DOUBLE THREES FORWARD.
Double threes make a very pretty tracing on the ice and are especially
useful in determining if the skater has learned the correct carriage for
the various turns comprising them. Unless that correct balance has been
learned, the correct execution of the double threes is impossible. There
is an agreeable swing to the double threes which is lacking in some of
the other school figures. They form what one might call a finished
figure of themselves, both as to the tracing on the ice and the position
of the skater after the figure has been performed. They leave the skater
in a naturally correct and agreeable pose for the following half of the
figure.
The double threes have this peculiar difference from other school
figures—they are very much easier forward than backward. But the
carriage of the balance foot is much easier in the backward than in the
forward half of the figures. To-day we have the forward half of the
double threes—that is, starting on each foot forward, first outside and
then inside edge. The completed figure makes a trefoil, or clover leaf,
as will be seen from the diagram, one of the prettiest of the school
figures.
Start the double three on the outside forward edge with not too vigorous
thrust from the foot on the ice, since a certain amount of power can and
should be gained by the correct turns which will be made during the
progress of the figure. Too strong a thrust will tend to make the skater
spin on the first three. It is better to start practise of the double
threes somewhat slowly, learn where the greatest difficulty lies, and
then practise overcoming that difficulty by independent skating of the
most difficult portion of the figure.
[Illustration:
“CHARLOTTE” in pirouette.
]
[Illustration:
“CHARLOTTE” and IRVING BROKAW in hand-over-head pair skating.
]
The general directions for the start of the threes forward on the
outside edge apply to the start of the double threes. After the first
three has been made, which will bring the skater on to the inside edge
backward, the balance foot should be carried fairly high at first and
gradually brought close to the skating foot, so that when the skater is
ready to make the second three the balance foot is close to the skating
foot. During the inside edge backward the shoulders and the body should
be slowly turned away from the centre of the circle toward the second
three.
At the moment of the second three the skating knee should be bent rather
strongly and the body turned, without perceptible jerk, into the right
position for the finish of the figure, which is on the outside edge
forward again. The balance foot is allowed to remain slightly behind as
the second three is performed and, when the third portion of the curve
of the completed figure is about one-half skated, should be brought
forward into the usual position for the end of the outside forward
circle.
The inside edge double threes forward are started as for the inside
forward threes, but with more bending of the skating knee and with less
inward turn of the body toward the circle. When the first three has been
executed and the skater is then on the outside backward edge, the
balance foot should be carried fairly close to the skating foot and the
body should lean strongly backward. At the moment of the second three
the balance foot should be brought close to the skating foot and
directly over it.
When the second three has been executed, the balance foot may be allowed
to linger a little behind the skating foot and be carried in that
position to the finish of the third curve, or it may be brought forward
into the customary position for the finish of the inside forward circle.
Both positions are used by the best experts of Europe.