Figure Skaters Are Insane

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”

Figure skaters are insane, they do the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. Some may call me insane on the ice it’s because I spend way too many hours practicing, I am not insane by that definition. In fact I like to think of my work on the ice as progress through and through. I don’t fail, I definitely don’t give up on a skill, I just find several ways that a move doesn’t work before I find the one that does.

Many of my fellow skaters comment on the speed that I’ve picked up skills. A couple weeks ago, one came up to me and exclaimed, “You’re working on brackets?! Those are gold moves!.” Just a couple days ago another skater came up to me and asked, “did you just do a back 3 turn, it takes adults ages to learn them, how did you get those?” I swear I am not trying to brag here, a close friend of mine would definitely argue against that statement. But this is my blog and I say I’m not bragging. I have learned how to learn on the ice. As a teacher, I feel like the nature of my career really helps me to succeed on the ice. I wouldn’t give up on a student, so why in the world would I give up on myself?

I wouldn’t suggest a student do the same math problem over and over again incorrectly, I’d point out the step of the problem that they are missing. I think back 3 turns are a great example of my work ethic on the ice. Back 3 turns are difficult, I won’t lie, but I managed to do each about 5 times consistently on the ice after about two weeks of solid practice. What is solid practice? Doing different things over and over to “get” a move. I believe that when attempting to work on a new move without a coach present, you must act as your coach.

While working on back three’s and brackets after being introduced to them by my coach, I taught myself to analyze each step of the move. Whenever I couldn’t make the turn I would decide to change something before trying it again. For example, often times when doing a back 3, my arms would literally get in the way of my body, so I learned to check my arms and hold them in position. They start off hugging the circle, then move into position before I turn my foot. On my inside back 3’s I found that my free foot was always getting in the way of my turn, so I remembered that my coach had suggested I keep my free foot ahead of my other skating foot. The last thing I changed in the process is a bent knee. This one I learned when I challenged myself by doing double back 3’s. I noticed that in order to do several 3 turns in a row (forward to back, forward to back) I had to keep my knees flexible, moving up and down with every turn.

I know that the reason I get bored with specific moves on the ice is because I work them to death when I am first introduced to them. Coach shows me a new skill at a lesson, you know I’m about to work on it for an hour straight until I get it. It won’t be consistent by the end of that first practice, but I’m going to come as close as I possibly can at the level that I’m at.

If you’re a skater and you’re working on a difficult move, give this practice method a try. I hope that it finds you well on your way to perfecting something you’ve dreamed of. Happy Skating!

Practice, Practice, Practice.

In the last 4 days I have been on the ice a total of 12 hours. I’d like to say that I’ve made a ton of progress, but that’s not exactly what has happened. Practice has been repetitive. I’ve made no insane strides of progress. I’ve fallen several times. My knees have taken one too many hits. I’ve pulled a muscle in my arm from catching a fall. I’ve taken a 2 hour nap after every session. It has been quite a week. To share a little bit about my experiences, below I will list what a two hour practice looks like for me. Forewarning. It’s insane.  I don’t really take breaks in between skills unless the Zamboni is cutting the ice.

1. Pre-Bronze Moves
2. Bronze Moves
3. Speed Stroking (5 laps)
4. Speed Chasses (3 half rink laps)
5. Speed Forward Crossovers (no arms for balance)
6. Speed Backwards Crossovers
7. Backwards Crossovers w/ Graceful Arms
8. Forward & Backward Cross Rolls (at least one lap each)
9. Forward Power Pulls in Silver Pattern
10. Crossovers, Hold Edge, Touch Ice (2 in each direction)
11. Backward Power Pulls
12. Checkouts/Landing Position Down the Ice
13. 10+ Consecutive Waltz Jumps
14. Scratch Spin w/ Entry (5+)
15. Outside & Inside Three Turns Down the Line (4)
16. Mohawk Crosses Down the Line (2)
17. Brackets (2 Left Foot, 1 Right down the line)
18. Back 3’s (at least 5 of each)
19. Back 3’s Pattern On Circle ( FXO, 3 Turn, BXO, back 3 Turn, Repeat)
20. All Swing Rolls (one lap each)
21. Dutch Waltz Dance Pattern
22. Rhythm Blues Dance Pattern
23. Consecutive 3 Turns on Circle -> Twizzles
24. Waltz Jump from BXOs
25. Salchow from BXOs
26. Toe Loop w/ Entry
27. Half-Lutz from BXOs
28. Half-Flip from Mohawk
29. Challenge: Loop Jump
30. Challenge: Backspin
31. Challenge: Waltz Jump to Back Spin

Let’s Get Technical

The last couple weeks of summer got really technical very quickly. Now that I have been doing my bronze moves test in practice for two months, my coach has started to pick them apart. I wanted to test them in October and if I work hard I know that I can pass, but the moves need a lot of attention.

At two consecutive lessons Coach T has spent a grand total of 15 minutes explaining things to me. For example, my scratch spin that didn’t even exist a week ago needs a better entry point. Right now I am on the left outside edge, as I begin the spin it shows as a 3 turn on the ice, I drift off for about a foot and then begin spinning. Apparently I am “choosing” when to spin as opposed to letting it happen on its own. Annoyance.

My five step mohawk has also been picked apart. Every time I “think” I have a skill, I’ll practice it a few times when I get on the ice and then let it be, because it’s “good.” A week ago, Coach T said I was practicing it incorrectly, that my leg had to be straight the entire time, not bent. After spending a week working on it, we have begun tearing it apart again. I now need to work on bringing my feet together after each step before moving to the next.

Skating practice has now evolved and I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. I recently ran out of space to write in my small practice notebook so I decided to stop writing what I do at every practice. Instead I created a “reminders” skating list on my iphone with all the skills I am working on to remind myself to practice those things. Though I don’t believe it’s really working. If my lessons are getting more technical than my practices need to also get technical. I need to get back to writing everything down so that I can focus on small details of my skating.

The days of just doing a skill over and over again have passed. It’s time for me go nit pick. I am not nit picky nor am I a perfectionist, but in this sport you are always working towards perfection. So, I need to become a perfectionist. Sure I do this for fun, but if I want to compete nationally this winter I need to get more technical so that I will present myself as a real competitor even though I’ve only been on the ice for a year.

Happy Skating!