My Single Axel Journey | Adult Figure Skating Progress

[@diezwiebel6873]

I’m not a skater myself, just a fan of Figure Skating, but this video is truly an inspiration. Falling backwards must be so painful and scary, but it’s just marvelous how you managed to not lose faith in yourself. The “I know it will always come back” just did it for me. Thank you for sharing your journey😊

[@natsskates]

Thank you so much! Believe it or not, falling backwards is not scary at all because I'm so used to it that I know how to do it in a way that doesn't hurt. Falling forwards is much scarier because you can hurt you knees/elbows/wrists.

[@Schokoladenmotorboot]

So inspiring! Never give up, your body will remember, it just needs time. And even if you lost it in between, i think your axels looked so good in the end! So there is definetely improvement over time. Thank you for this video, was really interesting to watch :)

[@natsskates]

Thank you so much, I will never give up. There's still a few things that are wrong with my current Axel and I will work on fixing it, but sometimes you have to be happy with how far you've come.

[@esmee2276]

Thank you so much for showing me this! It takes a lot of strength to continue, especially when you loose it again. Watching this really teaches me to never give up

[@natsskates]

So glad you enjoyed it, best of luck on your own journey :)

[@esmee2276]

@@natsskates Thank you!

[@paulasfigureskating5612]

Natalia, at least you can say that you have done an Axel! Congratulations! :-)

[@natsskates]

Thanks Paula, you're not wrong!

[@paulasfigureskating5612]

@@natsskates You are very welcome! :-)

[@AN-jw2oe]

What a beautiful picture of persistence and determination. Thank for sharing!!! You’re doing great!

[@natsskates]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@jodireeve7701]

Well done! The axel is a pain for coming and going! Mine likes to disappear for no reason after being consistent for months 🙃 but be persistent, it will always come back and each time it does you will get a little better at it!

[@natsskates]

Thanks for the encouragement! But gee I hope I'm not going to have to deal with losing it and trying to get it back for the rest of my life! I'll be an 80 year old grandma "I lost my Axel for the 183rd time" 😅

[@dskgilmour]

You're an inspiration - I've been trying for years and you've inspired me to keep going!

[@natsskates]

Aww thank you so much! Glad these videos help others with their own skating journey. If you haven't already, maybe try working in the harness if you have access? It can really help build up your confidence if you're struggling.

[@katiavera2086]

This feels like I'm watching myself! Good job even if it isn't all that consistent! I've found and lost my axel so many times I've lost count. Like you, I keep working on it. I hope you never lose it again.

[@natsskates]

Thank you, hope so too! It's still hanging on since I got it back 3 months ago, but hanging on by a thread. There seems to be no end to the struggles. Meanwhile, the double Salchow is proving to be a lot easier and more natural. Ugh so frustrating >_

[@katiavera2086]

@@natsskates indeed, double salchow and double toe are so much easier and consistent for me. I’ll have to keep working on that elusive axel.

[@myheartandi999]

Great video. I like how fast and how straight you rotate in the air. And you actually completed the rotation in the air already before landing, which is very good.

[@natsskates]

Thank you so much! Right now unfortunately I can't jump because my lower back is hurting from all the jumps, but hopefully in a couple of months I can get back to jumping and try to get my axel back.

[@ЭдуардДегай]

Hello, Nataly! I envy your perseverance ! "Failure is a success in progress!" Have a good luck in perceiving nuances of figure skating!

[@natsskates]

Thank you so much! I've lost my axel for the third time now and struggling to get it back 😢

[@salsatosalchow7294]

How have I not seen your Axel Journey video until noooooowwww??????????????? Hi, only 5 months lateeee…..!!!!! OMG, girl, I would like die if we were skating at the same rink! Everything we’ve ever talked about, and this video is like the story of my skating life to a T!!!!!! It’s almost going to be A YEAR since I first landed my axel and it’s been a holy-hell of a year with it…. 😭 😭 😭 I can’t… I can’t even describe-except this video describes it pretty well. “The hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life” … the most unreal thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’ve gone through at least 15 ‘versions’ of ‘how to’ land an axel. And all 15 versions have been landed. And none of them have been ‘my consistent.’ And then when I try to do it in the program… at a comp…. all careful ‘technical feeling’ goes out the window 🙄💦 I’m really impressed how all your axel attempts have all been fully ‘going for it!’ I’ve never been able to through my life in the air unless I’m absolutely secure about what I’m about to do. Obviously, only the times when I’ve thrown my life into the air… absolutely certain about what I’m doing… have they been landed. They’ve become a lot better for me this last month. Both my off ice and on ice axel. A huge factor for this lately is focusing on pulling my right side (arm, shoulder, ribs) as far back as it can go just before i pounce. I noticed on one of your successful axels, your right shoulder was pulled back. Also, I have to count one, two, in my head to make sure that I hold the glide forward. A big problem was always because I rushed the take off. I remember a while back we were talking about axel phases… yeah girl… yeah…….. 🙈 I’ve had glorious hours (on a certain day) and weeks one time… when I just had it consistent!! 🤦🏻‍♀️💦 Oh yeah, and I’ve also landed a double sal back in March, with no footage because my phone was full and refused to record longer than 30 seconds. Biggest joke from the universe and first world problem of my life…!! I love skating 🤣

[@natsskates]

Hey, thanks for your comment! Glad I'm not alone 😅 I hope yours is going better than mine because I finally lost it again at the end of June and can't get it back. I takeoff then freak out in mid air and pull out, unable to complete the rotation. For the last couple of weeks I've gone back into the harness and I'll just stay for a while, because the moment the harness comes off, I do the freak out thing again. I'll try to pull my right side back more on the takeoff and hold the edge longer, these are both things that my coaches have said, but I guess sometimes it takes someone else saying it 🤷‍♀️ Congrats on your double Sal, I'm sure you'll land it again soon! My double Sal is messy but I tend to be able to land 1 in 10 attempts (so maybe one per session). It's much less scary than an axel.

[@kazenoko8913]

I'm a adult skater in japan. I'll start practice of single axel next month,so,this video gave me courage. Thank you‼︎

[@natsskates]

That's really great to hear, best of luck!

[@deirdrekiely6187]

That's really good. You have proper technique and you jump UP into the jump whereas most adults just try to swing it around and ignore correct technique just because they want to say they can do it. You got it!!

[@natsskates]

Thank you! I'd rather not have an axel than have a cheated axel. While I'm grateful to have mostly correct technique, there's still some issues with my technique which will take a while to fix. I turn my head to the left on takeoff which is bad as it places my axis more over the left side rather than the right side. Still a long ways to go, I usually only land 1 or 2 per practice.

[@sianchild]

I'm so glad it's not just me who loses skills! It can be so disheartening. You're doing so well though.

[@natsskates]

Nope, you're not the only one. Keep at it! Thanks :)

[@gailsorensen5596]

Congrats on your axel! I never had the nerve to try it on roller skates, but was able to do it with ice skates on, on the mat. Of course, could not remain upright on the landing because of the sudden stop on the rubber mat, but if there had been a harness at the rink would have tried it in a minute! I was 35 at the time. Let me just say that the falls on ice are not so bad as on a wooden floor where you come to a screeching halt! The slide on ice takes a lot of the concussion out of the fall.

[@natsskates]

Thanks! Never too late to get out there on the ice and try it! Definitely safer on the ice.

[@cet1069]

Love this! Congrats! I think you already accomplished a lot and being a figure skater myself, I understand how easy it is to lose something after you consistently did it 2 days ago (so frustrating!). I'm going to be on this journey too in a couple of weeks. I've done all the drills and now it's time for the harness and just going for it -- with some help... wish me luck! :) And good luck to you - I know you will get it down soon!

[@natsskates]

Best of luck on your journey! The harness was pretty intimidating for me at first because I had high expectations for some reason. So don't have any expectations and you'll be a lot happier in life 😂 Yeah I've lost my axel for the third time at the end of June, can't seem to get it back. Back in the harness, chugging along, trying to do many many proper jumps so that I can hopefully get some muscle memory.

[@aistepavasaris65]

Wow! You do amazing, your video inspired me not to loose hope in myself hehe. Thank you for sharing that you need to work really hard to achieve this and some days are better than others, that’s just real life :)

[@natsskates]

Thanks for the kind words! I wish you luck in your own journey. I'm still struggling but somewhat holding onto the jump, so I too need to remember not to lose hope.

[@Calidastas]

Nice effort 🎉 👏🏻

[@natsskates]

Thanks!

[@rey-ke5ls]

😂😂really great for me!👏🏼👏🏼