Hi all, I started in July, but didn't skate for two months over x-mas.

I went for the first time in two months, I am a beginner but I was scared to go back on, more nervous than going into an exam!

I got problems with crossover, I can' get a decent push on the inside leg, the outside one is fine.

As well as that, I was told I step far into the circle when I am doing crossovers but they feel more secure that way, I dunno.

So on a hockey ice rink (size wise I mean), I would be doing like, two crossovers on a turn, whereas when I am watching hockey poeple they do like, 8 or something like that.

I am going slow though

I have some video of me doing them from before the 2 month gap, I can post them up if you want? By the way, I am a beginner so don't flame me!

From the looks of it maybe I am not bending knees enough or deep enough pushes, and I am leaning wrong?

-

Other than that I have had to give up on the lessons, I can't afford it, but my instructor thought I'd be able to do salchows and was teaching me them but I give up for now until I learn edges better!

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starting at 28

send a link to the videos.

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Hey friend, take it easy on yourself! You just started back so of coarse things are a little worse. Don't forget everyone has troubles with the under stroke in crossovers, its one of the things that is quite unnatural about skating and we all need to work on it. So the first things to do are always -> go back to the basics. Practice the FO edge glides. NOW do it with your skating knee really really bent. Now practice 2 footing it, just working on the underpush (BOY I find that tough to do, hmm, I thinks I'll work some of these tonight.) Here's the tough one: relax.

Wellcome back
Lyle

Take your time, don't put so much pressure on yourself. It will come in time!! Keep on practicing your edges too because they will help you with everything else (crossovers, 3-turns, etc).

If it helps, try skating the crossovers to some music that has a nice beat...get into a nice rhythm; bend deeper than you think you are bending and relax! It's supposed to be fun!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

ITA with the other replies, and:

That's called the "under push" and can be hard to get. I have two suggestions to help you get it. The first, is simply to lift the toe as you take your "under" foot off the ice. I figured that out myself as a means of avoiding catching the toepick on FXO's, but it turned out to be helpful in developing the push also. Watch others doing FXO's and you will see that toe come up. The second is much harder and you may need someone to demo it for you. You have to make the crossover without lifting the crossing foot off the ice. Instead, do a half swizzle pump and slide the foot over in front of the "under foot". Keep your knees well down while you do this or you will click your blades and learn about the "click of death" . This exercise almost forces you to do the under push, which is done with the outside edge, BTW, so you have to bend the outside of your ankle down towards the ice.

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I have trouble with xos too, and just found a new practice method that works for me. Maybe you can give it a try. It's off ice, which is kind of fun, if you don't mind looking a bit dorky at the gym (never bothers me - I'm used to it)!

Stand at a barre in front of a mirror. If you don't have one, the back of a chair will do fine. Bend one leg, cross under with the other leg. Try to keep the knee of your bent leg straight over the toe. Also try to keep your back straight. When you're making the underpush, look at that leg - is it straight or weirdly bent, is the toe up, are you able to get deeper into the bend and still hold it there? When you start feeling stronger, you can try to strap a small weight around your ankle and try to push up with the leg crossed underneath. You can also do lots of leg lifts with a strapped weight to make those inner thigh muscles (abductors or adductors, I always forget which) stronger. I find that really, really helps with xo strength.

I think working on your edges + working on your strength (even if you are strong, those inner thigh muscles may need development - they're kind of hard to target) will help. Most of all, you have a great attitude, so persist with practice and you'll be sure to make progress soon!

Don't forget to flex your inside ankle (out and down towards the ice) as you do the underpush. This will mean that you are doing the push with a good outer blade edge and will be able to stretch further through.

It also helps to drop your inside hip as you push.

Your upper body (chest, ribs and shoulders) should face at an angle into the circle (rather than directly forwards). i.e. your outside shoulder will be leading. (Though obviously, as you improve, you should be able to take up any upper body position)

The underpush is at something like 30 or 40 degrees round from directly backwards (ie. it is slightly out to the side).

dbd,


How do you flex the inside ankle? Do you push down on your inner foot? Any tips?

Thanks,

BV

OK one of my problems is that I roll the inside (R) ankle under on CW XO's.

Anybody else do this?

Can anyone make my foot pay attention and stop this?

My knees hurt when I have to bend them too much too

Lyle

what really irritaes me is that I can barely practise clockwise direction because its the wrong way on the rink rules! arg

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starting at 28

It's like rocking the ankle over. You can practice in stockinged or bare feet standing still. First keep your weight central on one foot. Then bear weight on one foot (eg right foot), while you rock the ankle and side of the other foot (eg left foot) out to the outside, so that the outside of the heel (eg left side) stays on the ground, but the inside of the heel (eg right side) lifts off. (For left foot, outside is left side, and inside is right side).

Now try with your knees bent as though skating. Sink down a little as though about to sit down. Your bottom (tush) should drop a bit lower , without sticking out at the pack.

If you are in stockinged feet, you should be able to sweep the floor with the outside heel-and-length of the underpushing foot, as it pushes inwards, sideways and behind under the weight-bearing leg. As it goes under the weightbearing hip, the underpushing leg will stretch out. Eventually it will lighten and lift off the floor. Then you bend its knee again and, leading with the toe, bring it back inside to bear the weight so that the outside foot can do the alternate push.

If my description is not clear, ask an advanced skater to show you.

You could try the exercise I suggested earlier. It's almost impossible to do without flexing the outside of the under ankle down towards the ice:

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Me too!

But if you can grab a hockey circle for a moment or two on a quiet session - I find holding the left shoulder right back, whilst deeply bending the right knee helps, for stability and confidence.

Hey dB THANKS,you're right, I have to work much harder to roll my ankle if I think about pushing on the heel!

Not only is it hard to practice CW XO on a busy freestyle but , I don't know about you but, I'm not in complete control doing these.
Lyle