Coach and choreographer Kate Charbonneau continues a presentation on the USFS Preliminary Skating Skills (Moves in the Field) Test. In Part 1 she discussed the Forward and Backward Crossovers and in Part 2 she covered the Consecutive Outside and Inside Spirals. In Part 3 she explained the Forward Power Three Turns and in this video she shares the Alternating Forward Three Turns. Kate mentions that this pattern takes the most time and practice to master on the overall Prelim test.
She begins by demonstrating forward outside three turns on the pattern where the turn happens at the top of the lobe. She explains that many skaters wait too long to do the turn as a way to reduce the needed control on the back edge before the step onto the new lobe. Kate has her advanced demonstrators show the pattern, but she laughs and notes that these skaters (having forgot the details of this pattern) don’t “use their arms at all.” She recommends starting with the opposite arm in front on the forward outside three turns. After the turn the skater should check the shoulders strongly and look with the head in the travel direction (backward).
For the inside three turns, Kate teaches the step with the free side open, which means the skater leads with the skating side arm. There’s a strong arm and shoulder check after the turn to control the turn exit edge, and then the skater switches the arms (drops them close to the body) to prepare for the step onto the new lobe. The demonstrators do this part of the pattern better, probably because Kate just reviewed it. She then explains that the step from backward to forward for the new lobe can be challenging for many skaters so it can be practiced in isolation without the turn. The goal is to gather the feet, bend the knees and ankles, and push with power. This is also true on the forward outside three turn pattern performed earlier.
A major error many skaters struggle with is lobe shape as they tend to step at a diagonal rather than perpendicular to the axis line. She uses a marker and draws the desired pattern shape to help her skaters understand and execute it correctly. Another common error is using a toe push and this just takes time and dedicated practice to eliminate. Kate shares another tip, encouraging skaters to keep the free foot in and still during the arm switch/scissor on the inside three turn pattern.
To finish this video, Kate notes that skaters at this level will not typically fully master these skills for the test. She says, “Don’t be so picky that the skater is getting so bored and so discouraged. Really help them get as close as possible to what you want, but don’t let it hold you or them back.”
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