I am learning 3 turns right now too. Surprisingly, I kind of like them, but I'm not smooth with them yet. Haven't tried any of the backwards to forwards ones yet, though. I actually have any easier time with the three turns than with the 2 footed turn, which seems to be my nemesis! I am soooo slow with them. I can do 2 foot turns when I am barely moving, but if I get up any speed at all....I chicken out and am too slow in rotating my hips and end up going in a circle instead of a nice quick clean change of direction....
One thing that has really helped me with the 3 turns is that I've spent A LOT of time working on my outside edges on the hockey circle in prep for front crossovers (another scary one for me). I think that a lot of people in my LTS class "do" the front xo's but don't really focus on the outside edge....my chickenness has helped me in that I always spend so much time going around the circle getting the edge and feeling comfortable before working up the courage to pick up my foot and cross over. Forget about back xo's...I am way too wimpy to try them yet!

With 3 turns, I am finding that I want to put that free foot down right afterwards, because I don't feel comfy with backwards glides on one foot yet. As a matter of fact, when I try to skate backwards and lift that one foot, I just can't get the balance...any tricks? I think that my backward one foot glide is something that I'm going to have to get good at to see much progression in my 3 turns.
Kathy

I can do backward crossovers well, but not forwards (no hope as of yet )... but took me ages, so dont fret.

Bend your knees more... (Ive been told this a million times plus, but its true, so Im going to pass it on ) also, just keep practising.. it can take a while to get used to your centre of balance whilst going backwards. I dont even have it yet on my back stroking (but thats mainly due to posture )

I had a bad habit of immediately putting my foot down as well.. I found this was because I swung my free leg too much, putting me off balance... and I was freaked out about going backwards ... I found a good technique to get around it was to push off, then tuck my back foot into the t-position, keeping my toes up so I didnt toe pick it... this centred my weight more because I didnt have to worry about my torso, then my skating leg, then my free leg... it was all in one compacted area

But of course... practise Im sure we'll see you on here soon telling us all about how you managed them!!!

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-Erinna-
aka cassarilda

My Progress Report!
"Did I mention there is only ONE rink in Melbourne?!"
"If you're not flying, you're obviously not trying!!!" - courtsey of the guy who helped me up off the ice after my last spectacular and sore fall

For a one-foot three-turn, I agree. For the absolute beginning two-foot, I teach it 1) on the wall, stand still 2) off the wall, stand still 3) on the wall, gliding 4) on the Blue Line. It helps introduce the forward/backward turn - if it's on the line you have to keep going backward. It also helps with arm/shoulder alignment - the skater has to keep their arms "over the line."

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If you put your free leg down after your three turn because your falling over, or think your falling over, raise your free hip.

Steven

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"A sure sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." - Albert Einstein
"A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular." - Adlai Stevenson
"Got Edge?" - Steven J. Arness - Coachless, two years and counting.
"He who carves himself to suit others will soon whittle himself away."
"Sometimes you get what you want but loose what you have."

I just figured that out the other day--ironically when trying to get my clockwise forward xovers. I couldn't figure out how the the skating leg was supposed to get out of the way for the other leg to cross over and be in the right spot. Until I swooshed the skating leg under and really grabbed the outside edge by accident and then YIPES! It was a little scarey but I haven't fallen over on it yet.

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"Anything worth doing is worth overdoing." (Kathy Butler)