Skating moves (bending knees)

Question

Today we had a new coach and we were doing pumping around the circle (I can never do it, unless I lift my boot off the ice, which is what you do anyway in a competition)

Anyway, she noticed I couldnt do it and she said your not bending your knees enough. She told me I should be like sitting on a chair (which was really unconfortable) by the time I had bent down enough to her standard, I was in a almost in a dip position (about half way)

Surley you dont need to bend your knees this much do you? No one else has said that to me.

Answer 1

Actually, you really do need to bend your knees a lot.  I have been told to "sit in a chair" as well.  You'll have a lot more power, and if you continue to advance, you will have to bend you knees a lot for power for jumps, spins, etc.

Answer 2

when you bend your knees. you must also bend your ankles.

lifting your foot off the ice is not what they do in competition. its called a crossover which you will learn later after you can do pumps.

but anyways:

dont contradict the coach. if the coach says to do it. it can only be good for you.

they say, you do.

you'll get farther if you listen.

Answer 3

you need to bend ur kneek nd when u pump u keep ur inside knee bend and ur leg ur pumping pumps on straight

Answer 4

I play ice hockey and generally, the lower you go, the more power you'll have.  You didn't mention what kind of skating you were doing (figure, speed, etc.), but that rule applies to all forms of skating.

Answer 5

most instructors have their own view on how to skate perfectly. i've never had a teacher say something like that to me before except when i'm trying to do a move or something.  

Answer 6

In figure skating, you will forever hear that your knees need to be bent more!!  ALL of us could bend our knees deeper!!  It's very evident when you compare videos of beginner skaters to very advanced skaters - the advanced skaters have much more knee bend.  It takes time and practice to get to that point.    

My coach has told me this a zillion times . . . and even though I "think" or "feel" my knees are bent far enough, I look back at my videos and think ugh, the coach is totally right.    

Stand on the floor, feet apart.  Pretend like you're going to do pumping around the circle.  Keep your legs straight and try to mimic the pumping action with the "outside" leg/foot.  You'll find that your foot has to lift up . . . it can't stay on the floor as you extend.  If this were the ice, you wouldn't get much of a push.

Stand on the floor, feet apart.  Do the same thing, but this time bend those knees.  Keep the "inside" leg bent . . . you'll find that you can keep the "outside" pumping foot DOWN on the floor as you extend it out.  The more you bend, the more distance your extending foot can cover with the blade ON the ice to push.  Much more powerful and efficient!  

Bent knees will apply to almost everything in skating - not just for pumping.  Stroking, jumping, spin entrances, turns . . . lots!!  Think about it . . . if you're on the floor and you want to jump high, what do you do?  You bend down low as deeply as you can before you jump, right?  

It literally should be like sitting on a chair.  It's uncomfortable now, but that is what you should strive for.  It comes in time if you continually work on it.  Watch ice dancers - they have really deep knee bends!!  Yep, we can all have better knee bends . . . in fact, it's very rare that you would see any skater bend too deeply!!  

Best of luck!