Third skating class
Jun. 1st, 2013 11:42 amAwesome class today. We had a sub, a woman about my age or maybe a bit younger, who I liked very much. I like my regular teacher too, and he's very good, but I think this one is a better teacher for me. I can't pick up exactly how to distribute my weight or turn my shoulder or whatever just from watching someone; I need actual verbal put your weight HERE instructions, and this girl was all over that. Suddenly my one-foot glides are actually on flats rather than tipping over onto the inside edge! Amazing!
She asked us what we wanted to learn, to which I immediately replied "FORWARD CROSSOVERS." I've wanted to learn those forever. They're a bit much to finish in one lesson, but we learned some components: crossing your feet over and over down the ice (terrifying at first, but got better with practice), and forward pumps. We did ours alternating feet down a line rather than in a circle, as in the video, but the idea is the same. For both of these activities, I developed a proverb: When in doubt, bend your knees more. More. MORE! Really, that proverb could go for all of skating.
(Knees: Oh god, why us...)
We also learned how to do a real slalom, rather than the cobbled-together slalom I've been doing (key difference: feet together rather than a foot apart), and a real one-foot snowplow stop. The actual discussion of where to put my weight was again very useful. And it turns out it's easier for me to use my left leg as the stopping leg. I have a sneaking suspicion I may turn out to be a clockwise spinner and jumper when (if) I get to that point. Not a bad thing, just an uncommon thing.
She asked us what we wanted to learn, to which I immediately replied "FORWARD CROSSOVERS." I've wanted to learn those forever. They're a bit much to finish in one lesson, but we learned some components: crossing your feet over and over down the ice (terrifying at first, but got better with practice), and forward pumps. We did ours alternating feet down a line rather than in a circle, as in the video, but the idea is the same. For both of these activities, I developed a proverb: When in doubt, bend your knees more. More. MORE! Really, that proverb could go for all of skating.
(Knees: Oh god, why us...)
We also learned how to do a real slalom, rather than the cobbled-together slalom I've been doing (key difference: feet together rather than a foot apart), and a real one-foot snowplow stop. The actual discussion of where to put my weight was again very useful. And it turns out it's easier for me to use my left leg as the stopping leg. I have a sneaking suspicion I may turn out to be a clockwise spinner and jumper when (if) I get to that point. Not a bad thing, just an uncommon thing.
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