What is Ice Dancing?

The other night I was at a family dinner, and we were discussing the US Figure Skating Championships which was currently taking place. We all commented on the spectacular skating performances, but we were especially amazed by Alysa Liu and Nathan Chen. My aunt then casually remarked how technical freestyle skating is, and how it is “way more difficult than ice dancing” because of the jumps.

There has always been a big misconception that ice dancing is “easier” than freestyle. Having competed in both disciplines, I can attest to the fact that freestyle and ice dancing focus on different skills and elements, making them both EQUALLY difficult. As it is my mission to educate my readers, I would like to explain how figure skating and ice dancing each have its own distinct challenges in order to finally put an end to the maligned perception of ice dancing.

Ice dancing is extremely technical because skaters are judged on the precision of their footwork, placement of the dance steps, accuracy of timing, and deepness of edges. Not only are ice dancers required to complete intricate footwork sequences to the exact beat of the music, they also have to master specific pattern (compulsory) dances which have standardized steps skated to a specific music genre. There are eight levels of dances- preliminary, pre-bronze, bronze, pre-silver, silver, pre-gold, gold, international- a total of 33 dances!!!

Chock & Bates’ Egyptian Snake Free Dance
Source: https://www.usfigureskating.org

Ice dancing is similar to ballroom dancing, but on ice. While freestyle skaters need to land clean triple and quadruple jumps, ice dancers must execute difficult steps and turns with extreme precision and timing. Instead of simply doing crossovers and connecting steps, ice dancers are judged on their speed, power, and flow through every turn and footwork. Skills such as rhythm, expression, musical interpretation, and gracefulness must also be mastered. Lastly, having good carriage and performing with grace are all critical to ice dancing. Before I learned to ice dance, I never worried so much about posture and extensions. Maintaining body alignment through extensions is essential in showing long lines and fluid grace. Many of these movements can be easily hidden in freestyle since jumps and spins receive all the attention. 

Among all the required elements, one of the most difficult for ice dancers to master is the twizzle sequence. Twizzles are multi-rotational turns on one foot moving continuously across the ice- unlike a spin which is performed in one place. The blade has a rocker which rocks back and forth, and during a twizzle, a skater needs to stay centered on the ball of the foot to maintain balance while spinning. Twizzles also have different levels of difficulty depending on their entries, arm positions, edge positions, number of turns, and change of rotational directions. 

Virtue & Moir’s Moulin Rouge Free Dance
Source: https://nationalpost.com/sports/olympics/simmons-its-not-easy-to-say-goodbye-to-tessa-virtue-and-scott-moir-for-them-or-for-us

I’ve always enjoyed watching both freestyle and ice dancing, but as I watch the US Nationals this week, I find ice dancing to be much more captivating. Of course, it’s great to see skaters land all their jumps from one end of the rink to the other. But I’ve grown to enjoy the more artistic aspect of skating, especially in ice dancing where skaters interpret their music and exhibit their character. I feel that ice dancing allows skaters to be more creative and show off their artistic expressions to reveal their unique personalities.

If you’re interested in watching an ice dance competition, you’re in luck because there a couple of local competitions you can attend in the coming weeks. On March 6-7, the Southern Connecticut Skating Club will be hosting its 1st annual Solo Dance Series Competition at the Terry Conors rink in Stamford, CT.  On March 27-29, the Morris Open will have its Dance Series competition at the Mennen Sports Arena in Morristown, NJ. Please check out the “Events” tab for more details.

One should choose a skating discipline not because one is easier/harder over the other, but because the skater genuinely enjoys it more. 

Interesting Figure Skating Fact

As we make fresh new beginnings in the new year, I thought it would be cool to provide a fun interesting fact about skating. Many of you may already know that figure skating got its name from the complex figures skaters were required to carve, as well as the fact that it is the oldest sport in Olympic Winter Games. 

Source: https://medium.com/learn-to-skate-usa/from-bones-to-zamboni-a-fun-history-of-ice-skating-7819ad53a0ca

But did you know that figure skates used to be made of animal bones?! Yes really - leg bones of large animals, like horses, deer, elk, and sheep! Many thousands of years ago around 3,000 BC, skating was done for practical purposes, mainly used as an efficient means of transportation helping ancient people glide across frozen lakes and rivers. Archaeologists believe that people in Finland were the first to invent ice skates due to the lakes that had to be crossed for hunting. I was amazed to learn that the Finns made holes through each end of the animal bones and strapped them with twine to their feet. Scientists believe they also used walking sticks and wooden poles to help push them forward on the ice. It was not until the 13th century when metal skates were introduced that gliding across the ice became much smoother (Source: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/88660/15-surprising-facts-about-figure-skating).

Pretty interesting, huh? Since these prehistoric origins, figure skating sure has come a long way to become the elegant and graceful sport we know now.  

Happy New Decade!...Learn New Skills & Enjoy a Lifetime of Skating!

What better way to start off a brand new decade than learning to skate?! 

Embrace winter and learn new skills that will last a lifetime while simultaneously enjoying the fun and fitness of skating. For those who already skate, the new year is the best time to set short and long-term goals and challenge yourself to new experiences. Please see my Sept 9, 2019 post “Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals” on how to make clear and defined goals to better keep you on track (https://www.figureskatingetc.com/new-blog/2019/9/16/setting-smart-goals).

US Figure Skating National Skating Month

As January is National Skating Month, this is the perfect time to get on the ice as many of your local rinks will host open houses and offer free lessons and exhibitions. I will once again lead my club’s National Skating Month event in Howell, NJ on Sat, Jan 25 (please see the “Events” page for more details). Also, in honor of Martin Luther King’s legacy of service, I will be giving free lessons alongside my colleagues at another local rink in Middletown and would love to have you all come out with your friends and family for a fun winter workout.  For more info, check out https://www.figureskatingetc.com/my-events/2019/12/31/5bc0o7o2jo5oe0rc37jp9dmbthuezw

Source: US Figure Skating FanZone

Also, January is a big month for figure skating as the US Figure Skating Championships are held every year to crown the national champions in ladies’ (girls’) singles, men’s (boy’s) singles, pair skating, and ice dancing for the senior, junior, novice, intermediate, and juvenile levels. For information on, or to get tickets for, the 2020 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, go to ncskate2020.com. For those who can't travel and watch live, there will be full coverage of the event on the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone, https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/2020/1/19/2020-toyota-us-figure-skating-championships-competition-central.aspx .

I look forward to sharing the joys of skating and making special memories on the ice with all of you.  Happy New Year!

My Interview with Learn to Skate USA

It was such an honor to work with Learn to Skate USA again! I had alot of fun being on the other side of the camera as this time, I was the one getting interviewed and photographed. I am so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait for future collaborations with Learn to Skate USA to continue sharing my knowledge and experiences.

Learn to Skate USA, January 2020 p 16

Skating Gift Ideas For Your Beginners

This holiday season, celebrate your skater and all his/her accomplishments! There’s no better way to get excited about skating than by spicing up one’s skating materials. Whether your skater is interested in cute accessories, stylish clothes, or productive supplies, there truly is something for everyone.  As you prepare for the biggest shopping day of the year- Black Friday, check out my list of top skating essentials for your beginners.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and happy holiday season!

Skate Guards

Every skater needs blade protection, so why not get creative? With Rockerz, skaters have the unique opportunity to mix and match various colors to create their own customized skate guards. Not only do skaters get the blade protection they need, they also get to show off their personality and creativity on the ice! 

Soakers

Soakers are a great way to transform a boring skating necessity into something fun and playful. Whether your skater likes crazy colors or furry friends, there’s a style for everyone. This inexpensive gift is a great way to add some flair to a skater’s everyday essentials. 

Blanket 

While this may seem like a cliche gift, this is something all skaters need. Skaters get sweaty from exercising on the ice, but what about off the ice? Watching a competition or waiting for an ice cut to end can be freezing-cold experiences. Especially in the colder months, a blanket is a great way to keep a skater cozy in the cold. 

I always keep a blanket in my car and use whenever I’m at a competition. Since I have to arrive early to warm up and get ready, there’s always extra time before my practice ice and competition begins. I also use my blanket to cover me up while sitting at the stands watching my fellow skaters perform and compete.

Journal 

If your skater is a visual learner, a journal is a great way to further his/her progress on the ice. Not only do skaters get the chance to document their experiences and memories, coaches can also draw diagrams and write important points to remember. By keeping a journal on the ice, skaters can easily refer back to their notes and have a positive learning experience.  

When I was young, my spin coach kept a skating journal of my progress. During every lesson, she wrote down what spins I worked on and how many revolutions I did so that next time, I would try to do more than previous lessons. Also, I was able to track how long it took me to master a certain spin and compare this information with her other students’ progress.

Skating purse 

Every skater has a bunch of necessities to bring on the ice (hair ties, chapstick, extra gloves, water, CDs, tissues, etc), so why not get stylish? While Kiss and Cry bags are the most popular and most functional, any purse or small bag works. By getting a unique bag for the ice, skaters can show off their fashion sense and easily carry all their belongings. 

Zuca bag or suitcase 

Even more important than a skating purse is a practical bag off the ice. Skaters must lug their skates, gloves, change of clothes, socks, water, etc to and from practice every day which is quite an ordeal. This holiday season, invest in a suitcase or Zuca bag to fit all your skaters’ necessities in one place. The Zuca bag is especially great because it serves as both a suitcase and a seat for skaters to put their skates on when rinks get crowded. 

I prefer a suitcase to carry my skates, towels, socks, etc. mainly because I needed a larger bag for both my freestyle and dance skates. As I started to compete more and travel far, I found having the suitcase to be much more convenient because I could keep all my skating belongings in the bag when I had to check in at the airport and then take my bag directly to the rink. Also, I like the spinner wheels on my suitcase. Since the wheels rotate 360 degrees, it allows for easy movement in any direction.

Water Bottle

Did you know that when athletes deplete more than 2% of their body weight, their performance drastically decreases? (https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/News/2018/April/01/Three-steps-to-hydrating-youth-athletes-for-healthy-performance). It’s important for your skater to stay hydrated as he/she works hard during practice and lesson time.

A customized water bottle with your skater’s favorite color and/or design is a perfect gift and will certainly stand out among the many other bottles, avoiding potential mix up with other skaters’ bottles. I highly recommend a vacuum insulated stainless steel bottle because it keeps the drink cold which is refreshing especially after a tough workout and also it’s easier to clean. I like the Hydroflask and S’well brand bottles due to their designs.

Skating clothes 

Arrive on the ice in style! Feeling great is key to skating great, so why not get in on the latest fashion trends? Whether your skater is into iconic skating brands such as ChloeNoel or casual workout clothes such as Lululemon, the rink is the perfect place to show off one’s updated wardrobe.

Happy Shopping!

What is a Blade's Radius of Hollow?

Now that my students’ parents know when to sharpen their child’s skates, many have encountered a problem when asked “What radius of hollow do you want?” and confused what the ‘right’ answer should be.

Before I provide you some guidance on the radius of hollow used by beginner skaters, let me first explain what the term means.  I won’t spend too much time going into detail because it can get very technical; however, I will try to give an overview so you have at least a basic understanding. 

A blade’s hollow is the length running between the two edges on a blade or the curve that’s carved into the bottom of the blade. This shape is created by grinding the blade with a sharpening wheel. The size of your blade hollow has a significant impact on how you skate. You can have a deep or shallow hollow depending if you want more or less edge. 

Photo Courtesy: https://weekendwarriorshockey.com/how-sharp-should-my-skates-be-blade-hollow-demystified-2/

The depth of the hollow is determined by the radius. It’s called radius of hollow because the grinding stone that is used to sharpen your blade has a curve on it.  This curve on the stone is formed from the radius of a circle which is the same curve that is used to shape the skate’s blade surface when sharpened- in the shape of a hollow. A smaller radius means a smaller circle which creates a deeper hollow, making the blades feel sharper and have more edge (or more bite). 

A normal hollow is generally 1/2” to 1” (most beginners are 3/4” to 1”).  A larger hollow is recommended for beginners because it gives the skater greater glide and speed since the edges are not digging deep into the ice. As your child’s skating improves and skills advance, you can go from a shallow hollow of 3/4“ to a deeper radius of 5/8” to 1/2”.  I find the attached chart detailing the different radius of hollow a handy reference to have in figuring out what measure has less/more bite and glide. Also, I find the diagram below to be helpful- it’s not drawn to scale but is exaggerated to help show the difference between the radius of hollow for the specific measures.

Photo courtesy: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Skate-blade-radius-of-hollow-ROH-frontal-view-Units-for-the-25-50-and-75-is_fig2_249956702

My figure skate blades have 1/2” hollow which gives me a good balance of having a sharp feel and edge along with more glide and speed. Contrary, my dance blades have a deep 3/8” hollow (most ice dancers have 7/16”- 3/8” hollow) because it’s critical for me to perform intricate footwork and deep edges and turns. The only drawback with a deep hollow is that you don’t get as much speed and so you have to work harder to get more glide. Also, the deeper the hollow, the more often you have to get the blades sharpened to maintain the edge. That’s why I get my dance skates sharpened much more frequently than my freestyle skates. It’s always an adjustment for me switching back and forth to these different skates but I feel its what’s appropriate for me in these two different skating disciplines. The two diagrams that I’ve attached show the different radius of hollow in my freestyle and dance blades. It’s difficult to see because it’s only 1/8” of a difference but my dance blade has a deeper hollow.  

As your skating level changes, you will require a different radius of hollow so you’ll need to experiment and find the measure which works best for you. It took me almost a whole year before I determined what radius I was most comfortable with so don’t worry as you and your child will find the ‘right’ hollow.