World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger shares a number of exercises intended to teach edge control, edge pressure, alignment, and upper body rotational control with respect to double (and triple) loop development. Audrey begins by having the class do “scallops” on two feet. She demonstrates scallops and describes them. She says, “A scallop is when your feet are crossed and you just do the outside edge and you make these little turtle shell shapes.” Some coaches explain these as repeating “pulls” on one foot, and others liken the movement to the undercut of back crossovers (without lifting the undercut foot off the ice). The feet stay crossed throughout these movements, and the skater should perform these scallops without allowing any movement of the shoulders which should be turned strongly toward the inside of the circle. Although not discussed in the video, a very common error during scallops is when the shoulders keep reacting to the foot movement, rather than staying still.
Next Audrey raises the difficulty by asking for scallops on one foot. This is essentially the same except the non-axis foot is now lifted off the ice, although it should remain crossed (non-axis foot inside the tracing made by the axis foot). Olympic team medalist Mirai Nagasu demonstrates these and makes them look easy (they are not). Audrey describes it as “edge pressure and curve” and each scallop or pull should create a ripping sound on the ice (edge pressure!). While helping one skater, Audrey describes the turning of the axis foot on the ice to create the “turtle shell” and she again emphasizes the need to keep the free leg/foot across.
Progressing to even more challenging exercises, Audrey asks for one-foot scallop, on-foot scallop, twizzle. This is very challenging for skaters who do can do basic scallops but lack true edge pressure which is needed to create rotational energy. Again Mirai makes it look easy. Notice how Mirai keeps her feet crossed into the twizzle while most of the skaters in class struggle to keep the feet crossed. Audrey calls this error “unhooking” the free leg, and she addresses this with a simple drill of “scratching a mosquito bite” on the outside of the axis leg with the free leg/foot.
To finish the video Audrey describes another drill used by International coach and jump specialist Jeremy Allen for double loop development. In this exercise the skater sets up for a back outside three turn and slaps their own free foot with their axis side hand. This forces the skater to keep the feet crossed and also raise the free foot for the proper “h-position” or “4-position” for loop take-off.
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