1. Backwards Swizzling
When you're first learning how to skate backwards, "swizzling" is a technique that will make you comfortable with the sensation of moving backwards over the ice. Start with your feet together in a "V," with your toes pointed towards each other. Center your balance slightly forward on the blades of your ice skates. Keep your back straight and bend your knees. Apply pressure to the inside edge on both blades. This will cause the blades to move away from each other and power your backward motion. As your skates reach shoulder-width distance, straighten your knees. This will pull your skates back under your feet. When they are side-by-side again, use the pushing motion created by bending your knees to power another backward swizzle.
2. Backwards Sculling
Once you have mastered the swizzling motion using both feet at the same time, transition so that you can swizzle each foot independently of the other. This is called "sculling," and it evokes the motion of sculling a boat with a paddle.
Choose your stronger leg as your standing leg. Balance flat or slightly to the inside edge on your standing leg. Push your sculling foot out by bending your knee. Pull it back it by straightening your leg. The motion is the same as the swizzle. Practice on one side, without alternating your standing foot and your sculling foot, until you feel comfortable. Reverse feet and practice on the other side.
Once you are confident in your ability to scull independently on both sides practice trying to link the two sides together. Remember to split your balance evenly between both sides of your body and to keep your back straight and your weight very slightly back of center.
3. Backwards Crossovers
Once you have perfected alternate backward sculling, you can gain control of your direction as you are skating backwards by using backwards crossovers. The backward crossover is an extension of backward sculling. After you have completed a one-footed scull, lift your sculling foot up in front of your body. Cross your sculling foot over your standing foot. Your standing foot then crosses in back of your sculling foot so that your feet are parallel, and you can perform another sculling movement.
When performing backwards crossovers, angle your shoulder so one is backwards and the other is forwards. Look over your back shoulder constantly; t will help you to maintain balance and allow you to see where you are going. At first it's easiest to practice this movement while going in circles and using only one sculling foot. As you get comfortable, you can alternate sculling feet to maintain more of a straight line.
Member Comments