Phase 3... complete!

[Mel On Ice]

Phase 3 of my major skating goals this year have now been met... I passed the adult bronze free tonight!

I was really nervous because, of course, I really wanted this one. I had a little cheat on the loop landing and was not down too low on the sit, but it was in "recognizable sit spin position" and I managed 5+ spins. I did 9 one the one-foot and 4 on the backspin. Everything else was great, I got high marks for connecting moves, spiral sequence and and the rest of the jumps.

First was ISI freestyle 3, then MIF, now this... hooray!

[doubletoe]

Yay!! Congratulations! That's a major milestone!

My sitspin wasn't as low as I wanted when I took my Bronze FS test, either. But then I switched coaches and my new coach gave me a tip that gave me a lower sitspin in just 5 minutes (really!). Here it is:

As you get into your sit position, try to feel the calf of your skating leg against the inner thigh of your free leg. If you can feel that, that means you're skating thigh is now parallel to the ice.

The biggest surprise was finding that it really didn't take much more strength to get lower; the problem was just that I hadn't known how to get lower or how to tell when I was low enough! Try it with a backwards shoot-the-duck first so you know how to feel for the spot when you do the sitspin. Also, the more momentum you can bring into your sitspin (i.e., a strong free leg swing), the less strength you need to get lower. And the lower you are, the easier it is to get a fast, centered spin!

[NickiT]

That's great news Mel. Huge congratulations to you. There's no better feeling than that of passing a skating test!!!

Nicki

[skaternum]

Congratulations! Now you're all set for Adult Nationals. :D

[dbny]

Congratulations!

[Michigansk8er]

Bravo Mel!!!! That is TERRIFIC!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!

[Debbie S]

Congratulations!! Best of luck to you at ANs! :D

[sk8er1964]

Yeah Mel!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D Hello AN! :mrgreen:

[jazzpants]

YAAAAY, MEL!!!

I'm so happy for you! (And SOOOO jealous too!!! I'm still far from being ready for Bronze Moves. *sigh*)

HELLOOOOOOO, ADULTS NATIONAL for you!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[skatergirlsmom]

Congratulations. :D :D I knew you could do it. I hope you feel very proud of yourself. What a great feeling when all that hard work pays off.

I do have one question - Is there a phase 4???

[PattyP]

Congratulations!!! See you in Kansas City :)

[quarkiki2]

YAY MEL!!!!!!

[Mel On Ice]

phase 4 includes freestyle 4 and the flip. Phase 5 is adult Nationals. Phase 6 is the lutz and camel spin.

[flying~camel]

Congrats, Mel!!! :P

Pass some of those good test-passin' vibes over to me - I'm working on my Bronzes moves and free!

[Mel On Ice]

I can do better than that, I will be in GR this weekend... and I'm bringing my skates!

*good karma to flying camel*

[Mrs Redboots]

CONGRATULATIONS!