Parts of the Skating Blade

So every once in a while, I like to post an 'educational' post. Today, I want to write about the parts of the figure skating blade.

Naming conventions seem to vary widely between coaches, parts of the country, and even between the US and UK. The only universal seems to be that the smooth part of the blade is called 'the blade' or maybe 'the rocker' and the pointy end is called 'the toepick'.

This is not what I was taught. Somewhere along the line I picked up a lot of names for parts of the blade. I don't know if this is useful to recreational skaters, but I think it's certainly handy to have a grasp of specific skating terminology.

Ladies and gentlemen, the blade.

This is from a UK site,  and I only have a couple of comments aboutvariations I've learned.

First off, I always heard the 'drag pick' referred to as the 'drop pick'.

Secondly, the vertical supports that attach the blade to the plates, I always read about being called the 'stanchions'.

Thirdly, the blade itself has two edges separated by a hollow between them. The measurement of this hollow is called 'the radius of hollow.'  I've heard the 1/2" ROH called a 'recreational hollow.' It's what I use, although I've also had 3/4 and 3/8. Some sharpeners will make a recommendation based on the type of ice you skate one--hockey ice is much colder and harder so it needs a different cut.

Source: Bill Schneider's skating pages

The radius of hollow has a 'bite angle' associated with it, but that's too technical even for me.

 

The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!**

I think I may have as many as 4 (FOUR!) readers in Russia! Or one that checks four times a day.*

What? You don't believe me? It's a big country, it could happen!

Russian skater: "We're looking for the Ice Doesn't Care blog

Circassian skater: It's over there, at the corner
of Xanboni Lane and Skatingforums Avenue

 So if you speak Russian, can you help me expand my skating vocabulary? Just in case I have another wonderful Russian ice dance coach in the future. And I think my other readers who have Russian coaches would like to know too.

So dear Russian reader, if you have the time......

Words I want to know:

Toepick
Edge
Three turn  --- okay, this one I do know. It's Troika. What about back troika?
Skating Blade
Skating Boot
Hold--as in 'dance hold' or 'foxtrot hold'
Choctaw turn
Mohawk turn
Flow
Power
Speed
Rocker
Counter
Bracket
Push off
and last but not least,
Ice Dance!

Help me Russian Skaters, you're my only hope.

* The little map of Russia on my stats page lights up, and I check to make sure it's not spam. When it's not spam, I count it as a real, live person!
**"The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!" was a 1966 comedy movie regarding the Cold War. It was only funny until about 1970, but the title lives on in people of a certain age (over 50).

Me and the MRI

Well, the imaging center did both knees today. Just in case you ever need an MRI, let me make some comments.

First off, it wouldn't hurt to wear some socks. Even though they gave me some paper foot covers and wrapped me in a heated sheet, after a while my feet were freezing (probably because I couldn't move my legs.

They're really particular about what you wear.  Nothing can have any ferrous metal in it. I was permitted to wear my stretch pants, but not the bra since it had metal in it. If this happens again, I'll wear one of those all stretch bras without any underwires.

An MRI is really loud---and then it gets much, MUCH louder. After the first go round on the right knee, I asked for ear plugs. The second time around with the earplugs, it was much better. Rather like going to a boring early Philip Glass concert. The technicians offered me music to listen to, but loud music on top of loud MRI sounds was just too much. I was better off with the ear plugs.

When they asked me if I was claustrophobic, I said 'no' on the paperwork. Then I met the machine. I don't think I could have stood it if I had to put my whole body in there. However, only my legs went in, and  I was okay.  So, really, really confining space. Far more confining than I expected.

Before I had the MRI I had to list all my surgeries and implants in case I had stainless steel  in me. I read up on this last night, and even if they don't explicitly ask about a particular body part it's important to list every single possible clip, stent, implant etc. Mine turned out to all be titanium (as most are after 1995). I had some surgical clips from the 80's so there was a little frisson of worry, but I'm here to write about it so obviously nothing happened.

A slice of an MRI of somebody's knee
(not mine)

So after the MRI (took about an hour all told), they gave me a CD of my images. I give that to the orthopedic surgeon on Monday and find out what's wrong with me.

And then maybe I'll find out if I'll skate again.