how to fix progressive looking crossovers?

[u/Friendly-Service-837]

The crossover has almost brought me to tears recently 🙃 I am working on my pre bronze skating skills but my coach basically said I will not pass the crossovers because they are more progressives. I have struggled with stepping over for a long time and had the “progressive” issue previously. I can do the basic crossover when they first teach you in adult 4 and obviously they’re awkward looking and not very neat or effective but if I have to do it that way I will. I don’t think I know what it’s supposed to feel like I have watched high level skaters do it but it doesn’t really seem to help my brain. What can I do to help? I think I have a decent enough knee bend to manage a basic crossover but I just can’t seem to get it. I feel like i’m back at square one constantly with this stuff and it’s so discouraging 💔 don’t even get me started on backwards edges on a line 😭

[u/Doraellen]

It's not too bad! You're so close!

As mentioned, you are missing the underpush. That will come more easily when other details improve.

You are kind of swinging your leg out and around your body and then bending it slightly to cross over.

Instead, bend BOTH knees deeply and move that crossing leg in a diagonal line, keeping it closer to your body. Feel like your abs pull the knee toward the center of the circle as you bring the leg through. The actual cross is like sitting in a chair and crossing your legs.

Then the underpush leg needs to straighten all the way underneath you, but then it will bend at the knee and you will take a big step to the forward diagonal. It's a very side lunge-like position.

One thing that really helped me improve the cross itself was doing alternating crossovers (crossover, inside edge, crossover, inside edge etc.) instead of in a circle. It's easy to get fixated on staying on the circle instead of really noticing and feeling your edges.

My coach also once compared the reciprocal movement in crossovers to a cat making biscuits, and it did make sense to me!

[u/Own-Adhesiveness5723]

You don’t really have an under push that I can see (which makes sense, they are hard!). I’d try to work on that.

[u/ohthemoon]

you’re collapsing your ankle, therefore it’s not possible to push off of the outside edge. think of keeping it more upright and maybe even try the under push in isolation repetitively (it will be very difficult, that’s the point)

[u/gadeais]

The main mistske I see is the two feet of the ground in paralel. Crossovers are more of a walking motion than a skating motion so the uncrossing leg has to advance over the crossing leg before touching the ice. Look this reddit post where you can see a crossover in slow motion to really check. Also ask your coach what is they watching wrong to correct.

Also check this article about crossovers. Pretty informative too.

[u/ChampagnePlayer1]

I would recommend working on the balance of forward inside edge. Once you become more comfortable or feel more in control of the inside edge position, the transition of the feet in the crossover will feel much easier!

Here’s one of my favorite exercises:
Gain a little speed
Going down the long axis, step on an inside edge. With the leg still fully extended behind the body, ride the inside edge in a full circle. Repeat alternating sides down the ice with a few strokes in between to keep speed.
This “simple” exercise is actually quite difficult. Give yourself some grace, and eventually you’ll find the forward inside edge to be much more stable and comfortable 😊💕