“CHARLOTTE” in spectacular backward stroke.
To get a strong start for the inside circle backward is the hardest part of the acquirement of the figure. Stand on the flat of the left skate, swing the right foot in front of you, just as if you were going to make a little jump backward onto that foot, bend the right knee a good deal and lunge onto the right skate on the inside edge. The left foot as it leaves the ice should then be carried across the right leg, with the knee bent and the toe turned out and down. It should be carried well across the print or mark that the skate is making on the ice and somewhat high, not dragging along. The body should lean strongly backward.
As the stroke is begun the shoulders are turned well toward the right and both arms are carried on the right of the body outside of the print. This is one of the very few cases where the arms are carried on the same side of the print as the balance leg and it is due to the fact that the body naturally inclines toward the center of the circle when it is on the inside edges. The head should be facing the starting point throughout the execution of the circle.
When about one-third of the circle has been skated then slowly bring the balance foot past the skating foot, knee bent and toe turned strongly out and down. Simultaneously the shoulders should be turned toward the left until the body faces the center of the circle and maintained in that position to the end of the figure with both arms, one forward and the other following, almost directly over the print. As the balance foot passes the skating foot the body is straightened and for a moment the arms are drawn close to the body. This straightening of the body and change in the carriage of the balance foot will make it possible for the skater to round out the circle to its correct proportions. All inside edge circles have a strong tendency to become spirals. At the close of the stroke the skater will be in the right position for the start of the same stroke on the opposite foot.
CIRCLE. Right inside edge, backward. (RIB)
CHAPTER 7.
Change of Edge; Forward; Outside to Inside.
The change of edge is one of the most important school figures and should be carefully practised by every skating pupil. It is not spectacular, although it is very graceful and very easy to acquire.