Amy Brolsma shows how she teaches forward outside figure loops. There’s been a renewal of interest in figure loops based on their use in footwork sequences for IJS programs and the new USFS moves in the field patterns. But many young coaches who never did figures have never really learned loops themselves and have not learned how to teach them. So today’s skaters and coaches will both benefit from this presentation.
In this video, Amy breaks the figure loop down in detail. She offers a starting drill, then builds up the element piece by piece. She talks about free leg placement and movement, head placement, edge pressure, the power pull exit, shoulder placement and movement, and where the weight is on the blade at each point during the loop. The timing is crucial to a good figure loop.
Amy encourages her skaters to initially practice the loop on two feet to get the feeling and the timing. She also recommends that a skater should take this element very slowly when learning it. Most skaters want to take it too fast and they end up with rolling circles which really aren’t figure loops. Judges and IJS technical callers know the difference so it’s worth working on.
I suspect that this is the most detailed presentation of the figure loops that a high percentage of people seeing this video will have ever seen. Please leave a comment.
Add to “My Favorites” (Beta testing)
7 responses to “Figure Skating Figures: Forward Outside Loops (Amy Brolsma)”
Thank you for the detailed explanation 🙂
I loved the breakdown of the blade usage/pressure at the top of the loop…. very nice !
Awesome! And very timely, too. Do you have any comments on loop size? IIRC, weren’t figure loops approximately the skater’s height (though it seemed like everyone did them smaller) with loops about 1/3 of the circle? How big should these be for moves?
This is a terrific presentation and explanation. Thank you so much!
Wow. As one of those new coaches who never did figures, I have tried in vain to learn loops. I always performed them incorrectly in footwork sequences, and each of the many coaches who moved forward to assist my learning of them did not take the time to lay it out this clearly. I feel like, for the first time, I actually understand the FO Loop! Amazing!
I love Amy’s presentation! I have done all the loops in figures, but it is great to have such a detailed explanation. I had forgotten about setting the free leg in front before switching the arms. This detail will help improve my Novice moves skater’s loops. THANK YOU Amy!!
[…] expert Kirsten Olson teaches another specialty figure that uses crosscuts, edge changes, and forward outside loops to create a clover pattern on the ice. You can see Kirsten’s other videos on specialty […]