| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| Too Advanced for My Level? | 11/20/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: I'm a basic 5 level skater and was wondering if I should start private lessons. Also, am I too ...
A: private lessons will almost always help you advance more quickly because of the extra attention that ...
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| Before Skating Warm Up | 11/20/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: I was wondering what a good before competition and before practice warm up would include. I want ...
A: any vigorous exercise will make you break a sweat and get your blood moving, emily, but why don't ...
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| Practice | 11/17/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: Gary I havent skated since I was a young guy. Never a great skater but good enough for pond hockey ...
A: exercises that bend the ankle forward are very useful for a skater, barry. also, stand on one foot ...
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| Blade rockers | 11/16/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: I am an adult synchronized skater with limited experience on a semi-competitive recreational team. ...
A: Rocker radius, Adrian, refers to the slight curve of the blade from pick to heel. Your edge matches ...
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| sore feet | 11/10/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: The first 15-30 minutes of skating I must leave the ice to rest my feet and/or untie them and allow ...
A: I have heard of this before. You may not have been fit right unfortunately. Something is being ...
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| When should I stop using rental skates? | 11/9/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: I started to learn figure skating from the basics (correct forward stroking) about two months ago. I ...
A: As soon as you can! Unless your rink has great rentals, most don't. Check with your coach about ...
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| 3 year old in first lessons | 11/8/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: I'm a British expat in Canada with a 3 year old that wants to skate. Where I lived, there just ...
A: Tot classes are the best way to start! But you need good skates. I would get regular figure ...
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| Off Ice Training | 11/2/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: I was thinking about taking ballet classes and yoga/pilates/tai chi classes along with strength ...
A: My advice is to skate on them...they will dull down. There are many ways to dull them but I don't ...
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| Off Ice Training | 11/1/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: I was thinking about taking ballet classes and yoga/pilates/tai chi classes along with strength ...
A: All of those things are great for skaters! But time is the issue, nothing substitutes on ice time! ...
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| jump harness | 10/28/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: Do you recommend using the jump harness for learning jumps like axels and doubles ? what's the ...
A: I use the harness alot, but still have kids I call "queen of the harness" because it is perfect but ...
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| 1 foot spin | 10/25/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: I just passed my basic 4 evaluation and I am now basic 5. I am having a hard time learning a 1 foot ...
A: It doesn't matter that much where you are looking when you spin. I sometimes spin with my eyes ...
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| help with axel | 10/21/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: My daughter has been trying to land her axel jump. She's been working on this for almost 4 months ...
A: It is kind of scary to learn to cross the feet in the air, Jen, so having the security of a harness ...
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| Mowhawk turns | 10/16/2009 | Dr. Bruce Forciea |
Q: I have been working on my Mohawks for many months. My jumps, spirals, and spins are on a much ...
A: I am assuming you are talking about an inside mohawk from forward to backward inside edges. It ...
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| Rotation vs height | 10/15/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: My daughter is 9 and manages her axel and double jumps well.However because her rotation is so fast ...
A: height is itself a virtue, ashley. a jump that soars is grander than a spinny one and ought to be ...
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| Maximum age | 10/10/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: I did figure skating when i was 14 and stop for school. Is it too old to compete again at age 25? ...
A: I am not sure in your country but in the US there are many opportunities to compete as an adult. I ...
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| Toe Loop | 10/6/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: Okay. So I am just learning a toe loop and I tap my right toe pick into the ice. I don't know if I ...
A: Toe loop is tough to learn right. The jump comes from your skating leg assisted by the tap. The ...
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| Edges | 10/5/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: DeLeeuw, I'm learning to do a crossover. I start the left outside edge and when I lift the other ...
A: This is a common problem when first learning this. Try to adjust your lean. Remember to always ...
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| Strength Training | 10/4/2009 | Dr. Bruce Forciea |
Q: I was wondering if you knew what muscles are the best to strengthen for figure skating and why. I go ...
A: There are many exercises you could do at a gym for strenght training for skating. I would recommend ...
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| Nutrition | 10/2/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: Is this a good sample diet for a Freestyle 3 figure skater who is 13 and trains 3 hrs a day?: ...
A: This sample diet looks quite good, Emmaley. I admire your choice of brown rice, and your inclusion ...
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| Jumps and Spins | 10/1/2009 | Dr. Bruce Forciea |
Q: What are some exercises to improve balance for spins and leg strength for jumps?
A: For overall leg strength for jumps I would recommend plyometric exercises (see some of my earlier ...
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| Is It Too Late To Start? | 9/29/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: My name is Alana and i live 'down under' in New Zealand. They do not offer much skating ...
A: You are so lucky to have a rink near! Go check out what is there. There should be a Skating ...
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| Jumps, Nutrition, and Gym Training | 9/29/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: I am learning jumps now. I looked on the Internet to see what kind of jumps there are and it says ...
A: That's all true, Emily. You can jump off either the left for a waltz jump if you turn ...
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| Nutrition | 9/28/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: I am currently in Freestyle 4 level an I train 3 times a day for an hour each. I am 13 and Icompete. ...
A: I can share some general ideas, Emmaleigh. Your interest in nutrition at such a young age is ...
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| Uncomforatable skates | 9/26/2009 | Dr. Bruce Forciea |
Q: My 7 year old started skating last year and loved the lessons and the free skating. This year, she ...
A: There are a lot of variables with regard to foot pain and skating boots. Sometimes a different brand ...
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| how much in how long?! | 9/22/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: I just started skating three months ago or so, and am in freestyle 3/4/5-ish, which means I'm really ...
A: Work hard because you want to see how good you can be. You need a coach to guide you. Start with ...
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| Is my daughter too old to be in the Olympics? Will ballet Help | 9/14/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: My daughter started skating at the age of 12 1/2. She has now been skating for 8 months and is in ...
A: Sounds like she has done well in a short time to get to FS 5. You need to speak with your coach ...
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| Why such a prejudice on ice against wrap? | 9/13/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: Dianne, Just wondering....(not arguing) ;-) When did ice skating instructors/judges etc. start to ...
A: The wrap is considered bad technique right now. But times change, years ago no one crossed their ...
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| Am I too old to become an Olympic Figure Skater? | 9/11/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: I was wondering if I am too old to want to be an olympic figure skater. I am 18, just taking my ...
A: Bravo to you for starting to figure skate! It will be a great adventure to become the best you can. ...
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| K-Picks | 9/10/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: can you tell me anything about how the K-picks are supposed to work? the science behind them? I've ...
A: I have not heard of K-picks until your question, Alison, which is surprising, because I notice they ...
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| Forward Crossovers | 9/2/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: I am just starting lessons and I am now learning forward crossovers. I can do them, but my skate ...
A: The most difficult part of learning cross-overs, Emmaleigh, is the outside edges. Inside edges and ...
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| Technical Specialist | 9/1/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: I'm interested in being a certified technical specialist, but am not necessarily interested in ...
A: This is something you cannot do unless you were a skater. All the criteria is set forth on the US ...
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| Passion lost? | 8/31/2009 | Dr. Bruce Forciea |
Q: Bruce, I am a 16-year old figure skater (in ISI FS 4/5) who started out skating 2 years ago, and ...
A: It is natural for teens (and everyone else for that matter) to experience ups and downs. What is ...
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| Lost Interest | 8/24/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: My daughter who is and has been skating for 5 years. Told me the other day that she is quitting ...
A: This is common! Is there school pressures or issues? Please talk to her coach. Maybe you can come ...
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| Skating | 8/10/2009 | Dr. Bruce Forciea |
Q: i am a figure skater who is a little overweight!! I need some help on some exercises i could do to ...
A: Weightloss can be a complicated issue. It depends on a number of factors including age, food intake, ...
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| figure skating | 8/9/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: My 13 year old daughter is a competitive figure skater. She has always scored high and advanced out ...
A: I asked Shawn Sawyer if he works on flexibility, Lisa, or if it comes naturally. He replied that he ...
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| Teaching | 8/7/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: my names Katie. I'm 15 years old and I recently became a figure skating coach. I was wondering if ...
A: Keep children busy and moving, Katie. No matter what they are doing on the ice, they will improve ...
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| jumps and moves | 8/6/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: I am a 23 year old skating coach who just recently decided to try to finish her tests. I am on ...
A: Sounds like you will know when to try doubles. You need axel to feel good first. As for the MIF ...
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| Corkscrew problems. | 8/3/2009 | Dr. Bruce Forciea |
Q: I have been having trouble getting my ankles to cross after holding the primary position of the ...
A: Many problems with the cross-legged position for rotating jumps stems from control issues in the ...
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| triple/quad jumps | 8/1/2009 | gary beacom |
Q: Do you use the dartfish technique to teach triples/quads? Are you coming to Toronto in the near ...
A: I don't have dartfish, unfortunately, Janis, as I do not coach full-time, but I am familiar with it ...
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| Sit Spin | 8/1/2009 | Dianne DeLeeuw |
Q: I'm 13 years old and I have been figure skating for about 4 months now. I can't seem to master my ...
A: Sounds like you are doing great for only 4 months! You will need to work on scratch spin and basic ...
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