Ellyn
12-07-2006, 01:29 PM
I'd say, if you feel the need to spend most of a freestyle session working on hockey circles, do move around from one circle to another. But most important, pay attention to what the other skaters are doing.
Inevitably there will be times when more than one person aims for the same part of the ice at the same time, and at least one of them has to abort what they're doing and try again. Don't feel bad when someone has to stop to avoid you a first time. You have just as much right to the space as they do (unless their program music is playing). But then let them have the next turn.
It's better to spin in the middle than in the corners, but watch out for skaters in program, or working on footwork sequences or advanced moves that might come through the center. You'd probably be better off slightly off center than right on the center line.
The circles at 1:00 and 7:00 around the rink are where most skaters will put lutzes, and for the basic lutz setup they're coming into the corner backward and can't see who's there except by looking over the shoulder. If you see a skater coming backward on the diagonal toward the corner for the jump, try not to be near them when they're ready to jump.
Some skaters, especially if they jump clockwise, will do lutzes in the corners at 11:00 and 5:00. Counterclockwise jumpers may put double salchows or other jumps on those circles as well.
If you see a skater come around two or three times and have to abort the jump each time because you're in the way, it's time apologize and move somewhere else. And don't just silently move to the corner diagonally opposite because the skater might have the same idea and move to the other end at the same time.
Also be aware of Moves in the Field patterns. A lot of them especially at the lower levels travel counterclockwise around the perimeter of the rink, curving back and forth toward the boards and the center on curves that will vary in size depending on the specific moves and the size and skill of the skater. (Most dances follow similar but less predictable patterns, in case people tend to practice dance on the freestyle sessions.) If you see a skater trying to start a pattern with some intro steps across the end of the ice toward that corner, try to get out of the way until they've finished the first lobe and moved on down the ice past the hockey circle. If you see that the skater has to abort the move and goes back to the center or other side of that end of the ice to restart the intro steps, just stand at the boards or move to a completely different part of the ice to let them get their pattern started the second time.
Inevitably there will be times when more than one person aims for the same part of the ice at the same time, and at least one of them has to abort what they're doing and try again. Don't feel bad when someone has to stop to avoid you a first time. You have just as much right to the space as they do (unless their program music is playing). But then let them have the next turn.
It's better to spin in the middle than in the corners, but watch out for skaters in program, or working on footwork sequences or advanced moves that might come through the center. You'd probably be better off slightly off center than right on the center line.
The circles at 1:00 and 7:00 around the rink are where most skaters will put lutzes, and for the basic lutz setup they're coming into the corner backward and can't see who's there except by looking over the shoulder. If you see a skater coming backward on the diagonal toward the corner for the jump, try not to be near them when they're ready to jump.
Some skaters, especially if they jump clockwise, will do lutzes in the corners at 11:00 and 5:00. Counterclockwise jumpers may put double salchows or other jumps on those circles as well.
If you see a skater come around two or three times and have to abort the jump each time because you're in the way, it's time apologize and move somewhere else. And don't just silently move to the corner diagonally opposite because the skater might have the same idea and move to the other end at the same time.
Also be aware of Moves in the Field patterns. A lot of them especially at the lower levels travel counterclockwise around the perimeter of the rink, curving back and forth toward the boards and the center on curves that will vary in size depending on the specific moves and the size and skill of the skater. (Most dances follow similar but less predictable patterns, in case people tend to practice dance on the freestyle sessions.) If you see a skater trying to start a pattern with some intro steps across the end of the ice toward that corner, try to get out of the way until they've finished the first lobe and moved on down the ice past the hockey circle. If you see that the skater has to abort the move and goes back to the center or other side of that end of the ice to restart the intro steps, just stand at the boards or move to a completely different part of the ice to let them get their pattern started the second time.