Growling/Whimpering - July 13-19 2004

[jazzpants]

Was thinking of my "canine alarm clocks" who wake me up in the morning (ironically my real alarm clocks don't do it for me...)

Growling:

WHEEEEE!!! Forward power 3's are still going at a good speed and pretty good consistent. Still not good enough to keep secondary coach happy, but I think primary coach will be happy.
The rest of my moves are happy still

Whimpering:
My spins!!! AUGH!!! What a BAD spin day!!! I need to that those blades realigned. But I'm gonna have to wait 'til after the test, since I'm getting pretty good on the moves and I don't want any more variables to my blade until the Bronze Moves are out of the way. But still... WAAAAAH!!!! :cry:

[Mrs Redboots]

Hmm - what happened there? Was in the middle of typing this when suddenly Internet Explorer closed down on me! Oh well, try again!

Growling: (How is this good? When I growl, it's usually because I'm cross!) Anyway, we had our couples lesson this morning, which was great as we showed him "the story so far" about our Free Dance, and we now have a good skeleton to work on. Then Robert had to leave for work, and after a break, I practiced on my own. Everything went really, really well - even the evil Novice Mohawk sequence (Open inside Mohawk, crossover, open inside Mohawk the other side, crossover and repeat) seems to be beginning to work now. And I managed a 3-bracket-3 on my right foot without grabbing the barrier. AND I managed nearly a whole length of continuous FO3s without toe-tapping!

Also did all the usual exercises - changes-of-edge, Russian stroking, back outside edges, back inside edges, swing rolls, and even inside chassés. Am beginning to work on one-footed slaloms, which I have always refused to work on before as they made my knees hurt, but now my knees seem to have strengthened and they don't. So I'm going to ask my coach if I can work on them tomorrow.

Plus the newest rink baby was brought in to be shown off. All of 3 weeks old - but her mother plans to skate on Friday!

Whimpering: The Tango mohawk! We have put one in our free dance, and I now discover I can't do it! Again, I will need to work on it in my lesson tomorrow - I can't seem to do it at all solo, and with Robert, I kept putting my leg in the wrong direction! Ah well, it will come. Also the twirl under his arm is a bit odd - I still don't know what I'm doing! The lift is still an assisted 3-jump, not a lift. And lots of it needs a very great deal of hard work to get right, but, all the same, I'm relatively optimistic. If we can get the time to work on it, it should be okay.

[sk8pics]

This is actually from Sunday...

Growling: Finally I just about have that right power 3 down correctly. I used to tap my right foot down to stop my momentum before stepping forward, but now I'm getting better at keeping my balance on my left back inside edge well enough to step forward on my own. Coach says I am so close. 8-) Maybe next week... Also we put a spiral sequence into my interpretive program. It was something I'd worked out on my own and my coach liked it so much we put it into my program now, instead of waiting until after Skate Wilmington is over.

Whimpering: That left power 3, ugh. But my coach has been helping me just by holding my left hand, which forces me to step in the proper direction, so I guess it's progress, but ugh... I hate that direction... No practice this week (although I do have a couple lessons) due to the big summer competition. My coach is gonna have to do some serious blocking on the sessions we'll be on, I think!

Jazzpants-- That's great about your power 3's; keep it up!

Happy skating,
Pat

[TashaKat]

GROWLING

Rink management ...... are they all cloned in a lab somewhere?

It's SLIGHTLY better where I am now as they seem to cater more for the kid skaters BUT the adults are completely disregarded apart from the adult 'learn to skate' courses.

Not to be beaten I send a very polite e-mail to the 'boss' (can't remember his title but he's got a skating background so you would expect him to be sympathetic) asking if they had thought about making some provisions for adults who had worked their way through the learn to skate classes and now had nowhere to go. I pointed out that there were quite a few of 'us' and many others coming up so it would be financially viable ..... I got a very nice e-mail back (the guy should be a politician but at least he wasn't as blunt as the usual rink managers) but it effectively said thank you but no thanks!

I have 'advised' the other skaters that maybe it would be a good idea to send off some letters/e-mails too! We have put names forward for an adult synchro team and are generally going to be quite forceful. I did point out that I didn't mind skating with the kids (have done it before and really enjoyed it) but that the kids sessions preclude me from joining in because I have to do the work thing to get the money to skate!

PURRING

Am feeling that the adult group is too restrictive. I'm still a bit wobbly and I haven't got everything (ok, most things) back but I am starting to feel the 'freedom' of skating again :)

Did the usual stuff ..... it's improving ...... gradually!

WHIMPERING

Remember I said that I'd spotted a potential dance partner? Still a beginner but works hard and has potential? Looked early 20's?

Well ..... two words ..... jail and bait! We were all gobsmacked when he told us how old he was!!! I think that there was more than me eyeing him up as a potential dance partner judging from the responses. That guy is going to be one lucky guy when he gets a bit better :) He'll have so much choice of partners.

Oh well, back to the drawing board ...... sigh .......

x

[Mrs Redboots]

Growling: Arrived to find the wretched Zamboni had broken down yet again, so the ice was half nice and half snowy. Very difficult to skate on, until you get used to it. Robert and I decided not to try to go through our programme to the music, but just worked on elements from it, which are too difficult. Couldn't and couldn't do the Tango Mohawk properly, not even when we changed it so that he was doing an outside Mohawk and I was doing an inside one. Of course, as soon as he had gone I realised that I was only doing an open Mohawk when I needed to be doing a closed one, wasn't I:?::!: Der-brain, or what:?::!: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Apart from that, most things were purring nicely. My Mohawk sequence is improving (I think that particular sequence is harder than the one from the Starlight waltz, but they say not), and everything I tried in my lesson went well. I asked my coach to show me one-footed slaloms (a.k.a. edge pulls, power pulls); I'm not too sure what I'm doing wrong, but I'm certainly not getting any power from them. The coach says they're okay for now, though, and to work on them as much as I can (I daren't work on them too much as they can make my knees sore, although they are much stronger now).

I also did a length of back cross-rolls which, although not good, "Are much better!" said the coach. So overall very pleased.

Then after my lesson I joined the kids in their stroking class, which I don't often do; as they couldn't really jump (although they worked on walleys), they had been going to practice in the harness off-ice ("He's going to hang you as high as Haman," I said!), but something had gone wrong with the harness, so the kids were on the ice and were doing clever things like loops down the ice (loops on the ice, not loop jumps), which I was amused to find I could nearly do, it wasn't quite as hard as it looked; hydroblades, which I could actually do better than they could (I knew roughly what to do, so although I can't get down as far as they can, I could at least look as though I was doing a hydroblade, which is more than they did!); then ending with a sequence of 3-turns and brackets round the hockey goal, which I certainly couldn't do as well as they could, but had fun trying. They then finished with a sequence of the Circle Cycle, but I got off then and scrounged a cup of tea from my coach.

Oh, my skates have been being very uncomfortable this past couple of weeks; I was afraid they had died, as I really don't want to afford new ones right now. But someone on this forum or on RSSIR, forget who and where, mentioned giving theirs a new lease of life by changing the laces, so half-way through this morning that's what I did, and it made a huge difference to the support levels! My old laces were rather like chewed string, so......

[blue111moon]

Growling: The rink closest to me has three hours of ice that I can make weekly. It's great because it's not out of my way, it's only a ten minute drive from home and two of the days are run by the rink so they're cheaper than club-run free-skates.

Whimpering: I am whimpering - with pain. I have somehow managed to develope an inflamation of the tailbone, although it's not broken and I know I haven't plopped on it at all since Mountain Cup. In turn that has led to sciatica which has gotten bad enough that I cannot sit, stand or lie down comfortably. Dr. has me on so many pain pains I rattle when I walk and I have an appointment with a specialist on Friday. I skated Monday anyway, and it wasn't too bad except that I was super-cautious and didn't try anything that might lead to a fall. But by the time I drove home, I could hardly haul myself out of the car and I spent the rest of the evening in pain. So skating this week is probably not a good idea.

Another whimper: all the music I've come up for a new Interpretive program has been - wrong: too fast, lyrics not clear enough, too dumb even for me. So I'm still questing.

And it's raining - again.

[flo]

Grrrr. Did something to my calf muscle the other day, but didn't think much about it, as it felt better the next morning. Last night I was skating, completely warmed up, and thought I'd do a flip. They're a pretty large jump for me with lots of speed, so I went into it as usual. As I launced up from the toe...... 8O ouch! Could not jump for the rest of the night, and it hurt to walk. I had a lesson after that so we worked on spins. Anyone out here had a calf muscle problem?

[mikawendy]

Anyone out here had a calf muscle problem?

Sort of--I had posterior tibialis tendinitis--it's tendinitis of a muscle that crosses the ankle joint and is involved in pointing the foot. I've not had a problem with the two better-known and bigger calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus), but I tend to be very tight there. (That was how my tendinitis got started--I was pointing too much in ballet and not stretching my calves, and then it got quite inflamed.)

I know a great PT who's about 15 min. away from us. She was a ballet dancer and also has her ATC certification. Her specialty is foot/ankle/lower leg stuff. PM me if you want her info.

Does it hurt when you when you push off with your foot or when you land/touch down?

I hope whatever it is goes away soon! (((Hugs)))

[flo]

Thanks Mika,
Just tried a waltz jump in the office - It hurts both when I push off the toe, and when I land. This is very odd - it's like the middle of the night cramp. Eeek.

[jazzpants]

Mrs. Redboots: Maybe I should have renamed the thread to "Barking/Whimpering?"

Anyway, until then...

Growling:
Power 3's speed is still pretty good!

Whimpering:
Secondary coach STILL says "FASTER!!!" And the worst part is that I have a technique problem that the skating judges might have a fit over and I have to fix it PRONTO!!! (And no, it's not easy to fix either.)

Worst part is that my secondary coach thinks I'm back in the "comfort zone" and I need to push my limits further!!! WAAAAAH!!! I thought I WAS!!! :cry:

[singerskates]

Growling: NOthing.

Whimpering: I had to stay home from work today because my ears, throat and chest are stuffed up. I've been having pain in my ears since I had the flu in June and the last two days it got worse. This morning, my back and chest were really congested. Yesterday, while I was at work, I felt as if I was not in my own body. I was sort of a dizzy feeling but not really. I'm thinking that the ears got infected when I had the flu. I haven't seen a doctor for this yet. My throat sometimes bleeds now but I think it's from the sinuses. But then again, I don't know. Anyway, I have to get this looked at soon, possibly before I skate tomorrow at summer skating school.
Spins are going to have to be kept down to 5 revs instead of 9 revs tomorrow.

Brigitte

[NCSkater02]

Growling: I'm on vacation, so I can skate whenever I want!

Whimpering: It's summer time, and all the kids are out of school, so ice time is taken up by :roll: hockey camps, so time is limited. :frus:

Growling: That being said, I made a FS session today. We worked on salchow. It's my newest jump, and the one I think I will pick up the fastest so far. All I have to do is flatten my 3turn, check my shoulders and transfer my weight. Other than that, no problem. I have the steps, I just need to improve them. I did a couple today that my coach was pleased with.

Whimpering: Still that scratch spin. Do I really have to learn one? ;)

[Mrs Redboots]

Mrs. Redboots: Maybe I should have renamed the thread to "Barking/Whimpering?"Knowing our Beccapoo, perhaps you should!

No skating news today (yet), as it's Thursday when I skate in the evenings, but I just wanted to send <<<Hugs>>> to those who are injured, have sciatica (oh, how I sympathise!) or not quite well - BlueIIImoon, flo and Singerskates, to name only those who've posted since yesterday!

NCskater02, I do sympathise about hockey camps. We will probably have one week this summer with no morning ice because of one. I just hope it's the week our coaches go on holiday, so we can have a week off with a clear conscience!

[NCSkater02]

NCskater02, I do sympathise about hockey camps. We will probably have one week this summer with no morning ice because of one. I just hope it's the week our coaches go on holiday, so we can have a week off with a clear conscience!

I'd kill for just one week--here, it's almost every week, all summer long, at all four rinks in town. Maybe they should just take the NHL Hurricanes rink, put the ice back for the summer and just do camps there 24 hours a day and leave the rest of the rinks alone. :lol: I really prefer to skate in the morning so I don't waste most of my day, but the only way to do that is to get up at 5am, and let's face it, I'm on vacation this week, and it just ain't gonna happen.

[icenut84]

Well, I skated today.

Growling: Didn't feel too bad once I got into the ice. My toe loops were good (for me), although of course, as soon as I told myself "one more good one, then something else", that's when they stopped working. :roll: Managed some that were good though, although that's not taking into account my form - I have the feeling that my form during the jump isn't that great. Hmm. Also my turns were good (RBO not perfect, but still worked).

Whimpering: Salchow was screwy. The first one I did, I was all over the place! Don't know where on earth my balance was. They improved a little, but still not stellar. My landing heel started hurting on the landing of waltz jumps too. :( And I kept getting a strange little pain in the back of my right ankle, kind of like there was a crease in my sock (although there wasn't).
Also, my spins are starting to be incredibly frustrating. (Maybe "starting" is the wrong word. Hmph.) :frus: :cry:

[Mrs Redboots]

Since Robert's got the computer on to listen to the Folk Music programme.....

We are at the awful stage of our free dance; Robert doesn't want to dance it to the music yet "because we'll look silly" - but if we don't go through the "looking silly" stage (and who is looking at us, anyway?), we'll never get to the "looking great" stage. Sigh. Plus he's pretending he can't do the steps he did perfectly well in our Tango last year and in our waltzing cat programme a month ago. :frus:

We did, however, have a good time at dance club, although Robert was most uncomplimentary about my 14-step (I don't care; I was glad to get round! One day....). We even managed a Willow Waltz, which surprised me so much I forgot the steps on the second pattern! I also made a nonsense of the Fiesta Tango, as I bottled out of the first Mohawk (I was getting tired by then) and broke in the middle on the second. Would have liked to have had a go at the Foxtrot, but didn't, in the end. Still, it was fun, and good exercise (I'm exhausted, and a traffic jam all the way home didn't help).

[luna_skater]

Whimpering: I woke up this morning and my clock read 2:41pm. 8O My watch said 9:30am, but no matter which one I believed, I had missed my lesson. I mostly felt bad about leaving my coach wondering where I was. But it's the first time it has ever happened, and he probably just gave one of his other students a longer lesson. I told him what happened when I skated this afternoon, and he understood. But I still felt rotten!

Growling: Didn't have a lesson scheduled for the afternoon, so I just worked on my own. Major progress on the back outside loops! Keeping my fingers crossed that they stay respectable for tomorrow, and then I can breathe a huge sigh of relief. Test day isn't until next Saturday, so I will still have a full week to brush everything up a bit more. Everything is passable right now, I just want it all to be the best I can get it. Multi-turns have improved quite a bit, and power threes are really strong. Flying choctaws are steadily improving, and just need a bit more tweaking. I've decided tomorrow will be spirals day, so hopefully that will clean those up. :D

[Michigansk8er]

GrowlingI got to spin, I got to jump!!!!!!!! It doesn't matter how pathetic they were..................I finally got to try after so long off. I started with a back scratch. Like I'd never missed a beat. Centered and all. Eh ha!!!! Forward scratch.........well, there is a reason that has never been in my program. Didn't miss a beat with that one either. It still travels to Mars. First few camels were over on the toe, but then I got it and did a pretty decent one. I did a few toes before me lesson. During lesson we did waltz. Small, but a start. My legs somehow feel disconnected with the rest of my body, so it will take a bit to get the jumps back, but it's a start. What a fun day!!!!! :D :D :D

WhimperingAbsolutely nothing. I'm just so happy to be skating again. Give it a few weeks though, and I'll have plenty, no doubt.

[skatingatty]

Growling: the flying camel is getting less scary (haven't had a belly splat in a while!), and I was working on flying change sits that felt pretty decent. :)

Whimpering: I got a mole removed on my left knee, so I couldn't bend that leg too much- just got the stitches out today. So, that was my excuse for not doing an axel attempts or sit spins. My back sit is still not low enough. It's as if the muscles are not there to let me sink down. I should go home now and practice on the living room floor.

[NCSkater02]

I did a few toes before me lesson.

Started with the toe loop first, Huh? :D

[singerskates]

Growling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Landed two clean loops yesterday in lesson. Landed another not so clean loop in my freeskate program

Whimpering: Lack of air to my lungs and dizzy. laybacks were travelling badly, sitspins were travelling, scatch even travelled but with ear infection comes loss of equilimbrem. Not bad, I still did a decent amount of revs on my spins just couldn't control where I got out and where the spin went. LOL

Had to take my blue inhailer for each session I skated yesterday and still felt tired and out of air.

It was a mixed day. I'll take it since I did land the loop.

[luna_skater]

Growling: Loops get better every time I hit the ice. Back outside didn't desert me! They aren't great, but there is a loop there...it just needs to be tighter and have more flow. Improved the continuous brackets.

Whimpering: I keep bailing on one spot in the multi-turns, and I'm getting really mad at myself. I've got one week to talk myself out of being scared of that spot! I'm getting on my toes too much on the power threes and flying choctaws. I wasn't very happy with my spirals today, but coach seemed to think they were good. I think I'm getting pickier and more easily frustrated since test day isn't that far off. I just have to be patient and concentrate, but that's easier said than done!

[jazzpants]

Growling:

Managed to do a complete run-through of my Bronze Moves w/o stopping for the first time. And primary coach thinks that despite the problems that it's not that bad.
The forward power 3's -- particularly my weaker side is better. But this is the main thing I'm worried about as far as passing the test is concerned.
Groaning:

Still fixing technique problems on the power 3's. We'll see if I make any progress this weekend.
I don't know if I'll pass the Bronze Moves test this time around. But I was strongly instructed by my coaches to "fight for it." So despite my better judgment, I'm doing "as told."
Backspin sucked. Fell to the inside edge again!!! *sigh* :roll:

[Mrs Redboots]

We didn't skate yesterday as, when the alarm-clock went off, a small voice beside me said it didn't want to get up yet, so we went back to sleep, instead. So we skated this morning, instead.

Honestly, I give up! What do you do with a partner who, on Thursday night, simply can't do the steps he did so easily in the previous programme, has never done them before, doesn't know what to do, it's too difficult, we need to change it, etc. So you change it, and make it easier. And on Saturday morning he's totally like "Well, why did you change it? Of course I can do it like this!" :frus: :frus: :frus: :roll:

So, anyway, we put the thing back to where it was, that's fine. And in fact we were able to have, for the first time, a RUNTHROUGH TO THE MUSIC! Yeah! :D There is a very long way to go, and there are an awful lot of bits that need an awful lot of work, but WE HAVE A FREE DANCE!!!!

[Terri C]

For this week
This summer, skating on Monday afternoons will be a keeper, as the rink is EMPTY!! :D
My growling was on my spins and my MIF are getting a little better.

Wimpering: That #$%^% footwork that my coach is putting in my program! I spent a good chunck of practice time this week still trying to get it, but it's still not happening! All it is is mohawk, cross mohawk , cross!

[vesperholly]

Growling: Double sal is starting to get more rotation. Today I tried a new trick: I fold up a tissue and hold it in my right hand, and pretend I'm going to pass it to my left hand as I pull in. This helped tremendously and now I'm only short about 1/4 rotation instead of 1/2. For my singles I get good enough height that I don't need to pull my arms in much to complete one rotation, but doubles is an entirely different story so I'm pretty much relearning how to pull in. In my freestyle lesson on Wednesday I did both great axel and double sal attempts. I love feeling like I'm getting my money's worth.

Whimpering: Got to practice 15min late today where I proceeded to: Fall on backspin. :evil: Try camel-back camel and fall really hard on my rear. Wuss out of practicing moves even though I skated 1.5 hrs this morning. Haven't done entire moves test in about 10 days. :oops:

[Isk8NYC]

Growling:

My spins are getting better and more consistent. Actually did a lousy impression of a layback and a camel-sit spin. The Aleve I've been taking for my heel and knee (when it rains, it pours) is really helping, but I still struggle to control the right skating leg.

My coach says I'll pass the Freestyle test with no problem. MITF is another story.

Whimpering:

The Footwork clinics and freestyles are improving my always-lousy footwork. So is copying a fellow skater's form! A living example, on ice, beats a tape.

I still haven't mastered those rotten "threes-on-the-line" but I am getting better. Have to master them for that MITF test. (Followed by many curses on whoever thought this move up.)

[jazzpants]

I forgot to add for Thursday... My primary coach is switching me out of Thursday morning sessions for 3 week (so I can sleep in :twisted: ...) and back to Monday nights. But what I didn't know 'til Thursday is that he wants me to come to the lesson in a skating dress!!! 8O Said something about getting used to my test environment and that includes the skating dress, no gloves, no kneepads, etc.

NOOOOO!!! Anything but THAT!!! :oops:

[NCSkater02]

Growling: I did a scratch spin...I did a scratch spin!! (can you hear me singing and see me jumping around?) :D It's the first one I've ever done, and I even got 2 revolutions out of it. Of course, when I picked up speed, I flipped out. My coach said the expression on my face was priceless. And then I couldn't replicate it. Now I just have to figure out what I did and do it again. :roll:

Whimpering: There was whimpering?? I was so happy nothing could bring me down. Well, my feet did ache--I cut back some this week since I was on vacation and my feet always ache when I do that.

[jazzpants]

Growling:

LFO3's are still not fast enough (to suit secondary coach's taste), but I'm moving well enough on those forward power 3's. (Primary coach should be happier though.)
The intro 3's are now at about 70-30 in favor of making it... and it's moving, so that's good enough for the test. (Of course, I still have to push for more speed still.)
Sit spins are nice today. Camels are also okay.
Whimpering:

Can't seemed to get the initial RFI mohawk in fast enough to feel comfortable. I could do them but it's awkward. Amazingly enough, I still managed the rest of the 5 step mohawk w/o problems. It's only when I go into the RFI mohawk from forward stroking that this happens. Go figure!!! :roll:
Still working on my technique problem with the power 3's on my bad LFO3's side. Getting there though.
Scratch spin? What scratch spin??? :roll:
Surprisingly, I'm not nervous this time around! That's b/c I've resigned to the fact that I'm not likely gonna pass this time around but will try my best to do so anyway. (And I'll get to pick on my coaches and tell them that they didn't listen to me when I told them that I won't be ready in August but will be ready in Sept.)

Of course, if I DID pass it in August, then my coaches will pick on me about delaying my test session unnecessarily, but I won't care! :P We'll all be very happy that I got it out of the way. (And I could finally concentrate on Skate SF 2004.) :mrgreen:

[dbny]

I forgot to add for Thursday... My primary coach is switching me out of Thursday morning sessions for 3 week (so I can sleep in :twisted: ...) and back to Monday nights. But what I didn't know 'til Thursday is that he wants me to come to the lesson in a skating dress!!! 8O Said something about getting used to my test environment and that includes the skating dress, no gloves, no kneepads, etc.

NOOOOO!!! Anything but THAT!!! :oops:

It really is a good idea to skate in your test dress a few times, although I only did it once, before testing. Nothing can make me skate without my kneepads though. My knees have taken too many hits in my 57 years to be allowed to take even one more. I took a pair of the same tights I always wear, that had runs in the toes, and cut the top and feet off of them, making two long tubes. I folded these neatly over my kneepads, and that camoflaged them quite nicely for testing. My coach approved.

[skaternum]

But what I didn't know 'til Thursday is that he wants me to come to the lesson in a skating dress!!! 8O Said something about getting used to my test environment and that includes the skating dress, no gloves, no kneepads, etc.

He's absolutely right! If you're not used to it, skating "naked" can really freak you out on test day. But I happen to know (and have photographic evidence, in case any PMs come my way) that you look great in a skating dress. :twisted:

[jazzpants]

He's absolutely right! If you're not used to it, skating "naked" can really freak you out on test day. But I happen to know (and have photographic evidence, in case any PMs come my way) that you look great in a skating dress. :twisted:You *ARE* :twisted: , skaternum!!! DEFINITELY :twisted: !!! LOL!!!! :lol: And I have photographic evidence that you've asked me not to show that I will show if you show those photos too!!! :twisted:

Let's keep our photos "just between us", shall we? ;)

I also have a posed podium shot from back in 2001 (Skate SF again!) at my desk at work. I got so far one person who asked if that person was my kid before doing a double-take to realize "the kid" was me. :lol: My current boss did a double take when he saw the picture. (He knows about the jazzpants thing...) He was smart not to comment, though I was curious about the "eyebrow look."

I don't think it was any different once I warmed up a bit (took longer though.) :lol:

DBNY: Neat trick! Unfortunately for me, my skating coaches WILL know when I'm skating w/the knee pads. They'll see that bump (even with the Skating Safe pads.) My secondary coach now forbids me from wearing knee pads during our lesson. Of course, she always knows I'm a big chicken and will wear them anyway. So now whenever she catches me wearing them, she says "Jazzpants! You better not have those kneepads on..." :lol:

[Michigansk8er]

Started with the toe loop first, Huh? :D

After the back scratches! :D

[NCSkater02]

After the back scratches! :D

Did it feel as good as you thought it would?

[dbny]

DBNY: Neat trick! Unfortunately for me, my skating coaches WILL know when I'm skating w/the knee pads. They'll see that bump (even with the Skating Safe pads.) My secondary coach now forbids me from wearing knee pads during our lesson. Of course, she always knows I'm a big chicken and will wear them anyway. So now whenever she catches me wearing them, she says "Jazzpants! You better not have those kneepads on..." :lol:

It's not a matter of being chicken, but one of health. I'm probably one good splat on the knees away from some sort of surgery. Judges don't care, my coach doesn't care. I actually would love to go without them, but I'd rather avoid any more physical problems, and I'd definitely rather be able to continue skating!

[jazzpants]

It's not a matter of being chicken, but one of health. I'm probably one good splat on the knees away from some sort of surgery. Judges don't care, my coach doesn't care. I actually would love to go without them, but I'd rather avoid any more physical problems, and I'd definitely rather be able to continue skating!In my case, I don't know if the judges care, but my coaches sure care!!! The secondary coach thinks that the knee pads would obstruct my knee bend. (Mind you! I have the SkatingSafe gel knee pads which are extremely thin and very bendable.) She also thinks that if I didn't have the knee pads on that I would bend more and that in itself will prevent the very injury I'm protecting with the pads anyway. The primary coach for some reason would prepare that I NOT to wear them but didn't make a big stink out of it given he remembered the time I was out 3 weeks b/c of a fall on the ice on the knee...

Not imply that you're a chicken at all. If anything, I'm admitting my own demons with skating!!! :lol: :twisted:

[Mrs Redboots]

Um, it's largely a matter of age, I think - those of us who will not see 50 again are less apt to bounce when we fall! Having said that, my knees are relatively okay, and I don't wear pads. Husband used to wear wrist braces at one stage, but seems to have stopped doing so. One skating friend of mine has recently taken to axel knickers, because she is re-learning the axel (in her 60s!), and she says they do have the big advantage of being WARM!

I know another skater who wouldn't dream of practising without wearing knee-pads as, like DB, she is "one good crash away from surgery", but she does take them off to compete in. At least, she does for free skating - you can't tell when she does Interpretive as her costumes tend to be extremely large....

[jazzpants]

Growling:

My first two moves on the test.
The 5 step mohawk (well, minus the very last one since I had to dodge a hockey skater guy who was going TOOOOOO SLOW!!!) :roll:
I survived wearing a skating dress at a public session!!! :P
Whimpering:

The power 3's!!! Still working on the technique problem...
The back crossover to BO edge... too slow for me!!! Didn't help that I had to go slow to get around the public session skaters!!! (Since when do people start coming in to skate in JULY??? WOW!!!)
I have to wear it again next Monday!!! I told Jay that I feel like a dork wearing the dress. He says "You should have said that you don't look like a dork wearing a dress. Now you'll have to wear it again next Monday night!!!" WAAAAAH!!! :roll:

[mskater]

Today I tried a new trick: I fold up a tissue and hold it in my right hand, and pretend I'm going to pass it to my left hand as I pull in.

Hey Vesper:] My coach has me do the same thing on sals and toes except using a skate guard; helps tremendously on achieving proper air-position. But I think you're supposed to actually pass it from one hand to the other, not just pretend to do so :)

[flo]

Hi,
I often show beginning skaters how to use their arms by having them pass a glove from one hand to the other.

[luna_skater]

For yesterday, since I didn't get a chance to post:

Growling: Back outside loops! They have gotten much smaller and have a good amount of flow coming out. Wheeeee!! Other exercises were quite good, too. Test day on Saturday will just be a matter of controlling the nerves. Multi-turns improved a lot when coach had me remember to check harder after the choctaw and before the back inside three.

Whimpering: My loops are good on their own, but yesterday I had trouble doing them together on the pattern. Plan to drill that a lot today. Multiple three-turns and brackets in a row seem to have regressed. I am getting very frustrated with these.