- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
The thing about triples is that to do them, your body needs have the strength, athleticism and fitness to execute them properly, and this can only be developed through off-ice conditioning. If your body feels like a noodle it'll be hard to get the snap needed to rotate and lift yourself in the air (unless you're a tiny skater who can spin super fast a la Lipinski or Miyahara). Your body needs to feel like one of those thick rubber bands, strong but a bit flexible to allow a controlled "snap" in movement as you jump.
When I was younger, triples were way easier because I was leaner and had a stronger core (did a lot of off-ice conditioning as part of skating). I got my 3S and 3T back last year (not very consistently though), but only got it after deciding to try working out at the gym almost 4-5x a week, and committing to getting my body into the right shape for it, meaning stronger core and legs in particular. It's super hard to stay in shape (especially into your 30's) but still doable if you commit to it. There's a "big girl" at my rink who has a lovely 3S, and while she doesn't have the most slim physique, she's still young (early 20's I think) and her legs are exceptionally strong (she constantly practices getting her doubles higher and more "open" as in less pulled in)... reminds me of Ito/Osmond. You can't just practice doubles and pull in tighter hoping to get a triple, you need to make them bigger (at this point they should be jump-jumps and not lifting off the ice a few inches and spinning quickly). Develop huge, effortless, controlled doubles (even your waltz jumps, go in with more speed and height), and gain more muscle strength and spring through plyometrics, squats, and pilates, and a triple might be closer than you think. Good luck!
When I was younger, triples were way easier because I was leaner and had a stronger core (did a lot of off-ice conditioning as part of skating). I got my 3S and 3T back last year (not very consistently though), but only got it after deciding to try working out at the gym almost 4-5x a week, and committing to getting my body into the right shape for it, meaning stronger core and legs in particular. It's super hard to stay in shape (especially into your 30's) but still doable if you commit to it. There's a "big girl" at my rink who has a lovely 3S, and while she doesn't have the most slim physique, she's still young (early 20's I think) and her legs are exceptionally strong (she constantly practices getting her doubles higher and more "open" as in less pulled in)... reminds me of Ito/Osmond. You can't just practice doubles and pull in tighter hoping to get a triple, you need to make them bigger (at this point they should be jump-jumps and not lifting off the ice a few inches and spinning quickly). Develop huge, effortless, controlled doubles (even your waltz jumps, go in with more speed and height), and gain more muscle strength and spring through plyometrics, squats, and pilates, and a triple might be closer than you think. Good luck!