turning around on 1 foot

[evor1 6]

i saw some guy getting private hockey skating lessons and one of the drills was doing one footed 180s. been trying it a bit and i can do it sometimes. anyways whats the best way to do them? like where do i want to put my weight etc. i dont mean just hopping up and turning then landing backwards.

[jbyun04 7]

don't think about it too much, do it all in one smooth motion and make sure you have enough speed to do it

[Medic 0]

Whenever I do 180s using both feet, it seems like a one foot pivit anyway as one leg comes up slighty off the ice.

[Muzza_77 0]

Well, I play inline, but it should the same. I would put my weight on the front wheel, and then spin around on that one wheel, then spread my weight over the boot again. works for me.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

There was a guy getting a private lesson at one of the rinks near me last week, and he was being made do one legged backward skating, wide C cuts backwards, on one leg.

Made me exhausted just looking at it.

Then he had to change to do it forwards, and done the one foot turn. I watched for a while, because when I am done skating and there are good skaters out there, I will sit and try to pick up tips, because I still suck.

It looked like he was getting lower, and leaning forward a little, and pivoting on the ball of his foot, and straightened up a little afterwards, which restarted/continued the momentum.

[CHIEF22 0]

If you are describing what I think you are, they are called "3 turns" and I had to do them in my lessons too. We did them on the red line around the goal crease. They are called 3 turns because when you do them right your edge leaves a "3" on the ice. For me the key was not too much speed and really concentrate on keeping the leg you keep in the air tucked tight against your other leg. Outside edge was alot easier for me, as was being on my left foot, that old turning left is easier deal.

[Jason 65]

Sounds like a figure skating drill, but it would surely make you a better skater. I like doing drills like this to improve my balance and edge control. I think drills like the ones mentioned above are done more easily with a shallower hollow.

[Super Star 0]

like CHIF32 said it's a three turn

for me its the possition of the sholders that creates a cirlce in which you fall in sortof and this rotates you but this is probably to confusing so here is a link with videos how to do it. It shows figure skater but its works just the same on hockey.

http://www.usma.edu/dpe/courses/IceSkating.../inter_10_0.htm

[Hockeydog 8]

Good link!! I work on that slowly, and also concentrate on being on that spot on the blade that allows easy spinnning- for me near the ball of the foot.

[biff44 0]

Well, I play inline, but it should the same. I would put my weight on the front wheel, and then spin around on that one wheel, then spread my weight over the boot again. works for me.

Nothing magical about it. That is why you get some good instruction from an experienced figure skating instructor when you get serious. You should be able to use all "four" edges of your skates:

Inside forward

Inside backward

Outside forward

Outside backward

Variations of those big sweeping half circles, if you watch closely, exercise all four edges. The more you practice, the more likely you can go a full 180 degrees, and look smooth and graceful doing it.

The purpose, of course, is not to make time with some girl figure skaters out there! The purpose is to be able to do amazing things when skating on only one foot--things like backhanding the puck thru your legs while being checked and having only one skate down at the time.

After a summer with a good instructor, you will probably be able to skate from one end of the rink to the other on only one skate.

As far as the original question, about 180 turns, if you mean quick 180 turns, you have to get the upper body into it. You whip your head in the direction of the turn, then whip your shoulders, then your torso, and then do the foot work.