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Ina Bauer – Figure Skating Move Ina Bauer (Amy Brolsma)
Figure skating coach Amy Brolsma explains how she teaches the figure skating move called the “Ina Bauer.” This move can be very beautiful and graceful, but as Amy notes, when it is not done well it can be an “eye sore.” Amy begins the Ina Bauer by having skaters do a spread eagle with bent […] Continue reading →
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Drill for Blade Usage, Alignment, and Balance on Turns (Nick Perna)
Figure skating coach Nick Perna explains a drill he uses to help skaters develop balance, proper body alignment, and better blade usage in order to improve turns. The basic drill has the skater standing still on two feet, and while keeping both legs straight, marching in place like a tin soldier (hence Nick’s name for […] Continue reading →
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Advanced Warm-Up Drill – Rocker Timing Drill (Amy Brolsma)
In this short video, Amy Brolsma shares an advanced drill on one foot that serves as an excellent warm-up for the knees and ankles. It also is a great way to develop the proper timing and rhythm for rockers. The drill consists of two forward power pulls followed by a forward rocker followed by two […] Continue reading →
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Multi-purpose Skating Drills All Skaters Should Master (Nick Perna)
Figure skating coach Nick Perna shares two very important drills. These exercises are deceptively difficult, and represent a clever way to develop important skating skills. Both of these drills benefit the skater in two major ways: The skater learns to fully control internal and external rotation of the hips in isolation, and The skater learns […] Continue reading →
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Warm-Up Stroking Drills (Amy Brolsma)
Amy Brolsma shares a number of warm-up drills to get the knees and ankles warmed up after a skater steps onto the ice. As Amy explains, these kinds of exercises are particularly helpful as warm-ups for competitions or test sessions. Notice the focus on presentation. The drills themselves are not that hard, which allows the […] Continue reading →
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Warming Up with Cross Strokes (Douglas Webster)
Professional choreographer Douglas Webster continues his class on warming up properly after stepping onto the ice. In the previous video, Doug focused on exercises intended to warm up the knees and ankles. In this video, he focuses on the cross stroke as a warm-up exercise. (Although many ice dancers may argue that cross strokes and […] Continue reading →
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Warming Up the Knees and Ankles (Douglas Webster)
Professional choreographer Douglas Webster teaches a class on warming up properly after stepping on the ice. Instead of racing around the rink to warm up, Doug offers a set of exercises that are more effective at engaging the ankles and knees while still getting the heart rate up. He takes a few moments to explain […] Continue reading →
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The Forward Outside Mohawk (Amy Brolsma)
In this figure skating turn and steps video, Amy Brolsma explains how she teaches a forward outside mohawk. As with the forward inside mohawk, Amy uses a cone to bring the mohawk into a tighter circle with a more pronounced body lean. Notice the focus at first simply on edge control and proper body positioning […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating On-Ice Warm-Up – Advanced (Pasquale Camerlengo)
World and Olympic figure skating coach and choreographer Pasquale Camerlengo goes through a few on-ice warm-up exercises for more advanced skaters. This is a continuation of his warm-up videos for lower level skaters (Part 1 and Part 2). In this video, Pasquale explains he wants the class to warm up methodically. Ankle, knee, core and […] Continue reading →
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Teaching the Basic Forward Inside Mohawk (Amy Brolsma)
In this basic skills video, Amy Brolsma provides a framework for teaching beginner skaters the basic forward inside mohawk. Amy uses a cone to facilitate learning the mohawk more quickly. The cone helps skaters focus and understand the concept of being on edges and curves. Amy starts by building control of just the forward inside […] Continue reading →
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Forward Crossover Circles – Juvenile Moves In The Field (Karen Olson)
Karen Olson explains how she teaches the forward crossover circle pattern of the USFS Juvenile Moves test. Much of this discussion is specifically about the pattern, but a great deal of this discussion applies to all skaters doing power crossovers in a circle. Karen shows where and how she starts the pattern for maximum power. […] Continue reading →
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Forward Outside Mohawk – 8 Step Pattern MIF (Karen Olson)
In this figure skating video, Karen Olson discusses the forward outside mohawk, particularly as it applies to the 8-Step Pattern of the USFS Junvenile Moves pattern. The forward outside mohawk is a difficult skill at this level, primarily because skaters at this level often lack control and body alignment of basic edges. Karen explains that […] Continue reading →
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Backward Outside Loops Revisited – Part 1 (Amy Brolsma)
Amy Brolsma provides an update on how she has changed how she teaches backward outside loops for more flow and rhythm. Her focus for loop development has changed somewhat from the precision of figures (based on her figures background) to the characteristics required for footwork sequences in free skating programs. This is the first of […] Continue reading →
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Jump Development Exercises Pt 2 – Warm-Up (Chris Conte)
Chris Conte continues with Part 2 of a multi-part series on jump development exercises. The series focuses on a set of warm-up exercises with important drills embedded in them. The purpose of each drill is to improve the skills needed for double and triple jumps. Most of these drills are general and apply to all […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Stroking and Edge Drills – Part 2 (Pasquale Camerlengo)
In the video below, World and Olympic figure skating coach and choreographer Pasquale Camerlengo continues his class on edge and stroking drills. (Please see the first part of these stroking drills.) At the beginning of Part 2, Pasquale has the class do simple alternating inside edge pushes. To improve the execution he says, “go go […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Stroking and Edge Drills – Russian Stroking (Pasquale Camerlengo)
In this figure skating video, World and Olympic coach and choreographer Pasquale Camerlengo teaches an outstanding class for improving skating skills, stroking technique and edge quality. Pasquale starts with a short discussion of “Russian stroking” or “Russian steps” which are common names for a series of pushes and steps that can be built up in […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Footwork – The Choctaw Part 4 (Amy Brolsma)
In this figure skating video, Amy Brolsma continues her explanation of choctaws. In Part 1, she introduced an exercise at the wall and then showed how she works with a skater to develop the step away from the wall. In Part 2, she shared a simple standstill drill and suggested using a hockey stick. In […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Footwork – The Choctaw Part 3 (Amy Brolsma)
In this figure skating video, Amy Brolsma continues her explanation of choctaws. In Part 1, she introduced an exercise at the wall and then showed how she works with a skater to develop the step away from the wall. In Part 2, she shared a simple standstill drill and suggested using a hockey stick. In […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Moves – Backward Cross Strokes (Karen Olson)
Moves in the Field expert Karen Olson discusses backward cross strokes as required on the USFS Juvenile Moves in the Field test. Karen starts the skater at a standstill and slowly builds the feeling of the turned out hips and feet and the idea of keeping the feet close together. Notice she spends an entire […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Moves – Forward Cross Strokes (Karen Olson)
Moves in the Field expert Karen Olson discusses forward cross strokes as required on the USFS Juvenile Moves in the Field test. To begin the discussion, Karen touches on an aspect of cross strokes that is somewhat controversial. Notice that Karen recognizes that how the moves tests are judged often depends on geographic location. The […] Continue reading →
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Edge Class – Part 7 Power Pulls With Hockey Puck (Chris Conte)
Choreographer Chris Conte continues with his class on edges and power generation. As noted in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6 this class was in Korea on one of Chris’s visits and you’ll notice Eun Hee Lee translating for her Korean skaters. Please excuse the audio on this […] Continue reading →
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Edge Class – Part 6 (Chris Conte)
Choreographer Chris Conte continues with his class on edges and power generation. As noted in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 this class was in Korea on one of Chris’s visits and you’ll notice Eun Hee Lee translating for her Korean skaters. Please excuse the audio on this video as […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Tip: Where To Skate On The Blade (Frank Carroll)
Olympic Coach Frank Carroll offers insights about proper blade usage. As Frank explains, skaters often don’t think much about what part of their blade they should be skating on. So he offers an easy to remember “speedboat analogy” that will help both skaters and coaches alike. (This presentation is similar in many ways to the […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Footwork – The Choctaw Part 2 (Amy Brolsma)
In this short video, Amy Brolsma continues her explanation of choctaws. In Part 1, she introduced an exercise at the wall and then showed how she works with a skater to develop the step away from the wall. In this video, she starts with a simple standstill drill for engaging the shoulders and body for […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Footwork – Choctaws Part 1 (Amy Brolsma)
Amy Brolsma explains how she teaches choctaws. Choctaws are a relatively advanced skating step. Amy starts with a relatively simple drill at the wall and she explains that the skater must fully shift weight or the drill is worthless. Next, Amy moves away from the wall and she encourages coaches to have their skaters start […] Continue reading →
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Compulsory Figures – Threes to Center (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe continues her discussion of compulsory figures (also called school figures). In the previous videos in this series, Page laid out a set of circles without using a scribe , discussed the forward outside 8, briefly demonstrated the forward inside 8, explained the backward outside 8, and showed the backward inside 8. In this […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Moves In The Field – Inside Slide Chasse (Amy Brolsma)
Amy Brolsma shares some tips for teaching and properly executing an inside slide chasse or slip. This element shows up as a major part of the US Figure Skating Intermediate Moves In The Field Test. Although this element is not difficult, many skaters do not do it correctly. The most common error is many skaters […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Power Pulls – More Details (Karen Olson)
Karen Olson continues her discussion of power pulls. In two recent videos she covered forward power pulls and backward power pulls as independent elements and as they relate to the US Figure Skating Pre-Juvenile Moves in the Field test. In this video, Karen addresses one of the most common errors and offers ideas on how to […] Continue reading →
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Edge Class – Part 5 (Chris Conte)
Choreographer Chris Conte continues with his class on edges and power generation. As noted in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 this class was in Korea on one of Chris’s visits and you’ll notice Eun Hee Lee translating for her Korean skaters. Please excuse the audio on this video as it was […] Continue reading →
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Edge Class – Part 4 (Chris Conte)
Choreographer Chris Conte continues with his class on edges and power generation. As noted in Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 this class was in Korea on one of Chris’s visits and you’ll notice Eun Hee Lee translating for her Korean skaters. Please excuse the audio on this video as it was taken during […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Skills – Backward Power Pulls (Karen Olson)
Karen Olson explains and demonstrates how she teaches backward power pulls for skaters just learning power pulls and those working to pass the US Figure Skating Pre-Juvenile Moves in the Field test. This is a continuation of a recent video Karen did on forward power pulls. Karen also did a video a while back on […] Continue reading →
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How to Ice Skate – Backward Crossovers (Nick Perna)
Nick Perna shares his thoughts and insights about learning and teaching backward crossovers (also called crosscuts). This is a follow-up to his earlier video on forward crossovers. Much like the earlier video, this is an in-depth video covering details which are generally glossed over by many coaches. Nick begins the presentation by noting that most skaters […] Continue reading →
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Backward Cross Strokes (Amy Brolsma)
Amy Brolsma explains and demonstrates how she teaches backward cross strokes. (This video is a follow-up to Amy’s video on forward cross strokes.) Cross strokes appear repeatedly in the US Figure Skating Moves in the Field tests and are an excellent tool for choreographers to use with a skater to generate speed and power while […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Power Pulls – USFS Pre-Juvenile Moves (Karen Olson)
Karen Olson explains and demonstrates how she teaches forward power pulls for skaters just learning power pulls and those working to pass the US Figure Skating Pre-Juvenile Moves in the Field test. Karen did a previous video on power pulls but this video covers forward power pulls in more detail. As in the previous video, […] Continue reading →
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Edge Class – Part 3 (Chris Conte)
Choreographer Chris Conte continues with his class on edges and power generation. As noted in Part 1 and Part 2 this class was in Korea on one of Chris’s visits and you’ll notice Eun Hee Lee translating for her Korean skaters. Please excuse the audio on this video as it was taken during the class […] Continue reading →
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Edge Class – Part 2 (Chris Conte)
Choreographer Chris Conte continues with his class on edges and power generation. As noted in Part 1, this class was in Korea on one of Chris’s visits and you’ll notice Eun Hee Lee translating for her Korean skaters. Please excuse the audio on this video as it was taken during the class with no wireless […] Continue reading →
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Edge Class – Part 1 (Chris Conte)
Choreographer Chris Conte teaches a class on edges and power generation. This class was in Korea on one of Chris’s visits and you’ll notice Eun Hee Lee translating for her Korean skaters. Please excuse the audio on this video as it was taken during the class with no wireless microphones so it can be difficult […] Continue reading →
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Creating Figure Skating Footwork Using FERTS Game – Part 2 (Nick Perna)
Nick Perna continues his discussion of the figure skating dice game he invented called FERTS for working on figure skating turns and steps and developing a clearer understanding of the definitions of the major turns in skating. As discussed in part 1, The FERTS game is a natural extension of Nick’s previous presentations of orphan […] Continue reading →
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Creating Figure Skating Footwork Using FERTS Game – Part 1 (Nick Perna)
Figure skating coach Nick Perna discusses a dice game he invented called FERTS for working on figure skating turns and steps and developing a clearer understanding of the definitions of the major turns in skating. The FERTS game is a natural extension of Nick’s previous discussions of orphan turns. Nick explains that FERTS stands for […] Continue reading →
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Forward Cross Strokes (Amy Brolsma)
Amy Brolsma explains and demonstrates how she teaches forward cross strokes. Cross strokes appear repeatedly in the US Figure Skating Moves in the Field tests and are an excellent tool for choreographers to use with a skater to generate speed and power while changing lobes or circles. Related Video: Figure Skating Forward Cross Strokes (Karen […] Continue reading →
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Unrecognized Figure Skating Turns – Orphan Turns Part 2 (Nick Perna)
Figure skating coach Nick Perna continues his discussion of a set of unnamed and unrecognized turns that he calls orphan turns because they don’t below to any family and they have no formal name. In the previous video, Nick demonstrated a forward inside orphan mohawk which he dubbed the “brackhawk.” In this video, Nick discusses […] Continue reading →
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Unrecognized Figure Skating Turns – Orphan Turns Part 1 (Nick Perna)
Nick Perna begins a discussion of what he calls “orphan turns” in figure skating. He calls them orphan turns because these “forgotten” turns don’t belong to any family and they have no formal names. These turns are generally ignored and certainly not taught formally. In this video, Nick explains the basics of turns and the […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Spiral – Off-Ice Training for Strength and Flexibility (Kristina Anderson)
Figure skating strength and conditioning coach Kristina Anderson explains how to properly train the spiral position off the ice. This is an outstanding video, both for the detail of the instruction and for the quality of the demonstrated positions. For low level skaters struggling with the spiral position or the position of a camel spin, […] Continue reading →
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Advanced Figure Skating Stops and Skids – Part 2 (Nick Perna)
In the video below, Nick Perna continues his discussion of figure skating stops and skids and covers a whole range of advanced stops and skids. He demonstrates a back two foot stop and again recommends that all skaters learn this stop on both feet. He does not allow his skaters to stop using the toe […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Stops and Skids – Part 1 (Nick Perna)
In the video below, Nick Perna begins a discussion of stops and skids. Nick starts by noting the importance of learning a variety of stops and skids. But he also acknowledges that beyond the very basic stops taught at the lowest levels of figure skating, stops and skids get very little formal attention. Many high […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Moves In The Field – Forward Inside Loops (Karen Heng Olson)
Karen Heng Olson teaches forward inside loops. See Karen’s presentation on forward outside loopsbefore watching this video. As with the forward outside loops, the shoulders start twisted into the circle. Karen emphasized the need to go slow when learning this skill as many skaters will use too much speed initially. Just like the video on forward outside […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Moves In The Field – Forward Outside Loops (Karen Heng Olson)
Karen Heng Olson teaches forward outside loops. As Karen notes in her introductory comments in this video, “as freestyle coaches, without taking as much time as they did for figures, it’s still a process to teach loops. It’s going to take a while. You have to be patient.” She explains how she only teaches one aspect […] Continue reading →
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Teaching Beginning Ice Skating – Forward Crossovers (Nick Perna)
Nick Perna shares his thoughts and insights on crossovers (also called crosscuts). This is an in-depth video covering details which are generally glossed over by many coaches. As Nick says, “To me, forward crossovers and back crossovers, really to do them correctly, it involved a lot of skill and a lot of skating basics that have […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Backward Cross Strokes (Karen Olson)
Karen Olson explains and demonstrates how she teaches backward cross strokes. This video is a continuation of her video on forward cross strokes. Backward cross strokes are an important skating skill but they’re often performed incorrectly, especially at the lower skating levels. These are part of the US Figure Skating Juvenile Moves in the Field […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Forward Cross Strokes (Karen Olson)
Karen Olson explains and demonstrates how she teaches forward cross strokes. This is an important skating skill, and it first appears in the US Figure Skating Juvenile Moves in the Field Test. Karen starts these with an exercise to work on shoulder positioning and hip-against-shoulder movement. The drill is simple, but very helpful in developing […] Continue reading →
