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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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USFS Junior Skating Skills – Part 2, Forward and Backward Inside Rockers (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach and choreographer Kate Charbonneau continues a series of videos on the USFS Junior Skating Skills (Moves in the Field) Test. In Part 1 she covered the Forward and Backward Outside Rockers pattern. In this video she discusses the Forward and Backward Inside Rockers and she begins by noting the importance of a consistent lobe size […] Continue reading →
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Running on the Ice (Nick Perna)
International coach and jump specialist Nick Perna discusses the reason to learn to run on the ice and shows how to do it properly. Nick explains that for skaters who are afraid of going fast on the ice and are particularly afraid of going fast into jumps, learning to run on the ice tends to reduce […] Continue reading →
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USFS Junior Skating Skills – Part 1, Forward and Backward Outside Rockers (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach and choreographer Kate Charbonneau begins a series of videos on the USFS Junior Skating Skills (Moves in the Field) Test. In this video she introduces the Junior test and demonstrates and explains the first pattern, the Forward and Backward Outside Rockers. Kates uses a rocker pivot exercise to develop the necessary skill for the first […] Continue reading →
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USFS Preliminary Skating Skills – Part 3, Forward Power Three Turns (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach and choreographer Kate Charbonneau continues a presentation on the USFS Preliminary Skating Skills (Moves in the Field) Test. In Part 1 she discussed the Forward and Backward Crossovers and in Part 2 she covered the Consecutive Outside and Inside Spirals. In this video she teaches the Forward Power Three Turns. Kate begins by describing […] Continue reading →
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USFS Preliminary Skating Skills – Part 2, Consecutive Outside and Inside Spirals (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach and choreographer Kate Charbonneau continues a presentation on the USFS Preliminary Skating Skills (Moves in the Field) Test. In Part 1 she discussed the Forward and Backward Crossovers and in this video she covers the Consecutive Outside and Inside Spirals. She begins by noting she uses a two foot glide on each transition from […] Continue reading →
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USFS Preliminary Skating Skills – Part 1, Forward and Backward Crossovers (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach and choreographer Kate Charbonneau begins a presentation on the USFS Preliminary Skating Skills (Moves in the Field) Test. She takes a moment to name all the patterns in the test, and she notes that the demonstrating skaters are well above this level. For the first pattern, the forward and backward crossovers on a figure […] Continue reading →
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On-Ice Warm Up – Part 2 (Ryan Jahnke and Ben Agosto)
National medalist Ryan Jahnke and World and Olympic medalist Ben Agosto continue an on-ice warm up class at a summer camp. Ryan is wearing the microphone. In Part 1 the class learned several exercises as well as ankle control and positioning needed to create powerful edges. Ryan begins this video with a repeating forward outside […] 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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Basic Spiral Lesson (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau works with a skater on basic spirals. This lesson is in the context of the Pre-Preliminary and Preliminary USFS Moves in the Field tests, although the tips for control and presentation apply to all spirals. For the Pre-Pre pattern, Kate recommends doing the non-dominant foot first, so the skater ends strong by […] 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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More Tips for Power Pulls (Karen Olson)
Skating skills and moves in the field specialist Karen Olson continues a discussion of power pulls. In Part 1, she discussed ways to make power pull practice more interesting, ankle and knee bend timing, and vocabulary misunderstandings. In this video, she shares additional insights to help those who struggle with the basics, and she suggests […] 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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Backward Crossovers to Backward Outside Edges (Karen Olson)
Skating skills and moves in the field specialist Karen Olson discusses the ‘alternating backward crossovers to backward outside edges’ pattern of the US Figure Skating Preliminary Moves in the Field test. When teaching this pattern, Karen often refers to it as ‘back crossovers to landing position’ and landing position development is one of her major […] Continue reading →
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Performance Comments During Program Run-Throughs (Rohene Ward)
Coach and choreographer Rohene Ward works with a variety of advanced skaters who are doing program run-throughs without jumps. Rohene calls these performances “makettes” (SP) which he explains is a Russian ice dance word for “mark through” of an ice dance. He has his skaters do these performances after their morning on-ice warm-up class and […] 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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Improving Beginner Skills – Part 3 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau continues a general lesson with a beginner level skater, using program elements as a roadmap for the lesson. Part 1 focused on footwork and spins, and Part 2 focused on some jumps. In this video, Kate has the skater run through the program to identify weak points to address with further coaching. […] Continue reading →
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Warmup Edge Class – Part 6 (Rohene Ward)
Coach and choreographer Rohene Ward finishes his warm-up edge class for advanced skaters. This class is performed to a variety of music and the emphasis is on warming up, mastering skating skills, and improving performance skills. Check out the entire series: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 This video […] Continue reading →
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Waltz Eight Pattern from Pre-Preliminary Moves (Karen Olson)
Skating skills and moves in the field specialist Karen Olson demonstrates and discusses the details of the Waltz Eight pattern from the US Figure Skating Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field test. Karen begins by drawing the figure eight pattern on the ice by scraping with her skate. She uses the red dot in the center […] Continue reading →
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Warmup Edge Class – Part 5 (Rohene Ward)
Coach and choreographer Rohene Ward continues his warm-up edge class for advanced skaters. This class is performed to a variety of music and the emphasis is on warming up, mastering skating skills, and improving performance skills. Check out the entire series: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 This video […] 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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Improving Beginner Skills – Part 1 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau begins a general lesson with a beginner level skater, using program elements as a roadmap for the lesson. Kate has the skater do some of the footwork and skating skills from her program, and not surprisingly Kate asks for more ankle bend. Notice the description of pressing into the tongue of the […] Continue reading →
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Warmup Edge Class – Part 4 (Rohene Ward)
Coach and choreographer Rohene Ward continues his warm-up edge class for advanced skaters. This class is performed to a variety of music and the emphasis is on warming up, mastering skating skills, and improving performance skills. Check out the entire series: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 This video […] Continue reading →
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Forward Spirals (Karen Olson)
Skating skills and moves in the field specialist Karen Olson discusses and demonstrates important insights related to forward spirals. As she notes, a forward spiral pattern is part of the US Figure Skating Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field test, although the details provided in this video are focused strictly on how to perform and teach […] Continue reading →
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Improving Novice Moves – Part 5 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau continues a lesson for a skater working on her US Figure Skating Novice Moves in the Field test. The skater already knows the patterns, so this is an opportunity for Kate to help the skater improve them and get them ready to test. In Part 1, Kate worked on the Inside Three […] Continue reading →
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Off-Ice Choreography – Part 3 (Garrett Kling)
Choreographer Garrett Kling continues the off-ice choreography class for an on-ice group performance to skaters at a camp. He begins this video with choreography that precedes the movements learned previously in Part 1 and Part 2. Garrett first organizes the group into lines and then teaches the movements. Again, as in the earlier videos of […] Continue reading →
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Exercises to Build Skating Skills – Part 4 (Denise Myers)
World and Olympic coach Denise Myers continues her multi-part series sharing a variety of exercises and drills intended to improve overall skating skills. These exercises would be excellent as part of an on-ice warm-up or at the end of a session or training day. The ultimate goal is to build skills that translate into improved […] 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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Improving Novice Moves – Part 4 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau continues a lesson for a skater working on her US Figure Skating Novice Moves in the Field test. The skater already knows the patterns, so this is an opportunity for Kate to help the skater improve them and get them ready to test. In Part 1, Kate worked on the Inside Three […] Continue reading →
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Exercises to Build Skating Skills – Part 3 (Denise Myers)
World and Olympic coach Denise Myers continues her multi-part series sharing a variety of exercises and drills intended to improve overall skating skills. These exercises would be excellent as part of an on-ice warm-up or at the end of a session or training day. The ultimate goal is to build skills that translate into improved […] Continue reading →
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Improving Novice Moves – Part 3 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau continues a lesson for a skater working on her US Figure Skating Novice Moves in the Field test. The skater already knows the patterns, so this is an opportunity for Kate to help the skater improve them and get them ready to test. In Part 1, Kate worked on the Inside Three […] Continue reading →
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Exercises to Build Skating Skills – Part 2 (Denise Myers)
World and Olympic coach Denise Myers continues her multi-part series sharing a variety of exercises and drills intended to improve overall skating skills. These exercises would be excellent as part of an on-ice warm-up or at the end of a session or training day. The ultimate goal is to build skills that translate into improved […] Continue reading →
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Improving Novice Moves – Part 2 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau continues a lesson for a skater working on her US Figure Skating Novice Moves in the Field test. The skater already knows the patterns, so this is an opportunity for Kate to help the skater improve them and get them ready to test. In the previous video, Kate worked on the Inside […] Continue reading →
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USFS Senior Moves – Power Double Threes to Double Rocker Pattern (Karen Olson)
Skating skills and moves in the field specialist Karen Olson shares insights to improve the two Power Double Three Turns to Double Rocker patterns on the USFS Senior Moves Test. The ideas presented apply to both patterns. Karen begins by acknowledging that edge quality on the double threes is a major challenge for many skaters. […] Continue reading →
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Exercises to Build Skating Skills – Part 1 (Denise Myers)
World and Olympic coach Denise Myers begins a multi-part series sharing a variety of exercises and drills intended to improve overall skating skills. These exercises would be excellent as part of an on-ice warm-up or at the end of a session or training day. The ultimate goal is to build skills that translate into improved […] Continue reading →
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Off-Ice Choreography – Part 2 (Garrett Kling)
Choreographer Garrett Kling continues the off-ice choreography class for an on-ice group performance to skaters at a camp. He begins this video where Part 1 left off, adding new movements and steps. Skaters often struggle with steps and footwork while also including arms and upper body movement, but Garrett builds the choreography as one complete […] Continue reading →
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Improving Novice Moves – Part 1 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau gives a lesson to a skater working on her US Figure Skating Novice Moves in the Field test. The skater already knows the patterns, so this is an opportunity for Kate to help the skater improve them and get them ready to test. They begin with the Inside Three-Turns/Rocker Choctaws which is […] Continue reading →
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Building an Edge Class Sequence – Twizzle Example (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau explains and demonstrates the process she uses for creating original edge classes and step sequences. The process begins with finding out which turns and elements her skaters can do, and trying to include at least one of each turn in an exercise in the edge class. Kate demonstrates the process with an […] Continue reading →
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Waltz Eight: Pre-Preliminary Moves Pattern (Karen Olson)
Moves in the field expert Karen Olson discusses and demonstrates key issues for the Waltz Eight pattern of the US Figure Skating Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field test. For simplicity and as a way to set reasonable circle sizes for young skaters, Karen likes to start the pattern on one of the hockey dots. The […] Continue reading →
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Champion Cords for Improved Arm Awareness (Sheila Thelen)
Figure skating specialist coach and Champion Cords inventor Sheila Thelen explains and demonstrates how to use the cords to improve arm awareness, resulting in better lines and overall upper body carriage. She begins by showing how to create a second handle/loop to place the hand through (the cords already have a loop on one end), […] Continue reading →
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IJS Footwork Tips – Part 3 (Karen Olson)
Coach Karen Olson continues a series of videos talking about how to approach IJS footwork sequences (choreographed sequences or step sequences) in order to prepare skaters for higher levels and to maximize points in competition. See Part 1 here and Part 2 here. NOTE: The rules of the International Judging System (IJS) are constantly changing. […] Continue reading →
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IJS Footwork Tips – Part 2 (Karen Olson)
Coach Karen Olson continues a series of videos talking about how to approach IJS footwork sequences (choreographed sequences or step sequences) in order to prepare skaters for higher levels and to maximize points in competition. See Part 1 here. NOTE: The rules of the International Judging System (IJS) are constantly changing. This video was recorded […] Continue reading →
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IJS Footwork Tips – Part 1 (Karen Olson)
Coach Karen Olson begins a series of videos talking about how to approach IJS footwork sequences (choreographed sequences or step sequences) in order to prepare skaters for higher levels and to maximize points in competition. NOTE: The rules of the International Judging System (IJS) are constantly changing. This video was recorded in 2018 so the […] Continue reading →
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Starting a Cantilever (Sheila Thelen)
Figure skating specialist coach Sheila Thelen discusses the process of learning a cantilever. The cantilever is a well-known balance skill made famous by Mr. Frick (Werner Groebli) in the old days of Ice Follies, as Sheila notes. The cantilever has enjoyed a bit of a renewal in interest in recent years as a number of […] Continue reading →
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Grapevine Variations and the Salchow (Nick Perna)
International coach Nick Perna continues his presentation on his “grapevine” exercise. In the first video he demonstrated how to perform the grapevine and how to teach it in sections. In this video, he explains how to create useful variations by picking up the feet at specific moments, rather than skating the entire grapevine on two […] Continue reading →
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The Hydroblade (Sheila Thelen)
Figure skating specialist coach Sheila Thelen shares her insights on how to teach and master the hydroblade. Hydroblading is a relatively easy move for advanced skaters, and even skaters at relatively low levels with good edge and body control can hydroblade. The most common version of the hydroblade is demonstrated here. It is performed on […] Continue reading →
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The Grapevine (Nick Perna)
International coach Nick Perna shares a skating drill he calls “The Grapevine.” The exercise gets it’s name from the off-ice grapevine agility exercise, which includes twisting and alternating foot positions. Nick explains that this is a fun exercise that all skaters can master with a little practice, and most skaters find it to be very […] Continue reading →
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USFS Junior Straight Line Step Sequence (Karen Olson)
Moves in the field and skating skills expert Karen Olson discusses and demonstrates specific details of the Straight Line Step Sequence from the USFS Junior Moves in the Field test. Karen walks through much of the pattern and discusses what makes certain sections or transitions difficult for skaters. She offers many coaching tips to speed […] Continue reading →
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20 Minute Warm-Up Edge Class – Part 6 (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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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 →
