A question about how Skaters keep their balance when not putting their arms out.

[FSWer]

Ok,I've always wondered about this. We know that in order to keep your balance,we put our arms out like a scale. Which Skaters do on some moves. BUT...can any Skater out there help me understand how and why Skaters are able to find and keep their balance when doing a move that DOESN'T require putting their arms out? For example,the type of Spiral (I'm not sure if there is a special name for it), were the Skater is holding her Blade with 1 hand,and her Leg with the other. Such as in this link...http://www.iceskatingintnl.com/image...20JLFS%201.jpg Thanks.

[Clarice]

Skaters learn to balance on their blades the same way you balance on your feet. Putting your arms out helps with balance, but you don't have to do it. You don't have to put your arms out to stand on the floor, and with enough practice you wouldn't need to do it when you stand on the ice, either. Sometimes skaters put their arms out to help with balance, and other times they do it just because it looks nice.

[AndyWarhol]

practice.

[Johnny_Fever]

Speed skaters spend a good portion of the race with hands behind back to reduce air resistance.

[leafygreens]

With practice your body learns to rely on other muscles so you don't need your arms to assist as much.

[FSWer]

With practice your body learns to rely on other muscles so you don't need your arms to assist as much.

An example?

[overedge]

An example?

I'm not sure what you are asking for an example of.

[FSWer]

I'm not sure what you are asking for an example of.

An example of how Skaters rely on other parts of their body.

[overedge]

Well, as you learn to do a spiral, or learn to do it better, your core muscies in your abdomen, and your back and legs get stronger. So you don't have to hold your arms as still.

[FSWer]

I don't understand.

[Sylvia]

Think about it as learning to balance/center your hips over your skate blades as you're skating. The more stable you feel over your blades, the less you need your arms for extra balance.

[FSWer]

Think about it as learning to balance/center your hips over your skate blades as you're skating. The more stable you feel over your blades, the less you need your arms for extra balance.

Wat is balance Centering?

[overedge]

You're balanced when you're centred over a part of your body. When you're standing upright, you're balanced because you're centred vertically over your two legs. When you're doing a spiral on the ice, you're balanced because you're centred horizontally over the leg you're skating on.

[FSWer]

You're balanced when you're centred over a part of your body. When you're standing upright, you're balanced because you're centred vertically over your two legs. When you're doing a spiral on the ice, you're balanced because you're centred horizontally over the leg you're skating on.

How do you do that though? Get balanced like that?

[Sylvia]

How do you do that though? Get balanced like that?

Some helpful advice was given in your Training reports thread: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...33#post3575033

[Aussie Willy]

How do you do that though? Get balanced like that?

Get your weight over one leg.

[Clarice]

How do you do that though? Get balanced like that?

FSWer, when you just stand normally on the floor in your shoes, you ARE balanced over your feet. Right? It's no different when you're on skates.

Can you stand on one foot on the floor in your shoes? If you can, you are able to balance over that one foot. If you can't do it in shoes, you won't be able to do it in skates, either.

If you CAN stand on one foot in shoes, you might still have some trouble on skates. Make sure you start with your feet close together before you pick up one foot. If your feet are far apart, you won't be balanced over the foot you want to stand on and you'll have to put the other foot down right away. Also, make sure that that skate you're trying to stand on is straight up and down. If you rock over to the inside edge, which is very common, you'll have to put the other foot down. This often happens if people don't have their skates tied tightly enough around the ankles.

[FSWer]

FSWer, when you just stand normally on the floor in your shoes, you ARE balanced over your feet. Right? It's no different when you're on skates.

Can you stand on one foot on the floor in your shoes? If you can, you are able to balance over that one foot. If you can't do it in shoes, you won't be able to do it in skates, either.

If you CAN stand on one foot in shoes, you might still have some trouble on skates. Make sure you start with your feet close together before you pick up one foot. If your feet are far apart, you won't be balanced over the foot you want to stand on and you'll have to put the other foot down right away. Also, make sure that that skate you're trying to stand on is straight up and down. If you rock over to the inside edge, which is very common, you'll have to put the other foot down. This often happens if people don't have their skates tied tightly enough around the ankles.

Don't you use your arms when balancing on one foot on the floor too?

[Clarice]

No, I don't have to. I can stand on one foot with my arms at my sides if I want to. But if you need to stretch your arms out to help balance on one foot, you should do that.

[Aussie Willy]

Don't you use your arms when balancing on one foot on the floor too?

Depends on the person. Some do, some don't. There is no rule that you have to have your arms out to balance.