Figure skating as a Hobby

 

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Skating does not mean simply gliding and moving on ice. There are specific techniques involved to reach a certain point when making certain moves. These techniques are sculling, stroking, and crossovers.

To skate backward or forward without lifting skate, you will have to use the sculling technique. Before you can scull by yourself, you must break free from the rink barrier, so you avoid the prospect of hitting it in case of a fall while sculling, and learn quickly to scull due to the removal of the railings for support, thereby getting more attention on the undertaking. Sculling is performed by first standing with weight evenly distributed on both feet and arms on either side. The knees are bent, and ankles tightened, then the toes are turned away from each other, with shifts in weight until the legs separate and straighten. The toes are then turned toward each other, the same as pigeon toes. The measures are merely repeated for constant sculling.

The second, equally important technique to be aware of is stroking, using only one foot for gliding. With one foot forward while the two skates touch each other at a 45-degree angle, the entire body weight is first on the foot that's on the back. With movement, the weight is shifted to the foot that's in front, while the left is used to push the body. The skater then glides with the foot which was originally in front. Once the slide slows down, the other foot is once again positioned beside the gliding foot, and weight is once again evenly distributed on both limbs. The previously gliding foot is then used to push against the ice, while the other foot is the one used to slide. The 45-degree angle between the skates needs to be kept between glides. Again, for constant drawing, you merely need to replicate the steps.

The third technique, called crossover, is self-explanatory. One leg, or the outside skate, cross over the other, the inside skate while gliding forward or skating backward. This is particularly helpful around corners because it is ideal for changing directions. It is a must not only around corners but also when moving in circles and building speed. It is the only difference from stroking is the crossing over of their thighs. To perform a right over left crossover, the stance is similar to that of stroking, but the right leg crosses over the left leg then the weight is moved to the right skate. The left knee is then straightened, and used to push its outside edge. The process is just repeated for another crossover.

Aside from these three, there are other similarly essential methods, such as doing spins and spirals, getting up on skates in case of a fall, learning how to prevent, and some footwork sequences. These can't be learned by merely reading, however, one has to go through the steps in a real skating rink to genuinely learn them by heart. But if you train figure skating as a hobby, then you will enjoy following step by step.

 

Related hobbies: Skateboarding, Inline Skating, Dancing 

 

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