The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-23
HOW TO SKATE.

A well-known speed and figure sJ5at
err says: 1.-THE first aim of every he
glnner should be towards some degree
OIL proficiency in what is commonly called
stratght-ahead' skating. This must be
followed by acquiring the backward
| movements, and as these two make I'm
the fundamental laws of all skating
they must be well and carefully devel-
oped before one attempts to acquire
speed or become an expert at figure
skating: When these two movements
nave been carefully learned, one can
take up the outside edge, the inside
edge the grind or Dutch roll" and fhe
change of edge roll The acquiring of
these in graceful easy way leads in
time to the ability to study and ex-
ecute figures
A jerly hip motion is the chief thing
TO be avoided by beginners, and as soon
as possible one should learn to main
tam the balance with the hands clasped
behind the back or hung at or near
the side. This adds grace in all cases.
in stopping the wild and ungainly
swing of the arms, and in racing,
combined with a slight forward bend
OF the body from the hips, it reduces
the wind resistance, and is far less ex-
hausting. Style is very essential in
either racing or figure skating. Skat-
ers may develop speed unthought of by
studying little things that most of
them overlook Take racing, for iu-
stance The first thing to be done is
to indulge In general development ex-
ercise of various kinds, and when one
Is in fair condition, work on the ice can
be begun. Two or three miles q day
at q moderate pace is enough at first
| Gradually this amount may be in
creased and soon the novice finds that
with the same effort he is moving
much faster. Little by little the speed
must be worked up to racing form, and
not till then should one take part in
| any actual competition.
I'm speaking Of strokes it is almost
| impossible to say which is considered
best. There are almost as many strokes
as there are skaters. The long straight
sweep used by Donoghue is perhaps
the best to follow. 1t is a direct for
ward stroke. with the weight of the
body on the whole length Of the foot.
| When executed properly it leaves an
almost straight line behind, the adyan-
tage being that no distance is lost, as
in the more angular side sweep. The
stroke should be as long as possible.
AS one foot shoots forward the other
is gradually raised, the front point be-
ing the last to leave, the pressure of
the ball OF the foot being, however,
as long and strong as possible. The idle
leg must be raised only high enough
to clear the Ice, and poised ready for
the next stroke in case some obstacle
should shorten the stride The body
must. be kept as rigid as possible, with
the arm, as said before, clasped be-
hind the back. In making the quick
grind in turns the arm can be used to
advantage in maintaining the balance.
"In figure-skati grace is a most es->
sential feature, and to obtain this an
easy carriage and unconstrained posi-.
ton must be studied. The knees must
be firm but not stiff, the head erect
and the body carried on an easy poise,
with the arms near the side. Above all
things, long, careful practice will alone
insure success. The names of some Of
the easier figures are the out and in
side edge, the figure eight in hundreds
Of combinations, the rosebud turn,
the counter-rocking turn, the single
grape vine, and the spectacles. Some
of the more complex figures are the
Greek cross, helmet, cross of anvils
and brackets baluster, and flower
bud. New York Evening Post.