Nahh. As you fall more you realize the easier ways of doing it. I've only fallen directly backwards onto my back twice, but it happens so quickly and is more surprising because you don't see the ground ice coming closer and your feet slip much quicker than they would on, say, carpet, that my hands were always in front or to the side of me.

I almost always rotate and land on my side regardless of which direction the fall starts, I think just out of habit. If I'm lucky, I kind of crumple as I go, so I bend a leg and kind of sit down onto the side of it before my shoulder or side of my back meets the ice, and then I skid along fine. If I'm unlucky, then a toepick catches or my feet get caught on each other which makes me fall faster, and then all my weight lands on my pelvic bone, which hurts and is annoying. It's those kind of fast surprise falls that hurt most, but they're certainly not lethal...I've never left the ice for more than a couple minutes.

I like the nice slow-motion falls that people mention...sometimes they just seem really planned out even though they're not. My head just goes "lalala doing this whatever thingy...uh oh, that's not right, okay, now move that foot over to catch your balance. Oops, wrong foot, that's the one that had trouble back there. Ho hum then, down we go - let's have a little sit to cushion the fall, righto, now then, you know you want ice shavings on your shoulder, so you might as well keep going. Right, there we are then - ooh, what a fun slide. This ice needs cut though..." and then I realize I've fallen Those don't happen to me too often though.

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Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

The only falls I'm scared of are the ones where I hit my head on the ice. Both times that happened when I was doing simple things llike back crosscuts or holding a back edge getting ready to jump forward. All the other falls I've hadI wasn't scared but more surprized to be down. But I have noticed that I have to work on not skating with my weight shifted forward when skating backwards. I think I do this because in the back of my mind, I'm probably still freaked out about hitting my head on the ice. Both times I had a concussion.

I do spend a lot of time falling on the ice when I teach CanSkate so I do know how to fall when I know it's coming. A matter a fact I'm getting so good at falling that I can almost fall, slide, rotate onto my abs and then get up on to my skates again and keep skating. I can now slide half the width of an NHL size rink and get up on my skates to skate off. I just might use it in a program some time.

Brigitte

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"It's not age that determines but the heart." "Skating is not just a sport for the young but it's a passion for the soul of the young at heart." Brigitte Laskowski

I am a nomadic adult skater who is a member of Windsor FSC (Skate Windsor) WOS SC again since Sept. 1st, 2008.

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Singerskates Sports Music Editing

Like Casey said, you've just got to learn not to, and practice it a few times. It really does become second nature. I don't think I've used my hands when falling backwards in a long, LONG time. Besides, even if you do once in a while, it's no big deal. It's not like every fall results in pain or injury--most, even the ones we're all talking about that are 'painful'--really aren't that bad. The 'ouch' lasts for a few minutes, and then you're fine. It's really not worth being timid about.

Seriously--get your coach to teach you how to fall, and have them supervise you while you practice it a number of times. You'll learn how to do it, how to NOT do it, and soon you'll be throwing yourself into your moves and jumps with gusto--and your skating will be SO much better for it.

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
--Thomas Jefferson

www.signingtime.com ~sign language fun for all!

Well, generally, you will fall on your wrists if you land backwards, but it's better than falling on your head. When I was first landing my axel, I kept landing backwards on my right foot but then it would slip out from under me and I would land backwards. So I bought some padded bicycle gloves (it helps to buy them in a size larger than you'd normally wear so that the padding comes all the way down to the bottoms of your palms). The other thing is to first practice new elements or footwork only in a lesson with your coach so that he/she can correct your form and help you prevent backward falls.

I fall on my bum... usually my hands are out of the way, like 99% of the time.

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

Hi all,

I had lots of lovely falls today practicing jumps so this is fresh in my mind. I fell at least 10 times (I lost count) and didn't get much more than a few slight bruises. I guess I'm good at falling because I haven't had any serious injuries so far and I'm especially proud of my ability to fall and get back up without coming to a complete stop. I know...stop bragging already!

The worst falls I've had were doing spirals and you hit something and go down forward. I hate stomach falls! I also hate falls where your feet just fly out from underneath and you're not even moving. Those are dangerous, nasty falls. But, I've never had any fractures or head injuries (knock on wood) and I think it's because I learned to fall properly as a kid. I think this is a very important skill that is often skimmed over, especially with adults. Yeah, falling is a skill! It's great fun for kids to learn and practice falling, but a rather bizarre sight for adults, so maybe that's why you don't see many adults working on their falls! But, I think it's important enough to devote some time to if you're fearful of falling. Become ONE with the ice

I notice there are a lot of "learn to skate" coaches at my rink who sit down on the ice and draw pictures with markers and toss a balloon back and forth with the kids. I saw a class once where they started out sitting on the ice in a circle and gradually got up, after talking about how to get up and seeing the instructor demonstrate it. Its like a child learning how to walk. They start out down there creeping and crawling and then gradually stand up and walk, then run. You don't see kids afraid of falling when learning to walk, do ya? Not really. So, I think it makes sense in skating to get used to how it feels down there. Don't visualize the ice as cold or hard. See it as your partner. Your constant companion. Try doing things that bring you close to the ice, like shoot the duck, sit-spins and lunges. Anything to get a closer perspective.

I'd ask your coach for training on actual falls but for me, the key is to relax when I'm making impact. Crumple and slide, for the most part. I don't brace myself or tense up. My main priority is to protect my head at all times, but the rest of my body becomes not unlike the drunk in a car wreck, who usually seems to escape injury for some reason. I'm loose and I go with the fall instead of resisting. I keep my arms straight but not locked at the elbows and in forward falls, they automatically go out front so I don't go head first. Sideways falls, one arm is out there to meet the ice and backward falls, hopefully I reach back with at least one arm to brace somewhat so my head doesn't hit. I guess the main thing is to get used to falling and anticipate it if you're working on jumps. I try not to say to myself "don't fall" because I know I will at least once a session. I try to say "relax" instead.

Also worth mentioning is that falls are worse on rough ice, so if you're going to be practicing jumps or other things where you know you could easily fall, head for smoother ice or postpone them. You'll slide more after a fall with smooth ice and the impact won't be as bad.

So there is my take on falling. I'm really proud of the fact that I'm very good at it!

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~AF

There's a fine, squiggly line between being comfortable with the fact that you might fall and actually *expecting* to fall. It's great to be comfortable with the possibility, but it's bad to *expect* to fall. When you expect to fall on a jump, your body position will reflect that expectation and make it happen. You'll hunch over in the air and open up instead of staying pulled up tall and and staying backwards. Also, even if you make it all the way around, you'll reach for the ice instead of pulling up straight and landing it. In other words, throw yourself on the ice once or twice just to break the spell, but don't waste those jump attempts. Do whatever you can to increase your confidence in your ability to land a jump before actually taking off on one.

I have to agree with this! I never spent any time practicing falling or learning to fall, it just happened of it's own accord from time to time. As I went, I learned valuable lessons like "don't land on your wrists" at the same time I was still learning "don't run into the boards too hard and catch yourself with your wrists - gee it would be nice to know how to stop properly".

I don't fall very often now (generally 2 or 3 times a session), and I think I've fallen on jumps a total of maybe 2 times, ever, if that (my worst and most frequent falls are out of spins, and the rest of the time I'll just trip over myself or something stupid).

I think that's because while I've learned to fall pretty well, and while I don't really mind falling, I don't really like it - so I hold enough fear to keep me from doing it.

Somebody mentioned falling out of spirals, I've managed to catch myself with the free leg when that's happened before, I don't remember falling from spirals either (and I learned very quick to push down on the heel).

Be relaxed if you do hit the ice, but not so complacent that when you have a chance to save yourself you don't bother.

I also find that it helps me feel better if I go into a spin as I stand up after I fall instead of just standing. (Silly, yes, I know, but hey, anything that helps confidence ).

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Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

That's why backwards spirals are a blessing really, because if you feel yourself falling forwards, most times you're brought to a slow halt by toe picks!

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Ugh, I took a nasty fall this morning practicing the Adult Gold Novice pattern, just caught an edge on the end pattern and BOOM, right on my right knee. Yeah, that hurt. But that's skating!

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

And we worked on our lift - and husband dropped me! So I ended up sitting on the ice. Which was extremely cold when you only have a thin practice-skirt & one layer of tights on!

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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!

I do it almost every week, when we demonstrate getting up in the Learn to skate class... It's not that bad, except for skating round with a wet bum!

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Melzorina: I'm with you on the damp seat. Even worse, we practice falling/getting up first OFF-ICE, which means that wearing black pants is a good thing! The mats get very dirty.

I went to a high school talent show last week. One of the comedy skits was a called "15-Minute Hamlet" It was very frenetic and hilarious, but ... you had to read the book. My twins favorite part was where Ophelia dies -- the actress fell to the stage floor in a split second! If you blinked your eyes, you missed her layout! It was hilarious - she was even asked to do an encore of the fall.

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Ahhh fear of falling - welcome to my world I haven't skated in eons personally but when I did do it regularly I think I tried every trick in the book not to fall hard and fast.. My usual falls were going very fast (I have yet to learn how to stop properly that doesn't involve crashing into the boards ) so you hear a WHHOOAAAH.. then silence.. for about 2 seconds.. then THUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUD SMACK into the boards.. Most of the time it was involving getting out of someone's way.. or worse.. Tooooooooeeeeeeeeeeepppppppiiiiiiiiiccccccccckkkkk ... So as I got older... I just did what my friend affectionally calls the "Jackie O" fall.. the Oh dear.. I'm losing my center.. no don't fall.. no .. don't fall.. and gracefully land on the ice without the spectacle Since I haven't fallen in a long time I go almost into shock like.. "I'm on the ground? How did it get there" and quite frankly I don't know what I'd do if I ever entered competition and fell I'd probably sit on the ice going "I shouldn't be here!!!"

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Latino International Skating Coalition

My husband has perfect balance and almost never falls. Instead, he does a quick little dance from foot to foot. He makes a clickety-clack noise heard all over the rink and looks like a wind up toy gone mad. It's really funny, but if he still falls anyway, you are caught laughing when he actually hits the ice.

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I am very conscious of the fact that I could progress faster when learning jumps if I wasn't so keen not to fall. The problem is when you are an adult, you know that a bad fall could have consequences not just for yourself but the whole family if you break something (e.g. who would drive the kids about and get the shopping etc).

However I have found a new way to practice falling and think I might try it at the beginning of every session. I do back crossovers round the centre circle faster and faster really pushing to the limit. If you push it enough you will eventually hear that 'click of death' and go flying but a) if you are going fast you slide a long way and so it really doesn't hurt) b) it avoids those nasty toepick falls where you go forward on your knees which really hurts! c) it happens so fast you don't have time to tense up which is what makes a fall much worse than if you are relaxed.

I am lucky in that I can get to daytime public sessions that usually aren't busy so have space to do this.

It certainly seemed to work today as I had a lot more confidence going into my jumps after and even landed my loop (OK so it wasn't pretty and the landing I only just held onto) both times I ran my programme.

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'

The reason I wouldn't do this (for myself) is that whenever I hear the click-of-death, it's usually while rounding the end of the rink, and my slide is likely to send me right into the boards, if I'm going fast enough! I'd prefer to fall on a jump any day.

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
--Thomas Jefferson

www.signingtime.com ~sign language fun for all!

I laughed out loud when I read this entry. Good for you! Not only are you conquering your fear of falling, you're giving the heave-ho to the 'click of death' fear too! Bravo for your courage!

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That was my normal method of practice on the Intermediate power circles (forward and backwards).

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"The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary." -- Vidal Sasson

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." -- Unknown

[QUOTE=batikat]

However I have found a new way to practice falling and think I might try it at the beginning of every session. I do back crossovers round the centre circle faster and faster really pushing to the limit. If you push it enough you will eventually hear that 'click of death' and go flying but a) if you are going fast you slide a long way and so it really doesn't hurt) b) it avoids those nasty toepick falls where you go forward on your knees which really hurts! c) it happens so fast you don't have time to tense up which is what makes a fall much worse than if you are relaxed. [QUOTE]

So what are you going to do when you get so good at back crossovers that you stop falling?? LOL!

Funny you should say that as I tried it today but I didn't fall! I'll have to think of a new method for practising falls.

Of course it may that I just didn't push myself so hard today.

Flippet - I make sure I only do them really fast if the rink is more or less empty and I can go round the centre circle - that way there is plenty of rink to slide on if you fall - much more fun! - and you are miles from the boards.

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'

One time I did power circles during a lesson on a Monday night public session. (Why my primary coach make me do these when I'm so NOT ready, I will never EVER understand.) I was right in the middle of the rink when I lost the footing and went sliding... right into another skater who wasn't facing me and he fell on top of me!!! Thank goodness he came off unscathed. I had a few bruises, not from me sliding on the ice but from him falling on top of me. (Bowling for skaters, anyone?)

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Don't know if it was F or B, but Sarah Hughes broke her arm from a fall on crossovers. Her mom had to talk her into continuing with skating! So good luck at ever becoming good enough to never again fall on crossovers

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I think it was B crossovers and she slid into the boards and broke her wrist.

I have found that my worst falls are not on jumps, but on spirals, crossovers, and other moves. The one bad thing that happened on a jump was when I tried a loop out of a RFI 3 and whacked my right leg with the end of my left blade - ouch! I fell, of course, but that wasn't why I hurt afterward. Amazingly, no skin was broken, but I had a really nasty bruise.

I don't think that will ever happen. My coach is just waiting for me to give him the go-ahead to have me do the Novice moves, so he can eventually get me to the Junior moves and have the joy of watching my click-of-death-slam-into-the-boards all over again!

The USFS is evil for having those power circles on two tests....and if you are an adult moving from adult MIF's to standard, you get the fun of doing them three times. Yeah us .

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"The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary." -- Vidal Sasson

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." -- Unknown