How to do forward and backward crossover and backward half swizzles?

Question

i am on alpha level..

last saturday, i go to the rink and have a session and practice..

that day also i must have the test but my coach told me that i need to have 2 more sessions, because we need to polish my forward crossover..

please.. help me ..

Answer 1

Practice your "half swizzles" first.  They're a great exercise for crossovers.  With half swizzles or pump circles, pretend that your inside foot is stuck to the circle or on a track.  Your inside foot isn't going to really do anything but go along for the ride.  Push with your outside foot, making half circles or....half a swizzle.  Your arms should be out as if you were hugging the circle.....if you're doing right pump circles or crossovers, your right arm will be in front and left in back.  Vice versa for the left.  For the pump circles, be sure to have good knee bend.  Usually I tell my skaters to think of a merry-go-round....you keep going in a consistent circle and you'll bounce up and down on your knee as you push out.

For crossovers, check out this little video....   This guy's a little over the top and crosses over like an ostrich, but it gets the general idea across and is good for entertainment value too.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aF6s8DLRKdo

A good drill for crossovers just walking through them.  It may help to use a hockey line.  Starting at one end with feet shoulder width apart step over your left foot with your right foot, hold and then step out with your left, ending up back with feet shoulder width apart.  Walk the whole length of the rink and go back doing left over right.  It's a good exercise for skaters just beginning crossovers to get the feel of the weight change needed in crossovers and the knee bend needed.  

As for the actual crossover, the most important part is knee bend.  Bend your knees as if you were going to sit down in a chair.  Keep your upper body up and head up -- don't watch your feet!!  :)  Push out and back with your outside foot, cross so that both toes are pointing forward and let the inside foot cross under, coming off the ice just a bit with toe still pointed forward.  While practicing these, count it out....push, cross, hold....push cross hold.  Arms are the same as mentioned above.  The knee bend is important to keep you from getting tangled up and the more knee bend you have, the easier it is to push and get a good, quality push.  You're going to notice with the line drill that you have to lean into your circle a bit when transfering your weight.  

Good luck!  :)