Figure skating is a very graceful sport wherein ice skaters impress the judges with various techniques and routines they can generally come up with. Although it may look so easy in an audience’s point-of-view, it is very difficult for the skaters to even do the whole routine without stumbling during their practice sessions. The techniques they have to do must be perfect to be able to have a high score with the judges.
If you are a budding ice skater, then you must first know and practice the various techniques you can possibly do on ice. Techniques such as the jumps, spins, lifts and step and turns are just the basics which you can manipulate later on if you are ready. First of all, jumps are the most notable element in figure skating. It involves leaping up in the air and rotating rapidly to land after finishing one or more spins. This is very difficult to do especially if it’s your first time, so trainers usually practice this move in a gymnasium first before the actual ice.
Spins are also a required move a skater must perform during competitions. During a spin, you have to rotate at the ball of the foot to have a smooth rotation. There are various ways you can do spins. But it is all up to you how you’re going to manipulate it in your own artistic way.
If you’re competing in a pair’s event, then you can never avoid the heart-wrenching lifts. Lifts can make you drop your jaw at times for professional skaters can do unexpected moves while lifting their dainty partners. If you plan on doing stunts like these, it is important to practice in a gymnasium first before hitting the ice to minimize damage.
Ice skating can be very innocent to look at sometimes. But behind the scenes, a lot of effort and practice is done to perfect just one routine. So the next time you watch an ice skating competition, make sure to look and appreciate the routine. Moreover, don’t just admire the moves, applaud the skaters as well.