The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-03
LEARNING TO SKATE.

| Dub IL 10 NCIl blitlb luC olCOl
should be good. Choose skates that are
exactly the, length of the foot, not those
which have the iron cut off an inch with
in the heel. The iron should extend
backward to the extreme edge of the
heel. and the corners should be rounded.
Pay attention to the depth of the blade.
for it is desirable that the foot be as
near the ice as possible, and yet neces-
sary to have it SO high that, in leaning
over, the edge of the sole should not
touch the ice. As to the fastenings,
there are many modes equally good; the
main point is to see that the skate is Sc
perfectly secured to the foot that it can
not move in the least, and the impor-
tance of this can not be overrated. Any
fastening that aids. in supporting the
ankle is good. '"r u-f -
Now let us suppose that you have
donned your skates. At first you will
have enough to do to prevent them run
ming away with you. So begin by at
| tempting, as gently as you like and
with the very shortest steps you can
take, to walk upon the ice. After a
little practice you will find yourself IN
stinctively striking out little. 1t is
then time to learn the first movement,
which is called forward striking, or
running, and is done in this way: The
toes are turned out SO that the 1eet are
nearly atright angles with each other;
the position is important, because it is
only thus you can obtain pushing power.
From that position each foot is lifted
alternately, and set down on the inside
edge, when it Immediately slides for
ward, all the more readily since the 9TH
er foot (held at right angles) can bear
against the ice without sliding. Perfect
regularity in stepping from foot to foot
is essential. .,-..t.,. ,..t-
When you can time your strokes
evenly, and gain the necessary impetus,
you may occasionally vary the proceed
ings by bringing your feet together,
and running in that way for a consider
able distance. In this, which is called
the serpentine," the feet are placed
! parallel, instead of at right angles. and
they remain parallel throughout the
movement. Ii you would learn it east
ly, take few strokes forward to gain
force, and then bring the feet parallel,
but we'll apart, keeping the knees bent,
and while going along in this manner
try to make the line wavy by turning
both feet at once without lifting them)
in the same direction, say to the right,
swinging the body with them; then
both to the left, with swing to that
side. and so on.
The common backward motion on
both feet is exactly the same as the
serpentine," except that it is back
ward instead of forward To learn
this backward motion take few
strokes forward, then spin quite round,
and while the impetus lasts turn the
right toe inward, and push yourself
back from that foot; then turn the left
one inward, pushing from it, and so on
alternately, leaning forward all The
time. Practice will make it easy not
merely to keep up the first impetus,
but to increase it, and even to begin il
without any forward strokes.
How delightful is the swift motion
EXulting in your growing confidence
and in the progress already made. and
feeling that you are at length attaining
your wish and becoming indeed q
skater, it is crushing at this juncture tc
be told by some friendly proficient that
you are only at the threshold of the art
since you know nothing yet of moving
on the outside edge. Moving on the
outside edge 1t sounds alarming
Take courage; it is really not so for
midable as it seems, and, moreover
there are few difficulties, you know
which do not vanish before perseverance,
The first thing you have to do il
order to get Yourself on the outside
edge is to endeavor to skate round in
circle, as large circle as you please a
first, but to be gradually reduced as yor
improve. AS you lift each foot for tn,
next stroke try to cross it in front quite
over the other and set it down;qther
the other in front of that, and so on al
ternately. Now, as the iron always
circles toward the side on which i
rests, it follows that the foot neares
the inside of the circle must work Oh
the outside edge of the iron. Conse
quently your object will be to dwell a.
long as you can ON that foot, and a.
briefly as you can on the other, which
works on the inside edge. The foo
that is behind must be kept behind un
til it is to be set down in front; it mus
not be carried in the air in front for q,
1t is scarcely necessary to remind
you again that the left foot must be ex
ercised equally with the right. In fact
it is good rule in this and all figure
r. to give the left double practice. 81
after skating with the right foot to tn,
inside of the circle, go off in the oppo
site direction, and make circle will
: the left foot to t inside of it. Som,
difficulty is sure to be experienced il
putting down the foot quite across the
other; but diligent practice will soor
repay you with the discovery that yol
can'dwellfor few yards on the outsid,
, edge, and perhaps-keeping the raised
foot well back in the mean time-near
ly complete the circle.
( After this is accomplished you ma,
congratulate yourself on having becomi
, a skllful skater. If you wish to leari
figure skating. however, you have mucl
: work still before you, The key to it i
| being able to turn rapidly from on,
{ edge of the skate to the other, bu
long and arduous practice will be re
: CURED before the graceful " grape
/ Vine twist and other figures can b.
successfully accomplished. Writer