Skating Falling...?

Question

okay, so I really want to try a spiral and a waltz jump, but im totally afraid of falling and I dont know why...(especially st public sessions(I dont do lessons anymore because of various reasons)

Its just that I havent really fallen much...

In 1 and a half years of skating I have only fallen 5 times (2 of which someone pushed me over and I landed really really hard on my bum/spine bone).

I know it wont really hurt but I dont know why im so scared of falling, any ideas? Have you experianced this?

Answer 1

practice falling. get over the fear of falling by

falling on your bed

falling on carpet

and keep it up till your on your skates and can practice falling on the ice. Once you get it over with it won't be so scary.

Psychology 101 :)

Answer 2

this is exactly how i was. dont be afraid, its just a part of skating. if u step out of ur comfort zone, and try it, all u really need is courage. dont think about falling, just think "i can do this". just practice the spiral and waltz jump off ice, so you'll be comfortable with it.

Answer 3

Skating and falling are like peanut butter and jelly.....they go hand in hand.  If you're not falling when practicing and trying new things, you're probably holding yourself back and therefore, slowing down your improvement.  Just like with anything else, when trying new things, you can't be afraid to make mistakes.  We all learn from our mistakes.  

I actually had to teach myself to fall.  I remember many many years ago, working on axels and my coach was telling me to let myself fall.  I wasn't really pushing myself in the jump and I was holding back, trying not to fall and because of that, I was under-rotating the jump.  Once I allowed myself to fall and didn't hold back, even if I fell, I was getting all the way around on the jump and it greatly improved.

Teach yourself to fall.  Most of the time, it doesn't hurt at all.  Do what I do....I make my falls overdramatic for the entertainment factor.  :)  I think for newer skaters, falls hurt their ego more than their bum!  Remember, there's nobody there at your practice taking points off because you fell!  And I wouldn't worry about the public sessions......most people on public sessions fall just trying to skate forward!

For a spiral, be careful not to go to far up onto your toe pick.  While falling is mostly not a big deal, landing on your face on a spiral is something everyone has done -- and it doesn't feel good.  Make your back flat, like I tell the group lessons kids -- like you were going to have a tea party and you're the table -- keep your back flat, arms out in a "airplane" position and arch at your lower back to raise your free leg.  Practice them holding on to the back of a chair at home.  

As for the waltz jump, be sure to use your arms in a scooping motion and kick your right leg (assuming you're a righty) through.  Starting out, use a hockey line.  Stand on one side of the line facing it in a T-position.  Jump "over" the line, landing backwards.  Once you feel comfortable with that, add the backward crossovers and push-back entrance.

Good luck......and don't be afraid to fall!!  We all do!  :)  It's a skater's right of passage.  haha

Answer 4

My daughters coach did not like his students to wear these, but butt pads help some kids. My advice is that you have to get used to falling, or you will not be able to learn anything new. Have you ever been taught how to fall properly?

Answer 5

I was scared of falling as well. I never fell while learning a waltz jump but that was because I learned on my own without a coach, and I took things at my own pace. Now that my coach has been pushing me for jumps, I fall whenever we learn new things.

I could never get over falling during jumps, but it's just something you need to get over. I fell the first time I did a toe loop, but after that I knew what I was doing wrong and changed it.

After you fall the first time you learn a new jump, it's not that scary anymore. I can't think of any "tips" to change your fear of falling.

I fell multiple times when learning my salchow, but you just have to get used to it.

If you are that afraid of falling, don't try it. There's no point in learning something if you know you might fall, because if you keep telling yourself "I'm going to fall, I'm going to fall, I'm going to fall...." You will fall.

Answer 6

Most people do have a fear of falling, alot of people do. I highly suggest not using any butt pads or any sort of pads for just waltz jumps and spirals. They're more for double and triple jumps and even then I don't honestly suggest them.

I too had a fall of skating(I used to fall wrong-yes you can fall wrong-and I was getting bruised alot), but it's one of those walls you need to climb over if you're really determined to make it in this sport. Just go for it, forget any fear you may have and don't worry about any of the other people watching you. Put yourself into a bubble of comfort and push yourself to do it.

Hope all works out well!<33