tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post2518317732318466390..comments2023-12-06T05:29:56.624-05:00Comments on On Thin Ice: Somebody quick--give me a dope slap!George Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15375041586503979232noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-13565345790086644032012-03-06T19:50:08.467-05:002012-03-06T19:50:08.467-05:00Thanks for the input. I'll stick with figure ...Thanks for the input. I'll stick with figure blades until I get to that rarefied estate where I'm stepping on my own heels--say, "skating" with blade guards was probably good preparation for that. I just love it when a topic turns a complete circle!George Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375041586503979232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-45795327797949139162012-03-06T16:00:06.500-05:002012-03-06T16:00:06.500-05:00There are many dancers who forego dance blades, ei...There are many dancers who forego dance blades, either because they like their freestyle blades or they don't like dance blades. Unless you are an elite or high-level dancer, you probably aren't going to notice much difference. At that level when technique is superb, any little difference helps. You can learn good skating technique in any decent blade. And once you learn good technique, you aren't going to trip on your toe picks. <br /><br />Some people do like dance blades so at some point, when your technique is solid, you might want to try a pair and see if they actually benefit you. The cost can be prohibitive so it's often nice to borrow a used pair before investing, if you can. But honestly, I know people who have passed all their dance tests in freestyle blades and they are beautiful dancers. Your money is better spent for other things, IMHO. Things like lessons and ice time.<br /><br />Caveat: The only major advantage to a short blade is you avoid stepping on your own heel in certain turns. I switched to a short heel when I started working on the Silver Tango after some nasty falls. But I use a synchro blade, not a dance blade. It has the same radius as a freestyle blade, although the shape is slightly different, and is not narrow like a dance blade. <br /><br />I don't think anyone can blame their blades for not keeping up with the music. Bad technique or lack of musicality, yes. Blades, no.HipSk8https://www.blogger.com/profile/17073589538995430853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-34039612731931311422012-03-06T07:56:46.140-05:002012-03-06T07:56:46.140-05:00"I've never worn dance blades ..."--..."I've never worn dance blades ..."--that's a very interesting comment to my rookie ears. My assumption was that as one moved up the ladder in dance complexity that the shorter (and less forgiving) dance blades became de rigueur, at the very least, to help avoid accidental toe picking, and to prevent dance partners from tangling in each other's skates. <br /><br />Also, since the shorter, more highly rockered blades should accelerate more quickly out of turns than figure blades I assumed they'd be an advantage for keeping up with the music--providing of course that one stays vertical. Hearing that I won't need them sounds good both from a pocket book perspective as well a skating one. I can settle down and learn things on a familiar set of skates without having to reinvent a whole bunch of wheels after migrating to trickier blades.George Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375041586503979232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-77962474558205819172012-03-05T23:18:33.490-05:002012-03-05T23:18:33.490-05:00I've never worn dance blades ... they aren'...I've never worn dance blades ... they aren't required equipment for dancers. There are pros and cons as you've pointed out and I like more versatility in my blade. As for the guards, you'll probably never do that again!HipSk8https://www.blogger.com/profile/17073589538995430853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-48446024390513392232012-03-05T01:54:58.865-05:002012-03-05T01:54:58.865-05:00Terri: Thanks for the validation! I'm hoping ...Terri: Thanks for the validation! I'm hoping that I don't need periodic "continuing education" credits in blade guard removal to maintain my "real" status!<br /><br />I understand that dance blades are also not for the faint of heart due to the increased rocker and shorter "wheelbase" compared to free style blades. That aspect is reminiscent of my experience racing small development class sailing dinghies: designs with more rocker in the keel line are simultaneously nimbler to turn but very much less forgiving to sail than designs with flatter runs aft. However, as in the case of the free style blades being more controllable during the landing of jumps, the flatter hull designs are both more user friendly and quicker to release into planing mode than the highly rockered boats. So it seems that in the cases of both keel and blade shape one can see the effects of compromise and specialization. No doubt sooner or later I'll put this notion to the test on ice.George Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375041586503979232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-91403782999081078392012-03-04T22:13:41.447-05:002012-03-04T22:13:41.447-05:00Congratulations George, you are a “real” skater no...Congratulations George, you are a “real” skater now. By that I mean you (1) own your own skates (congratulations), (2) have forgotten to remove your guards for the first time, a rite of passage most definitely, and (3) are addicted enough to work your non-ice schedule around your skating time.<br /><br />The Katz straps are a good idea. There are a few ice dance die-hards like me who only lace the bottom hook so as to maximize toe point and ankle bend while avoiding lace bite. It’s not for the faint of heart!HipSk8https://www.blogger.com/profile/17073589538995430853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-47151399438152304042012-02-28T07:28:56.859-05:002012-02-28T07:28:56.859-05:00Babbette: The back side of my right arm, my right...Babbette: The back side of my right arm, my right hip and my ego all thank you for your comment--they feel instantly better! Along with remembering to remove the guards I suppose I should start rehearsing an Elvis impersonation for those occasions when I'll have the inevitable bout of brain fade: "Thank-que, thank-que, verrree, verree much; I'm here most weeks..."George Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375041586503979232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-37313979777449392172012-02-27T21:58:40.185-05:002012-02-27T21:58:40.185-05:00George, if it makes you feel any better, every ska...George, if it makes you feel any better, every skater has either stepped on the ice with their blade protectors on, or will do it someday.Babbette Duboisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05721808053479678691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-55474660436962556812012-02-25T23:07:13.926-05:002012-02-25T23:07:13.926-05:00Hi Gordon: Hopefully that's the first and las...Hi Gordon: Hopefully that's the first and last time I make that mistake! Yes I see small improvements almost each time on the ice. No doubt there will be a plateau at some point. I'm guessing that will occur when I tackle back 3s.George Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375041586503979232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-85497017715440262152012-02-25T17:32:21.408-05:002012-02-25T17:32:21.408-05:00BWAHAHA!
Sorry ;-) but that is something I'm...BWAHAHA! <br /><br />Sorry ;-) but that is something I'm paranoid about. Guards-on is a nasty fall, particularly because it's totally out of the blue.<br /><br />Sound like you are making good progress!Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05953998801421616559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-14857924628277328212012-02-24T23:10:32.909-05:002012-02-24T23:10:32.909-05:00I should have a read on whether or not several mon...I should have a read on whether or not several months of figure skating has had any positive effect on my boat handling sense of balance in a couple weeks when I race down in Florida. The small dinghies which I race get seriously physical as the winds approach 20 knots and I haven't set foot in a boat since our last regatta back in early November! Perhaps a fairer indication will come this summer when I'm both racing boats and skating on a regular basis.George Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375041586503979232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-48576636719786728592012-02-24T22:11:20.754-05:002012-02-24T22:11:20.754-05:00I'm in the same boat (metaphorically speaking ...I'm in the same boat (metaphorically speaking of course) as you, I took up triathlon training to improve my endurance for skating.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13896850408974812807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-26834561178885637102012-02-22T21:35:22.712-05:002012-02-22T21:35:22.712-05:00Yeah it's getting a bit obsessive--I have my f...Yeah it's getting a bit obsessive--I have my first dinghy regatta of the new season down at Gulfport, Florida the second weekend of March and I've already sussed out that there's a rink a few blocks away from our hotel in Clearwater. The skates may go along for the ride...George Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375041586503979232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602697467859417662.post-75388642058660344912012-02-22T20:32:24.479-05:002012-02-22T20:32:24.479-05:00Adjusting your work schedule to accommodate your s...Adjusting your work schedule to accommodate your skating practices??? Bwahaha....you are totally hooked my friend! I've even adjusted my work hours to accommodate a competition this Friday. Best of all? Celebrating wedding anniversaries at arenas because I was taking a skating test that night! Family vacations taken to coincide with Adult Nationals....<br /><br />Oh yeah, and stepping on the ice with your guards on...even the pros do that from time to time.<br /><br />http://internationaladulticeskaters.com/Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13896850408974812807noreply@blogger.com