I was just fooling around on the ice today and started practicing camels. I have not been skating as much as usual this fall, and camels need regular work to remain decent. Anyway, the camel was good, so I remembered seeing an elite male skater (can't recall who) recently doing a forward illusion. What the heck, I tried one from that very camel. I did three illusions before exiting the spin. I have never had any luck w/ this move before and have only played w/ it a couple of times.

However, it is not the only skill I have learned by just playing around.

Has anyone else learned new skating skills by just fooling around?

Kay

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I learned both the F and B power crossover patterns by watching someone else's coach demo them. Not saying that I could do them right immediately, but I did pick them up that way. I also was able to do BO threes a few months ago after watching Irina Slutskaya do them in one of her programs. They've deserted me since, but during the same blessed period I also started a backspin literally while standing around chatting with my coach.

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Yeah, sometimes learning things by just fooling around is good! I have just decided to try something before without having been taught it, e.g. a forward spiral, inside spread eagle, various bits of footwork. I've taught myself to jump in the other direction for fun too

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"It’s never too late to skate at any age." - Alexei Mishin.

I learned how to do the camel spin just by fooling around. I've always had good balance for spins and one day I was feeling particularly strong and said, why not? Straight away, I got two revolutions. It's only been better since.

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All that glitters has a high refractive index.

I fooled around with spirals, waltz jump and 2 ft spins when I was still in ISI Alpha. I also fooled around with Biellmanns. Now fooling around with laybacks and am half tempted to fool with camel spins.

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~~==Happy Landings==~~

Gina

I remember once, a couple of years ago, saying to a friend, "Of course, the 14-step Mohawk is impossible!" and promptly doing one! And at least once I have said to my coach, "How on earth am I supposed to do...." while doing whatever-it-was perfectly, causing us both to roar with laughter. Unfortunately, I couldn't do it when I tried!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Egad! This could be my personal song or something. I'm forever seeing and trying "impossible" things because the thought strikes me or someone else is doing it and it looks cool. I have found that these attempts usually are pretty "amazing". My little skating buddy says I'm lucky, my coach pulls his hair out and screams......and the fool I am still goes for interesting things. =-) I landed my first 2 sal this way! I might add that my coach did admit that it wasn't bad. =-)Giggle, if he only saw half of the things I try! The poor dude would be bald.

Chico

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"I truly believe, when God created skating, he patted himself on the back."

I usually choreograph or try moves out on the ice when I'm fooling around. I did something last night where I just spun around on 2 feet but instead of going for speed I used my "ballet" head check to emphasize each spin to the music, it was fun, not sure how it looked. I have tried doing a forward spiral- bracket into a back spiral, pretty hard without lowering my leg. I've also tried doing the Sasha skid spiral but my leg isn't strong enough to stay up as I try to move my feet.

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Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold.
Maurice Setter