I’ve been doing the usual drills and repetitive practice of the basics, including hockey stops and crossovers. It can be interesting to analyse something I think I have cracked, to work out the mechanics. An observer probably thinks I have some weird form of OCD, or that a I am practicing for the dullard of the year trophy. Stupid is as stupid does. I think the trophy is in the bag.
The one move I’ve worked a lot on recently is tight turns. This is, err, a turn that is tight. Stop me if I get too complex. Essentially you skate forwards, bend one leg, and extend the other leg out to one side, and slightly behind, so that the skate blade is at a very acute angle to the ice. This forces the body to turn about the bent leg. I can do this in public sessions, but not with a stick and puck. The big problem though is that the skate at the end of the straight leg cuts a deep and wide groove into the ice, essentially destroying it. Obviously this makes me really popular, and other skaters congratulate me, and encourage me to continue. However, given that I do have some consideration for others (and a deep and irrational fear of being subjected to extreme violence) I only practice this towards the end of the session, during the last half hour, when few people are about.
Oh and I’be done more outside 3 turns on the right leg. I don’t have the courage to try on the left leg. I tried backwards crossrolls, and looked a right ‘nana. Them’s is hard. With luck one of the lovely figure skaters here will provide some marvellous insights ...
As an aside I do wonder if the really good figure skaters spend huge amounts of time doing the same thing over and over, until they get it right every time.