CHANGE OF EDGE; FORWARD; OUTSIDE TO INSIDE.
The change of edge is one of the most important school figures and
should be carefully practised by every skating pupil. It is not
spectacular, although it is very graceful and very easy to acquire.
I like the changes of edge and, like all other expert skaters, find them
of the greatest importance at certain times. When one has an audience of
skaters I find these figures much better appreciated than at other
times. At a private party given on the stage of the Hippodrome, I was
skating a difficult figure where there were three small circles at the
four corners of a square. I went from one of the corners to the other by
a change of edge and a three after it. The skaters who were watching me
applauded this figure as generously as any figure of a more spectacular
character that I do during the regular performances of matinees and
evenings during the week. But they were all skaters and appreciated the
difficulty and the beauty of the figure.
The right outside edge forward is the best way to start to learn the
changes of edge. It is easier than the change of edge which begins with
the right inside edge forward, for the reasons which I have explained in
previous chapters concerning the way that the body tends to swing around
toward the circle on inside edges and tends to swing away from it on
outside edges.
The start of the right outside forward change of edge is the same as for
the right outside forward circles and it seems unnecessary to repeat
those directions. The drawings, too, will be found precisely similar in
the pose for some of the figures as for some other figures. This is one
way to get double practise. Every time one practises the outside change
of edge forward he is practising the right start of the outside forward
circles. Every time he is practising the inside forward change of edge
he is practising the start of the inside forward circles.
Start the right outside forward edge circle, as we have seen, by
pressing the left skate squarely against the ice and thrusting onto the
right foot outside edge. The left foot should be carried well behind and
a little across the print with the knee bent and the foot turned out and
down. The skating knee should be strongly bent at the start of the
stroke. The shoulders should be turned so that the right shoulder is
almost over the right foot and the left shoulder twisted well to the
back. When nearly half of the circle has been completed gradually turn
the shoulders toward the right, which will bring them square across the
print or direction in which the skater is moving.
When half the circle is complete the change of edge from the right
outside forward to the right inside forward occurs. The balance of the
body is here changed from an outside to an inside circle and the general
directions which have been given for the execution of an inside edge
circle will be found applicable. But the manner of making the change
from the outside to the inside edge is most important and this portion
of the figure is new to the pupil.
As the outside forward half circle is nearly completed and the change of
edge about to occur, the body, which has been carried on a slightly
forward balance, is slowly changed to a backward balance, and the left
foot, which has been carried behind during the completion of the outside
forward circle, is slowly swayed past, close to the skating foot, and
carried well in front, somewhat high. Sinking on the skating knee at the
time of the change of edge will much assist the full rounding out of the
figure. The arms should not be allowed to swing the body around during
this change of edge as they are liable to do if carried too high or too
far from the body.
Follow same directions for left forward outside change of edge.