((((((Skittl)))))

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

Dry: axels are getting HUGE and much better, however....

Wet: still NOT landed on my toe...coach tried to get me to do an axel/loop to help with that...that is my new thing...every axel must have a loop....then, we did....

Dry: Double sals...fully rotated...they are so close I can TASTE it! But of course, I land (and fell) on one ON MY TOE!! And I am slightly unable to do that on my axel?? How is that possible?

Coach was wayyyyy excited about my lesson today....we were supposed to do moves today too, but we didn't get to them...oops! Because she was very keen on working on these jumps...

Wet: I have come down with this NASTY cough which made me try to take it easy today (I wasn't successful ) Unfortunately, I feel completely fine, minus the fact that I hack up a lung like a smoker...

__________________
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

Oh no, I am not quitting - just regrouping for 2010.

Of course!

Now which is good, wet or dry? I like wet myself

Wet: Had a reasonable skate today, also negotiating for a secondary coach. Gee, this is getting serious LOL!

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

Dry- partner is in Boston, and we'll also miss practice on Sunday.
Wet- went to the rink and went through the program. Ran teh footwork, jumps, spins - all ok.

__________________
Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

congratulations!!!!

Congratulations! I'm a little that your coach didn't teach you to do back crossovers around the ends on the alt BO edge move. Most moves don't have required end patterns, but this one does, and it's written in the rulebook, the test sheet, and it's on the PSA video. Make sure when you start your Silver Moves that you're working with a coach that knows MIF well.

__________________
Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

Dry: Coach and I worked on my program, I took out my one change of edge spiral and replaced it with a catch foot (R leg up grabbing blade w/R arm) coming toward the judges, which looks really nice. I was not happy with how the old way looked in pics from my last competition (esp because the judges get a butt shot) because I've lost some flexibility these past few months (no time to do my 2x/wk yoga class because of school...hence why my layback also came out of the program last month). So rather than stressing about things I can't really control right now, I'm going to work with what I've got.

I normally don't worry about what my competitors do since I can only control what I do, but two of the girls in my group are VERY flexible with gorgeous spirals (which would be why they go for the spiral sequence and I go for the step sequence to fulfill that requirment), and this change will somewhat mask my lack of flexibility, particularly in comparison to them. This also sets me up better for my next jump, placing it where I want it on the ice (but it never ended up there with the old spiral) and giving me more speed into it, so in all it works really well.

We also made some more minor tweaks to my jumps that are really helping, esp on my lutz.

Wet: Flying camel is still a pain in my butt. Partially because my back camel still is not that strong...the fly part has actually improved, it's just the spin part.

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

Dry - Backspins, wow, I'm really getting the hang of them. I was working on them and doing pretty well, when I suddenly remembered a couple of things Summer Coach tried to get me to do last year and applied them and whirrrrrrr.
It's not that I didn't believe him and try them last summer, but I was so insecure on the balance point on the backspin that I just couldn't keep it all together in my mind at once. After my backspin epiphany I practiced them a lot, then went straight into doing loops and they were suddenly way better just like my coaches both told me how I really needed a good backspin to progress. I even landed a couple of nice flips.

Wet - then I got too tired and everything got sloppy again.

__________________
It's all about the dress!

Wet: Neither of us set our alarm clocks this morning and although Husband said he woke up at 6:00, he didn't do anything about it! I didn't feel very well yesterday, so was just as glad not to skate today.

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

Question: What is crazier than skating at almost age 60? Skating competitively at 60!

What's crazier than competing at age 60? Having a coach who is an incoming Head Coach!

What's crazier than competing at 60 and having a coach who is a Head Coach? Having a SECOND coach who is also a Head Coach!

Dry: What I WONT be at the rink, not with a primary coach AND a secondary coach LOL!

(What have I done!!??)

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

Dianne, if you are crazy, then the rest of us are loony! I'm 47 and I hope to still be skating when I am 60!!!!

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

We're all in good company!
Partner is back from Boston and we had a good practice today. Almost finished with the costumes!

__________________
Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

[quote=Skittl1321;388800]I found out Monday that my position is being eliminated and I'm being laid off at the end of the month.

(((((Skittl))))) Unfortunately, you are joining an ever growing club here.

CONGRATULATIONS! FWIW, I know a skater who failed Pre-Juv MIF largely because of the same thing! That was the straw that broke the camel's back, and she changed coaches. Not at all suggesting you do the same, but do check the rulebook yourself in future. Coaches can and do make mistakes (see my post about reverse kilian in Canasta Tango )

I don't skate competitively, but I've got you beat in the age department - I'm a proud 62.

Dry:
In warm up before my lesson today, I checked several FO threes, then hit a great one foot spin from T push on the first try. I haven't been able to spin for several weeks, because dizziness caused by antibiotics, so I was really surprised. Did another one almost as good. In my lesson, the LFO threes were checked (got a big grin and a high five from coach), and the RFO threes almost as good. My first spin in my lesson was another really good one, but then I flubbed the next two, and realized the difference was that I felt just a touch of fear. To spin, I must just go for it. I'm at the point now where that works, and I need to hang onto my confidence. Worked a little on backspins, and actually got one rev, which is the best I've done since switching to CW.

Wet:
Maybe this should be in "Dry", because just being able to do FI threes again is an improvement, but they are still not done with confidence and I've lost the roll up to toe, and twisting at the waist. I have several exercises that worked before, so it's back to doing them every time I skate.

__________________

I had orientation camp for the incoming freshman and man, I was beat. Preparation and the real thing was taxing.

Yesterday:
WET:
It was Good Friday, relatively crowded, but not THAT crowded. I decided to do a spiral. Halfway into it, I crashed into this public skater who is chasing his kid in the opposite (wrong) direction. I'm about 5' 1/2" (154cm), and my head reached his chest. He's muscular too. I crashed face first into his chest, and the left side of my face hurts. I blacked out for a second or two. It's the scariest crash I ever had.

When I got better, I tried a scratch and really saw stars. My vision got darker as I spun.

Dry:
I stayed too dry through the whole skate because the ice got quite bad. It's like skating on a wet pond.

For someone who didn't skate for 9 days, it's not bad. I lost my sit, but everything is basically still there.

No more spirals on ice like that.

Dry: Coach is recovering from knee surgery so she can't go on the ice. I saw her at the rink and told her how much I'd miss our lesson so she said she'd coach me from the boards. Lesson was fantastic. I'm nailing my inside and outside 8's including shape and consistency and she was delighted. She tweaked my arm positions and the details of my body position.

After listening to manleywoman's podcast on Alexsander Fadeyev and his figures experience, I hope that figures come back. It's such an apprenticeship to learn them that once the figures experts retire, it will be all gone.

__________________
Great forum quotes:
On Falling: '...it doesn't matter, it's what you do AFTER you fall that's more important' ISK8NYC

This is for Thursday:

Wet:
Backspin. I can't seem to get past one rotation. I know it's all in my head why I'm not getting it too. Just wish I could break through.

Damp:
Lutz is fully rotated but free foot springs out in the air and so I can't seem to land it on one foot. I keep getting those annoying touch downs with the free foot.

Flip is so close to being on one foot but not quite there. Just need to get that free leg to stay crossed all the way through to the landing.

Dry:

Loop! I landed 4 of them in my lesson on one foot. They weren't pretty or text book loops but they were on one foot. And when I went to do them at the boards (close to the boards) they were text book Loops. Just need to wash away my fear of getting hurt keep on going with it with gusto.

Salchow is the usual thing but not big enough to try going for a 2 Salchow yet.

Toe Loop is picking in proper all the time now. Don't do Watlz toes anymore.

Waltz jump is getting more height but I still feel it's not high enough to try going for an Axel and I'd like to weight until I have my Loop text book anywhere and everywhere on the ice before attempting one again.

My jumps in general according to my coach are all about 8 to 10 inches off of the ice since coming back from Max Gould and starting Spring Skating School.

Sitspin was OK but I'd like more speed in the basic position and to add a catch behind after doing the broken position.

Forward Corkscrew is starting to make me dizzy because I'm getting more revs again (10+ and my coach keeps telling me to come out of the spin and I keep ask why, I'm enjoying this. By this point I'm somewhere around 15 to 16 revs and then I do another 3 or 4 more. Wish I could control my CCW Upright first position where I do the basic and then swithc to the diagonal before doing the attitude and then almost a haircutter (yes, I'm working on doing this one again) and get the speed before going into my almost haircutter because I don't get more speed until the haircutter). Did my forward CCW upright like I just discribed with senior coaches (not my own) watching and having their eyes pop open with surprise because I tacked on the change of direction and had a clean 2 and half revs CW before ending the spin.

I've started getting my forward Camel to appear as a real Camel spin. At first my coach said I had 3 and half revs but then I asked and how much was done in position to which he said "2 revs".

My coach thinks I will pass my Prelim FS this sping being that I only have to fix my Flip and Backspin now. I do however have to give more mileage to my Loop and Camel to make sure they are at least 95% consistant for test day. I'll also be testing my Fiesta Tango this spring.

Friday:

Wet:
Missed a third of my hour and 50 minute session.

Dry:
Almost the same as Thursday except that I only did 2 clean Loops away from the boards but I did learn what I as missing when I was doing my Loops from watching the session after mine. I'll be trying that on Monday to see if I can make them text book Loops.

Wet: After the session was over and I took off my skates, I felt my ankle swell up. Guess I got too Loop happy. But hey, I'm excited that I'm making a break through.

__________________
"It's not age that determines but the heart." "Skating is not just a sport for the young but it's a passion for the soul of the young at heart." Brigitte Laskowski

I am a nomadic adult skater who is a member of Windsor FSC (Skate Windsor) WOS SC again since Sept. 1st, 2008.

http://eastcastlemusic.tripod.com

Singerskates Sports Music Editing

dry - crowded public saturday afternoon session, ice like rubble everywhere except the circle - but the skate guards were being good about chasing the little kids out of the center.

wet - drilled backspins like crazy, none as good as the best ones Friday, but lots of them. I'm going to get this thing solid, darn it! Did some change-foot spins and they are finally getting consistent (I got lucky on the test). Some of my better loops, one or two flips landed one-footed, but at a near standstill.

dry - I tried bracket 3 bracket sequence just for the heck of it and got nowhere without putting my free foot down for a shove. Couldn't for the life of me figure out how that ever works - then this morning read in the moves thread that it is supposed to be done on a flat.

dessicated - travelling with family, no skating till next Saturday. Sigh.

__________________
It's all about the dress!

Dry (assuming that's the good one?)
- Tested my brand new blades today and they felt wonderful!
- Today's adult freestyle at noon was practically empty because of Easter!
- The freestyle was followed by a practically empty public session, which *never* happens on weekends at our rink!

Wet (assuming this is the bad one)
- I tweaked my back during the freestyle session and had to stop! Aaaarrrghhh!!!! It was sheer torture looking at that empty public session afterwards and not being able to skate on it!!
The weird thing is that the back tweak happened on a single salchow, which is about the last thing I'd ever expect. I'm assuming the salchow takeoff was a little different because of the new blades and I unconsciously reacted by twisted my back a little in the air. Whatever it was, I can hardly take a few steps now without getting a back spasm!

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

(((((doubletoe))))) Can you take ibuprofen? It's a wonder drug for me.

Our Sat public session was very light, but we have a large orthodox Jewish population who skate, so today was a madhouse.

__________________

HOORAAAAAAY on the Bronze Moves! For me that was the HARDER of the two Bronze tests!!! Then again, look how long it took for me to get the Bronze Moves tests passed...

You will get out of the Pre-Bronze Peanut Gallery soon enough! Trust me, if *I* can do it, anyone can do it!!!

BTW: Unlike everyone else, spirals on the Silver Moves test will NOT be a slam dunk for me!!! Spirals are NOT my best moves either. You'd be surprised how much work and effort it is for me JUST to get it to hip height or above and it's not always the case that I get that either.

DOH!!! Not good!!! Hope you're seeing a doctor soon to see what's going on. Meanwhile, rest, hot tubs jets, ice packs, chiro, massage, Tylenol, etc...

(((((doubletoe)))))

__________________
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!!!

OUCH!! I did the same thing about two years ago - a simple salchow and I twisted the muscle that wraps around the side of your back under the shoulder blade. The spasms were awful and it was really difficult to drive because of the pain of getting in/out/comfortable in the seat. Also trying to turn and check for traffic to the side was awful.

I tried heat (hot showers/heating pad/epsom salt baths) and those "therapy" pads, none of which helped.

I found that taking Advil and icing it several times a day worked best. Use a big "blue ice" pack and lean back on it wearing a shirt so it doesn't actually touch your skin. It took about a week to heal. Get well soon.

Wet:
MITF were just okay; too crowded to try many jumps; spins were okay but I'm not holding them too long.

Dry:
Practiced figure loops. I can do big ones on the RFI edge, but the LFO just eludes me completely. I can't keep it from turning into a three turn.

__________________