So in rock climbing there are two ways to go. The first is to use your strength and timing and technique to climb up the mountain like a spider, with grace and agility. The other is to just ram a bunch of pitons into the cracks in the rocks and then haul yourself up by force, one piton at a time.

Never tried climbing, so I’m probably totally wrong. But as a metaphor for skating, this is totally obsessing me right now. Both my coaches and I talked this week about bending my ankles more so that I can (a) have a better edge, (b) be on the correct part of my blade, (c) absorb the force of transferring my weight from one side to another without losing speed and energy, and (d) actually create “lilt” through my flexible ankles.

Skating with good ankle flexion is like climbing the mountain in the most beautiful and organic way possible. Unfortunately all too often I tend to put my new skate down on a stiff ankle and try to force my way onto an edge.

No, no! Don’t want to be Pegleg Jo!

After focusing on developing more ankle movement in my lessons, I spent some practice time applying this principle to different moves. This was super useful! Everything seems much more efficient and I’m able to find the “sweet spot” on the blade much more easily for turns.

After reviewing one of my earlier posts on ankles, I found some useful things to revisit, like the way my talus bone rolls forward and slides backward when my ankle flexes. I realized that it’s taken me quite a while to get to this point of mobility where the ankle and foot are concerned,  I’m still pretty stiff in my right ankle (all that scar tissue) but at least it doesn’t make that dreadful ratchet-wrench sound anymore. And my left foot still feels somewhat misaligned and can’t take more than a couple of miles of walking, but it is much stronger.

Goody, progress. I love skating, no matter what, but it’s really so much more fun now that I’m not just jamming those pitons into the rocks and doing the “heave-ho” thing. Just call me Spidey-Jo!

Enjoyed seeing all my friends at the rink this week! And working on some new exercises.

Lesson notes:

• Inside three, cross in front. Think about the direction of travel for the inside edge and giving yourself enough time to deepen the edge before the turn.
• Inside mohawks. Bring free leg and hip weight up alongside before turning. Practice setting the new blade down in the correct spot.
• Ankle action! Swing rolls and progressives.
• Back outside to forward inside, counter, touch and push back to repeat on other side.
• Back outside to forward inside, step inside mohawk, push back and repeat on other side.
• Back outside to forward outside, change edge into inside mohawk, push back and repeat on other side.
• Ina Bauer, back cross,  step forward inside and repeat on other side.
• Inside mohawk, push back, double three, stretch and set forward to repeat on other side. Use your ankles!
• Inside toe turn, step forward, tuck behind, inside edge, repeat on other side.