Rocked or Reeked: Lessons and/or Practice May 25-31, 2003

[Black Sheep]

I've never started one of these threads before! Unfortunately, all I've had skating for the past week or so reeked.

Simply stated, it's been taking SP-Teri a lot longer than I expected to get me my new boots, and my old ones just don't want to carry me anymore (they're as soft as old sneakers). As a result, I've been struggling to keep up with my coach as we put together my new Adult Gold FS program for the year--and my first competition is late next month! I wonder if I'm actually going to make that one....

One thing that rocked, however, is the new dress I got for this program. I got it at a store called Fabrics & Glitz in Buffalo Grove, IL. This store is run by this woman and her daughter who is/was a skater, and they design all sorts of skating dresses (men's and boys' outfits, too). They also sell dresses (and other costumes) off the rack, and they found me this backless number with an almost knee-length skirt--perfect for my Saturday Night Fever music! 8-)

[batikat]

My lesson today totally rocked - quite literally since I learned how to do a proper 'rocker' step. I have a version of this in my 'Rock' n Roll OD programme - a step I invented while bopping on the ice to Oakenfolds 'Dance all night' song, so my coach tried to teach me how to do it properly - not easy but fun!

I had a 2 part lesson today - 15 mins on the public session which was packed as it's school half term and the ice was horrible so my coach moved the second half of the lesson to the lunchtime patch. Clean ice - absolute bliss!

Also 'Rocking' was my run-through on this nice ice of my Rock 'n' Roll OD. It just all fell into place and I kept up with the music and got everything in the right place at the right time. My coach was pleased with it - the speed and the pattern using the whole rink and the other coach on the ice at the time was moved to comment that I 'skated brilliant' (he's Russian) - who cares that he is always joking around, it was still nice to hear!:P

I am not a very technically accomplished skater but just occasionally there are times like today when everything just seems to flow so well and I fall in love with the sport all over again!!:D :D :D

[Figureskates]

Let just say neutral.

Since my rink is closed for the summer, I had to go to the next town where the rink is very, very cold and the ice is very very hard. We have had rain for about a week so the moisture in the rink has resulted in a lovely fog. Obviously their dehumidifier was not working since it was raining in spots as well. Usually it is not like this at this rink so I figure they were having equipment problems.

I spent the time just stroking since the ice was so hard I could not get a decent edge and I really didn't feel like landing on my kiester.

Summer lessons resume next week...can't wait since I want to get in shape for skate camp at Lake Placid in August.

[Black Sheep]

I just found out from Mr. George Spiteri himself that my new boots were mailed two weeks ago--and they haven't shown up yet! I asked them to be mailed to my work address so that somebody would be there to sign for them. I should be breaking them in right now, but NOOOOOO!!!!! :evil:

Seems this is the end of my skating career as I know it. I was supposed to skate at the Rockford Open next month but, given the old sneakers I've got for boots right now (I have to stop and retie them every ten minutes) and the coach I just can't seem to keep up with, I'm gonna have to scratch that one. There's 95 bucks I'll never see again. :roll:

Why does this always happen to me? My most important packages always get lost. :cry:

[Figureskates]

Black Sheep, I will keep good thoughts on this one.

Can they trace it?

[Black Sheep]

George just called. The package is in Davenport, IA, and should be at my workplace tomorrow! :D

Sorry for losing my cool earlier--I was scared! 8O I knew you people would understand. ;)

Still, I hope everybody will keep good thoughts for me--I sure could use 'em. Thanks! 8-)

[Hester Prynn]

Ok, forgive my excited-ness!!
I just got back last night from seeing my coaches in NY that I haven't seen in over a year and a half. It was SOOO exciting and was GREAT to work with my old coaches again.

Rocked-

Seeing old coaches again really perked me up which had a positive result on my skating. Dbl axl was much straighter in the air and is actually close to landed. If I could only get my blasted left foot up, I'd quit 2-footing it. Bad habit. 3-sal is still short of rotation but improving...slowly. Nice to hear some positive encouragment from people I truely respect and admire. Was considering making this my last season... and not do regionals. But coaches believe I still have alot of potential and that I'm just a head case. Either way, it's nice to know they still believe in me when even I don't most of the time.

Reemed-

First jump I did infront of old coach, fell on hip and crashed into the boards. Got some bruises and a little sore... but I survived. I think my pride and ego were hurt more than anything. Was a 2-lz that just went all wrong. Spins went bye bye when it came time to show them to coach. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! I think I was nervous. Either way, it really chapped my heiny.

The goods definately out-weighed the bad... and it was great to "go home".. can't wait to move back in 3 weeks.

Black Sheep, hope you get those skates in... I'm crossing my fingers and toes for ya. Speaking of which I have to order my Harlicks. Here comes 12 weeks of hell and $1200 out the window for customs.

Why couldn't I have stuck with soccer and softball??

*hester*

[garyc254]

Originally posted by Black Sheep
Still, I hope everybody will keep good thoughts for me--I sure could use 'em. Thanks! 8-)

Good vibes coming your way!!!! :D :D :D

From experience with my S.P. Teri's, break in takes a while. Plan on wearing them around the house as well as the rink.

[garyc254]

ROCKED:

Took off from work early to go to a freestyle session and take my Delta test. I passed. It wasn't beautiful, but it was enough. Why is it that the elements you are most comfortable with any other time fall apart at testing time. My lousy inside 3's looked good. My normally good forward edges, stank. Go figure.

So, consequently, I can join my girlfriend's synchro team next week.

This will probably be the last test I take. Not that I don't want or plan on learning new elements, but I'm not a testing type person. I do it all for fun.

At this session, two of the younger (18 - 20) coaches and a girl from Miami's Senior Synchro team were practicing/playing. I think they are at FreeStyle 47 or something close. :lol:

They wore me out just watching them skate. I don't think I would have had that type of power and stamina if I had skated at their age. It was beautiful to watch.

[tidesong]

Rocked:

Figured out something new about the layback( with my coach :P )... if i enter it, i can't do it like the scratch spin with the free leg held in front.... i lose momentum when i let my leg bent back, or i get the wierd awful knee bent position... so i have to enter with my free leg to the side instead...

I think my jump landings barely hurt anymore... its the take offs that are hurting a bit(those involving the right leg for me), and a little more than a bit for the loop. So, maybe next week the take offs will be fine... surprisingly, my lutzes were better than my flips... :P even if i flutz the lutz... so wierd. And if the take offs are fine next week and it feels good i might try an axel.... hmmmm

since i might be back doing axels, i did alot of waltz jumps... i got the feeling right only on two waltz jumps... arrgh got alot to catch up with.

Reemed:
I guess since my ankle is improving, i really don't have much to complain about :)

[singerskates]

Originally posted by Hester Prynn


Why couldn't I have stuck with soccer and softball??

*hester*

Because you and your body are addicted to skating, silly! Nothing you can do about it. It's just providence.

B

[Black Sheep]

They came to my office today. However, I can't get 'em mounted 'til Saturday morning, 'cuz I'm performing in an exhibition Friday night. 8-)

[CanAmSk8ter]

Rocked: Um... well.... yeah. Something must have rocked this week. Let me think. Well, I've started working on the Argentine Tango again, and the twizzle is much better than it was. Silver Tango is getting better too. I should get through my ISI Dance 6 in plenty of time for Adult CHAMPS in September. I'm not crazy about ISI, but it's nice that they consider me an adult even though the USFSA won't for another three years. I don't think it'll be long before my Tango is ready for ISI testing either, and I have to do the Paso in Lake Placid this summer, so once I've done some partnering I can knock that one off too. Then to finish Dance 7 I finally get to do a free dance! My coach swears free dance is not his forte, but I've talked him into it . (I had to promise that when I get to Dance 10 and have to do a four-minute FD I'll find another male coach to do it with). The best part is, I get to choreograph it myself! So I'm starting to look for music. The FD for Dance 7 has to be 2 to 3 minutes long and contain at least three different rhythms. I think that's stupid- it's going to be all choppy! How do you develop any kind of theme or idea when the music changes every sixty seconds?

Reeked: Basically everything else. I've got an angry, red, swollen ankle bone and haven't been able to do much. After I attempted to skate this morning, I took one of my silicone Bungas and cut a hole in the middle to take some of the pressure off the bone, and that helped a little. Luckily I can still get through the Rocker Foxtrot, because I'm testing it again on the fifteenth. I was supposed to do my American Waltz that day too, but I don't think that's going to happen. My coach is away this week, so to my relief he hasn't been around to witness all this.

[CanAmSk8ter]

I almost forgot, I picked up two new students this week- another adult and a little person! I start with my new adult on Saturday, and I started with my little one yesterday. She decided at the last minute she wants to do our rink's ISI competition next week, so we started working on her program to "The Mickey Mouse Club March". I couldn't believe how quickly she picked it up. I think in a little over fifteen minutes we got about forty seconds of the program done. Of course, it's only fifty-two seconds long, so we're almost done!

[Terri C]

Rocked:
The last week or so, I've hit my nemisis jump (loop) in the program!



Reeked:
1. Our rink will be taken over by a new owner next week. The June freestyle schedule has come out and after mid- June , the freestyle sessions will be hourly from 6:30am- 2:30 pm!
This elimates me from a decent practice schedule during the summer!
Next week though, there will be a"Figure Skating Town Meeting "with the new owner to discuss concerns, like this as well as the new freestyle rate of $12 a hour-(we're currently at $8/ hour).

2.During lesson, with coach, was told to get my free leg higher on my spiral. Went to do just that and tripped on the toe pick, and imitated a Zamboni. It knocked the wind out of me to the point that I couldn't talk for several seconds to my coach or choreographer to tell them that I didn't hit my head!
But I did a semi- clean long after the fall!:D

[dbny]

Way to go, Gary! And to think that only a week ago you were worried about passing gamma :lol:

Rocked
Back cross strokes are really fun now. I have power and maintain speed. I love these things!

Started on slaloms to learn power pulls last week, and today coach told me to start trying on one foot at the boards. My B are actually better than the F. I like these too, but it's going to take a bit more practice before I can one foot them.

B crossovers to BO edge (prelim MIF) is improving. It's very hard for me to get freeleg to go back right away for the BO edge, as that is something that was never done on roller skates.

One foot spin from wind up is getting there, thanks to an adult skater friend who majored in physics. I mentioned the problem of having too much momentum going into the spin, and he said that's why you have to rise up, to redirect the momentum. Even though my coach has told me many time to rise up, I never realized what it would do in terms of momentum, and didn't give it enough priority in my practice.

Reeked
I had no strength today at all. My legs felt like lead until the last half hour on the ice (of 1 1/2). I've possibly been doing too much Nordic Trac with too little sleep.

I was so out of control on power threes that I practically cartwheeled and took a good splat. I didn't get the nerve to try them again today either. That happened right before my lesson, of course, and spooked me enough that I didn't even attempt the FI threes.

[Mme.PairChica]

Today ROCKED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOT WOOT FOR ME:lol: :lol: :lol: :!: :!:

[TashaKat]

Passed Level 10 UKskate (or whatever it's called now) .... they even gave me a certificate! LOL ....... have to say, if I'd have failed I would be incredibly depressed by now!

Anyway ..... skate was ok, still feel a bit like a slug and still haven't got the AOSS bug back yet :( I enjoy it when I'm there but don't have the motivation to get up in the morning to go to patch.

The lesson was quite good, my old dance coach took us so was particularly picky on the things that I was doing (which is good). I'm going to have to ask him for lessons again and just take it slowly, wish Madam would teach me as well though :cry:

Was asked to join a Synchro team but it's on one of my dressage nights and too far away but it's nice to be asked.

I wish now that I'd carried on skating with my arm in plaster BUT, logically, if I'd have damaged it further I would have been out of work which wouldn't have helped me any!

Good luck and best wishes to everyone


L xx

[sk8er1964]

Originally posted by TashaKat
Passed Level 10 UKskate (or whatever it's called now) .... they even gave me a certificate! LOL ....... have to say, if I'd have failed I would be incredibly depressed by now!

Anyway ..... skate was ok, still feel a bit like a slug and still haven't got the AOSS bug back yet :( I enjoy it when I'm there but don't have the motivation to get up in the morning to go to patch.

Congrats on passing your test! :D :D :D

I've got a question for you - Mrs. Redboots mentions "patch" and you do here, too. What is patch in the UK? In the olden days here in the States (at least in my area) patch was ice reserved for figures practice. Just curious. :)

[TashaKat]

Originally posted by sk8er1964
Congrats on passing your test! :D :D :D

I've got a question for you - Mrs. Redboots mentions "patch" and you do here, too. What is patch in the UK? In the olden days here in the States (at least in my area) patch was ice reserved for figures practice. Just curious. :)

Hi :)

'Patch' does derive from the old figure 'patches' but (in the UK) we now tend to call any ice used for figure skaters where the general public aren't allowed 'Patch' ice. Hope that's clear ......

Thanks for the congrats but, just to explain my remark AFTER I say that I've passed ....... I have actually passed tests (much) higher than that but broke my wrist last August and have had confidence (not fear but just hating coming back not being the same standard) problems so enrolled in the Adult Courses to try and boost my confidence a bit!

All the best

L x

[garyc254]

Originally posted by TashaKat
I have actually passed tests (much) higher than that but broke my wrist last August and have had confidence (not fear but just hating coming back not being the same standard) problems so enrolled in the Adult Courses to try and boost my confidence a bit!

Then congratulations are still and especially in order!!!

Way to go, TashaKat!!!! :D :D :D

[quarkiki2]

Way to go Gary and TashaKat!!! You guys both ROCK!!!

Got you PM, Gary, earliest I could test would be June 19th or so. May not have too much time to practice between now and then.

Still struggling with FI3s -- I'm doing a LFI into a backspin on the left side instead of the 3 turn. Which means I'm spinning the "wrong" way and not doing the 3. Sigh.... I'll probably learn the 3 and then WICH I coul do the backspin, LOL!

ps. I've been invited to be on our synchro team, too. If I can scrape up the cash I may do it!

[garyc254]

Originally posted by quarkiki2
ps. I've been invited to be on our synchro team, too.

VERY COOL!!!! Maybe we'll end up competing against each other.

[sk8er1964]

Rocked:

Had one of those lessons yesterday that was perfect. Didn't want it to end. Coach was quite happy with my progress on the Intermediate MIF's, especially my crossovers. (Although he still says I need more knee bend and more extension!) Finally my crossovers are beginning to look like they should :D.

We played with a new spin combination - camel - change camel - back sit - hop - forward sit. Also learned a new spin (backspin with your left leg behind your right - I'm sure it has a name but I don't know it).

Reeked:

Except for the fact that I'm still not allowed to jump (for another 11 days), nothing was bad.

[skaternum]

Originally posted by sk8er1964
Also learned a new spin (backspin with your left leg behind your right - I'm sure it has a name but I don't know it).

That sounds like a cross foot spin. Those suckers are hard. Way cool!

[dbny]

Originally posted by sk8er1964
Also learned a new spin (backspin with your left leg behind your right - I'm sure it has a name but I don't know it).

I think it might be called a corkscrew.

[sk8er1964]

Originally posted by dbny
I think it might be called a corkscrew.

You know, I think that sounds right. Isn't a cross-foot more like a two-foot spin with your feet crossed? I've tried that one too, and it is nearly impossible!

[flo]

Congrats to Gary and Tashacat! Sounds like all are doing well. I have entered the Chesapeake open, so -more practice!
Take care

[NickiT]

Originally posted by TashaKat
Passed Level 10 UKskate (or whatever it's called now) .... they even gave me a certificate! LOL ....... have to say, if I'd have failed I would be incredibly depressed by now!

Congrats for that Lynne!

I wish now that I'd carried on skating with my arm in plaster BUT, logically, if I'd have damaged it further I would have been out of work which wouldn't have helped me any!

Nope, you did the right thing by not skating and letting your wrist heal without the risk of doing further damage. I appreciate your frustrations and your lack of confidence, but you WILL get back to your former self. You've been there before and you will be there again.

If it's any consolation, breaking my ankle on the ice has made a huge difference to my skating. I have made so much progress since getting back on. I had to. I had this need to prove to everyone who said I'd never skate again, that they were wrong. I can't deny that I am terrified of doing the same thing again, but it hasn't happened (yet - and hopefully it won't). You will be fine Lynne.

Nicki

[TreSk8sAZ]

Rocked: Um... I actually spent the entire amount of time I was supposed to on stroking, mainly because I've been off ice for 2+ weeks and it just felt wrong. My ankle brace finally came off today as the doc said my ankle was healed enough! YAY! My dances simply were great, and started learning another couple

Reeked: Pretty darn much everything else. Couldn't even try spins because my ankle felt so flimsy and I was way to hard onto my BI edge. Jumps were off and I was too scared to try anything above a toe loop as I could barely do those. My coach was on the ice with another student (luckily I didn't have a lesson today) and after doing a few jumps I looked up and she was just shaking her head at me, all disappointed. Oops! Also was the biggest klutz in the world today. My skates and body just did not want to cooperate. Did some wonderfully hard and large falls doing the simplest things... like, skating forward :oops:

[sk8er1964]

Originally posted by TreSk8sAZ
Did some wonderfully hard and large falls doing the simplest things... like, skating forward :oops:

Those are the ones that always hurt the most :roll: . Got a bruise the size of a coconut one day falling sideways off of a spiral, of all things :oops: .

[jenlyon60]

Rocked: EW right after warm-up was quite good. Foxtrot wasn't that bad.

Reeked: Oh there's a long list here...

* My right boot is starting to die ... especially on the inside. Doesn't look like dead boot, but definitely feeling like it. Left one isn't too far behind. I knew they were starting to break down, but in the past week, I've really started to notice it. Was trying to make it through the summer...

* Patellar tendonitis to the point that it hurts like the devil to do any sort of skid stop, be it 1-foot or T-stop with right foot in back. Guess I'll have to spend some time practicing left foot 1-foot stops this week. Nothing like something like this the week before competition.

* My right calf/back of the knee is extremely painful, like a permanent post-exercise ache. And I can't seem to stretch it out. Don't know what I did to make those muscles sore.

That's about all...

[Debbie S]

Originally posted by jenlyon60


* My right calf/back of the knee is extremely painful, like a permanent post-exercise ache. And I can't seem to stretch it out. Don't know what I did to make those muscles sore.

That's about all...

You may want to have that checked out. Knee injuries (or possible ones) are definitely not something to take lightly.

Rocked: Not much to report. Maybe I'll have more positive news after I practice tomorrow. I got my blades sharpened and was able to do some wonderful edges in warm-up before my group lesson. Of course, I couldn't spin or stop. Sigh.

Reeked: Still no sign of a real loop jump. Flip is still not really there. Back spin has gone on vacation.

And my tech mistakes are probably only part of the problem. My too-narrow boots are really starting to hurt (maybe b/c the padding is starting to go, I don't know). Doing loop jumps was downright painful. And my uneven soles/blades are not helping matters. My new boots should be in the store in a week or 2.

[tidesong]

rocked:
Had a meeting at the rink, so i decided to skate too :P didn't want to waste all that travelling time just for a meeting.

Not much difference in the ankle. Back camel is not painful anymore, can manage a few rounds. Back sit still can't go too low... my ankle seems to get stuck if i go too low... hmmm

Coach says i should try to lay back more in my layback :P And he took a look at my toeloop even though i didn't have a lesson today... maybe i'll land my doubletoeloop when i start on my doubles... hmmm the singles feel so good now :)

Reeked:
Ice was terrible... so were my inside double 3 turns. and i still can't get how to gain speed with the back outside edges i know i am supposed to push...just doesn't work. ( not sure what they called, but just LBO step RBO step LBO...)

[jazzpants]

First things:

Congrats to Gary and TashaKat for passing their respective test. I'm sure your gf's happy that you're finally gonna be a Sapphire!!! I know Mel On Ice sure is!!! :P

jenlyon60: re: "My right calf/back of the knee is extremely painful" Get your butt off the ice and go to a doctor! That sounds like a muscle sprain at the very least. (Been there! Done that!!! Thankfully the doctor confirmed that it was JUST a muscle sprain and nothing else... I was back on the ice again after a couple of weeks.)

Rocked: Power 3's better today!!! Hated mine on Thursday though! Couldn't even do LFO3's again!!! Had to go back to doing alt FO3's to get my power 3's back! I think it's a fluke...but TODAY my FI3 entry to the backspin is finally coming!!! :D :D :D I could feel more on the BO edge and I'm staying on it more now...AWAY from the wall!!! WOWZA!!! 8O But no celebrating 'til I could consistently bring in the free leg to cross on the backspin!!! My coach on Thursday is REALLY UPSET that I'm SOOOO CLOSE to getting it!!! My coach is also frustrated b/c in the same lesson I did them JUST FINE when I'm near the wall.Reeked: No loop or flip!!! Sit spins!!! Toe loops... almost killed myself out there doing a couple of them in fact.:evil:

[TashaKat]

You will be fine Lynne.

Nicki

Thanks Nicki, and everyone else who's given their good wishes. I've decided to do another set of adult courses and see where I go from there!

Hope that everyone is well.

Best wishes

L x

[MissIndigo]

Reeked:

My overall physical well-being today--I woke up nauseated and heaving!!! I can't figure for the life of me what triggered it. But I went skating anyway after I saw I could hold a light breakfast and light lunch. As a result though, I limited myself in my lesson today, and didn't take as long as I normally do.


Rocked:

Camel spins. They never leave. I'm getting ever closer to getting the back camel now (but it's on my bad leg...), so I can't laugh out loud at that one anymore. If I get something that looks like a camel-change-camel this year, or a flying camel, I will be doing the happy dance all over everywhere!

Why can't I have this luck with a sit spin??? http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/otn/confused/shrug03.gif

[Mrs Redboots]

Well, the Mountain Cup totally rocked. Someone said I did, too, which was nice of them. We had a fantastic time; the camp was fun, the competition was fun, we made lots of new friends* and met plenty of old ones; my parents had a fantastic time; and, best of all, we brought back a shedload of medals! Two of the British dancers even scored perfect 6s all across the board, as did two of the Americans.

On a personal level, Robert got Bronze in the solo pre-Bronze compulsories, which he was pleased about (everybody said he should have got Silver, but it was not to be). As a couple, we were 4th and last in the pre-Bronze category, but when you look at the marks, it was marginal - if we had beaten the same couple in two of the dances, instead of two different couples, that might have got us Bronze. As it is, well.... I was annoyed that Robert messed up our timing on the Swing Dance when he did it so very well solo, but my own is nothing to write home about. On the video, I was annoyed to see that my head was down (I'm round-shouldered, which doesn't help), and that we were not very together in several places. BUT one of my Fiesta Tango (how I loathe that dance!) Mohawks was good, and not scraped, and there were several places I was pleased with.

And I won Gold for my Interpretive programme!

*including a pre-Bronze skater from Jazzpants' club. He says he doesn't know her, but does know her coach, so I hope the latter will introduce them, and make sure that if J has a job by then and can afford it, she jolly well comes over to the competition! If this lad could do it, so could she.