SUMMERTIME  AND THE SKATING IS EASY               By PJ Kwong

Whew!  That was a long winter…exciting though, filled with successes and challenges.  Now is the time to start investigating possibilities in your area for skating during the off-season…in this case the Spring and Summer.                                                      The best place to start is with your coach, to find out if they will be teaching during this time, the location, costs and the schedule. It is also a good idea at this time to look at your expectations and those of the coach and come up with a plan for what you would like to have your skater accomplish during this crucial time.                                             Spring and Summer skating is something that is with certainty on the agenda for competitive skaters, but it is also something that can be very valuable for test skaters.  The opportunity to continue on a path that already has momentum and to continue to improve cannot be minimized.  Nor can the added time devoted to complimentary off-ice training and its attendant benefits be overlooked.                                                   Some special things to consider:  at this time of year, there will likely be an adjustment to you skater’s wardrobe.  Things like lighter tights, lighter warm-up sweaters as well as dresses or tops that may be short sleeved or sleeveless.                                                          For the working parents with younger children, summer skating programs may offer a perfect solution for what to do during working hours with your skating enthusiast.  Many programs are structured in the same way as day camps, and offer your child a chance to continue working on the sport they love with the friends they already have…a perfect fit!  PJ Kwong, creator and author of “Edgework”, International skating announcer, skating coach and Mom, is writing a series of articles for our newsletter and website.  Be sure to check our last month’s issue from our Archives and watch for next month’s article.

Between Seasons                                                                         At this time of year, the manufacturers have finished producing their line of clothing from last year, and have just started to produce items from their new “line”, that will start of ship in May/June.  So, it can make purchasing items rather frustrating:  the selection is not as great, the colour choices are not always there and the size selection is depleted. But – the exciting part is looking forward to all the new styles and colours that will be available soon!  Watch for the website update end May, early June!  In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to give us a call to double check availability (but it’s a good idea to have a few choices ready!)  Thanks for your patience.

Spinning Out on Spinners!

A spinner is basically two square pieces of aluminum, with a lazy-susan ball-bearing turning devise between them.  Most people think they are used primarily for improving their spinning technique.  But, when the devise was originally invented by Sheldon Galbraith (coach to Barbara Ann Scott, among many other world class skaters), it was called a “Twister” and used for practicing figures.  Indeed, it is a wonderful devise for teaching and practicing any of the rocker, counter, three turns, and brackets, which we used to practice with figures.  These basic turns are an integral part of skating skills, footwork, and dance.  Turns involve “rotation”.  Rotation is the key to jumping, and spinning and Ice Dance.                                                      Practicing with a spinner helps train muscle memory through:                            - awareness of where you are using your balance                                                          - the actual performance of balance            - coordination of bringing you arms and foot in to create a rotating position             The ability to practice with a spinner in a warm comfortable off ice environment can also be really positive.  And it’s a great way to be able to maintain some of that muscle memory when you are off enjoying summer holidays.                                                    

Balancing Act!                      We are all born with better balance on one foot than the other.  And since skating is actually a two-footed sport, it is important to practice turns, spins and balancing on each foot.  Whenever you are practicing balancing exercises, it is helpful to practice first on your weakest foot, then your stronger foot and back to your weaker foot. There are six basic jumps in skating.  Three are off the left foot and three are off the right foot, regardless of which way you rotate.  For example, conventional jumpers will do an Axel, double Salchow, and double toe-loop off the left foot, and do the flip, loop and lutz off the right foot.  Our ability to balance more comfortably on one foot or the other may contribute to why some people find some jumps easier to do than others.  Developing one’s ability to balance on the weaker foot may also improve one’s ability to jump equally well from either foot.

Good Luck, Skate Hard – ‘tll next time!

Print or read the April  2004 newsletter in PDF format (Portable Document Format)
If you have trouble reading or printing the PDF follow the link below for an updated reader

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download)

Newsletter Index Page | Shop Online | Home Page