Joan Orvis introduces one of the most basic school figures pattern. In this video, she focuses on the forward inside and forward outside edges. Notice the skater’s strong position and alignment and lean into the circle. The skater remains over her hip and she also maintains great posture. One could use this video as a model for proper positioning of a skater on a forward edge (hint).
Joan is not alone in re-introducing or continuing to teach figures to her skaters. Coaches all over the world are recognizing that figures are a valuable training tool for the basics of the sport. In fact, many coaches are now teaching moves patterns by first teaching the important skills in the context of figures (on patch sessions).
Most observers at any test session in the U.S. would probably agree that skaters are not learning proper control, neatness, and attention to detail just by working on the moves in the field patterns. On the other hand, the controlled environment of figures seems to be more effective at developing the basics of edge control and proper body alignment. Joan generously says the most skaters have “inconsistent edges” on their moves patterns.
Joan makes the point that when teaching jumps and spins, it’s important for the skater to understand the concepts of “inside the circle” and “outside the circle.” As Joan notes, in spins we step into the circle and on jumps we step out of the circle. She’s found that it helps her skaters to actually skate the circle in the context of figures so they understand this very well. (And as Joan notes, if a skater drops their free side into the circle on the back inside edge of a salchow entrance, they can’t jump and get out of the circle.)
Joan explains the free foot and hip positions in detail. She also talks about blade usage and positioning. She also explains what she means by “pulling on the edge” and what causes it. Joan says, “Until you put a child on a figure, they don’t understand cause and effect. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” She emphasizes how subtle the necessary movements are.
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3 responses to “Ice Skating Figures: Forward Inside And Outside Edges (Joan Orvis)”
Coaches need to get back to the basics if the more advanced skills are to be maintained and progressed further. GREAT job, Joan!
Long live figures! The slow, steady march of time has revealed what I feared when we eliminated figures: we threw the baby out with the bath water. Sure, the bath water needed refreshed because there was too much emphasis on print and not enough on execution. But the baby — body and edge awareness and control — was needlessly discarded and not adequately replaced by Field Moves or Skating Skills (here in Canada). Thanks, Joan, for sharing and making me feel like less of a lone wolf for having a weekly patch session with my skaters! I will continue to hold out hope that our skating associations will honestly assess and admit what was lost with the elimination of figures and work to bring the discipline back in a fresh, updated way!
This video shows a skater that has learned the edges almost perfectly. It would have been better to break this topic of edges into parts and start with a skater from level 3 and teach her how to skate on edges, and at the end we have this awesome video, thank you.