Figure skating specialist coach Sheila Thelen works with a skater using an off-ice stationary harness and an electric spinner. Prior to the harness lesson, Sheila takes baseline balance mat measurements in order to compare balance after the harness session. She notes that this process can produce unexpected results in teenagers since their brains are still developing, while adults age 23 and higher tend to get more consistent balance mat results.
When an electric spinner is available, the skater doesn’t have to focus on creating the rotational energy and instead can focus on stability and the desired positions. In this case, the skater doesn’t even jump up into the air as she is simply lifted off the platter by coach Sheila. Because this skater has a tendency to arch the neck, Sheila has the skater “bite the coat” to keep the head still.
Sheila has the skater do d-position and when it wobbles out of alignment she has the skater do “starfish” and “fast axels” as a way to re-center and hang properly. Notice the emphasis on “toes up” which creates a flox position with the axis leg locked out. Sheila uses a toy such as a rubber chicken in the skaters non-axis hand to build awareness of the movements and position. For an air position which is twisted to the axis side, the rubber chicken is held in the non-axis hand and placed under the axis armpit.
Sheila finishes the video by retesting the skater on the balance mat. The results will be shared in Part 2.
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