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Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Spread eagle? Ina Bauer?

Recently, I have noticed that my coach is making all his kids doing some spread eagle or ina bauer. I knew it was just a matter of time that he would get round to me... and it didn't take long.

In lesson yesterday, he asked if I could do a spread eagle. Of course he didn't say it, he just asked, "can you do this" and showed me what "this" was.

This is something I tried and given up and never thought to try again. After all, I was finding more fun doing flying camels than getting my heels stuck on the ice. Besides, I told him, I have closed hips and when I did try to stretch it years ago, I ended up with lower back pain.

Well, he didn't insist, though he said, as a matter of fact, that it is all a matter of stretching!

I have always been envious of those who could do spread eagles and ina bauers. Although I convinced myself I don't need it to do a good program, its as if there's something missing from my repetoire. However, I am very hesitant to try again, for fear of exaggerating my back problem...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I think the coach ran out of things to do during lessons. I think Arakawa just spoilt the market for Ina Bauer... now a skater who does the Ina Bauer should make it look like hers, otherwise it's no longer as fantastic.

For the Spread Eagle, there is a way to do it without having to stretch etc.

Just adjust the front part of your blade towards the little toe, and the back part of the blade towards the instep. That should do the trick.