I'm having trouble controling the third step of the waltz-8. I step onto the FO edge, and it wants to curve into the center of the circle well before I finish the final third of the circle. I just can't get it to stay shallow -- in fact sometimes I must look like a bowler using body-english trying to *will* myself to stay on a large circle.

Know what I'm talking about, & any suggestions?

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"It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness." ~ Tolstoy, via JWeir.
"I am not a pretty girl. That is not what I do." ~ Ani DiFranco

wow i was just working on that today with my coach! I was turning in too much and also skating out to much (on a flat) into neverneverland! what helped me get back more on track was the following that my coach pointed out to me, on the BO edge make sure your free leg is not swinging around too much hold you can even place the free leg back at the heel of the skating leg, and keep the the free leg's hip up...i kept dropping my hip which made me fall in when i steped onto the FO edge, as you step make sure not to swing your arms around that can also throw you over.

try just practicing in the field BO edge onto FO edge mohawks, then practice the waltz 8s.

good luck!

The third step is the hardest on that exercise. A couple of things, one already mentioned--keep your free leg stretched *hard* back behind you; focus on the extension. Then also: lead very slightly with your skating shoulder/side/hip, and also make sure you keep a very deep knee bend as you hold that entire edge. If and when your free leg does pass through to the front, it needs to pass *straight* through, so close that it brushes the skating foot/ankle as it passes. If you swing it wide at all, it will start a spin that you can't stop. Don't let your free hip pass in front of your skating hip.

It takes a lot of practice to get it all under control. Keep at it and you'll get it!

I agree - that's the hardest part of the pattern because it's very easy to step onto a flat and/or enlarge your circle. Grrrr.

After you've done the 3turn and stepped onto the BO edge:

Check with your shoulders/arms before you step from the BO to the FO edge.
Position your free foot in the air to step onto a true outside edge. Bent ankle/knee, of course.
Look where you're going; if you're using the center circle dot as your start/end point, turn your head and focus on it. (Old Figures trick.)
As you bring your new free foot to the front, keep that foot over your tracing and POINT YOUR TOE. This will help bring your edge along.

As someone else pointed out, pass the free leg from back to front, brushing them together. Keep the free knee pointed forward - don't spread open your hips.

Most of the coaches at our rink don't have the skater change the arms after that BO/FO step. In effect, you cross-check the arms as you return to center. That way, your next circle/3turn is already half-checked; you just step forward and start the other side.


ETA: I have a student who tends to "follow the circle" on that step. As she turned to step forward, she would see the hockey circle and follow its curve. I scrape-drew a pair of side-by-side circles on the ice near one of the hockey lines without circles. It really helped eliminate the distraction.

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That's actually my favorite step in the waltz-8, LOL! I use a really, really strong check on my back shoulder and re-check after the leg passes through. Think about sitting even further down after you pass your leg through and reaching back with your back arm.

This may sound silly, but I practice the waltz-8 on two feet using just my shoulders as a guide -- it helps me to remember to lean "on the cone" of the circle for the entire pattern.

I used to have the problem of fighting the FO curve until my new coach pointed out I should not aim at the origin and give me the correction of "aiming at the tangential direction."

The folowing is from my lesson note:
The step FO is approximately diagonal to the place FO3 happens. Remember to press down trailing arm (free side) and cut the tangential direction. Let the natural force bringing the edge back to origin.

Hope it helps.
Luna

Thank you all. Focussing on passing the free leg right next to the skating foot fixed it right up the first time I tried it! Amazing that my coach didn't pick that up (she's picked-up a lot of things, just happened to miss this).

__________________
Me, on skating. Me, on me.
"It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness." ~ Tolstoy, via JWeir.
"I am not a pretty girl. That is not what I do." ~ Ani DiFranco

Can anyone tell me the steps for a waltz 8? I'd like to look it over before I'm introduced to it so maybe I can have an easier time remembering/doing it.

If you follow THIS LINK, you'll find a quick reference to Adult and Standard track MITF patterns.

The Waltz-8 Pattern is on both adult and standard tracks, so check out the USFSA's adult page for the pattern AND a video.
http://www.usfigureskating.org/Programs.asp?id=316

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Thank you very much.

Here's another one - practice swingRolls but stop the free leg at the skating ankle when going from back to front - wow a whole different animal IMHO
Lyle