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Fundamental Skating and Jumping Concepts (Tom Zakrajsek)
World and Olympic coach Tom Zakrajsek discusses helpful and important concepts that rarely get discussed by coaches. He begins by discussing body awareness by thinking about the belly button and spine. This is a fantastic way for skaters to sense their core and understand more clearly how the hips and shoulders work together or in opposition. […] Continue reading →
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Coaching Philosophy – Bubble Edges to Quads (Doug Leigh)
World and Olympic coach Doug Leigh offers insights into his philosophy of coaching. He discusses quite a few things in this video, but it all boils down to starting with solid fundamentals and being a good person and mentor. To start the video, Doug notes that he does not like the idea of “errors” or […] Continue reading →
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Catch Foot Spiral Tips (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau continues her lesson on spirals (see tips on basic spirals in Part 1 and Part 2). She begins this video by offering insights about a Biellmann spiral. For this spiral Kate recommends pulling up strongly with the upper body (middle and head) and letting the arms move independently. It’s helpful to get […] Continue reading →
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Basics of Using Champion Cords (Sheila Thelen)
Figure skating specialist coach and inventor Sheila Thelen teaches a class of beginner skaters to use her Champion Cords. She begins by explaining and demonstrating how to attach a cord to a skate and then how to hold the cord properly to maintain control of the cord and minimize discomfort. She also offers a helpful […] Continue reading →
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Basic Spiral Lesson – Continued (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau continues her lesson on basic spirals (see Part 1 here). The focus of this part of the lesson is on the pattern of the Consecutive Outside and Inside Spirals on the Preliminary USFS Moves in the Field test, although the concept of full lobes applies to spiral development universally. Probably the most […] Continue reading →
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Alternating Forward Outside Three Turns (Madison Hubbell)
World and Olympic ice dance medalist Madison Hubbell continues her lesson on basic skating skills and patterns for the USFS Preliminary Moves in the Field tests. (See the previous video here.) In this video, the focus is on alternating forward outside three turns, also typically referred to as “three turns on the line.” After watching […] Continue reading →
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Crossovers and Pushes (Madison Hubbell)
World and Olympic ice dance medalist Madison Hubbell works with a young skater on basic pushes and crossovers. The pattern this skater uses is the first pattern of the Preliminary US Figure Skating Moves in the Field Test, but the information Madison shares is focused entirely on the skills and not the pattern. Madison explains […] Continue reading →
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Tips For Better Power Pulls (Karen Olson)
Skating skills and moves in the field specialist Karen Olson shares exercises and insights to improve power pulls. She begins by noting that many skaters don’t find working on power pulls interesting or enjoyable. One way to make them more interesting is to have skaters do them with both arms overhead, usually with hands clasped […] Continue reading →
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Basic Pushes for Power (Madison Hubbell)
World and Olympic ice dance medalist Madison Hubbell continues a skating skills lesson at a seminar/camp. Part 1 focused on skating skills associated with generating power from edges. This part focuses on the fundamentals of pushing for power. Madison describes a powerful basic push as having both feet together and both legs generally straight before […] Continue reading →
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Forward Outside and Inside Consecutive Spirals (Karen Olson)
Skating skills and moves in the field specialist Karen Olson discusses and demonstrates important insights related to forward outside and inside consecutive spirals. As she notes, this pattern is part of the US Figure Skating Preliminary Moves in the Field test, although the details provided in this video are focused on how to perform and […] Continue reading →
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Forward Spirals Continued (Karen Olson)
Skating skills and moves in the field specialist Karen Olson continues her discussion of forward spirals, both as a solo skill and as part of the US Figure Skating Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field test. In the previous part of this discussion, Karen talked at length about how to teach a spiral to a beginner […] Continue reading →
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Forward Perimeter Stroking: Pre-Preliminary Moves Pattern (Karen Olson)
Skating skills and moves in the field specialist Karen Olson discusses and demonstrates important insights related to the Forward Perimeter Stroking pattern of the US Figure Skating Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field test. This is the very first pattern of the very first moves test, and Karen explains that it represents an opportunity to teach […] Continue reading →
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How The Body Jumps (Karen Olson)
In this video, Karen Olson discusses the importance of the entire kinetic chain of joint and muscle usage for powerful jumping. As she notes, it is common, especially for lower level skaters, to struggle with properly engaging the glutes and hips. She begins off-the ice by demonstrating and discussing how we stand up from a […] Continue reading →
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Champion Cords for Improved Crossovers (Sheila Thelen)
In this short video, figure skating specialist coach and Champion Cords inventor Sheila Thelen explains and demonstrates how to use the cords to improve forward and backward crossovers. Young skaters in particular struggle with shoulder turn as well as arm and body tension. Using cords to feel the tension and have visual feedback about the […] Continue reading →
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The Snowman Crossover Exercise (Kate Charbonneau)
Figure skating coach Kate Charbonneau teaches a crossover exercise she calls “The Snowman” where skaters perform crossovers in 3 large circles down the ice. The skaters go around the circle one and half times each for the base and body of the snowman and just a little less than a full circle for the head. […] Continue reading →
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All About Forward Crossovers (Kate Charbonneau)
Figure skating coach Kate Charbonneau offers insights and exercises for forward crossover development. She starts with how she teaches beginners. The classic “step over” non-gliding sideways walk is very helpful for beginner skaters to learn balance and the basic weight transfer of a crossover. The focus is simply on balance and lifting the knee to […] Continue reading →
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Improving Beginner Crossovers (Audrey Weisiger)
World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger continues her lesson with a young (about 8 years old) male skater. The first part of this lesson focused mostly on the backspin, and this part focuses on forward and backward crossovers. Skaters at this level typically struggle with keeping the head up and looking where they are going, […] Continue reading →
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20 Minute Warm-Up Edge Class – Part 5 (Kate Charbonneau)
Figure skating coach Kate Charbonneau continues a multi-part series where she shows a complete 20 minute warm-up edge class. Kate has her skaters start slow and then she picks up the pace, both with the skating and the music for the class. This warm-up is done to music. In Part 1 she shared initial exercises […] Continue reading →
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On-Ice Core Exercises and Position Work (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe offers 3 on-ice drills that are particularly helpful for developing core strength and stability, as well as leg strength. The first exercise is a spiral, shoot-the-duck, spiral sequence down the ice in a straight line. The second exercise is a spiral, lunge, spiral sequence. The final exercise is a […] Continue reading →
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Teaching a Bigger Reach on Backward Crossovers (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe shares a trick for getting beginner skaters to create more “reach” on backward crossovers. The concept is simple, and involves the coach gliding along inside the skater’s circle, and asking the skater to reach out with the skate all the way to the coach, placing the skate onto the […] Continue reading →
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4 Statues Balance Drill (Nick Perna)
International coach and jump specialist Nick Perna shares an off-ice drill whose purpose is to improve balance and control of the 4 main skating positions. The demonstrating skater has a large asterisk on the floor to help with visualizing the desired placement of the free leg, and skaters can easily create this on the floor […] Continue reading →
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Using Objects/Toys for Twizzle Development (Amy Brolsma)
Coach Amy Brolsma shares a valuable tip for skaters working on advanced turns and twizzles. Many skaters struggle with core stability when learning advanced turns like rockers and counters as well as twizzles. Having objects or toys to hold with both hands either in front of the body or over the head help skaters engage […] Continue reading →
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Using Objects/Toys to Improve Basic Skating (Amy Brolsma)
Coach Amy Brolsma shares a valuable tip for helping skaters at every level improve their skating skills and their turns. By using objects or toys that the skater can hold with both hands, the coach can reduce the uncontrolled arm movements and help skaters feel their movements and stabilize with their core. Amy likes to […] Continue reading →
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Straight Leg For Jump Air Position – Initial Exercises (Audrey Weisiger)
World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger is giving a lesson to a young skater who is struggling with straightening the legs. We spend so much time in figure skating telling skaters to bend the knees that we sometimes forget to address the value of completely straightening the legs. Having a straight and locked axis leg […] Continue reading →
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Ice Show 2-Hand Eagle Partner Spin (Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue)
Two-time World Ice Dance Medalists Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue teach the very common ice show partner spin which is sometimes referred to as the eagle spin or spread eagle spin. And although this is not a serious figure skating skill, the spin is fun and an excellent tool for improving partnering and building awareness […] Continue reading →
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20 Minute Warm-Up Edge Class – Part 1 (Kate Charbonneau)
Figure skating coach Kate Charbonneau begins a multi-part series where she shows a complete 20 minute warm-up edge class. Kate has her skaters start slow and then she picks up the pace, both with the skating and the music for the class. All videos in the series: Part 1 – intro, initial exercises emphasizing slow […] Continue reading →
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Where Does Power Come From? (Chris Conte)
In this video, International coach Chris Conte gives a power lesson to a skater at a seminar. Chris begins this lesson having the skater press away from the barrier with just the hands and arms, first with lots of bending of the arms, and then with just quick plyometric movements of the wrists. He’s basically […] Continue reading →
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Blade Usage and Drills for Turns (Karen Olson)
Moves in the field and skating skills expert Karen Olson talks at length about blade usage in turns, and she demonstrates drills to help skaters master the necessary rocking on the blade. Few skaters have complete mastery of their blades, and even improving this skill a small amount can have huge benefits for turns and […] Continue reading →
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On-Ice Warmup Sequence – Part 1 (Amy Brolsma)
Coach Amy Brolsma shares a sequence of warm-up drills that she uses as an on-ice warmup with her skaters. The primary goal is to get the skaters moving and fully warmed up, but coaches can also monitor the warm-up to better understand the focus and motivation level of a skater on a given day. Amy […] Continue reading →
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Exercise for Power and Stability (Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue)
Two-time World Ice Dance Medalists Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue share a valuable exercise for improving power and stability. This exercise is simple and well-known, but Zach and Madison offer insights on how to do it well. The idea is simple: Stand on the red line at the end of the rink and with one […] Continue reading →
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Backward Outside Three Turns (Karen Olson)
Moves in the field and skating skills expert Karen Olson discusses the backward outside three turn. This is a continuation of Karen’s series of videos focused on issues faced by adult skaters, but the information in this video is applicable to skaters of all ages. Right from the beginning, Karen focuses on proper alignment for […] Continue reading →
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Backward Inside Three Turns, Especially for Adults – Part 2 (Karen Olson)
Moves in the field and skating skills expert Karen Olson continues her explanation of some important details about learning the backward inside three turn, with special emphasis on the challenges faced by adult skaters with this skill. As Karen notes, this is a challenging skill because it requires good blade usage and initially uncomfortable (and […] Continue reading →
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Warming Up (Douglas Webster)
Professional choreographer Douglas Webster teaches a class of skaters a warm-up sequence. He begins with some breathing exercises, followed by a simple relaxation exercise that includes an exhale and bending of the ankles, knees, and hips. Next he does a series of squats or dips and holds the last in the down position, and then […] Continue reading →
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Backward Inside Three Turns, Especially for Adults – Part 1 (Karen Olson)
Moves in the field and skating skills expert Karen Olson explains important details about learning the backward inside three turn, with special emphasis on the challenges faced by adult skaters with this skill. As Karen notes, this is a challenging skill because it requires good blade usage and initially uncomfortable (and vulnerable) positions. Karen recommends […] Continue reading →
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Tips For Power and Speed (Nick Perna)
International coach Nick Perna talks about speed and power and offers some tips for developing more speed and power. To begin the video, he stresses the need to encourage skaters to “crunch” the ice on every push. He says, “If you listen to good skaters, you’re going to always hear a crunch. Every time they […] Continue reading →
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Building Powerful Pushes (Douglas Webster)
Professional choreographer Douglas Webster works with a class on ways to generate more power from basic pushes. Many of these concepts are similar to those Doug has already shared here at iCoachSkating. To begin this class, Doug explains that skaters can move across the ice without doing correct pushes. This is somewhat unfortunate, as many […] Continue reading →
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Tips on Forward Crossovers (Chris Conte)
National coach Chris Conte continues a lesson with a male skater that is focused on skating skills. In the previous video, Chris helped him develop long and powerful forward strokes or pushes. In this video, Chris focuses on forward crossovers and shares tips on how to “build” them. To begin, Chris has the skater drop […] Continue reading →
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Backward Crossovers With a Partner (Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue)
2018 World Ice Dance Silver Medalists Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue teach a class of skaters backward crossovers with a partner. The video builds on a repeating series of back inside edges in the previous video and another video discussing the foundation of power back crossovers. Zach begins the lesson discussing another concept that helps […] Continue reading →
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Drills and Concepts for Improving Basic Skating (Douglas Webster)
Professional choreographer Douglas Webster teaches a class of young skaters some basic skills concepts and drills. He starts by stating “always bend before you push” and he makes it clear that skaters need to bend from their ankles, knees and hips. The next concept he discusses is “your feet always come together before you push.” […] Continue reading →
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Backward Crossovers With Power (Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue)
2018 World Ice Dance Silver Medalists Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue teach a class of skaters backward crossovers, and particularly, how to do them with power. The video builds on a repeating series of back inside edges in the previous video. This presentation is based on the classic method that ice dance and pair teams […] Continue reading →
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Inside Edge Weight Shift Exercise (Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue)
2018 World Ice Dance Silver Medalists Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue teach a class of skaters a repeating series of back inside edges. This exercise is performed on two feet, although the skater’s weight is nearly 100% on the inside edge of the outer skate on the lobe. This exercise is almost always challenging for […] Continue reading →
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Skating Fundamentals: One Foot Balance (Nick Perna)
International coach Nick Perna talks about the importance of learning to balance at a standstill on one foot. To help skaters master the control of the exit edges of turns, Nick uses a drill he calls the hitchy coo which he explaines in detail in another video. But part of the hitchy coo drill has […] Continue reading →
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Some Basics With Young Skaters – Part 3 (Kori Ade)
World and Olympic coach Kori Ade continues with a lesson for two young skaters. Part 1 of the basic skills lesson focused on blade awareness and usage, and some introduction to jumping. In Part 2, Kori focused on fundamental jump drills. In this part of the lesson, Kori focuses mainly on building edge awareness and […] Continue reading →
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Some Basics With Young Skaters (Kori Ade)
World and Olympic coach Kori Ade gives a lesson to two young skaters. This basic skills lesson focuses on blade awareness and usage, and some introduction to jumping. To start the lesson, Kori has the skaters do a series of backward-to-forward-to-backward 2 foot turns down the blue line. By hanging on to the skaters, Kori […] Continue reading →
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The Stomping Drill (Nick Perna)
International coach Nick Perna talks about “stomping” and how and why to use it in figure skating. He calls these exercises “The Stomping Drill.” Nick says, “If you can hit any edge at any time in a gliding position, whether it’s an active edge or a passive edge, you should be able to stomp.” Nick […] Continue reading →
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Forward Cross Strokes and How They Relate to Axel (Douglas Webster)
Professional choreographer Douglas Webster works with a skater on cross strokes, particularly in terms of edge pressure and power generation. Doug begins the lessons by explaining and demonstrating what he wants for the forward cross strokes (gather, push, reach). He wants the skater to “bend and extend” on the the first half of the lobe, and then […] Continue reading →
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Fun Skids and Letting Skaters Play (Audrey Weisiger)
This is a short video follow-up to World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger‘s previous video on pivots and skids. Here Audrey recommends teaching a backward snowplow stop and skids in spirals. She highlights the need for figure skaters to play and she encourages coaches to let them play occasionally. Continue reading →
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Pivots and Motivation for Pivots and Skids (Audrey Weisiger)
World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger talks about pivots and she provides motivation for learning pivots and skids/stops. She begins by showing the 4 backward pivots (right backward inside pivot, left backward inside pivot, right backward outside pivot, left backward outside pivot) and then she shows how to teach them. She explains the value of teaching […] Continue reading →
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Teaching Turns on a Straight Line Using “Hitchy Coo” (Nick Perna)
International and World figure skating coach Nick Perna shares a method for teaching complete mastery of all one foot turns in figure skating. He does not introduce this at the Learn-to-Skate level, but after a skater has developed some level of control of the entrance and exit edges. He usually begins with the forward outside three […] Continue reading →
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Toe Hops, Blade Work, Toe Loops (Audrey Weisiger)
World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger covers a variety of topics related to blade control and usage, with an emphasis on toe hops and some discussion of the toe loop jump. This video is a continuation of Audrey’s discussion of split jumps, mazurkas, and ballet jumps. Audrey begins here with a discussion of toe hops, and […] Continue reading →
