Grassroots To Champions Skating Camp: Private Lesson – Part 3 (Chris Conte)

This is the final of three videos of a Chris Conte lesson at the 2009 G2C Extreme Super Camp.  In thefirst part, Chris discussed flow and important body positions.  In the second part, Chris focused on flow and natural movement in jump combinations.  In this final part of the lesson, Chris uses his assistant coach Odie whom we briefly met in part 2.  (Odie is a $1.99 inflatable duck.  The name comes from the Koreans that train each summer in Fairfax.  Odie means duck in Korean.)

Chris uses Odie to help his skater visualize and fully understand the technique and mechanics he’s asking of them.  This is an example of how creative Chris is.

Here’s some valuable insights.

“The pivot on take-off should bring Odie’s head all the way forward and his bill should be pointed upward.”  This is another way to say the jump takes off forward and the skater is slightly set back at take-off.  (This set back position surprises most coaches but it’s there in the jumps of top skaters and is easily seen in slow motion video.)

“Skaters should turn their lower body to facilitate faster rotation, not their upper body.”  The lower body and the edge on the ice create the majority of the rotational energy for the jump.  That’s why so many top coaches do everything they can to prevent pre-rotation of the shoulders in most jump take-offs.

“Effortlessness.  One of my new favorite words.”  Top skaters have an ease about their movements that increases their efficiency and aids in the timing and tempo of their jumps.  It should be the goal of all skaters and coaches to constantly be making all skating movements efficient and well-timed.

Please leave a comment below.  Chris is a member of this website and would love to hear from you.

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