THREES—FORWARD AND BACKWARD.
Skated in a series, as I do them, backward, threes always interest even
those who know nothing about skating. They are necessary to the mastery
of the ice waltz and all the other dance steps. In their simplest form,
either forward or backward, they are generally graceful.
There are two ways of regarding the three. Some of the best skaters make
it very deeply indented, as if there were two circles, in the middle of
which was placed the threes. Others make the three a quick turn, almost
unnoticeable on the ice, in the execution of a big circle. The latter
design seems to me to be right. I regard the three as a movement which
occurs and should occur only as part of the execution of a big circle.
This is the way that I skate it. My style is my own and is a combination
of the best style I have seen. Every skater becomes more or less
individual as he becomes expert and in some of the best skaters it is
difficult to tell where they learned or who their teacher was.
There are eight threes for the beginner to learn—one on outside edge
forward to inside edge backward, one on inside edge forward to outside
edge backward, one on outside edge backward to inside edge forward and
one on inside edge backward to outside edge forward. These must be
duplicated on each foot, making eight in all. They are progressively
difficult in the order in which they have been named.
The outside forward to inside backward three is started as one would
start a plain circle, on the outside forward edge. But gradual rotation
of the shoulders toward the center should begin as soon as the figure is
started. On approaching the three the shoulders should be in line with
the circle of which the three is a part. This position of the shoulders
should be maintained until the latter half of the figure is nearly
completed; it will be found of great assistance to the skater in
continuing the circle to its full shape. It will be noticed from the
diagram that the general position of the shoulders, the arms and the
legs is almost identical after the turn as before the turn; the figure
is being finished on another edge, that is all.
In all forward threes the balance foot maintains its position behind the
skating foot, both before, during and after the three. In the outside
backward three the balance foot, which at the start of the three took a
position slightly across the print and over the skating foot, retains
that position to the end of the figure. In the execution of the inner
backward three the balance foot may remain in front or may be carried
behind; either position is correct. If it is carried behind, there
should be strong sinking on the skating leg at the time the three is
made and a straightening of the body immediately afterward.
[Illustration:
THREE. Right inside edge forward three, outside backward. (RIFTOB)
]
The inside forward, outside backward three is the easiest for the
amateur to learn. The inside backward, outside forward three is the most
difficult to learn and extremely difficult to place accurately. It
should be practised persistently until mastered thoroughly.
The inside backward, outside forward three is started as for the inside
circle backward, but the shoulder over the skating foot is turned
strongly away from the centre of the circle. As the three turn is made
the balance of the body should be strongly backward and the turn
executed on the back or heel of the skate. This is the three where the
balance foot may either be swung around in front of the body or allowed
to remain behind the body as the turn is made. The illustration shows
the latter method of making this three.
[Illustration:
THREE. Right outside edge, backward, three, inside forward. (ROBTIF)
]
[Illustration:
THREE. After the three, right outside backward, three, inside,
forward. (ROBTIF)
]
All threes should be placed most carefully at the correct position at
the top of the indented eight. Imagine two circles with a dent inward at
the top of each circle and you have the right design for threes. In
competitions or in serious practise of the threes for progress in
skating school figures they are skated in pairs, starting first forward
and then backward. For instance, right outside forward, three; left
inside backward, three.
The carriage of the balance foot is most important in assisting in the
execution of full, round curves after the threes. In every case the
balance foot should be carried well outside the print after the three
has been made; this will tend to enlarge the portion of the circle
following the three. The arms should be carried low for all three turns,
otherwise they will have a tendency to swing the skater out of the true
curve and into a spiral.
THE FIRST KNOWN SKATING ILLUSTRATION
[Illustration:
SAINT LIEDWI, Of Scheidam, Holland, A. D. 1396; from ancient wood-cut.
]