, and then, I think it is impossible to learn it at that level. Surely, at that level it is an intro to backward stroking. And I had post describing skating forward and backward for beginners. And on the ISI web page there are videos demonstrating the skills for each level. (https://www.skateisi.org/programs/testing-requirements/). On the ISI next levels there is some back push into the back edges, that I described here, but more then that there is no backward stroking in Freestyle. To go backward in Freestyle you use 3-turns and mohawks and do backward crossovers.
In Ice Dancing, on the other hand, there is all kinds of backward skating that need a strong backward push and he understanding of posture and balance when going backwards.
The posture and balance: for skating backward you should feel your weight on the front part of your foot arch, some say it's the ball of your foot, but then it's the back part of it. (Reminder, for forward stroking you feel your weight at the back of your foot arch, some say back of the blade). The posture when skating backwards is even more erect then skating forward, it almost feel you are leaning back. To balance, you push your heals underneath you (towards your back, but they travel forward) bending your ankles and knees more.
The backward push:
- bend your knees
- keep the weight on both feet, but mostly on the the foot that will push, otherwise the push will be "empty", will have no power
- push back from "underneath" you at a 30 degrees angle from the axis of traveling (pigeon toe), gripping the ice with the ankle. I kind of have the same sensation as when I cut with a knife the flower stems at an angle (to absorb water) to put in the vase.
- there is tension in that push, extension, that is kept to turn out the foot from the pigeon toe (this may be that ice cream scooping image that I was given, that I didn't really feel)
- do not drop the free hip (the ice cream scooping made me drop the free hip). For me is more the feeling of piercing something, so pointing forward while rotating, the ice cream scooping feels for me more like grabbing around). The most recent correction was that my free hip is too back (I feel it's part of the same problem as dropping the hip). Also that I don't transfer the weight completely on the left side (and I can see that in the video that I've took for this post)
- keep a strong core, you should feel like you are a wall and the push moves the whole wall. My coaches explanation is that you feel the push in your opposite shoulder blade.
The backward stroking: after a good backward push there is no much to stroking. You just bring the free foot turned out and with pointed toe to align 6 inches to the skating tracing on ice.
Here is some beautiful, beautiful forward and backward stroking.
And here is my stroking
In Ice Dancing, on the other hand, there is all kinds of backward skating that need a strong backward push and he understanding of posture and balance when going backwards.
The posture and balance: for skating backward you should feel your weight on the front part of your foot arch, some say it's the ball of your foot, but then it's the back part of it. (Reminder, for forward stroking you feel your weight at the back of your foot arch, some say back of the blade). The posture when skating backwards is even more erect then skating forward, it almost feel you are leaning back. To balance, you push your heals underneath you (towards your back, but they travel forward) bending your ankles and knees more.
The backward push:
- bend your knees
- keep the weight on both feet, but mostly on the the foot that will push, otherwise the push will be "empty", will have no power
- push back from "underneath" you at a 30 degrees angle from the axis of traveling (pigeon toe), gripping the ice with the ankle. I kind of have the same sensation as when I cut with a knife the flower stems at an angle (to absorb water) to put in the vase.
- there is tension in that push, extension, that is kept to turn out the foot from the pigeon toe (this may be that ice cream scooping image that I was given, that I didn't really feel)
- do not drop the free hip (the ice cream scooping made me drop the free hip). For me is more the feeling of piercing something, so pointing forward while rotating, the ice cream scooping feels for me more like grabbing around). The most recent correction was that my free hip is too back (I feel it's part of the same problem as dropping the hip). Also that I don't transfer the weight completely on the left side (and I can see that in the video that I've took for this post)
- keep a strong core, you should feel like you are a wall and the push moves the whole wall. My coaches explanation is that you feel the push in your opposite shoulder blade.
The backward stroking: after a good backward push there is no much to stroking. You just bring the free foot turned out and with pointed toe to align 6 inches to the skating tracing on ice.
Here is some beautiful, beautiful forward and backward stroking.
And here is my stroking
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Ice Dancing: Fiesta Tango
Here is the the judging form for Fiesta Tango, Pre-Bronze pattern dance that includes the diagram with the steps of the dance. This dance felt more difficult to me, compared with the other two on this level (Cha Cha and Swing Dance). I felt that every single step is a new one... The hold for this dance is a reversed killian hold, meaning partners are lateral to each other, the women is at the left side of the man.
Intro Steps: forward strokes left, right, left, right, from the red X on the diagram towards West.
The Pattern Dance I'll describe in steps from the diagram grouped into lobes.
1.2. Left Forward Outside Edge, Right Forward Outside Edge (2-2,total 4 beats). These are very quick edges. I've learned that the only way to do them is by starting with the upper body towards the inside of the circle of the edge (so left for the left step) and as you rise to re bend for the next stroke you pull the edge (like power pulls) and turn the upper body to the right to basically "check" the rotation of the lower body. That will leave you in the right position to start the right edge. It is also important to step on am outside edge.
3.4.5. Left Forward Outside Progressive. (1-1-2, 4 beats total) Ok, this is not a new step, but it is the only one that is not new. What is new is that you don't "check" the upper body as you rise, you keep it toward the inside of the circle to be prepared for the cross roll.
6.7. Right Forward Outside Cross Roll and Left Forward Inside Cross (X) Behind. (2-2, 4 beats total). At the point when I learned this dance I haven't done Cross Rolls, in fact I'm just learning them right now. Very short instruction: Stroke, then bring the free leg over the skating leg (like a crossover) but crossing the free leg over the knee and twist the upper body towards the inside of the circle simultaneously with the free leg movement. Hold the outside edge and the upper body position to slide the free leg in the cross behind inside edge. The new free leg (right) goes forward, like a slide chasse.
8. 9. It is a Forward Outside Swing Roll hold 4 beats, the the free leg is moved back, while going on an inside edge and an Left Forward Outside Edge. Step 8 is a very long edge, 6 beats, step 9, 2 beats continues the lobe created by the change of the edge of step 8. I feel the "secrets" on this step 8 are a strong stroke (from underneath you), an erect posture (the edge is impossible to control if you are leaning forward) and a strong press into the ice with the ankle of the skating foot. I used to group in my mind step 9 with the steps 10.11, the mohawk, kind of like a preparation for the mowhak. But I feel it makes more sense for firstly the rhythm count but also the technique to have it combined with the long change of edge step. I feel I kept the end of the long edge stronger (that ends as an inside edge), continuing with this step 9 that is the same lobe as the inside edge.
10.11.12. Right Forward Inside Mohawk to Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Backwards Outside Edge. (1-1, 2 total 4 beats). This is not your regular inside mohawk. It is very, very quick and the free leg stops at the ankle after the turn so it doesn't help in balancing. You have to have at this point a good posture and balance skating backwards (that is different than skating forward), I'll cover this in a coming post. I was sometimes hitting this and sometimes I didn't. At the test I didn't. As I said I used to practice steps 9.10.11. together but I feel grouping 10.11.12, finally made me keep steep 11 at 1 count., because I had to step immediately for step 12. I said "step", as per my instructor, you never "step" in Ice Dancing, you always "stroke". But at that time, I was stepping all this end pattern.
13.14. Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Backward Outside Edge (2-2, total 4 beats). These should be easy steps, just backward stroking, but you need that balance and posture for going backwards that I mentioned at the Mohawk.
15.16. Cross Forward Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Forward Inside (2-2, total 4 beats). I loved step 15, as I felt it showed the tango character, it is a pity that I couldn't do it strongly when the previous steps weren't solid. Step 16 is step forward, ready to start a new pattern.
Here is the video of my test and you can read about the day when I tested here.
The Pattern Dance I'll describe in steps from the diagram grouped into lobes.
1.2. Left Forward Outside Edge, Right Forward Outside Edge (2-2,total 4 beats). These are very quick edges. I've learned that the only way to do them is by starting with the upper body towards the inside of the circle of the edge (so left for the left step) and as you rise to re bend for the next stroke you pull the edge (like power pulls) and turn the upper body to the right to basically "check" the rotation of the lower body. That will leave you in the right position to start the right edge. It is also important to step on am outside edge.
3.4.5. Left Forward Outside Progressive. (1-1-2, 4 beats total) Ok, this is not a new step, but it is the only one that is not new. What is new is that you don't "check" the upper body as you rise, you keep it toward the inside of the circle to be prepared for the cross roll.
6.7. Right Forward Outside Cross Roll and Left Forward Inside Cross (X) Behind. (2-2, 4 beats total). At the point when I learned this dance I haven't done Cross Rolls, in fact I'm just learning them right now. Very short instruction: Stroke, then bring the free leg over the skating leg (like a crossover) but crossing the free leg over the knee and twist the upper body towards the inside of the circle simultaneously with the free leg movement. Hold the outside edge and the upper body position to slide the free leg in the cross behind inside edge. The new free leg (right) goes forward, like a slide chasse.
8. 9. It is a Forward Outside Swing Roll hold 4 beats, the the free leg is moved back, while going on an inside edge and an Left Forward Outside Edge. Step 8 is a very long edge, 6 beats, step 9, 2 beats continues the lobe created by the change of the edge of step 8. I feel the "secrets" on this step 8 are a strong stroke (from underneath you), an erect posture (the edge is impossible to control if you are leaning forward) and a strong press into the ice with the ankle of the skating foot. I used to group in my mind step 9 with the steps 10.11, the mohawk, kind of like a preparation for the mowhak. But I feel it makes more sense for firstly the rhythm count but also the technique to have it combined with the long change of edge step. I feel I kept the end of the long edge stronger (that ends as an inside edge), continuing with this step 9 that is the same lobe as the inside edge.
10.11.12. Right Forward Inside Mohawk to Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Backwards Outside Edge. (1-1, 2 total 4 beats). This is not your regular inside mohawk. It is very, very quick and the free leg stops at the ankle after the turn so it doesn't help in balancing. You have to have at this point a good posture and balance skating backwards (that is different than skating forward), I'll cover this in a coming post. I was sometimes hitting this and sometimes I didn't. At the test I didn't. As I said I used to practice steps 9.10.11. together but I feel grouping 10.11.12, finally made me keep steep 11 at 1 count., because I had to step immediately for step 12. I said "step", as per my instructor, you never "step" in Ice Dancing, you always "stroke". But at that time, I was stepping all this end pattern.
13.14. Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Backward Outside Edge (2-2, total 4 beats). These should be easy steps, just backward stroking, but you need that balance and posture for going backwards that I mentioned at the Mohawk.
15.16. Cross Forward Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Forward Inside (2-2, total 4 beats). I loved step 15, as I felt it showed the tango character, it is a pity that I couldn't do it strongly when the previous steps weren't solid. Step 16 is step forward, ready to start a new pattern.
Here is the video of my test and you can read about the day when I tested here.
Friday, September 13, 2019
Ice Dancing: Swing Dance
The Swing Dance is basically just chasses and swing rolls, it should be easy, right? Well, it is the first dance in a waltz hold so it's the first dance that requires skating backwards. Another new concept is the tracking, meaning that the skater going forward has to follow the one going backward in a certain way. And there is one more challenge, it is a longer dance. The pattern dances have to be repeated twice at these levels. The previous pattern dances were half of the ice rink so twice of that is once around the rink. The Swing Dance pattern goes around the whole rink, and twice that would mean you have to go twice around the rink.
Here is the form used for judging, and it shows the diagram of the dance.
Intro Steps: facing South lateral to the right side of the partner - Left stroke, Right Outside 3-turn and Left Back Swing Roll (on the hockey circle, finishing on the axis formed by the red dots on the length of the rink) during which you get into the waltz hold
The Pattern Dance I'll describe in steps grouped in lobes:
1.2.3. Right Back Outside Chasse (count 1-1-2, total 4 beats) (on the judges drawing these steps are (16.17.18.). I've described the Back Chasses here.
4.5.6. Left Back Outside Chasse (count 1-1-2, total 4 beats) (19.20.21). This should bring you to the middle of the rink.
7. Right Back Outside Swing Roll (4 beats) (22.), and I'll link the explanation of the Back Swing Roll soon.
8. Left Back Outside Swing Roll (4 beats) (23.)
9.10. Right Back Outside Edge to Left Forward Outside Edge (2-2, 4 beats total) (24.25.). Here at the end of the back edge you have to rise and bring your weight over the skating foot and hip and rebend the knees and ankles in order to step forward neatly (feet close together). On the step forward the waltz hold is released into just holding hands.
11.12.13. Right Forward Inside Edge to Left Forward Outside Edge to Right Forward Inside Slide Chasse (2-2-2, 6 beats total) (26.27.28.). I explained about the Forward Slide Chasse here. This is an optional step, meaning you can do just a regular edge, but the partner at this point does the second edge of a Mohowk and the extension of the slide matches nicely the extension of the partner's Mohowk.
14.15. Left Forward Outside Edge to Right Forward Outside Swing Roll that I described the technique here. (2-4, 6 beats total) (29.30.). These steps follow the hockey circle as in the intro steps. The waltz hold is reacquired during the left outside edge.
16.17.18. Left Forward Outside Chasse (1-1-2, 4 beats total) (diagram steps are 1.2.3. and described as the first steps for the man)
19.20.21. Right Forward Outside Chasse (1-1-2, 4 beats total) (4.5.6.) and this should bring you to the middle of the rink.
22. Left Forward Swing Roll (4 beats) (7.)
23. Right Forward Swing Roll (4 beats) (8.)
24.25.26 Left Forward Outside Edge to Right Forward Inside Edge to Left Forward Outside Edge (2-2-2, 6 beats total)
27.28. Mohawk that I described the technique for here is Right Forward Inside Edge to Left Back Inside Edge (2-2, 4 beats total)
29.30. Right Back Outside Edge to Left Back Outside Swing Roll (2-4, 6 beats total)
I mentioned "tracking" that is following the partner, and you can see that in the pattern dance drawing tracking is shown with an interrupted line at both ends of the pattern. Tracking also happens in all the other lobes, But I feel there is enough to be said about tracking to fill a whole post.
I also mentioned that learning the backward skating felt difficult. I was surprised how uncomfortable it was to go forward while the partner was going backwards in a waltz hold. I suspect it was a mental component, fear of hitting my partner... But it also felt that he was going faster then me and I was being dragged and a little off balance because of that. The coach's correction was to stroke each step, not step it. And here is the video from the test (test that i described here). I've got passing marks on each category, with the mention that I was "cautious".
Here is the form used for judging, and it shows the diagram of the dance.
The Pattern Dance I'll describe in steps grouped in lobes:
1.2.3. Right Back Outside Chasse (count 1-1-2, total 4 beats) (on the judges drawing these steps are (16.17.18.). I've described the Back Chasses here.
4.5.6. Left Back Outside Chasse (count 1-1-2, total 4 beats) (19.20.21). This should bring you to the middle of the rink.
7. Right Back Outside Swing Roll (4 beats) (22.), and I'll link the explanation of the Back Swing Roll soon.
8. Left Back Outside Swing Roll (4 beats) (23.)
9.10. Right Back Outside Edge to Left Forward Outside Edge (2-2, 4 beats total) (24.25.). Here at the end of the back edge you have to rise and bring your weight over the skating foot and hip and rebend the knees and ankles in order to step forward neatly (feet close together). On the step forward the waltz hold is released into just holding hands.
11.12.13. Right Forward Inside Edge to Left Forward Outside Edge to Right Forward Inside Slide Chasse (2-2-2, 6 beats total) (26.27.28.). I explained about the Forward Slide Chasse here. This is an optional step, meaning you can do just a regular edge, but the partner at this point does the second edge of a Mohowk and the extension of the slide matches nicely the extension of the partner's Mohowk.
14.15. Left Forward Outside Edge to Right Forward Outside Swing Roll that I described the technique here. (2-4, 6 beats total) (29.30.). These steps follow the hockey circle as in the intro steps. The waltz hold is reacquired during the left outside edge.
16.17.18. Left Forward Outside Chasse (1-1-2, 4 beats total) (diagram steps are 1.2.3. and described as the first steps for the man)
19.20.21. Right Forward Outside Chasse (1-1-2, 4 beats total) (4.5.6.) and this should bring you to the middle of the rink.
22. Left Forward Swing Roll (4 beats) (7.)
23. Right Forward Swing Roll (4 beats) (8.)
24.25.26 Left Forward Outside Edge to Right Forward Inside Edge to Left Forward Outside Edge (2-2-2, 6 beats total)
27.28. Mohawk that I described the technique for here is Right Forward Inside Edge to Left Back Inside Edge (2-2, 4 beats total)
29.30. Right Back Outside Edge to Left Back Outside Swing Roll (2-4, 6 beats total)
I mentioned "tracking" that is following the partner, and you can see that in the pattern dance drawing tracking is shown with an interrupted line at both ends of the pattern. Tracking also happens in all the other lobes, But I feel there is enough to be said about tracking to fill a whole post.
I also mentioned that learning the backward skating felt difficult. I was surprised how uncomfortable it was to go forward while the partner was going backwards in a waltz hold. I suspect it was a mental component, fear of hitting my partner... But it also felt that he was going faster then me and I was being dragged and a little off balance because of that. The coach's correction was to stroke each step, not step it. And here is the video from the test (test that i described here). I've got passing marks on each category, with the mention that I was "cautious".
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Ice Dancing: Cha Cha
I don't have much new to say about my skating, I'm in rebuilding mode, as I said in my last post. I'm thinking to describe the Pre-Bronze pattern dances that I've write about testing (read about it here), but didn't get into the actual dance.
Here is a link to the form judges use at tests, it shows the diagram of the dance and the skills they are looking for: https://www.usfsa.org/content/cha-cha.pdf
This dance goes only forward, as the Preliminay ones (Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango and Rhythm Blues), in fact, I haven't found it more difficult than the Preliminary ones. Here is drawing where I showed the starting point with the red X, and I put in the cardinal points so I can describe the direction of the steps.
Intro steps: 4 Forward Strokes: left, right, left, right.
The pattern dance: As in the previous dances, I will describe groups of steps as I was grouping them in my mind to remember them, usually they form lobes.
1.2. Left Forward Progressive, 3 edges LFO.RFI. (2-2, 4 beats total). When I've learned this dance, I remember that I've learned this as a crossover, maybe it changed recently, but it may be a printing mistake. To me, a crossover (that is crisper then a progressive) makes sense to show the character of the dance.
3.4.5. Left Inside Edge, Right Outside Chasse, Wide Step Left Inside Edge (1-1-2, 4 beats total). Ive must have gotten the most correction for this dance on step 3... It is not terribly difficult to do, I just kept forgetting to pay attention. I mean, is is not easy, easy would be to do an outside edge... but it is double if you only remember to pay attention and to "place" the left foot on the proper inside edge. Then, there is the chasse on the right outside edge, and you keep your weight over the right side as you move the left leg to the left and wide step on an inside edge again.
Step 3 is a very important step from few different points of view:
- if incorrect it will affect the next steps. If placed on an outside edge, the chasse will very probably be on an outside edge (otherwise there would be a wide step there) and that wouldn't allow a strong control of keeping the weight to the right side, so then, the skater would "fall" (drop, not place) on the the wide step (step 5)
- done correctly it shows the character of the dance cha cha (the hips movement), by placing the feet first, the hips movement is delayed and when it happens it is more accentuated.
- I find it is the first step that reveals what pattern dances are all about! Accuracy while showing character of the specific dance!
6. Right Outside Edge with knee rise at the middle (4 beats total). This step was not an easy step for me. I was stepping somehow forward, instead of directly on an outside edge. It is difficult to go on an outside edge if you don't set your foot on an outside edge to start with. Also my weight was forward on my blade, instead of back of the arch where it should be and that didn't help the control of the outside edge either, especially having to do the knee rise.
7.8. Two foot slalom (1-1-2-1 1/2) The slalom should have the feet together. The timing is interesting but I've felt the music carried it trough.
9.10. Left Inside Chasse (1/2 beats) Right Forward Inside Edge (2 beats). The slalom end on the right foot and then the left one touches the ice for just half beat to set the right foot on an inside edge.
11. Left Forward Outside Swing Roll (4 beats) is important to end towards the center of the rink
12.13. Cross Forward Right Forward Outside, Cross Behind Left Forward Inside (2-2, 4 beats total)
14. Right Forward Inside Swing Roll (4 beats total)
And here is the video from when I tested it:
Here is a link to the form judges use at tests, it shows the diagram of the dance and the skills they are looking for: https://www.usfsa.org/content/cha-cha.pdf
This dance goes only forward, as the Preliminay ones (Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango and Rhythm Blues), in fact, I haven't found it more difficult than the Preliminary ones. Here is drawing where I showed the starting point with the red X, and I put in the cardinal points so I can describe the direction of the steps.
The pattern dance: As in the previous dances, I will describe groups of steps as I was grouping them in my mind to remember them, usually they form lobes.
1.2. Left Forward Progressive, 3 edges LFO.RFI. (2-2, 4 beats total). When I've learned this dance, I remember that I've learned this as a crossover, maybe it changed recently, but it may be a printing mistake. To me, a crossover (that is crisper then a progressive) makes sense to show the character of the dance.
3.4.5. Left Inside Edge, Right Outside Chasse, Wide Step Left Inside Edge (1-1-2, 4 beats total). Ive must have gotten the most correction for this dance on step 3... It is not terribly difficult to do, I just kept forgetting to pay attention. I mean, is is not easy, easy would be to do an outside edge... but it is double if you only remember to pay attention and to "place" the left foot on the proper inside edge. Then, there is the chasse on the right outside edge, and you keep your weight over the right side as you move the left leg to the left and wide step on an inside edge again.
Step 3 is a very important step from few different points of view:
- if incorrect it will affect the next steps. If placed on an outside edge, the chasse will very probably be on an outside edge (otherwise there would be a wide step there) and that wouldn't allow a strong control of keeping the weight to the right side, so then, the skater would "fall" (drop, not place) on the the wide step (step 5)
- done correctly it shows the character of the dance cha cha (the hips movement), by placing the feet first, the hips movement is delayed and when it happens it is more accentuated.
- I find it is the first step that reveals what pattern dances are all about! Accuracy while showing character of the specific dance!
6. Right Outside Edge with knee rise at the middle (4 beats total). This step was not an easy step for me. I was stepping somehow forward, instead of directly on an outside edge. It is difficult to go on an outside edge if you don't set your foot on an outside edge to start with. Also my weight was forward on my blade, instead of back of the arch where it should be and that didn't help the control of the outside edge either, especially having to do the knee rise.
7.8. Two foot slalom (1-1-2-1 1/2) The slalom should have the feet together. The timing is interesting but I've felt the music carried it trough.
9.10. Left Inside Chasse (1/2 beats) Right Forward Inside Edge (2 beats). The slalom end on the right foot and then the left one touches the ice for just half beat to set the right foot on an inside edge.
11. Left Forward Outside Swing Roll (4 beats) is important to end towards the center of the rink
12.13. Cross Forward Right Forward Outside, Cross Behind Left Forward Inside (2-2, 4 beats total)
14. Right Forward Inside Swing Roll (4 beats total)
And here is the video from when I tested it:
Monday, September 2, 2019
Monthly skating review: progress and goals adjustment
After not skating much during the summer, the last two weeks I skated 3 times a week. I knew I'll have to find my skating legs and that I'll have to build back some of the muscles. What I didn't expect was that I have to build stamina too. Maybe that is related to me needing to "muscle" trough things, as I don't have the muscle to do the things the easy way. The result is the same, I'm in a rebuilding phase. Looking back I kind of regret letting my skating slide. But I cannot go back in time and in those past moments it felt the right thing to do.
I worked mostly on moves because I thought I'll be able to get back to being ready to test quickly, and passing a test is always a confidence boost, plus I wanted a focus, a goal while skating. But, I worked at them as I used to when I was ready to test them. And that is 5 minutes warm up, then present the moves in full force. I'm happy that I feel I'm almost back, ready to test. And now... "the but"... But, after these 15 minutes it took me to go trough the warmup and test, I was all spent... I couldn't really work on the dances or the jumps, so the rest of the session was wasted.
The plan for next month is to rebuild and organize.
Off Ice: After feeling pain in the muscle after an intense skating session (a lesson), I decided to put in the time and start doing exercises for the hips every day. It didn't happen every day but I did them often enough to feel they help and I want to stick with them.
MITF: I could push them for testing but it seams that it would be all I would be doing, and then I would be too tired for anything else. I don't feel it is worth it so, I'll work on the technique a little bit more and wait to add the power needed for testing when I'll feel stronger, hopefully on the second part of the month.
Ice Dancing: I'm thinking to focus my private lessons and the biggest chunk of time on Ice Dancing. That would be again, on technique not on power. I didn't do Ice Dancing consistently in probably 6 months so I need to review the technique.
Freestyle: While I rebuild the muscles and stamina that I need for both moves and Ice Dancing I plan to put a little more time into Freestyle. I'll try to start with them, after warming up a little bit and see how it feels. I hope I can get a little progress there and still have energy for dance and moves. And as motivation, as soon as I'll have the loop jump and sit spin (at least be close) I'll start working at a new program.
Skating for my own enjoyment: When I started private lessons around 3 years ago, I had this plan to push for progress in skating in order to enjoy it later. And that went well for over a year and the progress was enough motivation for me. But lately, I couldn't push for progress. First, a little over a year ago, it was the hip injury. Then, I had an emotional withdrawal caused by disappointment in how skating is organized (clubs, testing, rinks). So I'm at the point where I need something back from skating itself, I need to find a way to either enjoy the process as a whole, or at least to alternate period of work for progress with period of enjoyment (like working at jumps and spins, then putting them in a new program). On the other hand I admire somebody's way of skating at my rink, both the looks of it and the joy he seems to get out of it. He does a little bit of coaching not as a first job, not even as a second job but maybe more as sharing the joy for skating. At least this is how I perceive him. Anyhow I want to take some lessons from him and I already told him that I want him to teach me how to skate for my own enjoyment, in addition to continuing lessons with my current coach that are focused on technique.
I worked mostly on moves because I thought I'll be able to get back to being ready to test quickly, and passing a test is always a confidence boost, plus I wanted a focus, a goal while skating. But, I worked at them as I used to when I was ready to test them. And that is 5 minutes warm up, then present the moves in full force. I'm happy that I feel I'm almost back, ready to test. And now... "the but"... But, after these 15 minutes it took me to go trough the warmup and test, I was all spent... I couldn't really work on the dances or the jumps, so the rest of the session was wasted.
The plan for next month is to rebuild and organize.
Off Ice: After feeling pain in the muscle after an intense skating session (a lesson), I decided to put in the time and start doing exercises for the hips every day. It didn't happen every day but I did them often enough to feel they help and I want to stick with them.
MITF: I could push them for testing but it seams that it would be all I would be doing, and then I would be too tired for anything else. I don't feel it is worth it so, I'll work on the technique a little bit more and wait to add the power needed for testing when I'll feel stronger, hopefully on the second part of the month.
Ice Dancing: I'm thinking to focus my private lessons and the biggest chunk of time on Ice Dancing. That would be again, on technique not on power. I didn't do Ice Dancing consistently in probably 6 months so I need to review the technique.
Freestyle: While I rebuild the muscles and stamina that I need for both moves and Ice Dancing I plan to put a little more time into Freestyle. I'll try to start with them, after warming up a little bit and see how it feels. I hope I can get a little progress there and still have energy for dance and moves. And as motivation, as soon as I'll have the loop jump and sit spin (at least be close) I'll start working at a new program.
Skating for my own enjoyment: When I started private lessons around 3 years ago, I had this plan to push for progress in skating in order to enjoy it later. And that went well for over a year and the progress was enough motivation for me. But lately, I couldn't push for progress. First, a little over a year ago, it was the hip injury. Then, I had an emotional withdrawal caused by disappointment in how skating is organized (clubs, testing, rinks). So I'm at the point where I need something back from skating itself, I need to find a way to either enjoy the process as a whole, or at least to alternate period of work for progress with period of enjoyment (like working at jumps and spins, then putting them in a new program). On the other hand I admire somebody's way of skating at my rink, both the looks of it and the joy he seems to get out of it. He does a little bit of coaching not as a first job, not even as a second job but maybe more as sharing the joy for skating. At least this is how I perceive him. Anyhow I want to take some lessons from him and I already told him that I want him to teach me how to skate for my own enjoyment, in addition to continuing lessons with my current coach that are focused on technique.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Test: MITF Pre-Juvenile part 1
I
skated 3 times last week and the hip was fine. My plan is to listen to
my body, but ideally I would like to skate at least 4 times a week. I'm
working mostly on MITF Pre-Juvenile that was ready for testing at the
beginning of the summer but my registration didn't go trough for that session. I plan
to test it as soon is revived, the moves are there, but again I'm
lacking power.
I'll describe the elements of the test now, and when I'll take it, I'll describe how it all went.
This is a standard test. I've worked on it with pauses, for almost 2 years. I've got the moves rather quickly (like 6 months) but not the power that is asked at this level. And then I hurt my hip and I couldn't work on power...
Here is the judging form where there are drawings with the pattern for each move.
1. Forward and Backward Perimeter Power Stroking (focus on power, F: extension, B: edge quality)
- I do 4 intro strokes then 2 forward crossovers CCW. That is on half the hockey circle (that I will call a lobe) and brings me to the imaginary axis where I do an right inside edge for the first half of the lobe. The next half of the lobe would be a CW crossover. Then a new lobe with a left inside edge and again a CCW crossover.
- Important thing here is the power. Both the first stroke of the crossover and the second one, the under push, need to be pressed and pushed. Speed and lean into the circle will help the power.
- The inside edge need to start at the axis, stroking perpendicular to the axis and the blade should be placed on an inside edge. Update on Nov 2019 to press the inside edge (both forward and backward) and to use the energy from each stroke into the next stroke
- Extension and pointed toe are expected on each of the crossovers strokes and on the inside edge.
- The crossovers strokes are 1 beat each, the inside edge is 2 beats.
- After the last CCW crossover that ends at the axis the end pattern is another crossover and a stroke of 2 beats, right inside mohawk
- The backward line starts with 2 back crossovers CCW (1 beat each stroke) that brings me around at the axis (correction to square the upper body and arms), where a power inside edge is done hold for 2 beats (pull the shoulder and arm back). Then the weight is transferred for the CW back crossover.
- When I started working on this test I thought this was the easiest move from the test, but I've got so many corrections... Looking back is was all about the second stroke on both forward and backward crossovers being whimper and shorter. Of course to fix that I needed a strong alignment on the edge on the first stroke, allowing the upper body to move around the circle, hips under, lean, speed...
2. Forward Outside to Backward Inside 3-turns in the field (focus on edge quality)
- These are quite big lobes, bigger then what I was doing before. Of course I needed a bigger push and that was hard to control at first.
- Important things are to turn the 3s at the top of the lobe, control the edges, start the lobe perpendicular to the axis, don't do 2 foot transitions
- Here are some corrections and tips, from the millions I've got: turn your head, align the upper body with the circle (at first I was pointing with the arm to the center of the circle to be sure I twisted enough), have the upper body parallel with the boards just before turning, feel the blade parallel to the boards before turning, free hip up, don't think of turning but thing of going back/ forward, count, look up (of course..). The latest tip was that the back shoulder turns the 3-turn...
- I hurt my hip on a back inside 3-turn, but it wasn't the 3-turn, it was another skater that came with some speed way to close to me and spooked me. After that I was always extra cautions working on these to not be close to people, but how realistic is that? And you cannot work on alignment awareness, while twisting to see who is in your way...
- The hip hurt at different intensities for a year (and it still hurts occasionally). All the 3-turns on that hip (left), disintegrated at points because I wasn't committing in transferring the weight solid on that hip...
- Even without the hip trouble, when started working at this test I thought these 4 lines of 3-turns were the hardest move of the test.
- Update Nov 2019 for the FO 3-turn. I've been recently asked to press the edge in and out of the 3-turn and I couldn't do it at first. I was stroking, then releasing the pressure into ice, then press just before the turn, then releasing the pressure at the turn. To make myself hold the pressure I hold the extension longer (that I was asked anyhow to do), until the turn and that made it basically a Ice Dancing 3-turn. So, I've got corrected again, to bring the feet together, when closing to turn, with the skating foot still bent from the stroke, because it is more stable, the to rise o turn, while still pressing into the ice (whaaat? I was doing the opposite, I was releasing the pressure), then bend again. I'm wondering when I will finally understand correctly what I have to do?
3. Forward Inside to Backward Outside 3-turns
- Same (similar) as before...
- My worst 3-turn is the LFI one. The corrections I've got are to really turn my head before the turn and to not drop the right shoulder.
4. Forward and Backward Change of Edge Pulls (focus on power)
- Instructions I remember: set the edge first, press and fall into the edge/bend and pull up, hips underneath, on forward ones keep knees together, point the toe and direct it over the tracing of the circle, on the back inside that means pigeon toe. On the back ones the last piece of advice was to rotate the upper body from the shoulders not just the arms.
- My instructor doesn't feel terrible unhappy about these but I think the kids have more power and speed then me...
- I surely could have practice these more, if it wasn't for the quads burn... And don't get me started on the backward on the bad hip. I think I've aborted half of them...
5. Backward Circle Eight (focus on edge quality)
- These is the hardest move of the test in my coaches opinion. And I've learnt he's always right... So I started to get around the circles fairly quick... somehow. And I've worked on it a lot even when the hip was hurt because it didn't bother me. To be honest I still get corrections on this.
- The first thing is the backward push, not straight back but at a 90 degrees. And there are 2 secrets: don't transfer the weight to the new foot until the push is completed and pigeon toe the new skating foot and lead with the heal.
- Then, for the edges there is the alignment and where your weight falls so you are over your skating hip, and keep the free hip up. There is also the lean, slightly towards the inside of the circle, but definitely not outside the circle because it's taking you of the edge. One tip was not to turn around at the middle but to lift over the hip, bring the free foot straight into the skating foot.
- Then, there is use oh head movement
- Then arms and foot coordination
- The inside edge got more corrections. Firstly to push back not around and to look outside the circle immediately after the push, that was kind of scary somehow. Then to really keep the free foot over the tracing and at the middle of the circle to bring it straight into the other foot, without changing the hips position. Then, allow the upper body and hips to get square to the tracing of the circle.
6. Five step Mohawk sequence (focus on edge quality and extension)
- There is an inside mohawk, a back outside edge, step forward om an outside edge, and forward inside edge with the free foot forward.
- This requires even steps so an even count to 5.
- The back edge should fall exactly at the middle of the lobe.
- I didn't get many correction on this. At some point I was making it quick and it looked stepped so my coach wanted more flow. But I've got the BIG correction: to look up! My continuous battle...
I'll describe the elements of the test now, and when I'll take it, I'll describe how it all went.
This is a standard test. I've worked on it with pauses, for almost 2 years. I've got the moves rather quickly (like 6 months) but not the power that is asked at this level. And then I hurt my hip and I couldn't work on power...
Here is the judging form where there are drawings with the pattern for each move.
1. Forward and Backward Perimeter Power Stroking (focus on power, F: extension, B: edge quality)
- I do 4 intro strokes then 2 forward crossovers CCW. That is on half the hockey circle (that I will call a lobe) and brings me to the imaginary axis where I do an right inside edge for the first half of the lobe. The next half of the lobe would be a CW crossover. Then a new lobe with a left inside edge and again a CCW crossover.
- Important thing here is the power. Both the first stroke of the crossover and the second one, the under push, need to be pressed and pushed. Speed and lean into the circle will help the power.
- The inside edge need to start at the axis, stroking perpendicular to the axis and the blade should be placed on an inside edge. Update on Nov 2019 to press the inside edge (both forward and backward) and to use the energy from each stroke into the next stroke
- Extension and pointed toe are expected on each of the crossovers strokes and on the inside edge.
- The crossovers strokes are 1 beat each, the inside edge is 2 beats.
- After the last CCW crossover that ends at the axis the end pattern is another crossover and a stroke of 2 beats, right inside mohawk
- The backward line starts with 2 back crossovers CCW (1 beat each stroke) that brings me around at the axis (correction to square the upper body and arms), where a power inside edge is done hold for 2 beats (pull the shoulder and arm back). Then the weight is transferred for the CW back crossover.
- When I started working on this test I thought this was the easiest move from the test, but I've got so many corrections... Looking back is was all about the second stroke on both forward and backward crossovers being whimper and shorter. Of course to fix that I needed a strong alignment on the edge on the first stroke, allowing the upper body to move around the circle, hips under, lean, speed...
2. Forward Outside to Backward Inside 3-turns in the field (focus on edge quality)
- These are quite big lobes, bigger then what I was doing before. Of course I needed a bigger push and that was hard to control at first.
- Important things are to turn the 3s at the top of the lobe, control the edges, start the lobe perpendicular to the axis, don't do 2 foot transitions
- Here are some corrections and tips, from the millions I've got: turn your head, align the upper body with the circle (at first I was pointing with the arm to the center of the circle to be sure I twisted enough), have the upper body parallel with the boards just before turning, feel the blade parallel to the boards before turning, free hip up, don't think of turning but thing of going back/ forward, count, look up (of course..). The latest tip was that the back shoulder turns the 3-turn...
- I hurt my hip on a back inside 3-turn, but it wasn't the 3-turn, it was another skater that came with some speed way to close to me and spooked me. After that I was always extra cautions working on these to not be close to people, but how realistic is that? And you cannot work on alignment awareness, while twisting to see who is in your way...
- The hip hurt at different intensities for a year (and it still hurts occasionally). All the 3-turns on that hip (left), disintegrated at points because I wasn't committing in transferring the weight solid on that hip...
- Even without the hip trouble, when started working at this test I thought these 4 lines of 3-turns were the hardest move of the test.
- Update Nov 2019 for the FO 3-turn. I've been recently asked to press the edge in and out of the 3-turn and I couldn't do it at first. I was stroking, then releasing the pressure into ice, then press just before the turn, then releasing the pressure at the turn. To make myself hold the pressure I hold the extension longer (that I was asked anyhow to do), until the turn and that made it basically a Ice Dancing 3-turn. So, I've got corrected again, to bring the feet together, when closing to turn, with the skating foot still bent from the stroke, because it is more stable, the to rise o turn, while still pressing into the ice (whaaat? I was doing the opposite, I was releasing the pressure), then bend again. I'm wondering when I will finally understand correctly what I have to do?
3. Forward Inside to Backward Outside 3-turns
- Same (similar) as before...
- My worst 3-turn is the LFI one. The corrections I've got are to really turn my head before the turn and to not drop the right shoulder.
4. Forward and Backward Change of Edge Pulls (focus on power)
- Instructions I remember: set the edge first, press and fall into the edge/bend and pull up, hips underneath, on forward ones keep knees together, point the toe and direct it over the tracing of the circle, on the back inside that means pigeon toe. On the back ones the last piece of advice was to rotate the upper body from the shoulders not just the arms.
- My instructor doesn't feel terrible unhappy about these but I think the kids have more power and speed then me...
- I surely could have practice these more, if it wasn't for the quads burn... And don't get me started on the backward on the bad hip. I think I've aborted half of them...
5. Backward Circle Eight (focus on edge quality)
- These is the hardest move of the test in my coaches opinion. And I've learnt he's always right... So I started to get around the circles fairly quick... somehow. And I've worked on it a lot even when the hip was hurt because it didn't bother me. To be honest I still get corrections on this.
- The first thing is the backward push, not straight back but at a 90 degrees. And there are 2 secrets: don't transfer the weight to the new foot until the push is completed and pigeon toe the new skating foot and lead with the heal.
- Then, for the edges there is the alignment and where your weight falls so you are over your skating hip, and keep the free hip up. There is also the lean, slightly towards the inside of the circle, but definitely not outside the circle because it's taking you of the edge. One tip was not to turn around at the middle but to lift over the hip, bring the free foot straight into the skating foot.
- Then, there is use oh head movement
- Then arms and foot coordination
- The inside edge got more corrections. Firstly to push back not around and to look outside the circle immediately after the push, that was kind of scary somehow. Then to really keep the free foot over the tracing and at the middle of the circle to bring it straight into the other foot, without changing the hips position. Then, allow the upper body and hips to get square to the tracing of the circle.
6. Five step Mohawk sequence (focus on edge quality and extension)
- There is an inside mohawk, a back outside edge, step forward om an outside edge, and forward inside edge with the free foot forward.
- This requires even steps so an even count to 5.
- The back edge should fall exactly at the middle of the lobe.
- I didn't get many correction on this. At some point I was making it quick and it looked stepped so my coach wanted more flow. But I've got the BIG correction: to look up! My continuous battle...
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I went on and on about edges because along with stroking they are the foundation of everything in skating, freestyle, MITF and even more in ...
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First a little rant... I'm trying to skate 5 days/ sessions a week, Monday trough Friday, instead of 3 and a half, the half being my pri...
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The Dutch Waltz is a Preliminary pattern dance or level 1. Pattern dances have predetermined steps and rhytm. The Dutch Waltz is the first d...
