Newbie struggling with balance

[Weeze]

I'm going on 56 and trying to learn to skate - taking beginner group lessons for the 3rd time!

My problem is I can't balance on 1 skate to save my life, even for a second!  On dry land no problem.

This is a huge hurdle with ALL elements of skating.

Is it just a matter of practice, or are some people just unable to do it, and I'm kidding myself?

Thanks for any insights!

[Clarice]

It's probably the fear factor.  Most beginners have a really wide stance, so if you pick up one foot you have to put it right back down again.  Gliding on one foot works the same way standing on one foot on dry land does - you have to shift your hips over to the side you're standing on so that foot is centered beneath you.  Think of lining it up with the zipper on your jacket.  The free foot should stay close to the skating foot - think toe to ankle. 

Are you using rental skates?  That could also be the problem.  If the boots are too broken down and are not giving you proper ankle support it's going to be very difficult to glide on one foot.  Lack of support can also come from not lacing up tightly enough.

[Weeze]

Thanks for the reply!  Not using rentals.  Probably just have to "go for it," fear be damned.

[AgnesNitt]

bend your knees.

Bend them further than you think humanly possible.

Then stay there.

You are now about two thirds down to where you need to be.

It seems like I'm exaggerating, but not by much.

Oh, and what Clarice said, get your feet closer together.

I am the queen of Taking Forever To Learn To One Foot Glide, and the Duchess of Long Time Learning Crossovers. This is a lesson born of painful adult learner experience.

Bend the knee. Really.

With a bent knee you'll find you're much less inclined to react to every bump scrape or uncertainty on the ice.

[Weeze]

I took video of myself yesterday - good knee bend but was leaning forward.  Gotta work on the posture!
Thanks for the advice!

[sampaguita]

You also have to be conscious of your hip position. Try it on dry land: when you balance on one foot, you actually have to keep your free hip up. If it drops, you'll be forced to put your foot down.

When you skate, that free hip has to go higher than on dry land. That's because there's also the body lean that occurs because you're gliding on an edge.

Hope that helps!

[Clarice]

I agree with needing to keep the free hip up, but at this stage of the game you should not be gliding on an edge.  Stay on the flats of the blades and try to glide in a straight line.  If your glide curves, it means you got onto an edge, probably an inside, either by dropping your hip or letting your ankle collapse.  It's also easier if you're going a little faster.   

[Weeze]

Wow, never considered the hip situation - will try - thanks!

[dlbritton]

You also have to be conscious of your hip position. Try it on dry land: when you balance on one foot, you actually have to keep your free hip up. If it drops, you'll be forced to put your foot down.

When you skate, that free hip has to go higher than on dry land. That's because there's also the body lean that occurs because you're gliding on an edge.

Hope that helps!

An analogy we use in skiing to get the hip up is to think about trying to perch on a bar stool with one foot (for skating: the skating foot) on the ground and the free hip lifted to sit on the bar stool.

BTW: I tried this today on FO glides and it definitely helped. Don't know why I had not thought of it earlier. I could tell I was stacked straighter. I focused on raising the hip and knee as opposed to the foot to get my skate off the ice as I have seen suggested in other posts.

[Qarol]

bend your knees.

Bend them further than you think humanly possible.

Then stay there.

You are now about two thirds down to where you need to be.

It seems like I'm exaggerating, but not by much.

This is true in almost all skating elements. When you feel like you're squatting or about to sit in a chair, you just barely low enough. You can never skate too low. And you're almost never low enough. You think you are, but you're not.

[eillie]

This is true in almost all skating elements. When you feel like you're squatting or about to sit in a chair, you just barely low enough. You can never skate too low. And you're almost never low enough. You think you are, but you're not.

I'm finding this especially funny at the moment because I only just recently watched a video of my sit spin (which is still in progress) and even though in the spin I felt I was as low as I could go at this point, in the video my knees looked so straight!  Sadly videos do not lie ...

[Weeze]

I find it difficult to keep my upper body posture erect when bending very low  -  even with concentrating on keeping my head up.

[phoenix]

For learning a beginning one foot glide, you really don't need to worry about a low knee bend. That will come later, w/ other skills.

Mainly you need to learn to commit all your weight over the skating foot, as others have said. We say, "shift and lift" to remind people that you have to shift your weight *before* you pick up the foot. Try it on land--if you just were going to stand on one foot, you will unconsciously shift your weight over before lifting. On the ice, sometimes you have to consciously do it--and it's going to feel like you're leaning over, when really you've just moved over the skating side. It also helps to start w/ a 2 foot glide w/ your feet very close together, then pick the one foot straight up.

[Elsa]

bend your knees.

Bend them further than you think humanly possible.

Then stay there.

You are now about two thirds down to where you need to be.

It seems like I'm exaggerating, but not by much.

This is SO true!  For whatever reason, I lose my knee bend when I'm working on dance - makes my dance coach nuts.    I think he'd be happy if he could have a stick and just whack me with it instead of constantly yelling at me to bend my knees.   On the bright side, my extension is good - straight legs, pointed toes/feet. Now to put the two together . . .

I find it difficult to keep my upper body posture erect when bending very low  -  even with concentrating on keeping my head up.

It is tough, but it will get better, it just takes time and practice. Hang in there!

[FigureSpins]

OT: 

I foresee the November Challenge will be "Button Up and Bend Ze Knees, Please."  (Dick Button reference)



Back on topic, my knees were really stiff today, so I worked on extension and bend after seeing myself do the edge changes.  *Shudders*  Did deep-knee bend swizzles, forward and backward.  While that works the glutes and front of the thighs, it also improves balance and movement at the lower elevation, lol. 

[fsk8r]

I'm finding this especially funny at the moment because I only just recently watched a video of my sit spin (which is still in progress) and even though in the spin I felt I was as low as I could go at this point, in the video my knees looked so straight!  Sadly videos do not lie ...

I know the feeling.
However I've recently discovered the other extreme of sit spin. I have no leg strength after a long lay off but hadn't realised it when I came back, so just went to do everything as before. With no leg strength my sit spin falls like a stone. It's wonderfully low and my coach was dancing all over the rink when she saw it (butt on ankle low). I just can't get up. So I don't recommend the approach for getting a working sit spin.