Yes, stronger core muscles do help. Also really really good technique which typically does take years to develop. Also re-bending your knees on the exit of the 3 turn, or, alternatively, keeping your free hip very open.

It's not the shorter length, it's the thinness of the blade that helps.

Re core body strength helping on checks, absolutely! Here's a good way to strengthen some of the muscles used to check: Stand in front of a mirror with feet about shoulder width apart. Twist from the waist up till you are facing the right. Hold. Make sure your shoulders are turning, but not your hips. Twist the other way & hold. While you are holding, try to feel which muscles are involved in your torso. Those are the ones you need, and the twist & hold helps strengthen them.

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I had them when I first went on to the shorter blades - there was a "Blade Famine" at the time, and Coronation Dance, which is what I wanted, were unavailable. So I got the Team Synchro, and loved them. I think, though, that once you're getting to the Bronze dance stage, if you're going to go for dance blades you probably do want the thinner ones, like MK Dance or whatever else there is on the market these days.

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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 hear what your saying... By the time I start working on the Bronze tests my pattern 99 will probably be shot. Then I'll suck it up and buy the super dance 99. We'll see. Right now my coach says at times I am trying to 'lead' him instead of allowing him to lead me. I have no idea that I'm doing this. Must be the control freak in me. He's sweet about it though and tells me I'll get used to it as I progress...?

it is possilbe to jump and spin in dance blades....i know of someone who can and they execute the jumps and spins very nicely....they were even doing triples so it is in theory possible