Adult Figure Skating Practice (May 2009)

A few variations of the spiral I'm working on, as well as a few spins, inside edges and ina bauer.

I've only just started on the forward change of edge spiral. This was about the third attempt keeping my arms in a steady position throughout. I'm rather proud of this, and am also enjoying trying backwards spirals in both supported and unsupported leg positions. These need more work, but I feel they aren't too bad.
Still having trouble getting a nice leg position in the upright spin!

Comments and constructive criticism are welcome, but please keep in mind I'm 44!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• adult
• figure
• skater
• skating
• practice
• sit
• spin
• spiral
• back
• scratch
• ina
• bauer
• inside
• edges

[jfluter]

Wow! You're a really good skater! I'm an adult skater as well (30) and started taking ice skating classes for fun in January . I took my Alpha/Beta tests yesterday and passed. I'm totally excited about skating Gamma/Delta this coming fall, and have hopes to enter some competitions next year. Keep up the excellent work!

[GlitteringGirl65]

@jfluter Thanks so much for the compliment! I've got a long way to go, but the journey is what's important I think. good on you for starting to skate! 30 is a wonderful age to start. Still young, yet not so young that you are pressured to learning double jumps with the teenagers! Here in Australia we don't have those "alpha/beta" tests. WE have a system called "Aussie Skate" where you pass moves and get a badge. Best of luck with the competitions. Post a vid! :)

[sardonyxjade]

You look amazing!!! Keep up the great work.

[GlitteringGirl65]

@sardonyxjade Thanks so much! I've got lots of things to work on, but I've got the rest of my life to work on it, so there's no rush.... :)

[quelita28]

How old where you when you started ice

skating and how long have you been skating?

[GlitteringGirl65]

Hi quelita28,

I started when I was 37, in 2002. I had over 2 years of continual (and painful!) overuse injuries, and couldn't skate much during that time, but all is better now, and I've just had my 45th birthday , so it's been about 7 and a half years....

[jfluter]

@GlitteringGirl65 The skating system I'm with (I'm in the U.S.) is through the Ice Skating Institute (ISI). They have beginning skating levels: Toddler levels 1-4, Pre-Alpha, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. After that, there's 10 levels of "Freestyle." At my rink, the adult classes, once you pass pre-alpha, are combined. However, you test for each level at the end of the term.

[jfluter]

@GlitteringGirl65 after that, there's 10 levels of Freestyle, which goes all the way through double jumps, and maybe even to triples.

[jfluter]

@GlitteringGirl65 In the US, we have two major figure skating associations: the USA Figure Skating Association, and the Ice Skating Institute (ISI). The rink that I skate at is ISI, and like your skating association, you earn badges for each level you complete. Where I skate, levels are often combined (such as Alpha/Beta, Gamma/Delta), so when you test, you test for both levels at the same time. The basic levels for ISI are: Toddler 1-4, Pre-Alpha, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta.

[AnoukOksana]

In your upright spin try holding your entry edge a little longer and deeper. You're doing wonderfully well though. I'd never have guessed you were in your 40s!