AboutDianne 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
Question Dianne,
Hi! I am a freestylist. I have skated on ice and am currently on inlines. I acutally like inline best, unfortunately, they are closing the only roller rink and I will need to return to ice this fall if I hope to practice at all. I'm outdoors, (yes outdoors!) at a skatepark now.....
Anyways, I used to have Pattern 99s, but always felt like the takeoffs were "slipping" (even with K picks!) because I am used to rubber stoppers (which, believe me, don't slip easily. Thank Goodness!) On ice, I want to go for cross cut toe picks, with K pick attachments. Most of the high end blades with this specification (Gold Seal, Gold Star, Phantoms etc.) are side honed. Unfortunately, skate sharpener/man I order skates from seems reluctant to sharpen these blades,(and he seems to be the only one that sharpens figure skates in this area). He kept trying to steer me towards parallel blades. The only one I could find was a "mid range" blade called the MK Professional. Is there any REAL difference between "mid range" and "advanced" blades on ice? (Other than pertaining to speed/quick changes of edge for footwork?) I am landing doubles,working on 2axels, and trying low level triples (toe and sal)on inlines. Have landed all doubles on ice (except axel) with the Pattern 99s.(Realize they were 8" rocker and MK Pro is 7" but after switching from inline to ice, vice versa, I figure this is not a big issue. :-) So, basically, I am asking if, in your opinion, an MK Pro K pick is sufficient to train/land 2axel and low level triples. (Also all flying spins).
Thanks!!
Sincerely,
Rhonda
Answer Hi
Look into ultima Freestyle. Most of my high level kids use them. sharpening is easy and the pick and rocker work great for good spins and triples.
MK pro is good for learning doubles barely. My kids switch to Phantom or Ultima FS after axels.
Good luck,
Dianne
