I know what you mean Annabel I have a half decent sit spin also but tried again to do a teapot/shoot the duck to-day but still cant do it.

Cheers
G

I never understood the point of trying to master the shoot the duck. The centrifugial force you get while doing a sit spin allows you to get much lower than a shoot the duck, so I don't find them to be all that helpful in getting a lower sit spin, and after you've mastered the sit spin, what's the point of still doing them? The only high level skater I've ever seen do a shoot the duck was probably so ashamed that it was his "money" move that he renamed it- the Mike Pike (Michael Weiss). I think shoot the ducks make you look very beginner-ish but don't actually bring you anything. Except for leg cramps and wet bums. If you WANT to learn it, cool, but if you don't, there's really no reason to waste time/bother with it, or feel down about it if you can't get one- chances are you will never use them once you get to a higher level anyways.

my coach wants me to work on shoot the ducks so that i can get my back sit lower. I haven't got the feel of the ankle bend and the knee is weak so he suggested shoot the duck positions to help strengthen it.

This will be off ice for the most part as I don't need more of a wet bottom than I usually get

Two words - no 3: back outside hydroblades. You can't do one of those without a respectable back teapot, as that's how you learn them. I agree, they aren't necessary for a sitspin, and hydroblades aren't a totally necessary part of anybody's programme - but they do add to it!

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

I need to learn the teapot because when I start doing my passport, it is one of the required moves.

__________________
http://www.yourphotoalbums.co.uk

Definitely learn a decent shoot-the-duck, teapot, whatever you want to call it, if you plan to do synchro. They're done both the usual way and in hydroblades quite a bit.

__________________
Shae-Lynn and Victor: We knew you were champions, and on 3/28/03 the whole WORLD found out! Thank you for twelve wonderful years!

Oooh you are right- and hydroblades rule.

Hydroblades???

__________________
http://www.yourphotoalbums.co.uk

i would love to be able to skate all that time. I do skate every morning for 2 hours monday - friday and then again all day on sunday. I work so i can not skate all day. But i am working on it

go for it

You probably haven't seen them done on the sessions you go to - it's when you squat right down with one leg extended and (in free skating) a hand on the ice. For a B O hydroblade, you do a very low back outside teapot, then lean hard to the side, so that both your hands touch the ice while you finish your circle. I can't do it, I hasten to add, but I know how it's done! For a B I one, it's similar, but you lean over your free leg, rather than the other way.... I can do FI ones, but that's all.

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

Ohh I know what you mean now. Thanks!

__________________
http://www.yourphotoalbums.co.uk

Much to my annoyance, It seems that I may have to hold off the early morning skate yet another week. I appear to have pulled or strained a muscle just above my knee and it hurts when I go up and down stairs. I did it in a gymnastics class, though the teacher didn't allow time for a warm up, so I'm assuming that's why. I feel that an early morning skate wouldn't be a good idea. To add to that, I only have one ticket left and don't think I'll be able to buy another book of tickets till next week.

I'm sooo annoyed... and in pain

__________________
http://www.yourphotoalbums.co.uk