Today on "Adult Beginning Skater Drama-1 Foot Glides"/"As the Foot Pronates"

[MCsAngel2]

Today marks 8 1/2 weeks (14 hours on ice) since I took skating up again, with my own skates. There's been drama with foot pain and whatnot, which I think mostly was my feet acclimating to the new boots. I *am* now dealing with a bit of lace bite, but pop some Advil before skating and try to loosen up the laces and hope it'll eventually go away. Also need to get the boots punched out a bit, they seem to have shrunk a little....

I am having a HECK of a time with my one foot glides. I can only hold them, at best, for 2 seconds, and both sides I wind up curving drastically inside. Can't glide straight to save my life.

Today, I brought my husband along to film me. It wasn't a good video job, but I can see what I have suspected recently - I am leaning on my inside edges, especially my left foot. Pretty obviously. I haven't got a shot of a 2 foot glide, so I don't know if I'm on the flats or not (I think I am). I've stood next to a reflective surface on the boards, and just standing it looks like at least my left foot is on the inside edge. I never had this issue when I skated as a teen.

I do pronate, I've already addressed this once with the skate tech. He already moved the left blade inside and put a wedge under the insole, when I got the blades mounted. He was particular about me testing them out by standing on a board to see if they were straight, so I don't know what he'll say.

I'm having my first private lesson Saturday, hopefully the coach will be willing to film me more closely so I can show it to the skate tech. The only thing is, I don't know how normal this is as a beginning skater, whether it will work itself out, or if I need shims. I really feel like I'm comfortable enough now that I shouldn't be leaning in to 'protect' myself, I am feeling that this needs shims to correct.

I've got fairly nice slaloms (though not really getting on my outside edges), can stroke properly (except not being able to stay on one foot long), though I did notice today at a quiet session that my right foot seems to scrape up snow, and started chasses today. But I truly feel like I should be farther along now and it's this darn edge thing holding me back.

[rd350]

That can be a consequence of hip weakness and/or alignment issues (hip/knee).  You might want to have that looked at before moving your blades a lot.  A good PT should be able to assess this.

[AgnesNitt]

That can be a consequence of hip weakness and/or alignment issues (hip/knee).  You might want to have that looked at before moving your blades a lot.  A good PT should be able to assess this.

Also, you may need to do some serious lap skating to build up your leg strength. It's not exciting but it's necessary. Don't forget to suck in that stomach to give your back (and therefore your hips) support.

[MCsAngel2]

Also, you may need to do some serious lap skating to build up your leg strength. It's not exciting but it's necessary. Don't forget to suck in that stomach to give your back (and therefore your hips) support.

The vast majority of my sessions are laps. I have just recently begun to feel like I have my legs back...actually just dropped a pant size from all that. I can get some pretty good speed going, but not as much as I think I should have (and being on my edges is probably why).

Ugggh, I'm so stressed about my lesson tomorrow, and what this all means. I'm so worried that this is a non correctable situation and I'll have to give it up.

[AgnesNitt]

The vast majority of my sessions are laps. I have just recently begun to feel like I have my legs back...actually just dropped a pant size from all that. I can get some pretty good speed going, but not as much as I think I should have (and being on my edges is probably why).

Ugggh, I'm so stressed about my lesson tomorrow, and what this all means. I'm so worried that this is a non correctable situation and I'll have to give it up.

Well, good on you for the laps. A mile is 9 laps in most rinks.

Your skating issues sound pretty typical to me.  If you want to skate, keep plugging away and eventually things will get better. You're an adult and a beginner, it's always harder for us to pick up new skills.  Yeah, there's always someone who is doing waltz jumps after their third lesson, those people are aliens from another planet. Enjoy the journey, it's going to take a while to get better.

(Note; I had all your problems and did all the same things, what got me better was doing laps for a mile every skate---http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2016/06/mileage-on-ice.html

[tstop4me]

The vast majority of my sessions are laps. I have just recently begun to feel like I have my legs back...actually just dropped a pant size from all that. I can get some pretty good speed going, but not as much as I think I should have (and being on my edges is probably why).

Ugggh, I'm so stressed about my lesson tomorrow, and what this all means. I'm so worried that this is a non correctable situation and I'll have to give it up.

You'll need to do this iteratively.  Yeah, doing laps to build up strength and flexibility is great.  But it's hard to do laps if you can't hold a single-foot glide properly.  I agree that at some point, if your problems persist, you should get evaluated by a medical professional to determine whether something is out of whack (your private coach should appraise you of what are typical problems, and their duration, for beginner adults, and what seems out of whack).  If you have access to a sports podiatrist who specializes in ice skating, that would be great (I've found they are hard to find though; none near me).  Here's an article that's an interesting read, written by one such specialist:  http://www.aapsm.org/pdf/humble-skatinga.pdf.  It gives a clear explanation of the role of corrective footbeds, blade placement, and shimming.  Skate techs have their own biases, though, so it's important to learn about this important topic.

[MCsAngel2]

Well, good on you for the laps. A mile is 9 laps in most rinks.

Your skating issues sound pretty typical to me.  If you want to skate, keep plugging away and eventually things will get better. You're an adult and a beginner, it's always harder for us to pick up new skills.  Yeah, there's always someone who is doing waltz jumps after their third lesson, those people are aliens from another planet. Enjoy the journey, it's going to take a while to get better.

(Note; I had all your problems and did all the same things, what got me better was doing laps for a mile every skate---http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2016/06/mileage-on-ice.html

Do you pronate naturally, off-ice? That's my issue, and why I'm concerned.

I laughed at your alien skater comment....

[AgnesNitt]

Do you pronate naturally, off-ice? That's my issue, and why I'm concerned.

I laughed at your alien skater comment....

My pronation is so bad that it was identified by my pediatritian when I started to walk and I can't wear heels.I really have had to build up my foot, ankle and leg strength. It works...not enough for me to wear heels, but enough to skate.

[MCsAngel2]

My pronation is so bad that it was identified by my pediatritian when I started to walk and I can't wear heels.I really have had to build up my foot, ankle and leg strength. It works...not enough for me to wear heels, but enough to skate.

Oh wow, I'm impressed. That's very encouraging.

Had my lesson, she confirmed I'm on the inside on my left foot, right foot is okay. I'll be seeing my skate tech soon and *maybe* he'll have a wedge or something to add to what I already have to help. I will obviously not be getting very far like this. Couldn't get on my outside edges on half swizzle pumps on the circle.

[MCsAngel2]

I am looking and looking and studying the brief video my coach shot of me skating where you can see my left foot leaning in.... this is the foot where he moved the blade inside the day I got them. It actually looks to me that I'm leaning in BECAUSE the blades are inside. I mean, that's not logical, but it looks like my balance is trying to compensate.

[MCsAngel2]

My pronation is so bad that it was identified by my pediatritian when I started to walk and I can't wear heels.I really have had to build up my foot, ankle and leg strength. It works...not enough for me to wear heels, but enough to skate.

Are your blades mounted inside?

[AgnesNitt]

I am looking and looking and studying the brief video my coach shot of me skating where you can see my left foot leaning in.... this is the foot where he moved the blade inside the day I got them. It actually looks to me that I'm leaning in BECAUSE the blades are inside. I mean, that's not logical, but it looks like my balance is trying to compensate.

You can do other things than move the blade or get orthotics (expensive ). You can build your own orthotics...I recommend doing this to at least learn make adjustments on your own as you get more experience. I also would like to encourage you not to worry,  pronation is pretty common. You'll get better.
http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2012/02/pronation-nation.html
http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2012/03/pronation-nation-inside-boot.html

If it encourages you, I no longer use anything to 'fix' my pronation.

[AgnesNitt]

Are your blades mounted inside?

Yes, but because I Gustave Lussi reccommended it as a normal mounting procedure. It works.
http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2014/07/blade-placement-tips-from-gustave-lussi.html

[AgnesNitt]

You can do other things than move the blade or get orthotics (expensive ). You can build your own orthotics...I recommend doing this to at least learn make adjustments on your own as you get more experience. I also would like to encourage you not to worry,  pronation is pretty common. You'll get better.
http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2012/02/pronation-nation.html
http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2012/03/pronation-nation-inside-boot.html

If it encourages you, I no longer use anything inside my boots to 'fix' my pronation.