The fact that the balance leg, which was being carried behind the body, has now been brought in front of it, implies that a complete change in the balance of the body has taken place. Up to a little more than one-half of the circle the body has been held strongly forward; as the foot passes the skating leg the body assumes first a straight and then a slightly backward balance. The arms, too, have been serving to compensate the balance. At first they are held well toward the left or behind. As the body twists or turns into the new position and the shoulders are brought square with the direction of the print, the arms slowly swing forward and, from being held on the outside of the circle at the beginning of the stroke, are found on the inside of the circle at the end of the stroke.
The general principle of skating implies that the arms and the legs are used for compensating balances in almost every stroke. When the arms are on one side of the body the leg is on the other. There are a very few violations of this broad principle, but they are associated with the execution of extremely complicated figures.
The body performs a gradual and almost complete rotation during the execution of the forward outside circles. At the beginning of the stroke the back is toward the centre of the circle, at the end of the stroke one faces the centre. The twisting of the body during the stroke should be first at the shoulders and afterward at the hips. But care must be exercised not to make this twisting conspicuous. It must be gradual, deliberate and almost unnoticeable. In fact, it is difficult to believe as one writes about the stroke that all these changes of poise and balance are taking place. It is excellent practice to stand in the various positions on one’s floor and get them clearly in mind.
“CHARLOTTE” in novel kid skating costume. ]
CHAPTER 4. PLAIN CIRCLES, INSIDE EDGE FORWARD.
Next to the outside edges in importance are the inside edges. Indeed, it is more accurate to say that they are of equal importance. For some reasons the inside edge deserves the premier position in skating.
Spectacular and exhibition skating probably draws into use more bold inside edges than it does outside edges. There is a certain attraction about the poised body executing the inside edge that the outside edge lacks.