Hi,
l have a problem w/ my waltz jump. Ever since l got confined *for dengue* l cant jump as high as l normally did. Any tips on helping me improve the height? Also, l have a hard time w/ doing split jumps. l cant really split, so its hard for me. this is how my split jump looks like --> ^<-- those are my legs. So, any tips on helping me split? In spins, l cant do a proper sit spin. l can get a bit low, but not very low, and my free leg is always wrapped around the other leg *try to picture that because its hard to describe*. My coach has tried different techniques to help me lower the spin and straighten the leg. Tips on helping me lower the spin and straighten the leg? Also, how can l make my back spin faster and get more rotations? l can do about 4 or 5 rotations, 6 the most, but its rather slow. l cant exit it, because l always loose my balance before l have the chance to exit. Now, extensions. l want, well actually, my Mom wants, me to have a ''Sasha Cohen'' spiral. l can get my
my free leg*which is the right* over my head, about 5 inches, but thats it. And the knee of my left leg is always bent, and l cant straighten in because its painful. Well, thats all! Thanks!
Ok, one more thing : How can l straighten my knees during a spread eagle? Thanks!

l think u should work on doing stregth training & flexibility. For ur waltz jump, practice doing it off ice. For ur split jump, practice doing the splits off the ice, this really helped me. Doing strength training, such as squats, lunges, squat jumps, leg presses, & those types of exercises will help strengthen ur leg muscles & u will find it much easier to jump. If you're able to jump higher, u will have more time in the air to get to a full split position. l think l can picture how ur sit spin looks. Practice doing a sit position on the ice without spinning & off the ice. It may help not to go too low at first & just work on straightening ur leg & then working ur way to a lower sit position. Again, doin stregthening exercises will help. For ur back spin, make sure u get a good deep entry edge & good hip snap into the spin. Working on stregthening ur core mucles will help with ur balance. You could do cruches & pilates to work these muscles. For ur spiral, work on doing simple floor streches since they really help. Just doing floor streches (like dance streches) for just five minutes a day everyday really helped me. Another good exercise is to hold ur leg up in a spiral position off ice with a light ankle weight on ur foot. For ur spred eagle, work on stregthening ur hip flexer muscles. l do not really know any exercies for this cause I've always been naturally able to do spred eagles. You may also want to try adjusting the width of ur feet. l think u should just work on getting stronger & more flexible overall & u will find that this will help improve ur skating. It may be a good idea to also take a few dance classes if u do not take any already.

okk sounds like u need a lot of help with these things. but i'm sorry to tell u that u can not just be told how to do something & it will be fixed. u just need to work with ur coach & train yourself to do things the right way. & for hight (which u do not really need for a waltz jump, (i'm working on my axel & u need hight for that)) just bend ur knees & put a lot of pressure into the ice, also pull ur arms up, like they're trying to push u up in the air. good luck with that.

Heya,
For maxium height waltz jump, sometimes called the splitz waltz because they're so pretty (and ur legs split in a way, but do not go as fast as a split jump/stag), think of kicking up ur leg. Really get ur arms into it. Thrust them up then to ur chest & then squeeze tightly. You want ur backward crossovers to be up to speed for more power & make sure ur entry does not last to long (or else the speed will just go away).

Split jumps/falling leaf jumps r somewhat a pain for me too. You do not have to be able to do the splits to do a split jump, but l am sure being able to do them helps. A split jump is basically kicking up ur leg really high after a mohawk , l am sure u know. So focus on kicking up ur leg really high. (but not as high as an extension) My coach always tells me to think of a ''freeze moment'' or like when someone took a photograph of u in the air with ur legs split. Like l said before, they do not have to be parallel, but u want to think of that moment when ur legs r split while you're jumping.

Sit spins r also annoying, but once u get it really well, u will never forget it. Even though it is so blatantly obvious, practice both forward & backward shoot the ducks going really low, but not with ur gluteus maximus sliding on the ice. Try not to hold ur leg. This improves ur calves & will help with the sit spin because it is better not to hold ur leg while you're spinning.
As for the spinning part: always start at center, & do not rush to go down too fast. When u do ur backward crossovers wind up, hold one cross for about 5- 10 seconds & then put a lot of power into the entry. Speed in the backward crossovers will help. Wait until you've made a complete circle when you're in entry & then spin. If u only do a semicircle, chances r u will do a three turn & end up going into ur spin backwards. That is definitely not good. Do not bend down in entry, if you're doing this, chances r you're trying too hard to go down low.
Start in center then little by little lower ur self. Make sure ur hands r clasped tightly & u do not let go. This may be very hard at first, so u just need to perservere & practice practice practice. l know this sounds like something ur coach would say, & maybe you've done this before, but sit spins r STUBBORN. To straighten the leg, keep doing those shoot the ducks. To lower, lean forward (not too much). & kind of hold ur body real tight.

l am sure u know all spins need to be on the sweet spot, or the ball of ur foot. For the backspin, u might want to try a change foot spin first because the regular forward one foot spin gives u more power & speed. If that does not work bend low & summon all the power in ur body to wind up. Hold ur arms & legs VERY VERY tight. Sometimes it helps to think of holding ur legs & arms tighter than u think is reasonable, becuase air pockets in the arms & legs makes u go slower. Believe me, ur back spin sounds a lot better than mine!
For exiting, when u stop spinning, finish it off, do not try to do more rotations. Sometimes u might want to end ur spin earlier in order to get ur check out nice & even. It is better to end ur spin nicely than have a long one that just stops abruptly.

Extensions, do lots of stretches before & arch ur back. Keep ur arms behind u & look up. Your spiral sounds good to me, & l am not that flexible. l would focus more on ur other stuff before u try to make ur spiral even better.

Now, the spread eagle. Make sure u really bend ur knees. If u have taken ballet, think of doing the best second position ever. (Bent legs, feet turned out, but spread apart from each other).

If u keep on doing the same wrong thing, stop, skate around, or even stop for a snack break. This will prevent bad habits.

You may want to take some power stroking & strength/endurance/flexibility classes. Practice everything off ice in fuzzy socks on stone floor. l know it sounds really silly, but it helps me a lot!!!
Good luck & l hope this helps!

Always,
MeowMeow

WALTZ JUMP: When u step into ur waltz jump do u think about momentum? When u take off for ur waltz jump, really think about bending ur left leg, like you're sinking into ur knee. Then, also think about the right leg behind you. Some coaches will hate me for saying this but. When u take off, really bend ur right leg behind you, then SNAP it through. Really kick with it, point ur toe. And that is another thing, when u take off for ur waltz jump, jump off ur left foot is toepick. If u jump off a flat blade, u wo not get as much height.

SPLIT JUMPS: l have a huge problem with these too! My coach laughs at me & says that split jumps do not JUST take flexibility. He says u have to build up the muscles on ur inner thigh, & when u go into a split jump, as ur feet go up, u should flex those muscles & ur legs will go higher. l know it is a lot to think about. My coach tells me to hold out my arms in a V in front of me, & practicing kicking my hands with my feet. That way l will build up the muscles needed to really kick in the split.

SIT SPIN: Oh boy. l was horrible at these. l still am, but l got a much nicer coach who says l can do ''great'' spins, haha. His secret is to start low on a sit spin. When u step in on ur left foot, already have the knee bent. It will help because then u do not have to press down in a sit spin. l step into the spin on a REALLY bent knee, & bring my right leg around & then press a little to go lower. Also, l was wrapping my leg, it is a horrible habit. My coach would make me practice holding a fist in between my knees when l was spinning. It was hard, but it broke my habit.

BACK SPIN: These r tricky! The deeper edges u get in the entrance of the spin, the faster u will go. Focus on ur hips & shoulders, snapping them into the spin at the same time. My coach only lets me practice back spins from an absolute standstill because he says it will make my spin from edges even faster. So just stand in the ice, bend ur left leg with ur right foot in the ice. Have ur left arm in front, right arm in back. Then pull ur arms in tight at the same time with ur right leg & hopefully u will get a good spin soon!

SPIRAL: Spirals r like split jumps. You just have to work those muscles. The more u work ur muscles, the higher ur spiral! But if ur leg is hurting & u can not straighten it l would work on stretching first!

SPREAD EAGLE: You & me r opposites. l straighten my legs SO much that my heels get caught in the ice & l get stuck, but that is exactly what u have to think about: heels. Really press into ur heels. If u can not unbend ur knees, ur ankles r not flexible enough. Practice stretching ur ankles by pressing ur feet against anything in the same position u would for a spread eagle. l normally stand in a door way & press my feet against the bottom of the frame.

Hopefully these will help!