Moves in the field and skating skills expert Karen Olson discusses and demonstrates specific details of the Straight Line Step Sequence from the USFS Junior Moves in the Field test. Karen walks through much of the pattern and discusses what makes certain sections or transitions difficult for skaters. She offers many coaching tips to speed the learning process.
Karen starts by teaching this on a line so skaters are focused on the axis of the pattern and the edge quality. As Karen notes, “None of the turns in [this sequence] are new, so this shouldn’t be that hard of a move for kids to learn. It’s basically: teach them the steps, help them find where the power comes from, and keep getting it better and performing it. The other thing is finding a really comfortable rhythm.” For the rhythm, Karen recommends playing music such as movie soundtracks.
After showing the initial steps, Karen notes that the push into the twizzle after the counter is “hard” because the edge quality after the counter is usually lacking. This effects the twizzle (parallel to the axis) as well as the chasse which should go back to the axis. The double threes after the second twizzle are also challenging for most skaters, and Karen offers a valuable tip for improving the edge quality (wide free leg on swing from back to front prior to the turns). She also offers insights for the rockers that follow the double three.
Karen teaches this move in sections on the line. When putting it on the long axis of the rink, many skaters tend to flatten the lobes (both from too much and too little speed). For skaters with more speed, having flatter lobes ultimately makes the pattern too stretched down the ice. Karen explains the chasse should happen before the center of the rink and the counter should be at center ice.
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