August 2007
Early August 2007
Offline
I had been away all summer. First, my husband and I took a cruise. After a couple of days at home, we drove up to the lake house with all of our cats. From there, I flew to visit my father who has not been feeling well. He suffers from lower back and leg pain. My objective was to help him around the house and drive him to medical appointments. Not that I am an inept driver, but he became very nervous in the passenger seat of his own car. In fact, I am a very safe driver. My father has lived alone for over twenty years and is used to his own way of doing things. He only wanted to rescind control under the worst circumstances. Fortunately, he was able to drive with me along for the ride and moral support. My dad takes a disproportionate, anal retentive amount of pride in his lawn and had been going insane with the burning need to mow it. Although his cousin and neighbors volunteered before I arrived, he found their performance substandard. As I have never mowed a lawn in my life, I shudder to think of how he would have perceived my efforts. Fortunately, after a hospital visit he felt much better and took over his usual chores.
After three weeks with dad, during which time I skated at least twice weekly, I returned to the lake. I had not checked my email since leaving home after the cruise, although I had access to the internet via the public library. Instead, I avoided the computers and checked out good reading material. I must have read a dozen books during my time with Dad. Back at the lake, I went to the library and looked at the email mainly to cull spam and pay some bills online. My internet provider sent a message in late July that my URL for skatejournal.com was expiring. By the time I read the mail, the domain had expired and my website was offline for the first time since June 1999.
Looking at a generic screen where my homepage had been for so many years made me feel empty and unfulfilled. To the best of my knowledge, my site is the first personal figure skating journal on the internet, and certainly the first personal adult figure skating journal. Many others have come along since, but I am especially proud of the longevity of my journal and the adventures, challenges, and struggles I have chronicled on the internet for any and all interested parties to read. Over the years, I have received countless email messages from people who felt inspired by my writings or wanted to share their experiences. Some people were surprised to find such a resource in existence. I try to offer personal anecdotes along with technical information based on my lifetime as a skating fan and participant. Although I was not a competitive or privately trained skater as a child, I did grow up on roller skates and that foundation greatly contributed to what I consider success on the ice.
I am glad my site is back online, and I want to say “thank you” to those people who have been reading for years and those who have stopped by for the first time. I hope to continue to share my journey on the ice for many years to come.
Mid-August 2007
Coaching My Sister
My sister is a successful person. She has a respected career and earns good money. While I was goofing around in ice rinks, she had her nose to the grindstone. I always respected her ability to focus on the practical and push flights of fancy aside. As kids we both owned roller skates, we both took group ice skating lessons, and we both fell in love with the classic 70s skating movie, “Ice Castles”. However, Celia*** did not let any of this crap control her life. She lost interest in roller skating and never became obsessed with ice rinks. The smell of refrigerant and sparkle of silver blades did not send her into a frenzy. I, of course, was the opposite. So now, in her late thirties, Celia wants to learn to ice skate.
She is the quintessential adult skater. She always enjoyed skating from a safe distance, the distance between the couch and the TV, the distance between the dreams of a little girl and the reality of adulthood. Celia can skate around a rink. Roller skating in the street helped her too. She can go to a rink on a Sunday afternoon and skate hand-in-hand with her husband. They also visit the neighborhood roller rink occasionally. Skating is a hobby, an outing, something to do, a way to celebrate the festive holiday season. It takes a backseat to more important stuff. Personally, I always resented anything (read: job, career) that got in the way of my ice time. Celia was more adept at managing her priorities.
Now that she has established herself professionally, Celia is ready to become a skater. I was her first private coach. The diligence that made my sister a Magna Cum Laude graduate and successful career woman channeled naturally into her training. She focused on every instruction I provided, moving through steps with silent purpose. Before and after lessons, she wasted no time. From the moment she stepped on the ice until the end of the session, she worked, practicing every drill I taught. This single-minded maturity led to quick results. She was doing crossovers the first day. She landed a series of ten waltz jumps the second. She spun competently on two feet then learned to lift one. Like me, she rotates clockwise, making her especially easy to teach.
I enjoyed watching her improve. She has natural ability and a good foundation from recreational skating. Celia devoured the lessons and wants to commit to skating. Too bad we live far apart. I would love to watch her grow, whether as a coach or a friend. Unfortunately, there is no rink located near my sister’s home. She would have to drive over an hour for ice. I know people do this. She plans to try to work with this inconvenience. Myself, I would probably move.
*** Not her real name.
At least four years have passed since my husband last video taped me on the ice. I never liked watching my own video as it looks remarkably unlike Michelle Kwan. Camera tricks can make a fast skater look slow, a slow skater look fast, a centered spin appear to travel and a traveling spin seem hold perfectly still. But more often than not, it is just brutally honest. That level of honesty used to unnerve me and pop my delicate skating bubble. However, as I rewatched clips of certain skills, I could identify good points and critically evaluate what needed improvement. Over the years, my skin has grown thicker, and I can painlessly and objectively learn from my own video.
As I recover and make a comeback to my former level of ability, it is critical that I control development of sloppy, lazy, and just plain bad habits. I need to be reasonably certain that skills actually are as good as they feel. Ultimately, I plan to continue to develop as a skater building speed, improving technique, and expanding my repertoire. Aside from not skating lightning-fast, I decided to list areas that require attention.
- Tighten the leg position of single rotation jumps
- Gain more jump distance in flying camel
- Open legs to a wider split during aerial segment of flying camel
- Raise free leg to hip height upon landing flying camel
- Lift free leg at least six inches higher during layback spin
- Increase speed of forward and backward camel spins
- Split legs and lift take-off leg during waltz jump
On the positive side, I was pleased to see the attractive position of my back sit spin and effortless transition between back camel and back sit. My layback is also quite fast and smooth with a pretty free leg curve. My swing rolls are graceful with lovely posture. I have very good Russian stroking. The time I invested in basic skills over the years has really paid off and survived my injuries.
On the same tape, I watched the previous recording and was impressed with my prior mastery of the forward camel. It was fast and centered and transitioned beautifully into other positions. I also owned an amazing headless scratch spin, an obscure element I had completely forgotten but will place somewhere on my “to do” list. Thanks to new and old video recordings, it seems I have a lot to do.
Week of August 26, 2007
On a whim I called a rink where I have skated occasionally. Actually, I broke my ankle in this facility and have not skated there since. Since I am looking for teaching opportunities, I planned to call all of the rinks within sensible driving distance. I pulled up the web site and looked for contact information. This rink is a known training center, so I expected to be turned down flat. They have plenty of high-test teenagers who might foresee a future in coaching and would like to pick up some easy money as a group instructor. I dialed the number anyway and the main desk put me through to the skating director whom I shall call Marilyn***.
Marilyn and I had a pleasant conversation and she invited me for an interview. When I came to meet Marilyn in person, she was on the ice teaching a little girl how to swizzle. She came off the ice, chatted with the parent, then I approached and introduced myself. Marilyn led me to the office and kicked out a couple of teenage girls who were stretched out on the couch giggling. The director sighed and rolled her eyes. "There's one of the problems with junior pros. They are just not mature."
She wants to increase her staff by hiring older professionals. Marilyn is willing to trade high tests for experience and maturity. She realizes older teachers may not always be able to do or teach the highest level skills, but only a fraction of the clientele require that level of instruction anyway. Of course, some wealthy families will retain the highest rated and most famous coach to teach their children how to fall down and get back up, assuming the pro is willing. Coaching fees do not vary with the material being taught. For any given instructor, beginner lessons are rarely cheaper than intermediate or advanced. If Mr. or Ms. Olympic Coach chooses to accept a student, money earned teaching backward wiggles is just as green as teaching a kid to land a double axel.
Marilyn and I got along famously. We talked and laughed for an hour, but we did not stretch out on the couch. We sat like grown-ups in the chairs. She said she wanted me on her staff and would start me teaching all of the group lesson sessions. No throwing me a class here or there. As a staff member, I will be visible during teaching times. She will also assign me privates.
I left the rink feeling like the most fortunate person in the world. I am to be a staff pro at a recognized training center, rubbing shoulders with people seen on TV. I could hardly believe it.
***Not her real name.
Tuesday August 28, 2007
Last week I bravely watched video of myself skating. The experience was instructive as I readily identified areas where I can improve and areas where I am performing well. Some of the areas for improvement may only require quick fixes like raising my free leg a bit when executing a layback spin. Others will require intense dedication. Today I practiced all of the skills on my list except those related to the flying camel which I will save for another day when I can devote the majority of a session to camels of all sorts.
The skill requiring my utmost attention is the tightening of my aerial jump positions. Multi-rotation jumps are executed in a backspin position with the free leg crossed over the landing leg. Crossing should occur near the ankles to avoid an unsightly and awkward leg wrap. Based on my understanding, leg wrap is a standard technique in artistic roller skating, but having never trained artistic roller beyond basic dance steps and compulsory figures, I cannot comment on the possible advantage of this position to roller sport. Actually, leg wrap can also be observed at high levels of freestyle ice skating competition and tends to draw negative remarks from commentators and well-educated fans. Leg wrap occurs when the skate crosses his or her legs at the thigh or upper calf leaving the free leg to whip haphazardly during rotation. A famous and successful elite skater who is guilty of leg wrap is 1992 Olympic Silver Medallist, Midori Ito. Yes, the first lady to land a triple axel wraps her legs.
I do not leg wrap. However, I have a very open air position, and not necessarily in a good way. There is a difference between an intentionally open axel and one that simply refuses to close. My former coach, Geoff, identified this as the probably cause for the difficulties I encountered learning the axel and doubles. Another coach wanted me to take off for the loop jump with my legs already crossed on the ice. Apparently somewhere along the way, I adopted the bad habit of lifting with my free leg into a stag position to get distance on the jump. My loops have always been big. However, when I objectively evaluated this technique on video, I decided it must go. If I am going to do a stag, I need to hit a distinct stag leap pose then contract into an identifiable backspin position, even if it is open, to complete the jump. Full-rotation stag and split jumps are very difficult skills. Good ones require the energy and power of a double or triple. Casting that aside for now, I chose to focus on jumping directly into a strong backspin position.
Correcting poor jump habits usually means returning to the basic single for more advanced skaters or slowing down the preparation and entrance for the rest of us. Before jumping, I practiced a preliminary exercise of a double three-turn with my free foot in the proper backspin position. This is a handy way to learn a twizzle without actually dreading it. I approached my loop deliberately, concentrating on every muscle twitch leading into the prep and take-off. My soon-to-be free leg crossed over the skating leg in the backward glide. From there, I popped into the air for a perfect little loop. I practiced these for at least a half-hour monitoring take-off and air position. I made a conscious effort to land with the free foot still in front and extend it in a graceful finishing pose. Happily, I over-rotated a few just due to improved technique. Now I understand where the double comes from. Once I get my new and improved loop jump up to speed, I might get gutsy and try a double. Might.
Wednesday August 29, 2007
My blades became very dull, and under ordinary circumstances should have been sharpened last fall. However, rehabbing from an ankle injury and sharp grabby blades do not mix. I was better off with a little bit of give to my edges. As I began to recover my skills, I wanted to get the blades done. Then I had another accident (not related to skating) that kept me out of the rink for about two months. Once back on the ice again, I skated cautiously not wanting to fall on my injured hand. Sharp blades were best avoided. Once off disability, I returned to work and went through all kinds of hell. I did not skate until my contract expired freeing me from the single most hostile working environment I have ever endured. Again, I took to the ice and had to build back not only from the time off but from the injuries. Over the summer, I regained most of my skills. I could land all of the basic single jumps in combination and perform all of the standard spins both forward and back and in common combinations.
My blade sharpness barometer is the forward camel. When my blades need work, I slip off the hook entrance that initiates the camel rotation. It amounts to a little skid; whereas, a sharp blade will anchor the spin directly above the three-turn, assuming all other technique is correct. I have a pretty good camel and center them predictably. However, I have learned to compensate for blade dullness by modifying my technique slightly. I am not actually sure what I do, but it involves sticking the hook and rising more deliberately into the camel position. Every skater has his or her own blade barometer based on consistent skills that suddenly disappear. Of course, some skills come and go all the time, but barometers are usually skills that the skater can count on performing with close to 100% consistency.
With freshly sharpened blades, I took warily to the ice. An extra sharp edge can catch unexpectedly and give movements a completely different feel. In general, blades should not be allowed to dull to the point that the skater has to compensate for their condition. But it happens sometimes in the recreational skating world where other priorities get in the way of skating's demands. I circled the rink in two-foot slalom and stroking patterns before experimenting with a gentle hockey stop. The hockey stop defines exactly how sharp the blades have become. If it feels comfortable and secure, it is time to start spinning, jumping, and business as usual. However, if the stop grabs nearly pitching the skater off balance, more time should be spent acclimating.
I invested a significant chunk of time un-compensating for the adjustments to my spin technique. Once I learned to work my finely honed blades properly, my spin speed and center increased dramatically. For the first time since my ankle injury, I worked on serious sit spins, completing "Gus Lussi killer sit spins". A "killer" sit spin rises very slowly while the free leg pulls in culminating with a blurred scratch spin. Done correctly, they drill into the ice and test the abdominal muscles. Strong abs are needed to rise from the sit while contracting into a tight upright pose. The "killer" actually kills the quadriceps. My right thigh was sore after a few of those wicked but impressive spins.
In addition to camel and sit spins, I worked on back camels and illusions. I did a couple of headless scratch spins too and played with some unusual combinations. Spinning is still my best and favorite skill.
The content of this site is copyright by K. J. N., 1999 - 2007
The Interview
Loop Technique
Blade Job
