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On the Ice => Sitting on the Boards Rink Side => Topic started by: rosereedy on March 31, 2013, 07:43:32 PM

Title: Funny advice
Post by: rosereedy on March 31, 2013, 07:43:32 PM
What's the funniest advice you have gotten or given when learning something? For me, a coach many years ago told me to feel like I was a dog chasing my tail in a camel position. It helps and I have since told others and they find it helps them too. It gives that stretch and pull for a nice position. Also, for brackets I told someone to "flick" the free foot because they weren't putting the foot in the right place. It also helped them. So chase your tail like a dog and do some flicking pretty amusing to me.

Who knows, maybe some funny trick can help someone here that's having an issue.

Mod note: topic moved.
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: VAsk8r on March 31, 2013, 07:52:12 PM
My mom cracks me up sometimes, though unintentionally. The last time we went skating together, I worked on axels, and she came up to me and said, "That's twice today I've seen you fall on your wrist. I don't think you should work on those anymore." (She hadn't seen the other eight times.)

Recently I was chatting with a coach I don't know too well, and I mentioned I was considering testing in a few weeks but wasn't sure I'd be ready. He replied, "You just need to practice more." Oh yeah, I already spend all my free time and money at the rink, but it's really simple, just practice more!

My coach has told me a couple of times that I'm holding my leg like a dog about to pee. That always makes me fix the problem pretty quickly. Also, when I was learning flip jumps, my hands kept falling down in front of my legs, and she said, "There's nothing to protect there!"
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: rosereedy on March 31, 2013, 08:16:34 PM
My mom cracks me up sometimes, though unintentionally. The last time we went skating together, I worked on axels, and she came up to me and said, "That's twice today I've seen you fall on your wrist. I don't think you should work on those anymore." (She hadn't seen the other eight times.)

Recently I was chatting with a coach I don't know too well, and I mentioned I was considering testing in a few weeks but wasn't sure I'd be ready. He replied, "You just need to practice more." Oh yeah, I already spend all my free time and money at the rink, but it's really simple, just practice more!

My coach has told me a couple of times that I'm holding my leg like a dog about to pee. That always makes me fix the problem pretty quickly. Also, when I was learning flip jumps, my hands kept falling down in front of my legs, and she said, "There's nothing to protect there!"

I've learned in the past to weeks that n order for my axel to have proper kick thru of my free leg, I must see my neon pink laces in my lower peripheral vision. Strange but it works. Otherwise I have flamingo free leg. Bleh!
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: mamabear on March 31, 2013, 09:43:29 PM
As I was learning a 2 foot spin one coach would tell me to stand tall like I was in a Pringles can.  It's a funny image but worked better for me than imagining myself as a marionette which was someone else's advice. 
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: irenar5 on March 31, 2013, 09:44:33 PM
My coach told me to wrap the free leg around a tree when teaching the transition from scratch to layback :-)

Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: nicklaszlo on March 31, 2013, 09:52:07 PM
Not advice, but these seemed funny at the time:

A boasting pairs coach, eager to show he knows how to work with student's limitations:
Quote
I've had lots of students with broken arms!

Another incident
Quote
Coach 1:  Do triple double.
Skater:  But triple triple is easy for me!
Coach 2:  <grinds teeth>
Skater:  *splat*
Skater:  I didn't pop!
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: sarahspins on March 31, 2013, 11:04:09 PM
He replied, "You just need to practice more." Oh yeah, I already spend all my free time and money at the rink, but it's really simple, just practice more!

But it is that simple!  Practice builds confidence, and when you're ready, you'll know.  I knew I was ready to test my silver moves when I no longer felt panicked about getting them ready when the test session was announced, and I was confident enough to turn in my paperwork early.  Now if course that test session is one week away and I'm totally freaking out, but it's all about really stupid things, like being nervous about getting nervous (yes, really!), what I'm going to wear, or sleeping in late and missing the test session completely.. I'm not actually nervous about the skating :)
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: alainajane on March 31, 2013, 11:32:18 PM
After 14 years of taekwondo vs 5 months of LTS, I have a natural tendency to hold my arms in close (guard position) while skating.  My LTS instructor constantly has to remind me that nothing on the ice will attack me.  Though on Friday night public sessions, with a significant number of high school hockey boys, that point is some what debatable.  :)
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: jjane45 on April 01, 2013, 12:40:09 AM
A boasting pairs coach, eager to show he knows how to work with student's limitations:

I think he just tried to say no in a nice way, LOL!
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: 4711 on April 01, 2013, 12:45:23 AM
After 14 years of taekwondo vs 5 months of LTS, I have a natural tendency to hold my arms in close (guard position) while skating.  My LTS instructor constantly has to remind me that nothing on the ice will attack me.  Though on Friday night public sessions, with a significant number of high school hockey boys, that point is some what debatable.  :)

you should leave the boys alone!  ;)
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: treesprite on April 01, 2013, 06:53:02 AM
When I was a kid learning scratch spins, my coach told me not to hold my hands like puppy dog hands.
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: Doubletoe on April 01, 2013, 05:35:27 PM
I agree with the dog-chasing-its-tail analogy for the camel spin and regularly repeat that to people.  My favorite advice on the lutz takeoff is "Imagine someone is pulling you backward by your bra strap."
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: AgnesNitt on April 01, 2013, 05:50:44 PM
When I was trying to learn Figures my coach told me "Get your boob over the line!"

What did she tell guys?
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: ls99 on April 01, 2013, 07:00:29 PM
When I was trying to learn Figures my coach told me "Get your boob over the line!"

What did she tell guys?

Change boob to moob, in the instruction
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: Rachelsk8s on April 06, 2013, 11:19:03 AM

My coach has told me a couple of times that I'm holding my leg like a dog about to pee. That always makes me fix the problem pretty quickly
Soo funny!!! My coach uses the exact same phrase to me too when I'm doing something wrong, and it does usually help me to fix the problem:)
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: lemongranita on April 08, 2013, 09:44:34 AM
When I was trying to learn Figures my coach told me "Get your boob over the line!"

What did she tell guys?

Our group coach one time, trying to improve our posture: "Come on, present your boobs! [to the men] Yes, you too!"
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: davincisop on April 08, 2013, 10:30:17 AM
"You're going to step behind, like a backwards penguin walk!"
 - my coach on the Schaffer push in backward crossrolls.
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: jourdanwantstoskate on May 13, 2013, 03:55:31 AM
When I was learning backwards stroking the other guy in my LTS class said he always imagine himself dancing the salsa or the tango to help with the hip movement! Believe it or not, it actually kind of helped! haha :)
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: karne on May 15, 2013, 06:41:10 AM
Coach, teaching cross-rolls to group of older ladies:

"Be more sexy hips! Be more sexy hips!"
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: jjane45 on May 15, 2013, 10:20:44 AM
Coach, teaching cross-rolls to group of older ladies:

"Be more sexy hips! Be more sexy hips!"

lol, I need to try this one!
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: AgnesNitt on May 15, 2013, 03:57:11 PM
From my old dance coach

"More Extension!"

"That's as high as it gets! I'm in my 60s! "

"NOT MATTER IN ICE DANCE!"

I don't knof if that's funny advice, but well, it happened.
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: SynchKat on May 15, 2013, 05:48:30 PM
Back in the day I was told...

Turn you foot out so your toes point to the ceiling

Turn it out enough so that I (Coach) could rest a tray of tea on it.

I have told people...
Imagine you have a pole stuck to your spine.

Fix your squid hands (you know hands that just droop, total pet peeve)
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: supra on May 16, 2013, 11:10:10 AM
"You look like a damned ape out there." In reference to my back not being straight enough.

"OK, open your hips like you're about to give birth." In reference to inside mohawk transitions.

There's plenty more, one I remembered was too inappropriate to post here.
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: accordion on May 18, 2013, 06:53:59 AM
Funny peculiar not funny ha ha.

I'm learning to spin and my coach asks if I spin to the left or right. I don't know! Both directions seem equally awkward, neither is more comfortable. I like doing waltz threes to the left, but that might be because I can do several in a row while going with the flow of the other skaters.

The coach's response was that it needs to be sorted and soon. As in before I do any more spins and start jumps.

Does anyone spin/jump ambidextrously?
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: techskater on May 18, 2013, 06:35:41 PM
There are a few who jump one way and spin the other, most notably, John Curry did until Carlo Fassi made him "fix" his spinning direction
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: AgnesNitt on May 18, 2013, 07:38:53 PM

I'm learning to spin and my coach asks if I spin to the left or right. I don't know! Both directions seem equally awkward, neither is more comfortable. I like doing waltz threes to the left, but that might be because I can do several in a row while going with the flow of the other skaters.

...
Does anyone spin/jump ambidextrously?

I have a friend who spins and jumps both ways (I think his highest jump is a toe loop). His coach wanted to 'fix' him, then he was taken aside by an older more experienced skater who told him effectively, "You're a recreational skater, if you were going to compete seriously it's worth settling on one direction. But you're not going to compete seriously, and it will give you really fun elements for  programs for local shows."



Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: nicklaszlo on May 18, 2013, 08:24:40 PM
Funny peculiar not funny ha ha.

I'm learning to spin and my coach asks if I spin to the left or right. I don't know! Both directions seem equally awkward, neither is more comfortable. I like doing waltz threes to the left, but that might be because I can do several in a row while going with the flow of the other skaters.

The coach's response was that it needs to be sorted and soon. As in before I do any more spins and start jumps.

Does anyone spin/jump ambidextrously?
I do.  I am a little better clockwise.
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: nicklaszlo on May 18, 2013, 11:57:47 PM
Relevant to rotational direction:

http://skatingforums.com/index.php?topic=3681.0
http://skatingforums.com/index.php?topic=3368.0
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: accordion on May 19, 2013, 01:03:28 AM
Oh my! What a lot of terrific advice, thankyou very much everyone  :D
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: techskater on May 19, 2013, 04:51:54 PM
At a high level, Rohene Ward jumps up to 3Lz (not in competition) both directions (and he was doing a 2A+2A sequence in opposite directions until he determined it wasn't worth it since the 2A in the clockwise direction wasn't as good)
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: blue111moon on May 20, 2013, 07:41:57 AM
Way back in Dinosaur Days when I started group lessons, I jumped one way and spun the other.  It wasn't until I got into private lessons that my coach explained that spinning in the same direction as jumps was preferred and helpful.  Since I couldn't change the way I jumped, I changed my spinning direction - and it took YEARS before I was comfortable with it.  I still naturally do two-foot spins "the other way" but all my one-foot spins go the same direction as my jumps.
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: karne on May 22, 2013, 12:28:49 AM
At a high level, Rohene Ward jumps up to 3Lz (not in competition) both directions (and he was doing a 2A+2A sequence in opposite directions until he determined it wasn't worth it since the 2A in the clockwise direction wasn't as good)

In an interview on Icenetwork about his comeback this season Rohene says he's going to throw in some reverse direction jumps in the LP - I think he mentioned a 2A. Hang on.

Quote
Ward says he still does a triple Axel on a regular basis in practice. He has the extremely rare ability to rotate triple jumps both clockwise and counterclockwise. He says that his new free skate will include a reverse double Axel as well as spins in both directions.

For his short program, Ward will skate to "Din Da Da" by Kevin Aviance. His free skate is to "Weather Storm" by Craig Armstrong.

Article on icenetwork (http://"http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48189698&vkey=ice_news")
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: techskater on May 22, 2013, 07:36:45 PM
I saw that!  I was very excited, too!!
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: nicklaszlo on June 10, 2014, 01:33:51 PM
Quote
"You are checking too much!"
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: karne on June 11, 2014, 11:02:05 PM
Oh, now this thread is making me sad the Rohene comeback never happened. :( I was so looking forward to the contest of Artist vs Muse.

Oh well.
Title: "Caution, Slip Hazard"
Post by: nicklaszlo on May 20, 2017, 08:38:59 AM
This rink wants you to know it is slippery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi_2zETc_EQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi_2zETc_EQ)
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: Sam_Bryant on May 21, 2017, 12:36:22 AM
Reviving this OLD topic are we?

Alright:

My coach once told me, "Stop crying and get up. Otherwise your tears will make you stick to the ice and you'll get run over by the zamboni." Harsh.
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: nicklaszlo on June 14, 2017, 06:58:54 AM
A coach, correcting a skater's jump:  "Put your landing gear down!"

(http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/transportation/2013/07/130724_TRANS_SouthwestLaGuardia.jpg.CROP.rectangle3-large.jpg)
Title: Re: Funny advice
Post by: Meli on July 11, 2017, 01:01:49 AM
I'm currently being told to "bend... and snap!" as shown in Legally Blonde.