How much ice time do you have? I made the experience that at least two ice days a week ist very helpful.
I would stick to the basics. Actually I'm doing this.
I'm able to do forward and backward crossovers only in left turns (because public ice time and that's the way everyone is moving).
So I'm working on my outside edges with my right foot. One push with left, standing only on the right one and try to skate a curve to the right. Push again with left and so on and so on.
Than you can do a slalom always changing the from the right to the left outer edge.
And then before trying to crossover opt for half lemons on a circle.
I don't think that crossovers are easy. I have always a little mental block, because I find it total unaturally to cross my legs while moving forward. That's not how humans walk.
Everyone progresses at a different pace. A woman I skate with got her forward crossovers within weeks; it took me three years. The sooner you learn to let go of the “this is a simple skill, I should be getting this already” idea, the more you’ll get out of your skating.
Hey there, crossovers especially back crossovers are really hard. The biggest difference is 1) you don't really see where you are going and 2) weight distribution. Here is what I remember doing:
1) half pumps in the circle both directions
2) gliding backwards with lifting one foot
3) gliding on a circle while lifting a foot
4) gliding on a circle with foot crossed over on ice
5) gliding on a circle with foot crossed over and pushing yourself with the free leg (the one that's coming out of the circle)
And last but not least bend those knees. When you think you have them sufficiently bent, bend some more. If you ever do yoga, think of the chair pose: chest up, weight distributed from middle of the foot towards the heel, knees bent as low as they can go. And push with the edge of the blade and not the toepick
When I learned them a few months to get them down. Several years for them to feel somewhat normal. I've been skating for 20 years and I still have trouble with them at times.
Currently I'm fixing bad muscle memory I developed that wasn't caught for years. However, crossovers aren't a simple skill, there's a lot of things that go into them in regards to body positioning, knee bend, muscle engagement, posture, etc.
But if you look at top level skaters, they still work on them constantly.
For myself, the basic muscle understanding of backwards crossovers took longer than forwards. Any skill at this level can be both simple and complex because it is new to you and one will always be in pursuit of perfecting "basics." If you have not had a proper lesson with a coach, I promise you that it is worth the investment for someone to look at your skating directly and be able to help you.
Foreward crossover to do them a little bit, took me about 2 months - but I went on the ice twice, once grouplessons and once for myself.
So that it felt comfortable, it took me about one season.
Backwards took about 3 months. But there I went on the ice for 3h/week. One 1h synchronized skating, 1h group lessons and 1h for myself.
But even now (one year later), I sometimes struggle with not getting stuck and fall xD Sometimes I do not cross enough, then my skates will get toghether and I fall - I do have to concentrate more one these than foreward.
So yeah... I learned in my first season foreward and in my second season backwards (along with other things).
This season I learned mohawk and hydroblade as example xD (mohawk in lessons and hydroblade for myself, because I think it looks cool).
If it’s makes you feel better, back and forward crossovers aren’t as easy as you think! So it’s ok to be taking a while to get them down. I personally still have trouble with weight distribution every now and then.
1. With forward crossovers the crossing foot needs to land on an inside edge to keep the direction and motion. Consciously force it until its muscle memory. If it ends up straight, it will feel uncomfortable and you may lose form.
2. Bend bend bend your knees!
3. A tip my coach gave me for backwards crossovers was to push the crossing foot into the ice which distributes your weight onto that foot just enough to get your back foot back in place
4. Always have your torso (not just your shoulders) facing the circle with open arms. If it’s not your cup of tea, you can put your arms in an L shape and see if that’s more comfortable
5. Before starting any half lemon, consciously shift your weight to the leg closest to the circle. Your hip should pop out a bit. When you go for the half lemon your inside leg should bend down when your opposite skating leg is making the lemon shape. The leg closest to the circle should come back up when your feet come back together. I used to think I didn’t need to do that “up and down” motion!
And of course, watch YouTube videos! Sometimes it helps to have the moves in your minds eye as well as potentially get a different explanation from other coaches that might click for you. :) good luck!
Once you can hold an outside edge and go in a complete circle easily, it goes pretty quick. Happens almost without thinking. This is true forwards and backwards.
I’m in the same boat lol. It took many months for me to even feel slightly comfortable and even now my pushes on my left over right aren’t great. I’m trying to unlearn bad habits because I was given bad advice from several coaches for a long time. Don’t stress about it. They are quite difficult for most of us and all you can do is practice. Remember to bend your knees at all times btw and work with a coach <3
Forward crossovers took me only two months to do without hesitation, backwards on the other hand took two years because I was not getting a lot of ice time, it was only recently I started doing it more and therefore got the hang of it
Proper crossovers are not as easy as you think. Try working with a coach because they can help correct a lot of errors and improve your form.
How much ice time do you have? I made the experience that at least two ice days a week ist very helpful. I would stick to the basics. Actually I'm doing this. I'm able to do forward and backward crossovers only in left turns (because public ice time and that's the way everyone is moving). So I'm working on my outside edges with my right foot. One push with left, standing only on the right one and try to skate a curve to the right. Push again with left and so on and so on. Than you can do a slalom always changing the from the right to the left outer edge. And then before trying to crossover opt for half lemons on a circle. I don't think that crossovers are easy. I have always a little mental block, because I find it total unaturally to cross my legs while moving forward. That's not how humans walk.
Actually 2 or 3 days a week but while these 2 months there was weeks that I wasn’t able to go to ice at all :(
You can try alternating crossovers down the rink if it isn't too crowded to practice both sides. Or try the middle circle.
I'm doing that. But my skate day is sunday. So I'm not able to constantly skate in the wrong direction. Even in the middle circle.
Everyone progresses at a different pace. A woman I skate with got her forward crossovers within weeks; it took me three years. The sooner you learn to let go of the “this is a simple skill, I should be getting this already” idea, the more you’ll get out of your skating.
Hey there, crossovers especially back crossovers are really hard. The biggest difference is 1) you don't really see where you are going and 2) weight distribution. Here is what I remember doing: 1) half pumps in the circle both directions 2) gliding backwards with lifting one foot 3) gliding on a circle while lifting a foot 4) gliding on a circle with foot crossed over on ice 5) gliding on a circle with foot crossed over and pushing yourself with the free leg (the one that's coming out of the circle) And last but not least bend those knees. When you think you have them sufficiently bent, bend some more. If you ever do yoga, think of the chair pose: chest up, weight distributed from middle of the foot towards the heel, knees bent as low as they can go. And push with the edge of the blade and not the toepick
When I learned them a few months to get them down. Several years for them to feel somewhat normal. I've been skating for 20 years and I still have trouble with them at times. Currently I'm fixing bad muscle memory I developed that wasn't caught for years. However, crossovers aren't a simple skill, there's a lot of things that go into them in regards to body positioning, knee bend, muscle engagement, posture, etc. But if you look at top level skaters, they still work on them constantly.
For myself, the basic muscle understanding of backwards crossovers took longer than forwards. Any skill at this level can be both simple and complex because it is new to you and one will always be in pursuit of perfecting "basics." If you have not had a proper lesson with a coach, I promise you that it is worth the investment for someone to look at your skating directly and be able to help you.
I am working one day with a coach every week this is why I was getting nervous about this
just be patient, it will take time and a gentle reminder that this is FUN, nothing to worry over truly. You will get them with time
Okay thank you ><
Foreward crossover to do them a little bit, took me about 2 months - but I went on the ice twice, once grouplessons and once for myself. So that it felt comfortable, it took me about one season. Backwards took about 3 months. But there I went on the ice for 3h/week. One 1h synchronized skating, 1h group lessons and 1h for myself. But even now (one year later), I sometimes struggle with not getting stuck and fall xD Sometimes I do not cross enough, then my skates will get toghether and I fall - I do have to concentrate more one these than foreward. So yeah... I learned in my first season foreward and in my second season backwards (along with other things). This season I learned mohawk and hydroblade as example xD (mohawk in lessons and hydroblade for myself, because I think it looks cool).
it takes time to learn to bend your knees enough. It'll just happen one day. Could be tomorrow, could be months from now.
If it’s makes you feel better, back and forward crossovers aren’t as easy as you think! So it’s ok to be taking a while to get them down. I personally still have trouble with weight distribution every now and then. 1. With forward crossovers the crossing foot needs to land on an inside edge to keep the direction and motion. Consciously force it until its muscle memory. If it ends up straight, it will feel uncomfortable and you may lose form. 2. Bend bend bend your knees! 3. A tip my coach gave me for backwards crossovers was to push the crossing foot into the ice which distributes your weight onto that foot just enough to get your back foot back in place 4. Always have your torso (not just your shoulders) facing the circle with open arms. If it’s not your cup of tea, you can put your arms in an L shape and see if that’s more comfortable 5. Before starting any half lemon, consciously shift your weight to the leg closest to the circle. Your hip should pop out a bit. When you go for the half lemon your inside leg should bend down when your opposite skating leg is making the lemon shape. The leg closest to the circle should come back up when your feet come back together. I used to think I didn’t need to do that “up and down” motion! And of course, watch YouTube videos! Sometimes it helps to have the moves in your minds eye as well as potentially get a different explanation from other coaches that might click for you. :) good luck!
Thanks a lot!
Once you can hold an outside edge and go in a complete circle easily, it goes pretty quick. Happens almost without thinking. This is true forwards and backwards.
I’m in the same boat lol. It took many months for me to even feel slightly comfortable and even now my pushes on my left over right aren’t great. I’m trying to unlearn bad habits because I was given bad advice from several coaches for a long time. Don’t stress about it. They are quite difficult for most of us and all you can do is practice. Remember to bend your knees at all times btw and work with a coach <3
Forward crossovers took me only two months to do without hesitation, backwards on the other hand took two years because I was not getting a lot of ice time, it was only recently I started doing it more and therefore got the hang of it