On this installment of "Simply Move It" we are doing the moves that come back to haunt you. The backward to forward transition from the Waltz 8 can also be used to control the transition in the Junior Choctaws. If the Forward Outside Alternating Three-Turns are not done correctly the first time it can become a nightmare for the Backward Inside Twizzles in the Novice Moves. The Backward Cross Strokes contain a Schafer push that is found in the Choctaw from the Novice moves. Remember work very hard on the beginning moves in the field or else they will come back to haunt you my pretty!

Today I am talking about the Five Step Mohawk from the Pre-Juvenile Moves and how to split the lobe up into five equal pieces using the tools you will find in the "Simply Move It" workbook. First I drew a lobe that was smaller than what you would normally skate to fit it into the camera screen. I have thought long and hard about how to split the lobe into five equal pieces and I realize the letter A has five points. So I used  the letter A with a long cross bar to divide the lobe into the pieces. Make a note that the Mohawk and the Slip are directly across from each other on the cross bar and the rest of the steps are on the bottom points of the A. I will skated the pattern to show you how it looks. I hope this helps your skaters place their steps more evenly on the lobe. 


See you on the ice!

This Video demonstrates  the Waltz 8 and how to find the Third Marks using tools from the "Simply Move It" workbook. The circle should be three times the skaters height. Standing at the center of the two circles position your feet in a V. Skate in one direction of the V to the edge of the circle. Then skate straight across to the other side of the circle. This is where you will find your Third Marks. The Third Marks are where you switch your feet on the circle.

For More information go to www.JennLoops.com. See you on the ice!

This video demonstrates how to lay out the Novice Forward Loops using the tools you will learn in the workbook "Simply Move It".  You will first count out four and half blade lengths to draw your side line, where the shoulders of the loops will be placed. From the side line you will count down two blade lengths for the bumper line, where the bottom of your loop will bump up against. After drawing the lines you will see how to skate the loop pattern. I hope this helps your skaters to keep the shoulders of the loop level and the shape more consistent. Visit www.JennLoops.com for more, See you on the ice!

The Schafer Push was first performed by Karl Schafer, two time Olympic Champion (1932&36). He invented the push for the school figures, backward outside loops. 
The Schafer Push is a challenging push to get maximum power. I like to introduce the push by starting from a stand still, like the way we did in the days figures. This inspires the use of more force into the ice.  To achieve maximum power, the feet start perpendicular to each other. If a skater tries a perpendicular push during Backward Cross Strokes and Inside Choctaw, deeper edges, and more power would be the result.
Also note that Hockey Player can also benefit from practicing a Schafer Push to gain power in pivots.
The video shows the push from a stand still and then as Backward Cross Strokes, and an Inside Choctaw.