Toe pick...?

Question

I started crossovers (backwards), and my toe pick always digs in so I can only do 4-5 of them in a row because my toe pick slows me down and my feet get tangled up. Does anyone have any advice on how to do crossovers without digging my toe pick in and make them look graceful? Also, I'm having trouble learning crossovers the other way (left foot over right instead of right over left). What are some tips for getting both sides equally good?

I am also learning a two foot and a one foot spin, but I can only spin 1 or 1 1/2 revolutions. How can I spin faster so I can spin more times around?

Answer 1

with your backwards crossovers make sure your weight is off the front of your blade and more to the middle/back. if you can hear scratching your weight is too far forwards. also make sure to leave a good gap between the front of your blade and the back of the one thats crossing or you might clip them and trip. step wide with your inside skate (all your weight on it) then slide your outside one across (shifting all your weight onto it). do it slowly for now until you feel comfortable with it and can get each stroke even (each should take the same amount of time).

i know how strange doing things on the 'tricky' side is, but as long as you keep practicing they will get better :) try doing figure eights, making sure to keep each stroke even.

as far as the spin goes power is important. do you enter the one foot spin from a 2 foot spin, backward crossovers or a 3 turn? if entering from a 2ft spin make sure you get a strong entry by pumping around strongly with your right leg (assuming your a CCW spinner) and pulling your arms in to your chest. once you get it under control you can start lifting up you leg. keep your weight over the ball of your foot and try to hold the position as long as possible.

dont worry if the spin only has a few revs at the moment :) it will get better with time. when i started i was lucky if i could get one revolution, now im getting an average of 6.

keep trying and have fun :) happy skating!

Answer 2

1) The problem with scratcing the ice with the toe pick is a common. It takes practise, but what normally help this is if you point your toes up i the skates all the time while doing them.  To make them look graceful, keep your arms straight out at the side, and your body as if you a sitting on a chair, dont lean to far back or to far forward.

2) It takes time to get both sides equally as good. Just keep working on both sides. Really exaterate the crossing over, and rember your body postion.

3) Make sure you keep your feel close togeather and again point your toes up. When you spin. slowly bring one arm in, then the other one. So the arm you bring in last helps with the spin. Keep your back straight. A bit like this http://youtube.com/watch?v=B6OACEFf224.

Good look!

Answer 3

sit back. dont lean back.

bend ur knees and focus on sitting back on the rocker of ur blade, when u hit it, u shouldnt feel on ur toe-pick or ur heel.

hope i helped.

good luck.

i no ull get it with practice,

i had the same problems when i was that level

Answer 4

If you're digging in with your picks, you're probably leaning too far forward and they're slowing you down.  For all crossovers, bend your knees and keep a straight upper body, much like you would sitting down in a chair.  Also, bending your knees makes your legs "longer"......it makes it easier for your to push.  For crossovers, don't worry about speed at first.  Just get your technique down.  Count in your head 1, 2, 3, push, cross, hold.  Practice pushing out with your outside foot as you would for a swizzle, cross allowing your inside foot to completely cross under your outside foot (which is easier with bent knees) and hold this cross with your feet parallell (both toes pointing forward and ankle tilted upward so you don't catch your pick) and then reach back into your circle with your inside foot to start all over again.  Over exaggerate your motions to work on the technique.

The key to two foot spins is the pivot push you start out with.  Push hard into the pivot, but also use your arms to "fling" yourself into the spin.  This will give you more speed, but maintain control and correct posture to keep the spin going.  Keep your shoulders and hips equal and square.  Don't let a shoulder drop or hip lift because that will send your spin out of control.  Pull your arms in, crossing across your chest, elbows down.  Stand up straight.  The same goes for one foot spins.  In those, you especially have to be careful of raising your free hip, which will cause you to lose control of the spin.  Also, just like in a one-foot glide, keep all your weight over your spinning foot.  If your weight is still centered through the middle of your body instead of over your spinning foot, it will cause you to fall to the side of your raised foot.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

you can bring it to the pro shop at the rink you go to or where you get your blades sharpened and they can remove the last edge thing. So, hope this helps.

Answer 6

For your first question, try to stay on the ball of your foot, instead of leaning foreward. Try to spend double the time on the left foot over the right foot, because this will help make them even, but also practice with the other side, right over left also. Arms and feet play a key role in spinning power. Pump your leg or legs as you go into it and pull your arms in quickly and tightly. I hope that this helps improve your skating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...