Tomorrow is back to school, are we doing our homework like good kids or goofing off and forgetting our moves?

In School - finally getting somewhere on spins, after some good advice from summer coach. Even got 2 1/2 revs on a backspin for nearly the first time.

Unlearned - wonky jump takeoffs and landings today, it just wouldn't come together

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It's all about the dress!

In School:
Well, I really haven't had any time to practice, but have been on the ice teaching a lot. When I got a little spare time on a public session Saturday, I did a few FO figures, and was very surprised to find my push off greatly improved, including gathering myself to the back of the blade much faster than usual. I've also found that I don't need to warm up very much to begin doing FO and FI three turns. Finally, I'm teaching an adult skater who wants to do the adult track and is working on Pre-Bronze moves, so on Sun I showed her the waltz-8 and the three turn pattern without any prep, and they weren't half bad (thank goodness - how embarrassing it would have been if I couldn't pull them off in front of a student!) So, in sum, my skills have not progressed in number, but in quality and ease. I'll take it!

Unlearned:
I really, really need to get back to practicing!

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In school (Off topic, but related to competing ): Did my first agility trial with the border collie I got right before ANs in 07 (in school only trial and I've only been in that school for about 10 weeks). Got a 1st and a qualifying run in the tunnel (only) event, a 3rd (didn't qualify, though), in the jump (only) event, and a second in the regular event (with all the cool stuff you see on Animal Planet) (my husband got first in the regular event with our Australian Sheperd but has his issues with the other three runs). I used the opportunity to work on staying in the moment and only focusing on what I am doing, so in a way skating related...

Unlearned: I had no idea what a "chance event' was and did really bad in that event. I would liken it to the surprise event in ISI.

It was a great way to spend a Labor Day when it's 85 and sunny, not too humid and breezy here in Chicagoland...

In School: I competed at Peach Classic this weekend and attempted and landed a flip jump in my program for the very first time!!!!!! Also, spins have been very difficult for me, but they worked beautifully this weekend, and 3 different coaches (2 of them I have never even met before this weekend) came up to me and complimented me sincerely on my spins. Especially my change foot, I had at least 5 revs on the back spin, and 4 on the forward spin. I LOVE Peach Classic, this is my second year and I always skate well there.

Unlearned: Not much, I'm still on cloud 9 from Peach.

In School:

Took a road trip today to finally meet e-skater and her fellow skaters!!! I was at the coffee club session of a rink in "The Sticks" (aka Roseville, CA... about 30 minutes from Sacra-"tomato")

Very VERY nice to finally meet THE ONE AND ONLY E-SKATER!!!

Unlearned:
I feel like all the stuff I was doing was definitely not back from the long Labor Day weekend yet! I barely landed my flip. I managed to only land ONE clean lutz BARELY in front of e-skater (and it was right after I said "I'm probably not gonna land this clean anyway...." ) Everything else was like "meh..."

And you know I'm gonna complain about this... my sympathy goes to e-skater for practicing on Rink 2's VERY VERY HARD ice!!! Worst part is that she says "Wait 'til you try the ice at around Wintertime!!!" (I assured her I'm NOT coming up there around winter time.)

In School:
I found out one of my fellow competitors at the upcoming ISI Adult Champs is at this rink. (And by fellow competitor, I mean the same exact one event I'm entered in!!! What luck!!! ) I saw her going thru her run thru of her program. For someone who hasn't done her program in a while, she did a reasonable job...

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Unlearned: Consistency on camelspins still is not up to scratch, but its getting better - anybody else struggle with this?

In School: Did some amazing outside edge hydroblades this morning - it was so low that when I tilted my head slightly I got ice in my hair!!

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Skate Free

Back to School: Yes, our lot go back today and/or tomorrow, too, and you could tell by who was there at what time!

Good practice; right now we need to get everything consistent and looking good.

Unlearned: No lessons as the coaches (whose sons are home-schooled) are on holiday this week and next. I did a solo Swing Dance, and we will kindly draw a veil over it. Mind you, it was better than last time I tried soloing it about ten years ago.... but not good, and I was not pleased to discover that where Husband said I was mis-stepping - I was mis-stepping!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

It was so gracious of you to allow him to be right -- for once.

In School: I am going to try to hit the ice either today or Thursday...for the first time since March!!!!!

I'm sure everything will have been UNLEARNED!!!!

ps-I'm a little scared.....ok LOTS!!! I'm sure I will be ok. Say a prayer to the skating powers that I make out fine!

I'll post when I get back!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

GOOD LUCK
Skate@Delaware!

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In School:
Rink that was under renovations all summer reopened yesterday!! I skated for a hour yesterday and for two hours today.
Got my free foot in front on the forward scratch part on the back to forward scratch combo I've been working on all summer. It truly felt like a forward scratch on that part.

Unlearned:
Unfortunately, while the renovated rink is longer and a bit wider, but still not regulation size. It's also freezing with the new ceiling and insulation in. Need to remember to bring jacket when I skate there on Thursday.
Also, sound system has yet to be installed and working.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

What a great weekend! Australian Shepherds and border collies are the best!! (and that's coming from a cat person, LOL!)

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

In School
-Today STARTED out great. I landed huge doubles through double lutz and got some really nice comments. One person said that I had a really nice delay on my 2loop, and another responded, "She has a nice delay on ALL of her jumps." When I landed my 2lutz, my friend looked at me and went "I'm jealous." But then she landed one

Unlearned
-Things went downhill from there. I was working on 1lz+2lo. I shouldn't have tried the 2loop on one particular attempt, but silly me, I did anyways. My blade flew out from underneath me and I landed straight on my left hip. Luckily it wasn't the one I had surgery on, but since that once hasn't been fixed, it still dislocates. It took me a minute or so, but I finally got up. I skated around a bit, but it was pretty sore. I felt it pop, but I also landed on the muscle, which gave me a dead leg. 10 mins later or so, I went to do a program run-through. In the first like 15 seconds of my program, I do RBI 3, LFI3, cross, RBI 3 etc (like in the novice moves). I caught an edge and slammed down on the exact same hip. After that fall I got off. I tried to get back on and do moves later, but it wasn't happening.

-Fast forward a few hours, my puppers is being naughty. When she gets super excited/hyper, she nips at legs. I was running to grab a toy to put in her mouth and slammed my foot into the couch. The fourth toe on my right foot took most of the impact. I broke that toe pretty badly a few years ago, and I'm sure it's broken again. At first I was worried that I'd broken my foot/ankle as those were in excruciating pain too, but now it's just the toe. So I currently have an ice pack shoved down my pants and my foot in a bucket of ice

I just hope my hip isn't seriously damaged. I think it's just a really nasty bone/muscle bruise. I'm supposed to compete in less than two weeks and don't want to have to drop out. I can skate with a broken toe, but not with my hip the way it is. Send me healing thoughts please!

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Youtube Videos

Ah, but the plot thickens - when I was in the shower this morning I realised that yes, I was stepping at the wrong angle - but that must mean the whole of that section of the dance was at the wrong angle. So we ran through it this morning and corrected that. We don't need the Swing Dance just now, so aren't really working it, but it's always good to stay in practice.

Back to school:
Ran through everything we need for the forthcoming competition, and nothing felt horrible. Still plenty of room for improvement, but most things fine. Had fun watching our senior couple playing!

Totally unlearned:
Canasta Tango - first edge a bit poo unless I go at such a steep curve I'm well over the centre line. Husband says it's me, but that's the curve he's pushed me on to.

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Back to School:

Skated at 5:45 today. And on my own, I discovered why I was having such a hard time not two footing my swing roll transistions. I was not finishing the edge! Well duh, if you are still curving one way and you want to suddenly step and curve another way, you are not going to be stable....once I finished the edge, it was a piece of cake to step on the next edge, one foot. YAY for me!

Worked a little on inside 3 turns....they are still pretty much unlearned, but we are making progress.

Watched a girl do the Willow Waltz. I could fake that dance pretty easily I think. Easier than the Fiesta Tango. (note we are talking about faking it- not dancing it properly)

j

First day back after a 3 week break (between Summer School and fall session).

In School: ALL THE KIDS! I had the rink to myself for an hour and a beautiful fresh flood Wasn't as rusty as I feared Back edges were SMOKIN' !! (Particularly since I didn't have to watch behind me.) Everything was as good (or bad) as I left it

Unlearned: Nothing that I can think of.

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

OK, for the next two weeks, DON'T TRY ANYTHING THAT YOU AREN'T 100% SURE YOU CAN DO SAFELY!! As a matter of fact, don't even practice any jump or jump combination that isn't in your program (and if the 1Lz+2Lo is in your program, take it out, LOL!). You are not being very good about your 2008 goal of staying injury-free. (where's a finger wag emoticon when we need one?!)

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

Haha, but I think I already failed at the injury-free goal when I had my second leg surgery. Plus, if I don't let myself try anything I'm not positive I can't do safely, I shoudn't even step on the ice lol. My last bad fall was on forward crossovers But I understand what you're saying. I'll be careful And I'll wear my hip/butt pads.

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Youtube Videos

Good girl. Yeah, you have a point about the forward crossovers. . .

Unlearned
No skating for a whole week! Now that our rink's big competition is over, they are re-making the ice so they are closed until Friday.

In School
No skating for a whole week! Is this what life is like for "normal" people? I can actually sleep until 7:30am every morning and after work I actually have enough energy to go grocery shopping, go home and *make dinner*?! Who knew evenings could be so looong! I don't have to go to bed until 11:00 or 12:00. This is like being on vacation!

Unlearned
Getting up at 5:00am Friday morning for my jump lesson after a whole week of going to bed and getting up late is going to be paaaaainful!

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

Well, today got right down to working on Paso. I need to practice this one a LOT, to get it comfortably up to speed. But he helped me a lot w/ the mohawk & the chasses are better too. So, some progress, which is good.

Coach's fiance was there this morning....I had brought him a cup of coffee as a thank you for my Killian. She said, "Oh no! You're spoiling him!" I said, "No---I'm bribing him!" Which is a very different thing.

Unlearned:
Tried to show a student the standard spiral stretches yesterday, and found myself in serious pain from putting my leg up on the wall. Now, I've lost flexibility in the past from lack of stretching, but it has never been this bad. I almost couldn't do the stretches at all. Went home and put my dining room table to use stretching. It's just the right height for me in my shoes.

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LOL! Not according to my neighbors!!

YOU TOO!?!?!

Yes, Yerba Buena is closed too for rink maintanance! Our skating clubs' other rink is closed for close to two months for rink maintanance too!!! But I couldn't resist having lunch near the YB rink and walking by to see that my rink is already rebuilding the ice and has repainted the hockey lines!!! (And our wonderful rink manager driving the Zam around in circles.)

In School:
Two of my coaches' weekly schedule is settled and I expect my primary coach to be settled too. I've been with him for a long time so I expect that if he wants to keep me as his students that he will do what he needs to do to keep me. (I'm rearranging my lessons to accommodate for my new job that I'm starting next Monday.)

I slept 'til 8am... and this morning 'til 9am!!! (And yes, I did go to bed early last night (10:30pm) and STILL overslept!!! )

Unlearned:
This adjusting my sleeping schedule for my new job so I can skate mornings is gonna be HELL... (Thank goodness the new work place has a decent on-site gym and is 10 minutes away from one of the branches of my gym and I already have "all network gym membership privileges.")

Personally, I miss my home rink already!!! I'm going thru withdrawals already. (Darn AOSS!!! )

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

In School: Skated "on the road" over the labor day weekend. On saturday I skated at Vacaville on my way to Lake Tahoe. On monday on my way back I skated at the South Lake Tahoe rink. I really like that rink. The ice is nice and there were only a few people there. It also has a nice picture window on one side that overlooks a forest. I managed a couple good toe loops.

Unlearned: My axel is still on vacation. It took 7 HOURS to get home from Tahoe . My spins, which have been good lately, were awol that weekend. A week ago thursday I had one of my scariest fall ever. I waxeled on a takeoff and went over backwards On reflection I think I might have caught an edge judging by the way my blade shot out from under me.

In school: I have to agree! Finally - daytime publics as daytime publics were meant to be skated. Three people on the ice for over half the session and that included me (this was on Tuesday afternoon b/f I went to work). And our coffee club time is back to an hour and a half instead of just 45 minutes!

I too have found some smoking back edges - AND MY RI3 and (most of my) RO3!!! YAY!!! My LO3 is coming along (please don't ask about the LI3...).

Landed some stable waltz jumps - now if I can just clean them up (I'm very anxious to do this). I want a nice big one and I know this will come with time.

Two foot spins remain the same, which frustrates me b/c my coach wants to start one footers soon and I can't get a two foot that I'm happy with. It's very frustrating. But I think I've found part of the problem...

Unlearned: how to recognize when my blades are dull - had a really interesting experience with a skid that I don't particularly care to discuss. Afterwards I looked at the bottoms of my blades and ran a finger down the edge. I've gotten better cuts from paper. Off to the sharpeners!