I didn't skate today, but went to the Fair to see the off-ice show...(and ate some yummy food-it was cheat meal time).

Saw one of the coaches and found out she will be heading up to Wollman Rink to work up there (asst. skating director)...I wish her well and we will miss her!

The show was very nice! It still amazes me how one can jump and spin on that stuff (and I used to do it as well...and I'm so amazed LOL)! Once I figure out how, I'll transfer figures from my "new" hand-me-down digital camera onto the computer and you guys can see (took some video which I know will be cr*ppy quality but eh, what can I say?)....

Less than one month before ice!!!!!

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

running: Had a fun lesson today along with (almost 18 yr old) daughter. She is a level 5 free skater (compared to my lowly level 2) but has only taken up to level 3 dance so far (after just a few hours of dance lessons). I've been dancing for years although I've only tested to level 2.

We both wanted to work on level 4 dances (Swing and Fiesta) so decided to share first part of lesson. We started with Swing dance and I was pleased to see that I wasn't as far off her in power as I thought I'd be. Also some bits I did better and some bits she did better so it wasn't all a case of me playing catch up - though it was her first lesson on the dance and I've had lessons on it before though not for a while.

scratchy: Second half of lesson she was supposed to start her free dance but couldnt' get her music to play though it was fine in the car after so most likely problems with rink player again.

running: Instead we both worked on the Fiesta Tango and I think I can actually remember the steps now. I like these dances - a lot more interesting than the lower level ones.

I like both the level 4 dances, although when I'm out of practice, I find the Fiesta rather terrifying. My worst thing is the step to forward in the Swing Dance, though.

As for me, Running: Really beginning to adjust to my new blades now. Still have one or two issues going backwards, but coach is pleased. So am I!

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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!

Gosh to me the step to forwards in the Swing is easy peasy compared to the step forwards in the Fiesta Tango - that one seems really unnatural, maybe because it turns to the right. Maybe it's because I find it easier to keep the left shoulder back than the right one.

Ok so yesterday I had an overall really good session. I won't get into specific details of everything I worked on, but for one....

My axel is SO CLOSE, and my problems with this jump are clearly in my head and due to a lack of aggression. It's consistently up (with vast improvements to the take-off in the past few months), fully rotated, enough height to land it cleanly, I just put the toe of the free foot down on the landing every single darn time, probably because I don't like falling.

I have no reserves about doing totally dumb, potentially reckless stuff at roller derby (aside from the skating stuff--figure skating jumps, jumping over things, etc). I think it's because I wear safety equipment. So I got the brilliant idea of wearing my derby knee pads and elbow pads (left the helmet, wrist and mouth guards in the car) on the ice to work on axels. I figured it would possibly channel some of the fearless version of me who shows up to derby, or at the very least take away strange fears of getting hurt. For the record, these aren't just any knee pads, they're $60-70 thick, hard exterior serious knee pads.

Well...it sort of worked. Yesterday I got to where I was landing on one foot and falling versus two footing. It's a start.

Really the knee and elbow pads are quite pointless since the falls were on my butt, eventually I took the elbow pads off, but if it helps get over the mental issues on this jump, for the time being, so be it.

My coach wasn't around yesterday and I haven't seen him in a few weeks, so I'm looking forward approaching him with this goofy idea at my lesson tomorrow.

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2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything

Well, true. And it's really hard not to wide-step (don't forget it's an inside edge to an inside edge, so you need to put your feet heel to heel, not heel to instep as you do when it's outside to outside). But it is slightly easier with a partner. Sometimes. Whereas in the Swing Dance you have to let go of your partner on one side and launch yourself into the abyss.....

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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!

I've only really done either of them solo so I'm already in the abyss! I have done the Swing with a partner a couple of times and I like that but haven't tried the Fiesta partnered yet.

well today i was stretching for the splits at the gym and decided to go for them (the right side split, i think you call it, with the right leg in the front)...I was able to go all the way down the mat...of course i was super warmed up then too from doing cardio so i cant do it again off the bat now LOL but it's progress. Also the back leg still isn't completely straight but my front leg was!

[Scratchy Landing]
No freestyle today because my ankle is still a little sore and stiff I hate being injured...I don't do it well...

I wasn't getting as good of a push off of my right leg as I usually do and I was a bit tentative on things, but temporary coach said I looked like I was doing well....

[Running Edge]
At least I got to skate today I only did moves and I made sure that I did a good number of LFO Rockers to make sure something mental didn't develop there....

Had an okay lesson....I felt very tentative....we did choctaws and rockers...

Not skating related, but I had a wonderful visit with coach and the new baby

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Skating Dreams

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES." --Nike

Running Edge Literally a running egde! I managed to land three of my six attempts at the flip yesterday and two had a running edge! Coach was over the moon as was I. I'm starting to feel this jump much more now and suspect that it will soon be better than my much hated loop, which i also managed to land including twice in combo with a three jump.

Camel spin was really on today, i don't know if it's because i was trying some things from the camel thread but i felt like i could spin forever in the camel which is unheard of!

Scratchy Landing RBI three turn....i don't know why i just lose all my bottle trying this turn. On the left foot I skid to a stop and turn and keep my balance to get the feel for it and then i can slowly speed it up and bend my knee to clean to the turn up but on the right foot i can't get the bottle to do it and feel unbalanced and scared.

No sign of even a little tiny backspin yesterday

Ant

Yay!! Congratulations! I've found that pre-stretching the hip flexor of the back leg really helps a lot! This is a good one, especially if you can get the thighs in a 180-degree split as shown in the photo.

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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

Thanks doubletoe! I've never seen or heard of this stretch before not even when I was in ballet...but the pic helps and I'll definitely try it!

My left side is not as flexible as the right so my side split on the left is still a good 3 inches off the ground

Running Edge: Had a great session today with coach, even though he was bent on killing me using the "death by skating lesson" approach. Multiple patterns of the Paso w/ music, over and over and over again. Oy! And just when I thought my legs were not good for one more pattern, he sent me out to do a very tough strength exercise, and when I came back from that (stumbling and gasping for air), he says, "Two patterns! With music!"

But with all that, I skated hard, reasonably strong, and even had a few decent patterns mixed in, and he was pleased with my progress. As was I. There may be hope for this dance yet! Maybe September to test?????????

I don't always like lessons like that, but the fact that I survived makes me pleased that I'm stronger than I think I am.