Skating insights? Or listicle?

December 18, 2017 by Joskates 4 Comments

I am not leaning into the circle even when I think I am.

I am not going fast enough even when I feel like I’m going as fast as I can.

I am not really lined up over my blade even though I can’t detect any obvious breaks in my alignment.

I am not really into the ice even though I could swear there was an edge there. Somewhere.

I am not really to turn even though my body seems fully rotated.

Ankles. Must. Bend.

Whoops.

Edward O’Neill, Elementary Techniques in Roller-Skating (1960)

 

Work meets skating.

Is it possible to make an even sadder version of this song? Here’s Boyce Avenue (with Carly Rose Sonenclar) singing Christina Aguilera’s “Say Something.”

Lesson notes:

• Lots of work using those hip muscles, getting in the right position for outside-outside mohawks and other turns.
• Inside edges, keeping correct lean and alignment
• Deepening outside edges (also can do after cross strokes)
• Back cross strokes (don’t rush, start push earlier, free leg action helps with skating edge deepening and push)
• Back outside three, inside mohawk (don’t rush, rotate body for the back outside three)
• Forward outside three, push to back outside three, toe through and repeat on other side
• back cross, back inside three, forward outside three, repeat in other direction (turn body on back cross, not after)
• choctaws, back to front and front to back (arm positions help to define edge)