Hi,

Well I'm having some problems balancing backwards on one foot in a straight line. I can balance backwards on one foot for about 5 seconds now but I always end up doing a circle instead of going straight. I mean its not necessary bad to go backwards in a circle but to pass this test I need to balance in a straight line for 2 - 3 body lengths.

Any suggestions. Thanks.

Make sure you're standing up straight and not leaning to one side. When you glide backward, your weight should be on the ball of your foot (but no toepicks!). If you try all this and are still having a problem staying straight, you may need someone to adjust the mounting of your blades - they may be too much to one side based on whether you bear your weight on the inside or outside of your foot.

I tell my students to focus on something straight ahead of them & draw an imaginary line between it and them. Stand up very tall & stay on that line. Going in a curve instead of straight means you aren't lined up completely straight over your foot--there is a lean/weight shift somewhere in your body--most likely you're falling onto an inside edge?

I recently got a copy of John Misha Petkevitch's book on Figure Skating (highly recommended by Don Korte, and I got it through his website's link with Amazon) and in it he mentions that due to the way our feet are put together when you stand normally on your skates, you WILL be on an inside edge...therefore as you stand normally you will tend to glide in an inside curve, either forwards or backwards. This is normal (yes, I tried it and yes, that's the way it works!) Anyways, to skate in a straight line either forwards or backwards you need to lean a little further outside of the skate you are gliding on (guess what? I tried this and sure enough, it works as well. Mr Petkevitch much know what what he's talking about)

So in order to glide in a straight line either forwards or backwards, you must lean further out than you think you should to overcome your body's natural tendency to go on your inside edges. And when you are on your inside edges, you will skate in a circle.

What I've been trying to say is that your situation is perfectly normal...and to overcome it you have to compensate for it. I know from personal experience that it's more difficult to do this sort of thing backwards...so it takes a little more practice and leverage to accomplish a straight line going backwards (it takes the same effort going forward, but you don't notice it.) So lean a little further out and you should straighten up.

Oh, yes, make sure your blades are mounted properly...

All of the aforementioned tips may help you...

Also, make sure you shift your weight completely over to one side before you even pick up your free foot. Many people try to rush into picking up the foot before they "lose momentum" from that back swizzle. Instead, practice a back swizzle, glide on two feet, shift your weight to one side, and then pick up one foot.

Side-to-side, your weight should be directly over your skating foot (which, as Cactus Bill pointed out, may feel like you're not "centered" at first). Front-to-back, your weight should be towards the middle-front of the blade.

Finally...don't lock your knees. Many coaches will tell you to "stand up over your blades." This doesn't mean to completely lock your legs stiff and straight. It means to keep your upper body posture erect, eyes looking forward, and your entire body in alignment (front-to-back and left-to-right). Knee bend and a relaxed skating foot are a good thing.

Good luck!

Your free leg should be extended forwards, and rotated to turn outwards from the thigh, with the knee fairly straight and the toe pointed. This will stop your knees from knocking together and your hips closing (which would push you onto an inside edge).

Your skating knee should point in the same direction as your skating toe (don't turn your knee in, and don't stick or skew your skating hip out sideways).

There is a slight "sitting" feeling on the skating leg, almost as though the skating hip was sitting down onto a shooting stick, or similar.

Try this in front of a mirror at home, and feel your balance.

Also, with your free foot, it should be just before or just after (heel-to-toe) your skating foot....not hanging out to the side which would un-balance you. My husband "forgets" and then 'unbalances' himself

Once you get better, you will be able to set you free leg anywhere.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Yep--but don't forget to tuck your bum underneath you! If it's sticking out at all, then your balance isn't where it should be, and you'll be compensating in some entirely wrong places!

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Thanks for all your replies, I went skating this morning and gave them a go.

I ended up curving a lot less. I guess I just need to practice more

Better advice has NEVER been given!

Thanks for all your imput on my balancing problem I am pleased to announce I can now balance backwards in a straight line on one foot, and using both feet, Yay