Mel On Ice
10-13-2003, 11:41 AM
... and I failed my bronze MIF test. :(
My problems started with first, having a head cold. When I get head colds, my ears fill up and my head feels stuffed with cotton. I also get a bad case of dry mouth, since I cannot breathe through my nose.
I also practiced like a fiend, and was up at 5:30 to make it to practice by 6:30am. The test was at 7pm on Saturday night! Even though I took a nap and some cold medicine, I don't doubt I was a bit fatigued going into the test.
I did the first two patterns without problem. I felt fast, smooth, elegant, all that stuff. Then fatigue set in during power 3s, one of my weaker patterns. The first set of lobes were smooth, but I was surprised at how quickly I did them, then I noticed they weren't a big as I am used to doing them. Uh-oh. I tried to over-compensate on the next set of lobes, but they too were too small. Yikes, maybe that would be ok?
Next up was the back crosses to outside edges. I felt fluid and smooth on those, and felt like I passed. Ok, back in the saddle!
Then came the 5 step mohawk sequence. My left leg began to shake and I suddenly noticed how cold it was in the rink. I was also panting like I had run a marathon and my nose started to run. I started the pattern anyway, counting "1,2,3,4,5" in my head as I paced out the steps. My last lobe on the first line was horrible, but I was so far from the judge, I was hoping he wouldn't notice. I did crossovers back to the new line and my left leg wouldn't stop shaking. I put on my game face and finished the pattern, even though I was pretty sure by now that I blew it.
I got off the ice and waited for the news. I passed the first two patterns, with the only recommendation being that I speed them up. I failed the next three: power 3s on the basis of shallow lobes; backward crossovers to outside edges on basis of power; and five step on the basis that they sucked. :P
Still, I was only I think 2/10 from passing, so it wasn't all that bad. It was a learning experience anyway. What was great was how calm I was before it, and how I wasn't nervous until right before I was ready for my warmup. I was my coach's first adult MIF testor, so neither one of us knew what to expect. I wasn't until I crawled up into the stands to see others testing the 5-step that I saw what I really needed to do. I was attempting to do the pattern in small, quick lobes, with about 5-6 lobes per side. Testers who passed did them in large, smooth lobes of only 3 per side.
I was optimistic and examining how I could better do next time on Saturday night, woke up hating skating Sunday morning and wanting to quit, but was back in the saddle and laughing over it at synchro practice Sunday night.
Live and learn.
My problems started with first, having a head cold. When I get head colds, my ears fill up and my head feels stuffed with cotton. I also get a bad case of dry mouth, since I cannot breathe through my nose.
I also practiced like a fiend, and was up at 5:30 to make it to practice by 6:30am. The test was at 7pm on Saturday night! Even though I took a nap and some cold medicine, I don't doubt I was a bit fatigued going into the test.
I did the first two patterns without problem. I felt fast, smooth, elegant, all that stuff. Then fatigue set in during power 3s, one of my weaker patterns. The first set of lobes were smooth, but I was surprised at how quickly I did them, then I noticed they weren't a big as I am used to doing them. Uh-oh. I tried to over-compensate on the next set of lobes, but they too were too small. Yikes, maybe that would be ok?
Next up was the back crosses to outside edges. I felt fluid and smooth on those, and felt like I passed. Ok, back in the saddle!
Then came the 5 step mohawk sequence. My left leg began to shake and I suddenly noticed how cold it was in the rink. I was also panting like I had run a marathon and my nose started to run. I started the pattern anyway, counting "1,2,3,4,5" in my head as I paced out the steps. My last lobe on the first line was horrible, but I was so far from the judge, I was hoping he wouldn't notice. I did crossovers back to the new line and my left leg wouldn't stop shaking. I put on my game face and finished the pattern, even though I was pretty sure by now that I blew it.
I got off the ice and waited for the news. I passed the first two patterns, with the only recommendation being that I speed them up. I failed the next three: power 3s on the basis of shallow lobes; backward crossovers to outside edges on basis of power; and five step on the basis that they sucked. :P
Still, I was only I think 2/10 from passing, so it wasn't all that bad. It was a learning experience anyway. What was great was how calm I was before it, and how I wasn't nervous until right before I was ready for my warmup. I was my coach's first adult MIF testor, so neither one of us knew what to expect. I wasn't until I crawled up into the stands to see others testing the 5-step that I saw what I really needed to do. I was attempting to do the pattern in small, quick lobes, with about 5-6 lobes per side. Testers who passed did them in large, smooth lobes of only 3 per side.
I was optimistic and examining how I could better do next time on Saturday night, woke up hating skating Sunday morning and wanting to quit, but was back in the saddle and laughing over it at synchro practice Sunday night.
Live and learn.