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Author Topic: What to practice during a break from lessons?  (Read 4003 times)

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Offline WaltzJump413

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What to practice during a break from lessons?
« on: June 21, 2014, 01:36:00 PM »
I'm going to have to take a break from formal lessons for the summer. (Hopefully getting to start up again in September.) I want to keep improving my skills, though.

What would you recommend working on while practicing on my own?  I am a ISI Freestyle 1 level skater. I've never been without lessons for more than about 5 weeks, so I'm not quite sure how to maintain/improve during this time.

Just curious what you do if and when you have to take a break from lessons.

Thanks in advance!
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"I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength."- Philippians 4:13

Online Bill_S

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2014, 07:25:42 AM »
The single most important thing is to keep skating even though you aren't taking lessons. As good as some of your basic skills are now, there's always room for improvement. Most importantly, it's good to keep your current skills fresh.

Personally (but remember that everyone is different), I like running through basic things to be able to do them better and better. Sometimes I like practicing quiet things like edges, other times I'll go for the more energetic moves depending upon mood. You don't often have the luxury of choice in lessons, so take advantage of that.
Bill Schneider

Offline WaltzJump413

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2014, 06:14:07 PM »
Thanks so much for your input, Bill_S!
ISI Freestyle 2 as of 11/3/14

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." – Albert Einstein

"I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength."- Philippians 4:13

Offline sk8time

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2014, 07:08:55 PM »
The single most important thing is to keep skating even though you aren't taking lessons. As good as some of your basic skills are now, there's always room for improvement. Most importantly, it's good to keep your current skills fresh.

Personally (but remember that everyone is different), I like running through basic things to be able to do them better and better. Sometimes I like practicing quiet things like edges, other times I'll go for the more energetic moves depending upon mood. You don't often have the luxury of choice in lessons, so take advantage of that.

I would echo this - though I passed pre-bronze MITF a while back, I keep doing the forward/backward edges there, and they are definitely still improving (and really should continue to do so!).  This helps tremendously with the patterns that are now coming up in silver moves since pretty much all rely on solid edges!

Offline Nate

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2014, 04:47:16 AM »
The same thing you practice in Lessons, IMO.  At least the stuff that is decently consistent.

And a little more focus on the basics since those do often tend to get neglected, even if just a little, in private lessons since you are working on so much technical content.

Outside of lessons I taught myself Brackets, Rockers, Counters, Twizzles, etc.  I experiment with new jump entrances, spin positions, and of course I go through the stuff that I do in lessons.

Ironically, while I hate spinning, I tend to spend a lot of time on them on my own than in lessons, and they tend to be better there (less pressure?).

Just keep on the status quo, and throw in a few things here and there to keep things "fresh" and avoid falling victim to monotony.

Offline WaltzJump413

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2014, 09:20:32 PM »
Thank you very much, Nate and sk8time!
ISI Freestyle 2 as of 11/3/14

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." – Albert Einstein

"I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength."- Philippians 4:13

Offline littlerain

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2014, 12:49:02 AM »
I haven't been very good about it but I've been making a list of skills I want to work on and use that as a guide for practice. In theory, I want to get through everything at least once a week, but I haven't really been following my own ideas! lol

Offline WaltzJump413

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2014, 07:19:33 PM »
Great idea,littlerain, thanks! :D
ISI Freestyle 2 as of 11/3/14

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." – Albert Einstein

"I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength."- Philippians 4:13

Offline littlerain

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #8 on: June 29, 2014, 05:46:54 PM »
Good luck with it! Hope you're better at focusing than me, cause sometimes I just skate around and look at other skaters lol

Offline skategeek

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #9 on: June 29, 2014, 06:01:30 PM »
Good luck with it! Hope you're better at focusing than me, cause sometimes I just skate around and look at other skaters lol

Sometimes that's a survival trait.   ;)  Though I find it may be curing me of my tendency to look down at the ice...

Offline littlerain

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #10 on: June 29, 2014, 06:34:06 PM »

Sometimes that's a survival trait.   ;)  Though I find it may be curing me of my tendency to look down at the ice...

I need that too. Though at one point today I was skating backwards looking around at people and then totally tripped over myself. LOL!

Offline davincisop

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #11 on: June 29, 2014, 08:29:56 PM »
I had to take a year and a half off from lessons. While I didn't necessarily improve, I didn't regress either. The most important thing I did was stay on the ice. I got on the ice at least twice a week, even if when I got on I just skated circles over and over again.

But as long as you get on the ice you will keep your feet under you. :) I spent a lot of time, like everyone else, running through basics and working on things I hadn't touched much.

Offline WaltzJump413

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #12 on: June 30, 2014, 07:59:12 PM »
Thanks, davincisop! :)
ISI Freestyle 2 as of 11/3/14

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." – Albert Einstein

"I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength."- Philippians 4:13

Offline techskater

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #13 on: June 30, 2014, 08:00:24 PM »
Also, you may want to do some self-critiquing (IOW video yourself and watch) while you take you your break

Offline WaltzJump413

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Re: What to practice during a break from lessons?
« Reply #14 on: June 30, 2014, 09:25:53 PM »
Thanks, techskater.  :)
ISI Freestyle 2 as of 11/3/14

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." – Albert Einstein

"I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength."- Philippians 4:13