Hi all!
my wife and I have started to do some rudimentary pairs, both of us are not yet Bronze FS skaters so we try but have a long way to go especially with only 2 good knees between us.

I am having some trouble with the footwork when I lift her (CCW rotations starting from back glide). The natural move is to put the weight on the LBI edge but as it rotates it tends to go wide and slide if the weight shifts up onto the rocker at all. If I do get a quarter rotation on the LBI edge, then where do I step on RBO (not good as it is now at right angles to direction of glide) or onto RFI which seems pretty scary?

I can see that the guy must take very small steps - are you stepping heel to instep with each one?

TIA our coach is female and doesn't know exactly what I should do.

You're scaring me, Arth. Two beginning skaters trying to do pairs (including lifts) with an unqualified coah is just scary. You guys need to get a coach who can teach you BOTH what you need to know!

Hi,
Actually the best thing to do in preparation of lifts is to do the footwork by yourself. Get a pairs coach to go over it with you and practice it up and down the ice. It's a very specific set of turns and really needs to be shown to you on ice. It's not uncommon to have a male pairs coach help you out if your primary coach is female. Your coach would probably not object at all!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

ITA that you should work w/ a coach w/ pairs experience!!

I quaked when I read your post. I can't imagine any coach would object to you working with a specialist for things like that.

ETA === it's also my (totally unsolicited) opinion that you shouldn't be doing lifts until you're very, very steady on your feet/skates. "Not yet Bronze FS" seems a little premature to be attempting it.

I absolutely love your screen name - welcome to SkatingForums.com.

Had a discussion last week with our female skating director, who was a pairs skater herself. She coaches a terrific pairs team and when they're working on a new lift or move, she team-teaches with a male pairs coach. Her opinion is that she knows the woman's steps and movements, but it really helps to have someone who's done the man's part guide the male skater. Team-teaching also helps each coach learn more about the other gender's role in the partnership.

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There's also a mini lift (dubbed the "trash can" lift becasue the man looks like he is carrying one of those large trash receptacles to the curb) where you practice the proper footwork while barely picking your partner off the ground. Again, it's easier to see than to describe.

The worst thing to do is to attempt a full-on lift with poor footwork.
For excellent lift footwork, watch David Pelletier. (No snow works going on there!)

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Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

It really does help to have a male coach to explain some things. For example, my perspective of a death spiral is somewhat slanted. I'm going round in circles upside down looking at the guy's laces.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

I totally agree with all the advice that you've been given here. First, find a male pairs coach who can demonstrate the man's footwork for you. Next, practice it by yourself going down the lift lane. Then when you have an understanding of the man's footwork begin very slowly with the garbage can lift with your coach supervising.

In the meantime, we invite you to visit: www.adultpairskating.com

Welcome to the wonderful world of Adult Pair Skating!

Thanks for all your suggestions. The lift is not really more than an inch or 2 - more of a carry I guess. The problem is that there are no male pairs coaches or even pairs teams in our area, our pairs coach just moved here recently because it is a nice place to live (Charleston SC) and she only coaches part time. Lyle

Hi Team,

If this is the case, then you and Ms. Arthritis might want to think about attending one of the three Adult Pairs Clinics that take place in the summer: Chicago; Hackensack, NJ, or Lake Placid. There is always an elite pairs instructor (male, too) at all of these clinics. If you decide to continue pair skating then it would be really worthwhile for you to make the trip to learn the man's footwork (and other things, too.)

You can see this past summer's Adult Pair Skating Clinics by going to: www.adultpairskating.com
Then click on "News" in the righthand column
Then click on "Clinics" also in the righthand column

And all the information you need will come up...just something to think about.

Best,
Lovepairs

Ask around a bit more about male coaches. Many former Show skaters (think Disney on Ice) learned pairs skating as part of the their routines. Some of those skaters have gone on to coach, but perhaps not with pairs as their specialty. I wouldn't necessarily REPLACE your coach, but having a consult from time to time would be a big help.

It's great that you're doing pairs with your wife - very romantic, IMO - hope you have a long and healthy partnership!

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