What are ways I can stretch and practice off ice to improve my figure skating?

I wasn't very....well I wanted to get lots accomplished last year but I didn't work very hard for them. This year I want to be on top of everything and really improve. So instead of waiting for August again and just trying to be able to skate as well as I could on the last day, I'd like to be ready.((I figure skate))





What are some good stretches, routines, or excersises I can practice to keep me fit, flexible, and ready to skate?





And does anyone have any good music ideas. I need some ideas for my interpretive and solo music. I DO NOT want anything common, like pink panther or the blue danube or whatever. I'm very spunky and energetic, I'd like music that's moderately fast, fun/energetic; something I can really get into. No girl music.





Thank you SOOO much everyone!What are ways I can stretch and practice off ice to improve my figure skating?
Start eating ';right'; if you haven't already. Make good sleeping habits . . . especially if you're going to start early morning practices/lessons again. And get in skate shape - which is what you're already trying to do!





Do a warm up before stretching - like jogging in place. Without getting to lengthy, find stretches from head to toe - and do them in head to toe order. I found it useful to do overall stretching - instead of targeting specific areas for flexibility (not just your legs and back!). Think ';dance'; as you stretch . . . use your arms, extend your legs, point those toes . . . just to get in the habit of those extra things we need to think of in skating!





Strengthening exercises - especially for legs/thighs and stomach would help! With your back against a wall, squat down til you're 90 degrees with your knee bend (don't go passed that - not good for the knees). See how long you can hold that position without moving!! You should be able to build up longer time - in time - and oh those burn your thighs - hee hee! That's just one exercise.





Jump roping, jogging in place, and side to side running/jumping can help with stamina. Anything to get your heart beat pumping strong would be a plus (for or not for skating!).





Think of what you hope to accomplish this year . . . write them down and check them off as you accomplish your goals. Visualize where you want to be with your skating. Go watch old skating videos of your fav skaters . . . just revisiting my fav programs pump me up - like yahhhhh - that's where I want to be!





This is just a jist of things you can do . . . there's so much more. Here are some sites that may help in detail!


http://www.usfigureskating.org/content/O鈥?/a>


http://home.pacbell.net/anamga/off_ice.h鈥?/a>


http://www.angelfire.com/il2/figskating/鈥?/a>





As for music, it's such a personal choice . . . what's fun/energetic to me may not be fun/energetic to you (wink)! What may be fun is looking into upbeat music fused with other cultural sounds and add cultural elements to your choreography - I always liked the idea of being ';different';. And maybe you do too. Just a thought!





Happy going back to skating!What are ways I can stretch and practice off ice to improve my figure skating?
You might feel ridiculous but sometimes it is helphul to practice positions off ice wearing 2 inch heels. This helps recreate the feeling of being in skating boots. This was a tip I learned from my coach. You might feel silly but it does help.


Personally, I like to practice coming up from my sit spins off ice. This will help build your thigh muscles and is a good workout. Also, I like to practice stretching my spirals. Off ice is a great time to work on building an impressive looking spiral. Practice doing spirals on each leg in front of a mirror. When you get back to the rink in August everyone will be like ';Whoa! she's got a nice spiral.';


Practice doing splits flat on the floor, easing further into the split each day. Be careful not to push yourself too far because you could pull a muscle or something.


Practice doing squats. Buy a pilates video. This will help to strenthen your legs and help you to balance easier.





Hope these ideas help,


Miche
just try to do non-toe jumps - such as a waltz jump or axel


and keep doing spiral stretches


depending on how tall you are (i am only 5' 3'')


you can put your leg on the counter - like the ';wall';at the rink and do strectes that way.


I did those every day and in just a week my coach said my spiral was GREATLY improved!
Here is a book that is very good about figure skating training conditioning/stretching tips and techniques. http://www.amazon.com/Conditioning-Skati鈥?/a>


An off ice class would also be helpful for you- it can teach you the techniques and things that will help you to learn to skate better, and stretch/exercises properly.


Here are a few sites that may help you with music...I think that you need to pick something that you feel comfortable with, and feel that you can make stand out to the judges.


www.sk8tunes.com


www.skatemusiclist.com


http://www.goldenskate.com/resources/mus鈥?/a>
Well, everybody in this column has got great ideas on the off-ice stretching and you should find some that you are able to do and create a regular routine to follow through. It can differ from everyone, depending on what you are trying to achieve. For example, I aim for more flexibility in my Biellman and better rotation, so I do contortion exercises for the Biellman and walk through my jumps.





Habanera has always been my favourite piece, for something more original I'd recommend the music from ';Les Choristes';, the instrumental pieces are very rhythmic. ';Schindler's List'; is a very emotional piece that is neither too fast nor too slow.





Most importantly, find something you can identify with and skate to!!! Good luck.
Try to do some cardio every day (like jogging or jumping rope) to keep up your stamina.





You can also do jump rotations off-ice. Don't try to do toe jumps, because that's kind of difficult and can mess up your on-ice technique. Instead, stand with your feet under your shoulders, bend your knees, put your arms back, and then jump up and then around. When you jump, be sure to pull your arms up and in as if you were jumping on ice. Try to land on one foot and hop backwards out of the jump in a checked position. You can also practice axels off-ice.





For stretching, I usually do floor stretches first. I sit and stretch my legs out to the side as far as possible and hold that position for a minute, and then try to stretch out further and hold that one as long as I can. I also do hamstring stretches (good for spirals). Put one foot straight in front of you on the floor, tuck the other one in, and lean down over the straight leg as far as you can go and then hold it for 15-20 seconds. I do a couple of these for each leg, and then get up and do spiral stretches. I do those holding on to something first, and then I try them without holding on.





Sometimes I simulate spin entrances on the floor too, especially when I'm trying to work out the timing for a particular spin. You can also do one-legged squats if you want to try to make your sit spin lower.





good luck! :)
hey, well i skate bout 2-3 times a week, to keep flexible go up against the wall and get someone to pul ur leg up. or sit down on the floor and try ur best to to a splitz. u can try searching - figure skate stretches on google, there are some really helpfu stretches there, or if you dont skate in the off season, yoga or pilates helps alot =D