Live Blogs Getting Your Edge Back: A Skating Liveblog

TheGirlWithPointyEars2010-12-10 14:41:57

NOTE: I am transferring my posts from the old Liveblog system. I will put the day I posted as the heading on subsequent entries. My first post is reproduced below.

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After my posting today in the IJAM Ice Skating thread, I thought I'd start a skating live blog about my progress. Me: I'm a mid-20's, 4'4" figure skater, who hasn't taken lessons in maybe 10-15 years. However, my local rink has public skating nearly every day and it's usually nearly empty, and I am intent on taking full advantage of it. I'm usually a horribly terrible athlete, but I love skating, and have slimmed down a lot this year by running so I'm a lot healthier and stronger and have a lot more endurance. Here are some back-posts from my IJAM thread (and yes, I was a little... overenthusiastic in the first post. Bare with me, I was excited): Sept 13: My local public ice rink had their first public skating today. Not only that, the sessions are free. I haven't had lessons in maybe 15 years, but I love skating, and I'm giddy as a schoolgirl. This topic may be, but does not have to, be combined with the topic on hot chocolate. I. LOVE. ICE. SKATING. Oct 8: Well, alright! I guess I'm not the only one here. That is interesting. I checked out some skating books to figure out some new stuff and brush up on technique, and they definitely do seem to help. As I said, I haven't taken actual lessons in maybe 15 years, so I could use it! I'm trying forwards-backwards one-foot turns (what it calls three-turns), and I was interested to realize that (as the book said) you really are more stable on an edge rather than a flat in that sort of situation. Nice! I agree ice skating is much funner than roller skating. Inline skating is nice, but I've never gotten the trick of, well, stopping quickly when you're going fast. I can't seem to do any kind of hockey stop on rollerblades (maybe I need to practice more?), the brake pad is only on one foot, and it's hard to use anyway. Plus pavement is much rougher than ice. Oh, and Longfellow, trust me I sympathize. From the, ah, other direction. There are some things you just can't get in kids sizes. Oct 9: I took figure skating lessons for years when I was a kid and I hadn't learned this, and it still isn't the easiest thing to do (I still can't quite seem to get some of the variations - backwards to forwards, particularly). It does feel pretty cool to get it right, though. Oct 18: ...and not quite so cool when you don't make it and fall down like an idiot. I think I'm going to have a pretty awful bruise or two after today's session. Ouch. But I still stand by the first post, and I am getting better. Next up: Maybe trying a spin? I've already looked up how to do a certain kind, theoretically. Although I predict more bruises while attempting this. A lot more bruises. Today: Back from the rink. I was able to do the spin I was trying for... ah, sort of. Rather awkwardly and not for very many rotations. And the speed was Not Impressive. But at least I didn't go splat on the ice. More than once. And I am getting better. Practice, right? There was also this apparent preteen who came in later in the session and completely showed me up. She was GOOD. Heh. ... Ah, Maybe I should make this a liveblog? —- And so I did. Will continue posting my progress. And whether I've broken a bone, cut myself with my skate, or become sore and black and blue from bruises. Do stay tuned, hilarity will surely ensue.

Comments

DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 17th 2010 at 4:33:56 PM

Sounds good.

How do you skate backwards?

TheGirlWithPointyEars Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 17th 2010 at 5:55:38 PM

It's the reverse of skating forwards - Instead of alternating skate strokes pushing backwards which pushes you forwards, you stroke your skates forwards which pushes you back. As the book I've been reading pointed out, though, your weight distribution is slightly different than when going forwards - just forwards of your arches, on the ball of your foot, instead of nearly on your heels.

And of course, you need to make sure you look over your shoulder to see where you are going :p

DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 17th 2010 at 6:36:51 PM

Actually, I should have probably asked how you skate forwards, first. XP

• I seem to remember from rollerblading...pushing out almost sideways, actually, toes pointing together.
  • Though thinking about it, I can't really remember to well how I rollerbladed; didn't think too much about it back then.

TheGirlWithPointyEars Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 17th 2010 at 7:08:11 PM

Pushing diagonally, yes, but I would have said toes out when going forwards. Pushing out, diagonally back, alternating feet. Then for going backwards it would be pushing out diagonally forwards, alternating feet, toes pointing together.

This is stuff so ingrained in my head I never think about it either; you're making it interesting for me, having to put it words!

DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 17th 2010 at 7:49:07 PM

Cool, I was worried it'd be a little too simple to have to explain.

• Oddly enough, I think I can understand turning, since it's leaning, like a bike, right?

So, standing flat, your toes are pointing away from center, and you push your lead foot away from you, along the line it's already pointing, and then continue with your other foot?

TheGirlWithPointyEars Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 18th 2010 at 8:17:47 AM

So, standing flat, your toes are pointing away from center, and you push your lead foot away from you, along the line it's already pointing, and then continue with your other foot?

Essentially, yes. Not quite standing flat, you would be just slightly on your inside edges (feet leaning in to center) to get a grip on the ice.

Oddly enough, I think I can understand turning, since it's leaning, like a bike, right?

That, and lengthening your strokes on the foot at the outside of the turn. If you're on one foot, it's very much like leaning a bike into a turn. :) For quicker, tighter turns, you cross the foot on the outside of the turn over your skating foot, press it to the outside and back of the turning radius, and bring your inside foot back up and onto the ice and press back and to the outside of the turn with it. Repeat, and you're going around in a circle at speed - that's crossovers . You still do lean into the turn with crossovers, though!

DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 18th 2010 at 9:29:06 AM

So, lifting up your foot let's you get a sharper turning angle than if you just tried to twist while on the ice?

• Okay, so, turning right, you...
  • Raise your left foot
  • Move it in front of and past your right foot
  • Place it down so the toe is pointing right
  • Then pick up your right foot and move it to your right, continuing into the turn?
• I can sorta see how that works, and it sounds cool, but man, just thinking about it makes me want to fall down.

DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 18th 2010 at 11:02:00 AM

Whoops, double.

TheGirlWithPointyEars Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 18th 2010 at 11:47:14 AM

^ Exactly, you've got it! I think we probably have some centrifugal force helping us stay up when we do it at high speed. I'm sure you're well acquainted with centrifugal force as a biker :p It's really not all that bad, one of the most basic skating moves, but it could take a little practice.

DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 18th 2010 at 6:46:59 PM

I think part of it is, when thinking about it, I expect to trip, like I would when walking, which wouldn't be the case when skating.