Elementi za začetnike. Kako lepo drsati?

With the onset of the winter season, more and more skating rinks open and city dwellers bravely take to the ice. And those who have at least once admired figure skating try to follow the professionals in their graceful tricks. Some elements will be too complicated and even unsafe for beginners, while others can be learned by yourself. We tell you why it is better not to try to do many of the movements of skaters on your own, and what can be done even by beginners.

What elements should not be repeated after professional skaters?

The answer is simple: jumps, spins, elements of spirals and complex step paths. These are the tricks that make figure skating spectacular, but beginners are not recommended to perform them for several reasons.

Insufficient physical preparation

First of all, beginners will lack the physical fitness to perform difficult elements. In order to stand firmly on the skates, skaters train daily, several times a day: both on the ice and in the gym. They develop strength, endurance, stretching and even the vestibular apparatus. If a person without experience tries to perform even a light rotation, then dizziness will not be avoided.

Features of skates

Skates for mass skating are not equipped enough to perform complex elements in them. First, the boot is much softer than that of professional skates. Hardness is needed to stabilize the foot, for example, when landing from a jump. Secondly, the blades are different: in skaters they are sharpened in a special way and have developed teeth in the front, which do not allow you to fall face down on the ice. The higher the level of skating an athlete has, the more advanced the skate should have a blade made of quality steel.

Inability to fall

With all the professionalism, even experienced skaters often fall. But they are less likely to get a serious injury than beginners. It’s all about the technique of falling. Athletes from the very beginning of their career are taught to land on the outer part of the thigh if possible. This is the least painful outcome. Beginners, however, due to lack of practice, can fall incorrectly and hit quite hard.

Hooks

It is important for every skater to learn how to turn around. Hooks are one of the many ways to do this. You can start this move when you have a good feel for the ice, have mastered the ribs and arcs and are confident in controlling the body.

Run-overs

This is the simplest type of step, which allows skaters to gain speed and is the basis of all gliding. Run-overs can be performed both forward and backward – a variant for more advanced skaters.

Izpadi

The element that most often decorates the step track in the program. In a lunge, the center of gravity is shifted to the leg bent at the knee. The free leg is straightened at the back, the ridge is turned. The back remains straight.

Cirque

This is a forward or backward movement on one of the ribs – inner or outer (according to the direction) – around the supporting leg, which is placed on a prong. The element resembles a circular drawing in a notebook.

There are many exercises and movements to learn how to break the ice with confidence. All that we have already mentioned is only a small part of them. The most important thing is to perform each element standing firmly on the skates and feeling the ice. And best of all – under the supervision of a professional coach.