Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-28
How to Skate.

HOW to Skate
From Hsrper's Bazaar.
OF the choice of skates little need be said.
There are so many that all tastes, from the sim
plest to the most elaborate. can be gratified.
Only one word of advice: the narrower the blade
OF the skate is, and the nearer the foot is to the
ice, so much the less strain there will be on the
ankle of the skater. Boots which give a good
support to the joint, should be used. and not
sh oes Having put on our skates. and strur-
gled pace or SO on to the ice, the first thing il
to stand firmly. In order to do this. hold tho
head erect, shoulders back, chest OUT. and mt
the heel Of the right foot in the small of the left
keeping them firmly in that position. Then
without moving the feet, throw the weight alter
nateiy on each foot, but without altering the DO
sition. This will give confidence. and couraoe il
everything in skating. Having accomplished this.
bring the left foot forward, placing it in the
small OF the right, and then the right again. In
doing this stand erect and it will be much less
difficult than if you lean forward. After Won
nave done thus neatly three or four times you
will find that you begin to travel slightly on the
foot that holds the weight, while the other is
brought forward, and this will increase and in
crease in speed. AS 1t does, throw the chest a
little more forward, keepingthe shoulders back.
AS soon as you feel little confidence, you may
give slight push with each foot as you BRING #
forward-very slight at first, but increasing in
force as you gain confidence Eyervthny in
skating depends on the center of grayitv
which should always fall through the chest To-
the feet and the more of your limbs it cuts. the
frmer will you be. person stoOpinr and Iasn
ing forward has the center of gravity nassno
through the body and falling somewhere about
the toes. This makes the gait very unsteady
ana seriously increases the effort required to
obtain speed W.
The ordinary forward right and left stroke
does not require any great skill. Children Who
have practiced roller-skating will soon get into
the stroke of the edged skate. which differs but
little from the other. They must. however ra-
member to keep the ankle joint stiff and not
trust. as they may on rollers, to the tread of the
SKATE IL the ankles are very weak in proper
ton TO the weight Of the learner, as occurs
sometimes with grown learners, it win be fonnd
better TO lit the skate little on the ontsida of
the middle line Of the foot, by slantiny its noint
to the outside of the wearer's toe ahont ~
quarter OF an inch. The ankle is more likely to
bend over on the outside than the inside. For
those ladies. in the first agonies of their nrelimi-
nary struggles, a chair pushed in front will
save some falls, but it is better to learn without
adventurous help of any kind. and to take
ones falls calmly as part of the performance
AS soon as the novice has begun to move steadi-
ly, ne or she should try and get the stroke with
each foot quite equal. Some persons are stron@
er in the right foot than the left or cice re,sn In
that case. endeavOr to equalZe the stroke by keen
ing the best back, and throwing more force into
thc otutT Inc SLrOke should be rather from the
fore part OF the foot than the back Most skates
are made with slight curve which enables the
weight to be thrown either on the heel or the
ball of the foot. and in making the stroke tho
force should be from the latter To commences
with. stroke of from twelve to eighteen inches
on each foot is sufficient but it should be steady
and not too quick. The great point should be to
preserve the center Of gravity firmly poised and
move as much as possible from the hfps. keepino
the upper part OF the body steady. but not stiff
AS soon as the beginner has progressed 80 far
he may try some Of the simpler forward flrnres
By bringing each foot over the other he Will be-
gin the Dutch roll, which consists in taking a
long swinging stroke. and then crossing tho foot
over so as to take off ON the other foot with the
outside edge. TO do this the striking foot
should be kept well back until the force of the
stroke has slackened, then bring it round over
the other foot about three inches As soon as it
touches the Ice, transfer the weight immedi-
afely, and strike with the other foot In order
to get the simple inside edge, the learner has
only to tilt slightly over, to keep his weight
on the inside Of the skate; this will make con-
cave curve. and II he misses the equilibrium. he
can always save himself with the other foot.
The outside edge Is more difficult because II re-
quires more courage. To make it. throw the
body well over leaning the hips well over the
skate; the equipOise may always be saved bv
throwing the other leg well out: in fact. It re-
qures nothing but courage. When q grown
person desires to learn this exercise, a fall NAV
be prevented by taking the hand Of some one
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