Champion Cords by Shelia Thelen

[dlbritton]

My rink just had a seminar with Shelia Thelen ( I didn't go to seminar) and had a training product called Champion Cords. One of the other adults in my LTS class did go and had a pair of the cords. I used them for about 10 minutes and was amazed at the difference they made in my 1 foot spin. I am consistently getting 3 revs but not always centered and occasionally get 4. Today using the cords I immediately got several centered spins of 3 revs and after a few more attempts got 4 centered revs. Once i took the cords off i reverted back to my old form and had trouble getting 3 centered revs.

The skate director has some for sale but left before I got to buy a set. I plan to get them on Monday.

Anyone else ever used these and what is your opinion?

Url is
http://www.championcords.com

[sk8lady]

I bought these some years ago and they're great for assisting with spins, particularly camels. When I coached my students enjoyed them too.

[AgnesNitt]

My coach keeps threatening me with these.

[dlbritton]

I bought these some years ago and they're great for assisting with spins, particularly camels. When I coached my students enjoyed them too.

The skater that has a set just passed Gold mitf and she said they are great, but really tough, for working on har camel spin.

[tstop4me]

My coach keeps threatening me with these.

How so?  To strangle you?  To tie you up?   

[AgnesNitt]

How so?  To strangle you?  To tie you up?   

She thinks I'm 'ready' for them on my spins.  On days when things are going well,I'm  ready; but on days that I'm not going well, then the heck with them.

[FigureSpins]

I was there for that seminar - it was great!

I use the cords with my students, who refer to them as "leashes." They work well if you use them properly. 

For kids with really poor body awareness or reluctance to extend ANY BODY PART, it helps a bit. 
If they're self-conscious about their skating, the cords just droop, regardless of how much you tell them to "stretch the cords."
Sheila used the term "try to break the cords," which I'll try at some point.  It might get them to keep the cords taut, which is the whole idea!

There's an art to clipping them to your skate (just takes practice, like tying skates) and a variety of ways you can attach them to hands/wrists, depending on what you're trying to accomplish.

She did this great forward crossover exercise during the seminar, which I really liked:



Connect cord 1 from left foot to left hand
Connect cord 2 from right foot to right hand
Connect cord 3 from left hand to right hand, like mittens.  (Make a loop with the hook end)

Extend the arms and the cords form a triangle.  Have the skaters do crossovers and keep the triangle facing the center of the circle.  Clever!

[tstop4me]

For those who have actual experience with these cords:  What happens when you fall during a maneuver?  Do these cords become a tripping hazard?  Do you get entangled in them?

[FigureSpins]

If they're used correctly, they're not a tripping hazard.  They used them at the seminar with all levels of freestyle skaters and no one tripped or stepped on the cords, except while taking them off.  They're skinny little bungee cords, not industrial-strength tie down straps.

A while ago, a student tried his best to keep his arms glued to his side while hunching forward and skating with his toepicks.  He was the trip hazard, not the cords, lol.  He was the only student I've had that just couldn't get the concept of "stretch the cords."

[dlbritton]

I was there for that seminar - it was great!

I use the cords with my students, who refer to them as "leashes." They work well if you use them properly. 

For kids with really poor body awareness or reluctance to extend ANY BODY PART, it helps a bit. 
If they're self-conscious about their skating, the cords just droop, regardless of how much you tell them to "stretch the cords."
Sheila used the term "try to break the cords," which I'll try at some point.  It might get them to keep the cords taut, which is the whole idea!

Every one I spoke to said the seminar was great. I wasn't quite at a level to gain a lot from it.

My private coach loves the Champion Cords. Unfortunately the rink was out but the skate director is going to try to get some more at the seminar pricing.

[Query]

If you are in a hurry you could always buy bungee cord from the local marine store, or elsewhere, where it is probably cheap, then tie loop knots at the ends for your hands.

[AgnesNitt]

You can buy the elastic cords and the S hooks Shiela uses, in the hardware store. Of course she also provides a DVD so she puts in added value.

[FigureSpins]

I originally made DIY versions - you can use sleeping bag bungees and a good s-hook caribiner from a sporting goods store.  Takes about 5 minutes to create.  Use a soldering iron to seal the nylon edges of the cord so they don't fray or unravel.  I also added an adjuster so I could make them longer or shorter, but a knot works just as well.  Materials were less than $5/pair. 

I won my "real" Champion Cords in a contest and they are better than my DIY versions. 

The DVD is good and I believe (yep - checked my pouch) that there is also an illustrated sheet that comes with the "real" cords.

[davincisop]

I've taken that seminar and have a pair myself. They are great. I use them actually a bit differently and hold them while doing pattern dances to keep my upper body engaged and make sure that my arms aren't doing something weird.

[dlbritton]

The skating director had a pair for me at LTS tonight. 

I may schedule an extra private session just to work on technique with them. My coach loves them.
I will definitely use them at adult skate Thursday.