February 2002
Week of February 3, 2002
Basic Skating Skills
Following a recent exceptionally bad week of skating, I have increased my time spent on basic skating skills. Although I already warm up with at least thirty minutes of moves in the field and usually include another fifteen minutes of three-turn patterns later in the session, I am not satisfied with the state of my basic skating. The backward inside three-turns are the primary culprit, but my ability to change directions quickly and swiftly could also stand improvement. Therefore, I have adopted a new set of drills that I have observed other skaters practicing under the tutelage of well-regarded coaches. These exercises encompass all of the fundamental mohawk turns from forward to backward and vice versa. Skated on a circle or figure eight, they teach skaters to change direction smoothly regardless of rotational tendency. While none of these turns are unusually difficult and some of them are incorporated in the moves patterns that already occupy my practice agenda, certain turns (most notably those that turn against my natural rotational preference) feel awkward.
Adding more dull drills to my routine demonstrates commitment to bettering the overall quality of my skating. However, these drills consume time; time that I might rather spend on fun stuff like jumps and spins. Occasionally, I dread my tedious warm up exercises and consider cheating like an overweight person on a diet and pigging out on a cheeseburger rather than eating a healthy salad. But I almost never forego moves and rush right to the good part. Once I get on the ice and work through the moves in the field, I enjoy them; not as much as a good spin, but I do gain some satisfaction from a well executed pattern. The idea of all of those monotonous patterns discourages me more than the actual activity. Now I have heaped even more boredom onto the pile.
In the long run, becoming a more agile skater will contribute to further gratification on the ice and undoubtedly to superior performance of highlight skills. Allocating another ten minutes everyday into an already over-crowded practice regime seems excessive; however, I find these little exercises challenging, humbling and necessary. After about nine years of ice skating, I regret these inexcusable areas of weakness. I have been a comfort skater for most of this time, following my instincts and avoiding what I find unnatural or disconcerting. Now that I can do a double salchow and am knocking on the door to a double loop, I am ashamed to admit that I falter when asked to turn counterclockwise at speed.
While I do not advocate adult skaters beating themselves up with skills that cause undue distress, it is important to learn the basics. Skating adeptly in both directions is a largely achievable (and tremendously important) goal. Axels, doubles and flying camels are optional; and may be beyond the realm of possibility for some skaters; however, I believe every adult can learn to skate beautifully … in both directions.
Week of February 10, 2002
Flips and Butterflies
~Flips~
The bulk of this week’s lesson focused on double jumps, none of which have improved lately. However, we did work on the double flip, a jump that in the past received only cursory exploration. My coach commented that I should be able to land double loops and flips as well as the salchow, which varies in consistency but is no longer absent on an intermittent basis. My single loops and flips are very big and powerful, and I consider them my strongest jumps.
“There is no reason why you can’t land a double loop and a double flip,” Geoff declared, insisting I begin working toward these skills with some level of commitment.
I could think of a reason: I’m a coward. Actually, I have been rather dedicated lately to double jumping and have devoted a sizable fraction of my practice time to the salchow and loop. Predictably, I popped my first attempted double flip but stepped forward, turned another three, and tried again immediately. I loved the feeling of the double flip. While I am a long way from completing one, I do not fear this maneuver. The take-off is comfortable, and pushing off with the vaulting toe pick is the most natural way to initiate an aerial backspin. I actually looked forward to practicing these the next day, and crisscrossed the rink, trying one on each end. I actually came close once.
If I could pick a dream move, delayed axels and other absurdities aside, I would like to be able to do a double flip. The flip is an unusually pretty jump that seems to hang in the air. Ideally, I would like to convert my rudimentary flip-half loop-flip combination into a doubled version. However, I doubt I will live that long. For now, I will call it my “long term” goal. I hope to start landing double flips before the end of this season. There it is, in pixels, I have a definitive goal.
~Butterflies~
I have been training butterflies for nearly two years. My coach drills me on them every week. I practice them every time I step onto the ice. They are becoming good; my air position is approaching horizontal with scissoring “wings”. Geoff has struggled to teach me how to achieve the illusion of an aerial cartwheel, but I naturally tend to land the butterfly in a backward camel, defeating the purpose of the
“Get out of that sit spin!” he would yell. “Do it again, without a spin on the end. I know you can do a backspin. Don’t demonstrate it now.”
The philosophy behind his ban on entering spins via a butterfly involves my inclination to concentrate on the spin when I should be going for broke in the air. An ideal solution to this problem, though I am already overcoming it, is to execute a series of butterflies. This forces the skater’s feet to drop back to the ice following the cartwheel, allowing him to step into the next butterfly. However, I had absolutely no understanding of this impressive skill’s mechanism until I watched Elvis Stojko’s Olympic long program this week. Outrageous butterflies are probably the least significant reason to be impressed by Elvis Stojko, but he is an absolute master of the
Week of February 17, 2002
I Should Have Known Better
No school I attended as a child or university student ever closed for an entire week in honor of past presidents. But certain schools in the area do indeed close, to the delight of their students. Knowing this, I inquired at the front desk last Friday if regular sessions would be held during Presidents Week. Yes, sessions would be held. So I arrived at the rink and stretched. An unusually large group of girls in skirted leotards filled the lobby. I assumed they were out of school and planning to skate the freestyle session on the other rink. Concerned that the adult session might be cancelled, I went to the desk and asked if the schedule had changed. I preferred not to skate with the squirrelly freestyle crowd that was already mounting. I still had enough time to drive to the mall and possibly get a decent couple of hours there. No, my session had not be preempted, the office manager reassured. I laced up my skates and began stroking exercises on the ice.
I had not been warming up for ten minutes when the manager called me off the ice. She had not realized that a hockey team had bought the ice. The woman apologized, but I was furious. Now it was too late to get to another arena. I do not think the mistake was malicious, an attempt to screw adult skaters while observing the fallout. I tried to be polite as she refunded my money, but I was understandably irritated.
Not only had I checked the schedule the previous week, I also asked again before putting on my skates. The team probably reserved the ice over the weekend and the office employee simply misread the timetable. Since this rink is privately owned, its principal function is to make a profit. A school hockey team pays significantly more for ice time than a few unpredictable adults. Even if the adult group were sufficiently large to draw as much revenue as a hockey club, the rink does not want to lose the patronage of local school districts. I do not blame the management for this; earning money is the simple purpose of any enterprise.
Actually, I blame myself for being so naďve. I have dealt with this particular facility long enough to know that it often rents the ice at the last minute. It does not post schedule changes and cancellations, especially those that primarily affect adult skaters. Many adults have commented on the staff’s general incompetence and lack of courtesy. I have experienced several unpleasant episodes with these clowns over the last couple of years. I should have called the night before to confirm the schedule; however, that would not have guaranteed an accurate response or even the opportunity to talk to anything but an answering machine. This was definitely a “fool me twice, shame on me” situation.
The ice has been sold for the entire week, so I only wasted one trip. The mall’s timetable has also been jumbled to best accommodate school vacation activities and crowds. By now, I should know better than to expect good skating on any holiday or pseudo-holiday when rinks can cash in on children with free time. If I do any skating this week it will be on wheels in the park.
Week of February 24, 2002
Coachless
The second time I showed up at my usual rink this week, I discovered the adult session has been cancelled for the remainder of the season, barring torrential rains. Drought has been part of my life since childhood, but this is the first time it adversely effected my skating. Of course, I did not start skating until my mid-twenties. The rink claims it cannot justify the water consumption necessary to clean the ice for such a small group. I can understand and accept that. Water conservation is a shared responsibility. At least they had the decency to be honest about the decision and not string their adult clients along promising a session the next day, knowing very well it would be cancelled and we would have to skate on the freestyle ice with competitive jumpers, pairs and dancers.
Since I had scheduled a lesson with Geoff, I stayed for the freestyle session and made the best of it. Overall, it was not especially bad, but one little obnoxious girl, only about eight years old, made an absolute pest of herself. Another adult confirmed my frustration by complaining about this child. Not only did the kid skate right toward our blades and dart around us as though we were posts on a slalom ski slope, she would not allow my music to run for more than five minutes. As soon as the little brat stepped on the ice, she proceeded to the cassette player and ejected my tape. She did not play a program, but popped in some loud booming dissonance. How can this noise appeal to such a young child? When her tape ended, I replaced mine, thinking this would at least be fair. The kid removed my cassette a few minutes later. I almost went over to ask for her cooperation but decided I am too old to fight battles with grade school children. This girl’s parents obviously never taught her to share or to respect others.
When my coach appeared, the rink had become fairly busy and I was annoyed and distracted. I told Geoff this would be my last lesson, unless the rink reopened our session. Lessons are expensive and ice time is not cheap either. I accomplish precious little during a lesson when forced to hunt for a space to quickly perform a trick before someone else flies through. I cannot take my time, prepare and concentrate; ultimately reducing the lesson to a waste of money. We worked on spins, which I enjoy anyway, and conveniently require a small patch of ice. I am improving my inverted backward camel with novel arm movements that exaggerate the upside down position. While inverted, the employed arm reaches overhead, creating a layback effect. This position can be disorienting. I become lost in the rotation, losing connectivity with the ice and control over travelling. Like so many other skating elements, practice invested will yield worthwhile results.
When Geoff left at the end of the session, I stood on the ice gathering my water bottle and tissues as the Zamboni came out. I have taken lessons from him for three-and-a-half years. Now I am coachless. A sadness followed me out of the building and all the way home. Of course, I could continue to attend the freestyle session and skate with Geoff, but I decided this would not be productive. I will begin to skate regularly at another rink where I may approach a professional for instruction. I have been interested in ice dancing and improving my basic skating skills. Rather than a disaster, I view this change as an opportunity to gain new perspective and to grow as a skater. Geoff was a good coach for me, and I developed strong jumping ability under his tutelage. Now I look forward to input from someone else who specializes in different skills.
For every door that closes, somewhere a window opens.
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