Progressives?

[ferelu]

What are forward progressives?

[backspin]

To the untrained eye, fwd progressives look like fwd crossovers. The difference is, that in a crossover the crossing (outside) foot lifts up and over the skating foot, and sets down on the ice in the "crossed" position. In a progressive, the crossing foot hits the ice *before* it has crossed through, then both feet track on the ice briefly, as the outside foot slides through in front and the inside foot pushes under. This gives a more powerful stroke, and a longer, prettier line to the legs as it's done.

Ice dancers do only progressives, never crossovers, but any higher level freestyle skater will also be doing progressives.

Hope that makes sense! Hard to describe on paper!