Normal or Not for a skater. | Golden Skate

Normal or Not for a skater.

S

singerskates

Guest
Normal or Not for a skater.

Is it normal for a freestyle skater to be able to reach back almost to 90 degrees in a layback position and is it normal to be able to bring your freeleg up behind you almost to your head?
 
A

AshBugg44

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

If you can do that it means that you are very flexible, and very lucky! I'm working on my flexibility, so hopefully I will be able to do that soon!
 
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Idleracer

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

<font size=4>[c]<font face="comic sans ms">It might not be normal for most skaters, but I know of at least one for whom it's like walking and chewing gum simultaneously:
<img src="http://www.shanfan.com/nongymn/skating/women/lr99w5.jpg" height=188 width=188 border=1> <img src="http://www.shanfan.com/nongymn/skating/women/lr99w21.jpg" height=188 width=188 border=1>
<img src="http://www.shanfan.com/nongymn/skating/women/lr99w26.jpg" height=254 width=344 border=1>
 
K

Kzarah

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

We think it's easier if you are female, feline or both. Girls and kittens just bend easier.
Daniel and Little Lulu
 
F

Figureskates

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

I cannot even imagine bending like that...At 56, it took me forever to be able to open my hips enough to do a mohawk. I am working on my spiral and it is a slow process of just making my body bend so I can get my fee leg at least parallel with the ice....
 
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DJStuCrew

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

Totally NOT normal...ask your doctor. This is why it's a rare skill, and both beautiful and compelling to watch.
 
J

Joesitz

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

If you can do that kind of a layback then you worked very hard in acrobatics class before you started figure skating.

When you started figure skating you applied this acrobatic position to a spin and you did so very carefully.

The acrobatic moves as applied in figure skating are great crowd pleasers.

Joesitz
 
L

LADSKATER

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

Toller Cranston was noted for his flexibility. His coach said that was his greatest feature. She also said he had unusual flexibilty and could get into the most unusual positions. Not every skater has such a gift.


Ladskater
 
T

TashaKat

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

I went for 'no' because I'm presuming you mean in the context of a layback spin and I haven't got over the dizziness or the scariness of that yet! ....... I can do it 'off-ice' though but then I am hypermobile and did ballet from the age of 4!

L x
 
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Yazmeen42skater

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

I'm nowhere near getting a layback yet--just beginning one foot spin, but this is fascinating?

Interesting question: Does your flexibility in the move improve with more practice? I assume it would.

Thanks,

Beth (Yazmeen)
 
D

DJStuCrew

Guest
Flexibility

Yes, everything improves with practice, flexibility included. Be sure to have a good coach or at least an unbiased observer, because if you repeatedly practice a mistake, it will be hard to undo that. There's a thing called "muscle memory," which means that once you've practiced sufficiently, you'll be able to do some fairly difficult things without thinking of them. You can then concentrate on pushing the envelope and adding more difficulty. Be sure that the muscle memory you're developing is the correct way.
 
K

Kayskates

Guest
layback

I can do a pretty good layback, but it is not that kind of backbend. I can probably get the position off-ice. However, I have been doing a layback for a long time and learned it w/ a side lean. No one paid attn to things like that 10 yrs ago. It is a good layback too, but not the absolutely perfect level shoulders type. I think a lot of skaters including elites have this problem.

Kay
<a href="http://www.skatejournal.com" target="_new">www.skatejournal.com</a>
 
G

Glacierskater

Guest
Re: layback

Kayskates,
You posed an interesting issue...is the layback supposed to be straight back or to the side. I have usually seen them with the side layback, and assumed that was normal...I have not learned it yet, so I am clueless. Do you have to relearn it, or is it okay to go to the side?
 
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Ladskater

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

I wish! Unfortunately, my back is not very flexible. It's like gymnastics the more flexiblility a skater has the greater degree they can strike a pose.

Ladskater
 
M

mwkrules

Guest
Re: Normal or Not for a skater.

i can do it, but i'm young and very flexible.

you think thats wierd, my friend kirsty can do a beillman and can bring her for to her chin when she does it! thats not normal!
 
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