Hey Toe Walley!

Well, at least a half a Toe Walley.  The Half-Toe Walley is the final jump which I need  to learn in order to pass ISI's Freestyle-2.  One sets up for ths jump from a pair of back inside edges, first a left and then a right.  While holding the inside back right edge the skater picks with the left toe, springs up from the bent left knee, makes one half turn in the air, picks again with the same toe, but this time in the forward direction and demonstrates control by gliding a short distance on the right skate.  There's not much to see and it's over in the blink of the eye.  Sorry, no suitable youtube video could be found of this little jump.  After listening to and watching the coach, I gave it a go and actually did pull it off.  Not gracefully and not with much height off the ice but at least I was able to get my carcass around and glide away from the scene of the crime.  Of the three FS-2 jumps I think this will be the easiest for me to refine. 

Tonight was the final group lesson in the current flight of seven Thursday evening lessons and I wanted to skate away having made at least a nodding acquaintance with each element required of this level of skating.  To recap, the required FS-2 elements are: the Ballet Jump, the Half-Lutz Jump, the Half-Toe Walley, the One Foot Spin (entered from back cross-overs and sustained for a minimum of six (count 'em) revolutions,  two Forward Arabesques (aka: Spirals; either foot, either edge) and a ten step dance sequence.  In order to pass ISI Freestyle levels one must not only demonstrate the skills individually but also knit them together in a "program" as well.  For my first blush with FS-2 I'm happy to just learn the mechanics of the required elements.  Testing might happen at the end of the next flight of lessons.

I finished up tonight's lesson by working on the proper entrance for the one-foot spin from back cross-overs.  The video clip below shows this entrance.  Note to self:  she doesn't pull her arms in until she has established good control of the spin.  Yes, judges everywhere would note (and probably grade accordingly) that the spin below does "travel" a wee bit but all the same, I'd kill to have one this good.

The half-Lutz and the Ballet jump.

Tonight's group lesson had me working on some of the items required of ISI's FS-2 level which I'd been avoiding, namely the half-Lutz and Ballet jumps.  The half-Lutz is entered via right back cross-overs.  After a couple of those one rides a (hopefully) strong LBO edge and reverses arm positions so that the skating arm is forward.  One then picks with the right toe (while being careful not to drop to the inside edge on the left skate and thus "flutz") and jumps one-half rotation to the left.  Easy enough on youtube, another thing altogether on ice.

The Ballet jump initiates from a right inside 3-turn, picks with the left toe while springing up, again one lands facing forward after a half rotation.

These are relatively simple jumps if you are ten.  A bit more daunting if you're in your mid-60s.  These will give me plenty to chew on during tomorrow's practice session.