Edge Control With Turns (Nick Perna)

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International and World figure skating coach Nick Perna explains and demonstrates a simple drill he uses to build edge control and complete mastery of turns.  This video is a follow-up to his video on the Shut Up Drill.  The concept of this drill is straightforward, but it can be incredibly challenging for all but the very best skaters in terms of control and mastery of edges and turns.

Using the big hockey circle as an example, Nick wants the skater to be able to enter and exit the basic turns (inside and outside 3-turns, brackets, mohawks, choctaws, etc) with complete control while gliding on the circle.  (This drill could be referred to the Shut Up Drill With Turns.) Nick says a skater that has mastered a turn should be able to do a turn on a “circle of your choice, and it has to be done with the speed, the cadence, and the size that you want to do… not that the turn is dictating.”

Most skaters, even those with a school figures background, simply lack the control to maintain the circle after the turn.  As Nick explains, skaters who do this drill “really do see what the issues are.”  It comes down to overall body alignment, rotational control, and proper blade usage before, during, and after the turn.


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9 responses to “Edge Control With Turns (Nick Perna)”

  1. jb

    Love these shut up drills! hope more drill to come. thank you

    Reply
  2. Jen

    I really like Nick Perna’s videos and teaching style! For this one, I see this drill as a way to identify areas that need improvement, but once one identifies that they don’t have perfect control of their edges in their turns, how do you go about improving that? Aside from the obvious, time and practice, is there something else to include when practicing these that would aid in improving control, or additional drills that might help?

    Reply
  3. Nick Perna

    Absolutely, Jen, there are many drills that I use to improve the alignment and control of ALL the various turns used in skating! Take a look back at some of my previous videos on icoachskating.com and pay particular attention to any of them that use the word “Alignment” in them. I would also like to do a video series someday on the complete method I use to teach a CONTROLLED turn…of any type! Thank you for your comments.

    Reply
  4. babbette

    So, how bout some checking tips to go along with this?

    Reply
  5. Thomas

    This would help jump entrances especially the salchow.
    Thanks and I like your helium voice too sir 😉

    Reply
  6. Nick Perna

    Babbette…True edge control after a turn (“checking”) is a difficult skill for most skaters to learn and a difficult skill for most coaches to teach. The piece I presented above was not meant to go into the details of executing proper turns. I would love to share my complete method of teaching CONTROLLED turns…of any type, in a video series here on icoachskating.com in the future. Thank you for your interest.

    Reply
  7. Dawn

    My particular concern comes from skaters that have self taught themselves or have had little coaching. They want to become more serious in their skating and proceed to go through MIF and we are stuck at Prelim because the 3 turns are not held well on the line nor are they true turns. The skater appears to have hopped when I look at the tracing, I’ve tried various explanations, sink into the ice and deeper knee bend. Hold each edge. Any additional comments or future video I can look forward to?

    Reply
  8. Nick Perna

    Hello, Dawn, as I stated in my reply to Babbette above….true edge control after a turn (“checking”) is a difficult skill for most skaters to learn and a difficult skill for most coaches to teach. I would love to share my complete method of teaching CONTROLLED turns…of any type, in a video series here on icoachskating.com in the future. Thank you for your interest.

    Reply
  9. Daren KathrynEddy

    Looking forward to your CONTORLLED turns video! Your lessons have really helped. Will share with my instructors. Thank you.

    Reply

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