Live Blogs Getting Your Edge Back: A Skating Liveblog

TheGirlWithPointyEars2010-12-15 11:43:08

Today was a lot like Monday. The usual gaggle of toddlers with a smattering of adults (the toddlers weren't taking lessons today, though, and there seemed to be more people there). I didn't add anything to my repetiore but continued working on the fundamentals I was practicing Monday - backward skating, foot positions, the regular three-turns and twizzles. I'm practicing turning my toes out at home, and practicing the spread-eagle glide that uses it on the ice, but I'm not having a ton more success - maybe that takes more time to loosen up.

I did look up the kind of spin I've been trying again (a 'scratch spin'), and seemed to have rather more success. Not as fast as I'd like, but better. That's all I can ask for the moment, I suppose.

Also no holes in my pants or serious bruises. Except for my elbow which I managed to bang again. But that doesn't really bruise anymore, it just sort of aches. :p

Comments

DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 15th 2010 at 8:01:42 PM

Your spins don't involve leaving the ice, right? I'm trying to picture how that kinda thing works, it just doesn't seem quite...'real', if that's the right word. Maybe 'possible'?

• The articles on That Other Wiki just make my eyes glaze over...

TheGirlWithPointyEars Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 16th 2010 at 5:45:43 AM

No, no leaving the ice! It's basically starting off to do very tiny circles on one foot and amplifying the angular momentum by pulling all your other limbs (which start out fairly far away from the body) in tight.

... Not that I've quite got the trick of doing it all that fast, as I've said. :p

DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 16th 2010 at 7:55:21 AM

Okay, I still remember angular momentum being drilled into my head from physics, but...you pull to a stop and spin? You go up onto your toe(s)?

• It just seems trying to balance linear velocity and angular velocity at the same time would be difficult.
  • I know it was certainly hard to do in class. XD

TheGirlWithPointyEars Since: Dec, 1969

Dec 16th 2010 at 8:51:42 AM

You don't go up on your toes (if you caught your toepick on the ice, it would kill your momentum), but your weight is centered farther up the skate, yes :) And the skate on the ice is slightly on its inside edge, as well, which always makes you tend towards a curve. And you twist your body slightly, giving it even more angular mometum. You don't stop (which would be counterproductive), but you basically channel your forward momentum into angular momentum so instead of going forward, you spin.

I hope that helps describe it better - I'm not entirely sure I understand all the physics behind it myself!