Level 10

WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING

Take the spiral position you learned going forward and hold it while traveling backward on an outside edge.

COACH'S POINTS

1. Use your Backward Crossovers to create the movement and establish the backward outside edge.
2. Keep your weight on the center two wheels as you move into the spiral position.
3. Avoid allowing your weight to move too far forward, which can bring the EDGE pick into contact with the surface.
4. Maintain a clear backward outside edge rather than allowing the skating foot to flatten.
5. Aim for two straight legs through the spiral position.
6. Keep the arms straight and open to help organize your balance around the curve.
7. Lift the free leg from the hip while keeping the skating leg controlled underneath you.
8. Practice the Backward Outside Spiral in both directions.

WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING

Strengthen your landing position by holding it for at least three counts after Backward Crossovers and practicing the position in both directions.

COACH'S POINTS

1. Begin with controlled Backward Crossovers before moving into the landing position.
2. Transfer your weight fully onto the backward outside edge of the landing leg.
3. Bend the skating knee as you move into the position.
4. Lift and extend the free leg behind you.
5. Aim to keep the free foot at least flat rather than allowing the toe to point directly toward the floor.
6. Hold the landing position for a minimum of three counts.
7. Different arm positions can work. Find a position that allows you to stop the rotation and maintain control.
8. The leading shoulder can help stop the rotation as you settle into the landing.
9. Practice the landing position in both directions rather than only using your normal jumping side.
10. Prioritize the quality of the held position rather than rushing into another element.

WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING

Learn the Teapot by lowering into a deep one-leg position and extending the free leg forward while transferring your weight completely onto the skating leg.

COACH'S POINTS

1. Think of the Teapot as a pistol squat on skates.
2. Keep your weight forward as you begin lowering the body.
3. One progression is to lower all the way down first before extending the free leg forward.
4. Holding the free foot can help you control the position while first learning it.
5. Once you are low, transfer your weight fully onto the skating leg before extending the free leg.
6. Use the same weight-transfer principle you learned during the Forward One Foot Glide.
7. Do not keep your weight between both legs as the free leg extends.
8. Stay controlled at the bottom before trying to stand back up.
9. Practice the lowering movement slowly before trying to perform the complete Teapot while moving.
10. Practice on both legs.

WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING

Begin learning the Backward Outside One Foot Spin by developing the crossed position, outside-edge pressure and controlled entry and exit.

COACH'S POINTS

1. Begin by becoming comfortable with the crossed-leg position before trying to spin.
2. Practice bringing the arms in and stepping out of the crossed position whenever you need to regain balance.
3. Use a back pivot to begin understanding the direction of the spin.
4. Think about a small backward outside edge rather than the inside edge used during your forward One Foot Spin.
5. Feel the pressure slightly toward the little-toe side of the skating foot to establish the outside edge.
6. Bring the feet together before crossing the free leg into the spinning position.
7. At first, enter the crossed position and step straight out again.
8. Repeat the entry and exit until the crossed position no longer feels trapped or unsafe.
9. The goal of this lesson is one controlled rotation.
10. Only begin adding more rotations once you can enter, spin and step out with control.

WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING

Learn your first toe jump by connecting the same backward preparation used for the Single Salchow with an EDGE pick placement behind you before the jump.

COACH'S POINTS

1. Begin by walking through the complete jump pattern without leaving the surface.
2. One entry uses the Forward Outside Three Turn to arrive in the backward position.
3. After the turn, place the free leg behind you onto the EDGE pick.
4. Bring the skating leg and the corresponding arm through together as you begin the jump.
5. Do not turn the skating foot inward before taking off.
6. Let the heel lead as the skating leg comes through rather than twisting the foot into the jump.
7. Practice the entry, EDGE pick placement and leg pathway repeatedly before adding the jump.
8. A Forward Inside Open Mohawk can also be used as another entry into the same jumping position.
9. Different entries can create different amounts of momentum. Use the one that feels most controlled.
10. As the takeoff begins, coordinate the arm and leg on the jumping side rather than allowing them to separate.
11. Land onto the EDGE pick.
12. After the EDGE pick touches, ride the landing back toward the center two wheels.
13. Finish in the same clean landing position you have practiced throughout the course.