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Ice Skating Home
Introduction
I. Equipment
II. First Strokes
1. First Time
2. Double Sculling
3. Pushing Off
4. Forward Stroking
5. Stopping
6. Forward Cross
7. Skating Backward
8. Backward Cross
III. Four Basic Edge Positions
9. Inside Spiral
10. Outside Spiral
11. Spread Eagle
12. Outside Spiral
13. Inside Spiral
14. Inside Mohawk
15. Outside Forward
16. Exercises
IV. The Four Rolls
17. Outside Roll
18. Inside Roll
19. Outside Backward
20. Inside Backward
21. Waltz Eight
22. Mans 10-Step
V. School Figures
23. Outside Eight
24. Inside Eight
25. Preliminary Test
26. Backward Eight
27. Forward Change
28. Threes-to-Center
29. U.S.F.S.A. First Test
VI. Completing
30. Inside Backward Eight31. Outside Threes
32. Backward Change
33. Inside Threes
34. Basic Theory
VII. Free Skating
35. Basic Spirals
36. Dance Steps
37. Basic Spins
38. Basic Jumps
39. Construction
VIII. Four Ice Dances
40. Dutch Waltz
41. Fiesta Tango
42. Fourteen Step
43. American Waltz
IX. Skater
Resourecs
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| II. FIRST STROKES ON THE ICE |
Now that you are properly shod and clothed for the ice, the next step is on the ice itself. But wait—there is one more set of instructions before you stroke off on that gleaming surface. There is a right way and a wrong way of lacing up your boots, so pause an extra moment on the sidelines and make sure that yours are done up right. Many a first-time skater has come off the ice after a few minutes complaining of cramps in his legs or feet merely because he didn't know that there was a special art in boot lacing for comfort.
The lace should be left fairly loose in the first few eyelets from the toe almost to the instep bone (remember the "wiggle-toe" principle), but from the instep bone across the ankle, as far as the first or second eyelet above the anklebone, you should pull the laces just as tight as you can (Illus. 2). Now tie a surgeon's knot—that is, hold one lacing and wrap the other one twice around it, pulling the ends tight. From this point to the top of the boot make your lacings quite loose.
The surgeon's knot will hold your ankle laces tight, but if you continue them tight up your calf, you will have cramped muscles without fail. I test my own lacing by inserting two fingers inside the top of the boot; then I know I shall be free to bend deeply and exercise hard without fear of cramping. From the surgeon's knot to the boot top you should have the labor-saving device of eyelet hooks; and if your boots don't have them, any cobbler will attach them for a small sum. The days of interminable lacing plus cold blue fingers at the pond's edge are luckily over.Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...