Creating a Solo Power Skating Program

All my coaches have mentioned how I need to skate with more power. I never even bothered to look at power skating classes for figure skaters. I've got 45 years and 75 pounds on anyone in that class. I can't power skate for a whole hour. I need to work my way up to power skating for 10 minutes, much less an hour. So, I've created my own personal power skating program.

My present technique, Nice long glides....but sloooow

I couldn't find anything on youTube about power skating for figure skaters so I've modified what I've seen in hockey power skating videos.

1. Get down in the knee and stay there (never rise to straight leg)
2. Bring the boots together between strokes
3. Pre-position my edge before each stroke
4. Maintain an upright 'ice dancer' posture
5. Full extension on each stroke
6. Keep the glide short, but don't scamper

Yeah, I know you're wondering "What does she mean by 'scamper'?"

Scampering

The purpose of my 'power skating' is to build up my leg strength, quicken my reflexes, increase my speed per stroke, without sacrificing technique. I only do a set for 5 to 8 minutes at a time, then I go and work on something else for a while. I'll do 3 sets an hour. I'm aiming at 10 minutes per set.

Does it build my leg strength and power? My coach says she's noticed better power, so looking good.

The downside was that for 3 days after my first session I could barely walk. I guess I'm weaker than I thought!

Miss Bianca and the "Cute little element"

Miss Bianca came back from her coaching seminar refreshed and ready to deal with the oldest student on freestyle (ME!).

"Today we're going to learn side toe hops!" She said cheerfully as she positioned me at the boards. This is another one of her string of "cute little elements".

"Is this something from your coaching seminar?" I asked.

"No," she said, "This is my own development torture."

Well, she didn't actually say the word 'torture', she actually said 'own development skill'.  Anyway, it's supposed to build up my quadriceps. And probably help with my timidity. And maybe get me ready for the dread bunny hop.

I just can't hold these. No matter how hard I try. I think it's because there's no ankle support in my boots since my boot tongue isn't wide enough. I have legs like tree trunks from horseback riding and I lost the nice ankles genetic lottery too. (new boots enroute have a custom tongue!). 

I did learn some important lessons.
a. REALLY bend the knees
b. REALLY up on those toe picks!
d. DON'T CROSS THE SKATES!

And this is where the problem begins. My body kept trying to cross the skates. It was if my boots were cursed.

NOOoOOO!!!!!!

 Toe in  - Hop - Push off. That's what's supposed to happen.

What my body wanted to do was:

Toe in - Hop  over -- push off.

Although I  never did cross the boots in side toe hop practice, apparently it lingered in my muscle memory.

 Fifteen minutes later when I was doing fast crossovers, I toepicked in hard in the cross, rolled across the ice after slamming into my hip, jammed my wrist guard, and flopped around like a fish. I did get up and do the pattern again though. So yes, I got back up on that horse.

Hey, I did this over a jump once!

I'm sooooo ordering hip pads from skatingsafe.com this week!

When My Coach is Away

Last week my coach emailed me that she was going to be away last weekend. That meant no lesson.

You're leaving me! You're leaving me!
(For one day)

Then she said at the end of the email that she was going to a coaching seminar.

Oh, dear. I know what that means. She'll come back with all these coaching ideas. There will be techniques. Sort of like   "Grasshopper" getting trained by the Kung Fu monks. Or achieving graceful arm movements and gaining inner peace at the same time.

REally, Kung Fu Panda is just crying out for an ice show.

Sadly, I'm sure I'll be more like this, no matter how many coaching seminars she attends!

There's only so much you can do with a 62 year old student!