I know most of you here are way more advanced than I am, so this topic is probably a real yawner for you, but . . .

At my lesson today my coach introduced me to FW and BW power perimeter crossovers. I don't get them entirely just yet (i.e., exactly where the steps go and how to keep myself aligned with the long axis) but they're certainly fun to do. I think what I like best is that it's nice to finally do SOMETHING with crossovers other than just go around and around in a circle

For those of you who have mastered these, any tips? IIRC the rule book says that the primary focus is power and the secondary focus is edge quality: my edge quality is OK but I know my power is definitely lacking. The rule book also says that you should be able to get down the length of the ice in about four of these: it takes me at least twice this many (and even more on the BW ones)

TIA for any help,
Ellen

Bend your knees and sit over the skate. Remember to rotate the shoulders/torso to help with the curve.

On the forward perimeter power crossovers, make sure you finish the lobe, placement-wise, before you push onto the FI edge to start the next lobe.

On the backward perimeter power crossovers, don't focus on doing LOTS of quick tempo crossovers (a common habit of beginner skaters) but strong slower tempo crossovers. And don't be afraid to sit down on the leading foot (for backwards CCW crossovers, that's the right foot, for backwards CW, that's the left foot).

Also make sure, especially on the backwards crossovers, that your upper body is not "nodding" back and forth like a bird pulling at worms or an oil pump.

On the forward perimeter crossovers, pay close attention to the placement of the crossover and the step down to the inside edge. The crossover should take place at the top half of a lobe and the edge only be held for a quarter of a lobe. If it's too short or too long, your pace will be off. For holding the axis, if your rink has hockey markings, try imagining a straight line connecting the dots down the side. Also focus on extending your free leg as much as you can when holding the edge. Nice toe point, nice lift with the leg helps steady you in the edge. And relax your shoulders and arms--of course the shoulders help steer, but some days I've been so tense on this move that my coach wonders if my ears are connected to my collarbone...

On backward, really sit over your skating leg--you will begin to get a feel for the weight transfer from the side of the crossover to the side of the edge, and use your head to look where you're going. I've found that the deep knee bend, along with the angle of the head, really helps me curve that edge properly.

Good luck with these!

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All that glitters has a high refractive index.

I found most of my power came from bending my knees and pushing. It helps to do these at first on a less-crowded freestyle to gain the confidence that you aren't going to plow anyone over.

Wait 'til you get to the backward ones if you like these...! They were the first move I mastered, and allowed me for the first time to enjoy and feel comfortable with speed and power.

I liked these, they were fun!

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Champagne in 2005, 2008, 2009 - who's next out of the pre-bronze club...?

Wang chung!

On the back crossovers, make sure you are really on a strong inside edge. It helps to really twist your upper body so your shoulders are facing out of the circle--your shoulders should essentially be parallel to the long axis. Hold the edge for the first half of the lobe and then take a strong power push into the crossovers. Remember each crossover has 2 pushes.

It's worth it to really work on these and perfect them, because they appear again on the Intermediate and Novice moves. Except then you have to do 3-turns and rockers around the end of the ice!

To help you get the placement of each stroke relative to the long axis, do them very slowly on a hockey line. You should always cross the line with the stroke to the inside edge.

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I haven't worked on these in my MIF lessons yet, but I've worked on variations in edge class. The instructor stressed that there are three pushes and that students often give short shrift to the second push (the "push under" of the crossover). He has us make sure we don't rush that push. He also stressed that each stroke have power, including the last stroke in the FW perimeter crossovers (rather than just stepping weakly on that FI edge).

If you are feeling "trapped" when you do the forward crossover, have your arms/shoulders more on the circle of the tracing. (If your and shoulders are perpendicular to the print, you may feel "stuck" when you go to make the crossover.)

Edited after reading flippet's post to note the backwards version with three strokes that I'm talking about is alternating back crossovers to BO edges, not the move that is just alternating backward crossovers.

"Trapped" and "stuck" are definitely the word for it -- especially on the CW stroke. Much more difficult than it looks, that's for sure.

Are these the ones where the 'pattern' on the ice is essentially like a dance pattern--squeezed in the middle? (Because you change directions in the middle section of the ice?)


I was never 'taught' these particularly, but since all the club kids did them to warm up, I just taught myself. I found that what really gave me power on the back crossovers was to think not so much about 'crossing over', or 'two pushes', as much as taking the inside leg and grabbing and pulling and shoving the ice underneath the outside leg, which pretty much stays on the ice. (There's maybe a little weight shift when you place the inside foot back out for the next grab/pull/shove, but it's minimal). I would get so much power and speed doing this that I almost got beyond my directional and stopping abilities, lol! But I definitely had fewer crossovers going backward than forward, because I hadn't improved that second push quite as much on the forward ones, and I didn't sit into them as much as I should have.
I agree, these are fun!

Bend your knees always and stand up tall so you don't get over your feet and then begin to toepush which slows you down.

I don't know what this move is, but I have to do a variety of crossovers for stamina training (4-5 times round the circle each way holding each edge for 4 beats, and then repeat with just 1 beat each edge! I'm supposed to do them like that backwards too - ha, ha, ha, I don't think so! - but it doesn't work.

Anyway, the main think my coach shouts and shouts at me is "Bend your knees - the faster you go, the more bent your knees should be!" But, of course, he also shouts if my free leg is bent, or not crossed under, or..... sigh....

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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!

It's also been called "Russian stroking":

Starting CCW on the first hockey circle, and with long axis made by line through blue hockey dots, RF crossover, hold the RFI edge to the long axis, stroke to LFI at right angle to long axis and hold to top of arc, change arms and stroke to RFO for CW crossover. LF crossover and at long axis, stroke again to RFI and hold to top of arc.....

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Before I knew what this was, I saw Sasha Cohen do it on TV one time during a warm-up in Grand Prix event.

Oh yes; I have to do these forward as part of my exercises. My coach stresses staying right down in the run/progressive/crossover/whatever you do there, and then rising up on the inside edge and striking a pose. I find it hard, sometimes, not to allow myself to lose power at the end of the FI edge, but when I don't, I get up a lot of speed!

And yes, it's a great warm-up!

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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!

There are several different styles for this move. I also rise up on the FI edge, but I've seen it taught staying down also. Timing can vary too. The PSA tapes show the FI edge from the long axis being held, but at at least one rink in NJ, the judges seem to want the FI edge from the crossover to be held and the other strokes to be of equal length. My coach emphasizes extension on all strokes, especially the under pushes. I've had to slow down the pace to work on that, but have plenty of power altogether.

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I have been watching The Magic of Style which someone very kindly sent me from the USA (you know who you are - many thanks!), and was interested to note there that she turned away from the edge doing this exercise - I would turn in, starting the inside edge counter-body and finishing it with-body.

As this exercise is, oddly, rather an advanced Field Move here, I'm using it to work on flow more than anything else, not so much power - although I try very hard not to lose power during it, and that can be easier said than done!

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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!

Yes, the stroke onto the FI edge is done with the free hand over the skating knee, and the arms are switched for the FO stroke to the crossover.

It's introduced in pre-Juv here, which is one of the lower levels, but continues to be used as part of other moves and with improved skill required. For example, in Intermediate, it's done on the long axis with B power threes on the ends.

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