Historical Injustice
Now it seems ridiculous and even ridiculous, but even at the beginning of the last century, figure skating was a purely masculine sport. Women were allowed to enter the ice, but this was considered a misdemeanor rather than an act. Female single skating appeared in 1906. And only after i8 years, the beautiful lady was allowed to compete at the World Championships. In this occasion, even a brass band was invited - if you skate with music! True, not only the musicians froze in the frost, but also the instruments: the pipes and trombones became quiet, and the competitors had to ride the sounds of the drumbeat. For an hour spent on a rink, you can burn up to 400 kcal
Figuratively speaking
- Herringbone is a series of the simplest steps in figure skating, when the skates move at an angle of 30 ° and there is a trail resembling a fur-tree.
- Cutting - first you slide on your left foot, and then turn around 180 ° and continue to go in the same direction, but with your back.
- Mouhouk - this simple element allows you to quickly change the direction of motion. Suppose you go on the right skate and at some point change your main leg. Mouhouok is open and closed. In the first case, the free leg is placed in front of the support, and in the second - behind.
Ballet on ice
The edge of the ridge has two edges-the outer and the inner. If you look closely at the movements of the skater, you will notice that it slides not strictly perpendicular to the ice, but with a slight inclination - either to the right or to the left. Let's try to master the technique of sliding movements. The forward movement can be conditionally divided into two phases. The first is sliding on one ridge, when the body is slightly forward, one foot is supporting, and the other is bent at the knee. In this case, the extensor muscles - quadriceps, calf and more tibia. They fix the leading leg in one position. Flexor - biceps femoris - at this moment it rests. In the second phase, the skater transfers the center of gravity to the other leg, which repels, and bends it in the knee. Priorities are changing. Another option for riding is backwards. It is difficult, but possible. So, the legs are shoulder width apart, knees bent, body slightly tilted forward.
The Queen of Ice
And finally, the turns. Without them, as you know, you will not go far. Suppose you need to turn right. You slightly bend and unfold in this direction first the shoulders, and then the body. In doing so, you repulse with your right foot, placing it on the outer edge, and carry the left leg along the inner edge of the blade. And in order to brake, you need to turn 90 °, perpendicular to the movement. Knees should remain half-bent, otherwise it will not be easy to keep the balance. Do not be surprised if at first you will have a whole body ache and an unpleasant sensation in the ankles appears. During skiing, all muscle groups work, but the main load is on the feet. For an hour spent on a rink, you can burn up to 4o kcal. Figure skating also develops coordination of movements and equally well strengthens respiratory and cardiovascular systems. In the end, the frosty air itself is useful. In winter there is more oxygen in it than in summer. No wonder they say: in the cold Russian everyone is young.
Crowned number
Having dealt with simple movements, you can move on to more complex ones. It is known that in 1772 an English artillery lieutenant and passionate fan of figure skating Robert Jones wrote his famous "Treatise on skating", in which he told about the most famous at that time elements - spirals and rotations. For a long time this book was considered the best of its kind. But exactly as long as Ulrich Salhov, Alois Lutz, Werner Rittberger and Axel Paulsen did not come up with their crown elements. Now these figures are called a school, or the alphabet of skating.
- Toe Loop is considered an uncomplicated element, so professional athletes often perform it as a second jump in the cascade. But for beginners, everything is not so simple. At the time of the jump, you need to pounce with your free foot from the surface of the ice and fly forward.
- Salchov (Salchov). He was invented by the Swedish figure skater Ulrich Salhov, who became the world champion 10 times. This figure is easy to distinguish from the others, since the flight precedes the swing free leg. The most common mistake - skater jumps into the air not immediately, but only turning half-turned.
- Rittberger (Loop) - a jump without a maha kick and hitting the skate with the teeth of the ice, when the skater, pushing the supporting leg, lands on the same leg. Performed in motion on the right skate, the supporting leg remains bent. To do this is quite difficult, so very often the athlete puts his free foot on the ice and jumps from two legs.
- Lutz (Lutz) - go to him from a long journey back on his left leg. The secret is that before jumping you need to lean a little forward, raise your right foot, and then hit the ice with the tooth and land on the other leg.
- Axel (Axel) - the only leap that is performed not with free, but with the leading leg. You drive, then jump up and only after that already in the air you make a turn, after which you land safely.
Around its axis
In addition to jumping, there are also rotations - unusually spectacular elements. They are simple - this movement on one leg to the right or left, and combined - during the rotation, the leg and position change. The screw is a standing motion: the free leg is bent before the supporting one, and the arms are woven on the chest. During the movement, the skater lowers his free leg down and straightens his hands up. The speed of rotation increases and a very effective trick is obtained. The top is the same, but in the sitting position: the supporting leg is bent, and the free leg is extended forward. Hands should be parallel to the ice.
Buy and save
Learning to skate is not difficult. But first you have to go to the sports store.
How to choose
Which shoes are better - leather or plastic? Three years ago, you would probably prefer a plastic - then it was incredibly fashionable. However, the foot in such shoes feels uncomfortable. Today they return to the classic - leather boots with long lacing. It is believed that they reliably fix the ankle and foot. And so that your feet do not freeze, stock up with special warm covers. They are made of fleece and put directly on the shoe. One way or another, the main thing is that the skates sit well, otherwise the skating will turn into a torment. Therefore, it is desirable to buy at least half a size more, so that you can wear it on a woolen sock.
Advice of professionals
The most important thing is not to be afraid in advance. You see the goal, you believe in yourself - go ahead! If you think that the ice is too unstable, squat and try to spring on your feet. And only when you are confident to stand on skates, you can try to do some elements. For example, the easiest is a half-turn jump: you ride on your left foot and jump to the right foot. This is something everyone can do. The main thing is that skating was really a pleasure. True, for me it has long been a job. The most terrible mistake that almost all beginners make when they first appear on the ice is the fall of the head backwards. So it is impossible to fall in any case. To avoid this, it is best to begin training at home: to learn how to group correctly and fall to the floor. And on the ice - go so that the body was slightly tilted forward.
How to sharpen
Trust professionals, even if you have seen several times how to sharpen skates, and are confident that you will be able to repeat it. Otherwise, you either hopelessly spoil the skids, or, being on the ice, you will get injured. Track it better so that your skates are always in excellent shape - they must be handed in to the workshop before each season. And that they are not blunted ahead of time, get special covers.
How to store
Covers can be of two types - hard and soft. The first ones are worn at the exit from the rink, while the latter are used for storing skates all year round. The latter are made of a fabric that perfectly absorbs moisture and protects the blades from corrosion. Sometimes, removing the figure shoes into the closet, the heel is varnished. But this is not the best solution: the sole begins to crack and, eventually, crumbles. It is better to lubricate with a special solution, which can be found in the shoe shop. But runners are recommended to handle technical petroleum jelly or fatty salt, then store in a dry dark place. Before the next winter.