Yet another figure skating question?

Question

Okay so i might, depending how i feel when i get there live with my sister in cyprus for two months, but ive only just started skating an epic proportian, and dont want to interrupt my training by going there for that amount of time.

I've seen inline figure skaters skate and its basically the same, so you think if i practiced well im there on inline skates as much as im doing now it would be okay. Or do you think it would disrupt my training?

Answer 1

Okay, so assuming you're not from Cyprus and it's just another visit, it is probably going to interfere with your training. Go anyway. There are not too many chances to go to a foreign place and spend a couple months. It's one of those epochal sort of visits where you remember it for the rest of your life. Just go, skating be damned. Just go. You don't get chances like this all the time. You won't regret it. it's only two months and you're not THAT serious a skater yet. Just go.

Inline skating is not very much like ice skating, not at least with any of the inlines you're likely to buy for less than $500 (artistic inline skates are a pricey as regular ice skates and they are somewhat but not completely unlike actual ice skating--probably not an option). You won't be able to do any spins. But, you might be able to do some jumps, edge jumps particularly: loop and salchow, maybe some of the leaps like a falling leaf, but you won't have a toe pick (or stop).

And actually, your best bet, short of artistic inlines are hockey skates. I had a student once who could do axels, loops and a toe-less Lutz (in roller called a "Dayney" after roller skating legend John Dayney) on his hockey skates. Unlike regular inlines which kind of crouch you forward, forcing you to bend your knees, hockey skates are cut a bit lower and give you more range of motion. A half decent pair can usually be gotten for under $100 (even used, they are rather stiffer than figure skates).

Even though inline skating won't much help your figure skating, it can't hurt you from a conditioning stand point. It should work the proper muscle groups for ice skating and it's excellent cross-training. Maria Butryskaya (a world Champion from Russia), said that she often skated on her inlines in the off-season for conditioning.

But don't skip world travel for figure skating. When I was 11, I was a pretty serious skater, and I took 6 weeks off to go to London and Spain with a British family my mother knew. I didn't lose significant skill during that time, even though I didn't skate at all--or even think about skating. I had incredible experiences that I cherish to this day--things I would never be able to do otherwise.

Go.

Just go.

Answer 2

go on go to cyprus, if you don't, when she comes home with all the pictures and stories you will be sorry! is there any reason why you can't take a break from training?

Answer 3

Reading your addtional details, I think you've already made up your mind about the trip.  

As far as the inline figure skates, like Pic skates or even the regular inlines, I think 2 months of it will affect your skating once you go back on the ice.  It's sort of "similar" but the technique is bit different - especially spinning.  You'll probably spend some time trying to get used to the inlines and trying to mimic what you did on the ice . . . and once you get the hang of it, before you know it 2 months will have gone by.  Then you have to adjust to "ice" figure skates again once you go back.  

Here are some articles on why NOT to cross train with inline skates if you are already an advanced figure skater.

Figure Skating - Facts About Inline Skating

http://ezinearticles.com/?Figure-Skating...

Cross-Training with Inline Skating

Great for Speed Skaters, Not Recommended for Figure Skaters

http://figurespeedskating.suite101.com/a...

You are probably better off NOT doing the inlines if you decide to go on the trip . . . work on stamina, stretching, off ice exercises, ballet/dance, yoga - that sort of cross training.  By not taking the skates, that's one less thing to lug around anyway.    

As far as the trip goes, well that's totally up to you.  Not many of us have the opportunity to go to places like Cyprus for 2 whole months . . . so that's why most people here are saying GO.  2 months of missing out on skating isn't really a lot . . . I was injured and off the ice for over 3 months . . . I had to relearn to stand, bend (knee) and walk properly . . . but I got back to where I was with skating fairly quickly.  I was injured - you sound healthy . . . so I think you would be fine if you decided to go and not skate (but kept up with the other off ice training stuff).  

Best of luck - whether you go or not!

Answer 4

Theres not one in Cyprus, but there most likely is one in driving distance..

maybe you could talk your sister into taking you there like every other week just to stay in shape.

Do running and stretching and you could try inline skating, but its pretty hard to spin (nearly impossible) with them and not so easy to jump. Unless you by special figure skating inline skates but they are like $500 so idk if you want to spend that.

Talk to your coach, does she think you'd be ok to take a couple months off? Are you at such a high level.

Think about which means more to you, seeing your sister, of a few months of practice, and you have your answer. Of course you could just visit her for like a week instead...

Answer 5

I think you should go. If you don't feel comfortable leaving training for the whole two months, maybe go for one month so you can still be there.

Inline skating should help your speed and balance. Maybe you could even find a skating rink near her house and go every few days, maybe even enroll in a couple classes if you're there for 2 months.