Ok...since we are talking about the Pairs in the Olympics. This question came to me today to ask all you Pairs Skaters here on this Board. What I want to know from you today is..."How do you as a Pairs Skater prepare yourself to (or for) being lifted or thrown when you get ready to skate for the day?

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FSWer

I tryed pairs just for fun with one of the pairs skaters at the rink and it was really fun, we did throw axel and double salchow and it was a blast!!! Death Spirals are also fun!

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2010 Skating Goals

1) Land Double Axel
2) Pass Junior Moves at the end of January
3) Pass Novice Free at the end of January
4) Pass Senior moves by september
5) Consistant double flips and double lutzs
6) Learn a new cool spin!

You mean you tried a throw...untrained? What was that like before we go on?

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FSWer

If she knows how to do an axle, and he was a trained pairs skater, I can't imagine it was that dangerous. Death spirals do look like a blast. I asked my skating buddy today if she'd let me throw her in the air, and she just said I couldn't if I tried. (she's 6 feet tall )

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I'm a boy, and I can figure skate if I want to.

Not that I have ever tried anything like that , but
first you learn your jumps really well as a Single skater.
Next, you practice those advanced difficulties OFF the ice, like in the gym, & other surfaces.
Then, when both of you are secure in your timings, etc. - Only when coach says you're ready, can you practice these maneuvers on the ice. - I would think. Right?

Hi,
First, as said, you do need to be comfortable with your own jumps and also be willing to push them a little further. As the throw is an assisted jump, the pair throw goes on the ladies timing of the jump. I've seen some throws where the male partner picks up the female and just deposits her on the other side - not a throw. It almost feels like it does when you are in the harness, just having that extra second at the top of the jump to get higher. You start small and work up with speed and ht. It's really quite fun.
For lifts, we start on the ground and only when its solid, do we put it on the ice. Unfortunately there are pairs out there who try lifts beyond their skills, and it hurts us all. Safety first, then it will be fun.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

I can do a thrown 3-jump (waltz jump) with my husband - we've tried a thrown salchow, but not successfully as yet. It's actually quite fun - you get into a waltz hold, and then you step to forwards still holding on, deeply bent knee and push on to an LFO edge, then you go for the jump and he sort of lifts you and you push against him, and off you go! It's all in the timing and can be pretty terrifying if you get it just wrong.

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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!

My daughter once did a "throw axel" in a duet program with her boyfriend, who is a hockey player. She just jumped her axel, while he went through the motions of throwing her but without any actual effort behind it at all. It wasn't really a throw, but it looked like one!

Hi

I was watching the Vancouver Olympics today, and saw the pairs short program. How easy the pair(s) make the throw look.

My hubby did say to me once that if he goes to learn pairs, he might be as good as one in the Olympics. I very much doubt it.

londonicechamp

Ya, we were doing just for fun, when we did it I had my axel for about a year up until that point, I dont think it was that dangerous cause he knew what he was doing and my coach was on the ice at the time. LOL! Dont worry it wasnt like we were trying something hard like throw triple salchow or double axel or anything like that haha.

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2010 Skating Goals

1) Land Double Axel
2) Pass Junior Moves at the end of January
3) Pass Novice Free at the end of January
4) Pass Senior moves by september
5) Consistant double flips and double lutzs
6) Learn a new cool spin!

Ok,good. I'm even surprised the coach would ALLOW that!!!

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FSWer

haha lol she thought it was fine, she talked to me about proper technique and stuff before we did it

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2010 Skating Goals

1) Land Double Axel
2) Pass Junior Moves at the end of January
3) Pass Novice Free at the end of January
4) Pass Senior moves by september
5) Consistant double flips and double lutzs
6) Learn a new cool spin!

I wish we hadn't started this thread - ended up doing a thrown 3-jump this morning, wondering whether to put it in our free dance or not (as a 3-jump lift, rather than a throw). It's really not difficult if you commit to it, but I tend to bottle.....

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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!

Pairs skaters practice lifts and twists off ice before trying them on ice and the male will typically practice turns without a partner to get comfortable with the movement on ice. Throw jumps are typically practiced on ice right away and are generally increased in difficulty as the couple gets used to the timing. Usually starting with a throw waltz which involves very little in the way of throwing, then singles which have a bit of assist and once the singles are comfortable throw doubles are started.

What about waking up knowing in your mind your going to be lifted?

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FSWer

"My daughter once did a "throw axel" in a duet program with her boyfriend, who is a hockey player. She just jumped her axel, while he went through the motions of throwing her but without any actual effort behind it at all. It wasn't really a throw, but it looked like one!"

It's also a good way to start. A throw is really an assisted jump. Often to start with new pairs, the male will first just skate right next to the female while she jumps so he can get use to her timing, then get the hand holds and move on up. I've been thrown by another woman in a program, and it was fine.

For lifts, you build up confidence in each other while you learn and practice off ice. The female has to also maintain strong body positions in the lift. When it's done well, you can barely feel the male's edges underneath you, it just floats!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Say,btw. how do you land back on and find your natual balance back from a Throw when landing on ice?

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FSWer

It's the same as landing a jump. There's just extra force behind it because of the throw, which is what makes it more difficult.

With the lifts it is all about developing confidence and trust. When lifts are started off ice there is typically someone spotting the lift also the skaters will do partial lifts (ie press only to the shoulder) to develop the timing. If you aren't confident in going up to full lift position or trust your partner to hold the lift you shouldn't be doing it yet.

How is it done though? If I was to be jumping or coming down from a throw I'd slip right of my blades. As my feet would slide. How would I be steadying my feet and balance back on my blades?

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FSWer

Before you ever do a jump you learn to have good edges. So you are already used to holding a strong back outside edge. Then, when you land from your jump (and after you master the jump, the throw)- you don't need to worry about being steady and balanced on the back outside edge, because you've already become very accustomed to holding that edge.

Skaters fall all the time when they are learning, because everything isn't right. It's just a matter of practicing to get it right.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Ok. What do we mean by having good Edges? Also Rachael Flatt showed on TV. how you get the hieght and power to jump. But I didn't understand it. Do they mean it's all in speed?

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FSWer

Good edges means that if you skate on a curve (leaning to either the inside or outside on one foot) you don't wobble at all, you are strong and steady. It's just a matter of practice and balance. First practice one foot on a "flat"- going straight. Once you can do that, then you practice leaning onto the edge- going in a curve.

I can't say much about getting height on jumps- mine barely leave the ice, but yes- you do need to be going fast into it, and not hesitate.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Jump height comes most from springing up off bent knees and using the blades correctly. Think of a basketball jump shot - the player bends knees deeply, then springs up to make the shot from the air.

Speed affects height somewhat, but it really impacts the distance of the jump - the amount of ice it covers. NBC Olympics had a video analysis of Yu-Na Kim. One of her jumps in the video covers a distance of 25 yards because of the speed she has going into the entry.

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My coach always tells me that in ice skating, it's: "What goes down, must come up!"

The deeper your knee bends in preparation for a jump, the higher the jump. Speed does help, if you can channel it into upward motion, but the jump is from the knee and ankle.

And, according to my pairs partner, you can never prepare for a throw landing

Rob

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