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About Dianne DeLeeuw
Expertise
I can answer questions about figure skating, choreography, ISI or USFSA. Also questions about competing (my Olympic experience or your own competition). I`m a National referre for ISI. Recently I also have been appointed a National Technical Specialist for US Figure Skating. But remember I am not your substitute for a coach! They can see what you are doing! To correct or instruct you on manuevers is really not what I want to do.

Experience
Experience: World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist, coaching all levels of skaters at in California. I coach all levels and ages of skating from tiny tots to adults, first timers to International competitors. I also do choreography, music editing, teach specialty classes and give seminars.

Organizations: USFSA, ISI, PSA, Los Angeles Figure Skating Club

Publications: Recreational Ice Skater, The Edge

Awards: 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist, 1975 World Champion, 1976 European Champion, 6 time National Champion, US and Canadian Double Gold Medalist, 1999 ISI Great Skate Award, 2002 Woman of the Year

You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Figure Skating > Figure Skating > Edges

Figure Skating - Edges

Expert: Dianne DeLeeuw - 6/25/2008

Question
I am an adult beginner, and I am having trouble maintaining my outside and inside edges on demand. Is most of the work done through body positioning, or is it controlled in the ankle? I have been lacing my boots so that my ankles don't move any toward the outside or inside (for fear of injury). Is this correct? Thank you for your help!

Answer
Hi,
Learning to skate on edges is the first step to becoming a skater. You will need to trust your lean towards the edge you want.

Please work with a qualified coach or instructor to properly position you. If you just use your ankle skating will forever be rough! Make sure your skates are laced reasonably tight, you need forward bend but not side to side.

Start out by skating on a circle to feel your lean. Do the one -foot glide around the curve. Soon you will gain confidence!

Good luck,
Dianne

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