Awesome:
Am getting the gist of the secret combo spin that Primary Coach started me on. Also started working on sit change sit combination. Jumps are higher.

Awful:
We had a parent meeting tonight to discuss concerns regarding the contract ice that is basically being shoved down our throats starting in July. We have all agreed that no one will prepay or sign the contract in it's present form.
Our club president, secretary and Primary Coach will have a meeting with the skating director next week to discuss the concerns (cost of ice, reliability of the rink schedule, lack of quality ice, etc). If there is no resolve, we will not be there in July and therefore no lessons for me.
Why do I have to start my first season as a AN bound Bronze lady this way ??!!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

That better be some spectacular dress! When do we get a pic of you in it?

Of course you'll retain that beautiful slim figure! I don't know anyone who works so hard at fitness as you do.

Awesome:
Today I decided that it was time to do some of the Prelim moves that I've been neglecting because I have no problem with them. I was a little worried that maybe my skills had decayed in the absence of practice on the specific moves - but:

I breezed through the F and B crossover patterns, even the final step forward from the B crossovers, which has always freaked me out a bit, and even the LBO transition from the CW circle to the CCW circle.
BXO's to BO edges were similarly rock solid. I attribute it to figures practice.

I've started skating the Prelim spiral pattern with extension, but no spirals. It's good practice while I work on stretching enough for the spirals.

Worked on some entry steps for the Adult Pre Bronze three turn pattern. I'd like to start with the LFI three, since BXO's around the end will lead naturally to the RFI threes. So far the one I like the best is the simplest - three forward strokes, CCW FXO with deep RFI edge, step to LFI. Anyone have suggestions for other entries?

I'm now doing an entire circuit of the two foot turns while looking in the glass. I do both directions before I start three turn practice. I love this exercise because it's so easy to know when it's done right or what mistakes I'm making when it's wrong. When it's right, I just keep moving smoothly onward with a soothing rhythm and no scrapes.

I'm still getting more good CW one foot spins than I do CCW's.

Awful:
Still having trouble getting to the back of the blade on LBO threes! Managed several near the wall today, but not doing them on the line with the RFI threes. I think this is another mental thing, and maybe I should just do lots of two footed turns to cement the feeling in my mind.

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Sounds like a better deal than the $50 long sleeve t-shirt they were selling at synchro nationals.

So where are the pictures? (Even if you aren't in them...)

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Now, if you're a better skater than I was when I took PB (and I think you are) I don't necessarily recommend this, but for comparision,
For the PB three turn pattern I used the following entry: 2 pushes (from the hockey goal- because I would be going to fast if I started at the hockey dot), 2 foot glide, pick up foot to get onto edge to start pattern. (I did CCW first, whichever foot that was.) I watched the video to see what my end pattern was and it was: step forward, 2 pushes (not really even stroking, quicker than my entrance, but still pretty slow) and then a 2 foot glide to get looped around to start on the other foot.

Maybe judges expect different in your area- but what you're planning sounds pretty complicated for PB.


Of course, having just now watched on youtube to see what I did, I can't believe I skated that poorly last year!

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Awesome
Change-edge back camels are getting more consistent. I still wouldn't want to put one in a program or anything, but it's definitely getting close.

Laybacks felt good. I didn't have a camera, so I can't be sure, but I think they were nice.

Had a couple of decent 2axel attempts

Awful
I still pull out of the 2axel too early! It's so annoying--I have the height and rotation speed to land it, I just chicken out.

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Youtube Videos

I wish there were pictures of the dress, but I didnt find any on their website with that particular stoning at all. If anything, if they did show anything of their stoning works, I would have paid more attention to them actually. (The company is Frieda B, BTW.)

It's dance length (well sorta... it's still short enough for me to do jumps), purple color with some stone pattern shaped to look like little flowers. There is mesh sleeves with wedding finger rings and the hands also has that same flower stone pattern as well. Really nice and flowy!!! And believe me, it's a bargain considering that it's custom for my shape and torso. (The waist had to be raised so that I look like I have longer legs, per Thin-Ice's suggestion when she saw me trying on a model version of it.)

Long sleeve t-shirts for $20???? Pfffft!!!! You're better off buying some cheap rhinestones and stoning your own pattern on a cheap long sleeve t-shirt from Old Navy!!!

Given that, a skating friend and I bought a $30 t-shirt with stoning spelling out the word "Breathe" to give to my figure skating trainer for her b-day!!! Which almost always happens to be the same week as AN. It was VERY appropriate for her, both as a skater and as a personal trainer!!! )

NoVa holds the record for going to the gym. He's at 4 hours at the gym each session. And I think at least 3 times a week? Trust me! I'm lazy compared to him!!! (And has the strength and the flexibility to show for it too! )

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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!!!

...but I think it's cool nonetheless...

AWFUL: no public ice this week at my rink because of hockey camp. Ick. AND I've had to work nights this week (I'm an RN), so I couldn't even do some freestyle time.

AWESOME: I have an amazing pair of new skates that I got for pennies of their original value, thanks to some savvy eBaying (brand new Gold Stars for $220 from a sporting goods store in MA - because they're an older model) and some lucky craigslisting (worn out custom SP Teris with Gold Seal blades with TONS of life on them - about a year and a half's worth, according to my sharpener - for - get this - fifty bucks; I tossed the boots and salivated over my blades)...

Yep, I know it's a lot of blade, and I'm sure there are those here who will say it was an unwise purchase, but if I'm going to be frustrated I'd rather be frustrated over fifty bucks than three hundred and fifty (which was the cost of the blades I was originally considering). And after reading some posts on here from Casey, who apparently started on Gold Seals (I think I'm remembering correctly), I'm encouraged because I know it can be done. My coach has told me I'm a strong skater, and I know I'm doing well, so while I'm expecting the adjustment period I know I'll survive it.

So I have about nine hundred bucks worth of skates for three hundred - which includes mounting and sharpening. He even touched up my Sno-seal job and didn't charge me for it.

I'm pleased. And I can't wait to try them out - regardless of how hard a time I have at first.

[Awesome]
Holy cow, I finally did some axels with my legs crossed!!! I am still trying to check out too soon, but holy crap! I did the first one tonight and Coach saw it and while another skater was clapping (it was a joyous moment), Coach said, "you have this much [showing about 2 feet or so with her hands] air left, stay pulled in!" hehehe...

In my lesson we worked on axels and double sals...both are getting better...I need to work on crossing my legs in my double sal as those are completely rotated with a crap load of air, but, with the way my legs are, there is no way I could ever land it...and my arms are a complete mess...with the axels...she was jumping like a 2 year old again who is in the middle of a tantrum because she was so excited....and she said that they are RIGHT THERE, so much closer than they were even a few weeks ago...

We also worked on moves...Coach was in a chase and push and work mood (which I don't mind at all...but she did acknowledge that I am often not the person who needs that)...so we did all of the novice patterns minus the bracket-3-bracket and the inside counters (and the left outside)...

I wish she had the time and I had the $$ for more lessons...but, at least I am making progress...that is what hard work and just plain time will do!

Oh...I was doing a flip and Coach was on that side of the rink and she didn't see the jump, but heard it and saw the landing and asked if I had just done a double...I, ,of course said, "HELL NO," she said, "well pull in and try," to which I replied, "Do you want me to kill myself?!?"...but the cool part is that she even mentioned that...maybe there is hope!! And maybe when she is not on the ice (probably when the students come back and I skate on the ice with a student I am friends with), I will actually try one...I get a ton of height on my single and just kinda' hang out in the air, so if I can get the timing down and actually pull in, I should be able to do it no problem...

[Plain Awful]
My spins have fallen apart...my sit spins are no where near centered and neither are my laybacks I really would like them to come back...I don't know where they have gone...did someone steal them??? Did the gnomes grab them? Please, where ever you are, come home, I miss you....

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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

Awful: The last two sessions were rather mediocre. The toeloop is still wildly inconsistent. I've been taking more falls than I'd like. Spins are hit or miss. I think I regressed on the loop in the last session.

Awsome: I set a new personal record skating tuesday night. I managed to burn 925 calories in 1 hour. Normally I wouldn't have thought that possible, but I guess working on axels for an hour will do it. My average heart rate over two hours was 159 bpm The axel was pretty good tonight. Big and good distance.

WOW!!! That's pretty high heart rate... like over 90% for your age group. You SURE that's what your trainer wants for you? (For me, my max should be about 161bpm. That's about 90% for my age group and I'm about 5 years younger than you! )

__________________
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!!!

Hey, "the pattern" is just a longer (and imaginary) version of the line. I'm sure you can fake a line... when I practice those... sometimes my line is diagonal.. but it's still a line! You'll be fine on these -- TRUST me!

This dress is GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL and ELEGANT! With the custom recut, she's going to look like she belongs competing with the kids just standing around. And it's the PERFECT color of purple for her... and the stonework was to-die-for. I can hardly wait to see her in the one that was actually made for her.. and to hear what music is finally chosen to suit this dress. And to quote the MasterCard commercial.. the look on her face when she was trying on the sample: PRICELESS... so it's a REAL bargain!

I very nearly succumbed to a beautiful summer dress in a cheap clothes shop yesterday that would have looked lovely over my flesh-coloured leotard for compulsory dances. But nearly isn't quite.....

Awesome: Dutch Waltz not bad; don't know about Riverside Rhumba - we did it, but whether we did it well or not requires an outside observer to tell!

Awful: Rechoreographing part of the free dance a week before we compete it again.... still, it's done now!

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

Ok....wow! Now I feel lazy!

And I also can't wait to see this dress! Freida B is great. Her shop is about 10 minutes away from me.

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

Your coaches can't teach at any other rink in your area? It sounds bad - I hope the situation gets resolved. When my coach broke her toe last September, I didn't have lessons for a few weeks. I could have had lessons with another coach, but my skating schedule wasn't real predictable around that time (Jewish holidays and other things going on) so I ended up just not having lessons. It wasn't that bad, and I saved money.

Awesome: I'm now able to skate 3 times a week, b/c a rink near my house added a Thurs evening FS session. Went last night and it wasn't that crowded, so it looks like I'll be able to get some good moves practice in - last night, though, was all about 'breaking in' my skate sharpening. But by the end of the session, I was able to stop normally. And I could do power pulls, too.

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

The one rink near my house is currently closed for renovations and will re- open in August with a regulation sized surface. They from what I've heard has a open door policy.
The other rink across the bay that has great ice and really supports the skaters has a closed door policy on coaches. I spoke with the skating director this morning and she told me that they will be capping the freestyles at 24 skaters for safety reasons and I can understand that.

Needless to say, my skating has been all half hearted this week.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Ooo I think I saw you trying this one on at ANs. It's really cute.

I bought a dress from them last year, and was VERY impressed with the customer service. I ordered it at Synchro Nationals at the end of February (tried on sort of the same dress at the competition but in a different color). They had it to me in plenty of time for ANs, but when it came, it was TOO BIG (not sure how that happened, the one I tried on was the same size and fit perfectly). It was basically way too long in the torso. I sent it back, they took the dress apart and fixed it so it fit perfectly, and still had it back in time for me to stone and wear at ANs (wore it for my interp since it's more of a dance dress). I also walked around in it for probably half the day before I competed because I like it so much...and my wonderful competition roommate Stormy witnessed me randomly putting it on one day earlier in the week and running/dancing around our hotel room in it because I felt like it.



So...skated this AM. The report:

AWESOME: My lesson First lesson in about a month since my coach was on vacation and we didn't have ice for 3 weeks. I warmed up all the jumps in my program, and skated back to him, and the fist thing out of his mouth was "what the heck have you been doing!? You're jumping much better." And truthfully the two lutzes I did (solo and combo) weren't even my best, nor was the loop loop! Did an ok run-thru other than not being able to do 2 of my jumps due to people being in my way. Then we just worked through some transitions to shape those up. Program is pretty basic for now, but we'll make the in-between stuff (my strength) harder after GRO and work on putting in an axel somewhere.

I was also able to get on the session for high-tested skaters! You're supposed to have at least intermediate free and be training for regionals. My coach is the director of the summer program, so he said I can skate on that session since I'm at the same level as a lot of these skaters in MIF/dance, and in terms of size, power, etc, I'm better off with that group than on the general sessions (packed with young skaters). That made it much, much, much more productive for me. It's also great being out there because even though I'm working on singles and kids around me are working on doubles and triples, I always feel very respected by them, the parents, and other coaches. I never get that "what are you doing, you're not going anywhere" kind of attitude.

AWFUL: Back camels today. Oh well. And camel-catch foot...I'm getting more flexibility so I'm having a harder time finding my foot to grab the blade!

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

What? That's what I used to do when I was in grad school and was, in a sense, hysterical (would rather go to the gym than concentrate on my dissertation). I do far less than that, but I do go to the gym (it's on the way home from the rink ) about 5 times per week, but that's mainly for cardio and stretching. My body requires mucho stretching!!!

__________________
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

Awesome: I had a moves lesson with my coach today w/ another skater. We worked on double3's. It was interesting... I made it down the ice on both inside and outsides, not very well, but I made it without touching down or any major errors.

Awesome: I did a runthru of my program and it went very well. My coach appearantly forgot to put in the extra 7 sec. at the beginning though, so I had to ask someone to start my music for me. I felt a little bad because she was with a student.

Awful: I need to fix my stupid knee on my axel. I landed a few and a few of the seq. ones of axel-1/2loop-flip, but the jump is not as consistent or confident as I would like it to be.

Awful: My double sal is a pain. I can do it, I just can't land it clean consistently. I think I'm overthinking it because the one I did perfectly, I just did it.

Awesome: I got my test form. And my coach is going to request a later testing time for me! So, I get to skate the morning before my test, and I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to go take my prejuv free.

Awesome:

-Started working on actual axels ( ) and flying camels! Flying camels are fun. I can't wait until I can do a good, fast one.

-all jumps were good today

-slide chasse pattern was good, and brackets weren't too bad

-camels were hit and miss.

Awful:

-cha cha. I couldn't seem to keep up with the music this morning.

-double 3s have seen better days.

-I aborted half of the power circles I tried because of tiny children.

I hated having to do that with my intermediate moves... I always felt like I was going to kill someone or at least run them over with as much power as I got. I'm not looking forward to having to do those again for Junior!

__________________
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

[Awesome]
I worked on moves and spins today and didn't do too much jumping after doing so many yesterday...

Moves are coming along and spins weren't horrible...

[Plain Awful]
Didn't feel like jumping, so the very few I did were very lifeless and weren't even worth doing...I need to remember though that I skated really hard on Thursday, so I need that day or so to recover...we'll see what happens on Sunday!!

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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

I had an MRI with contrast of my knee today, and that was no fun. I didn't think I would be able to skate. I had my joint injected with 60CCs of fluid, so it looked like a swollen mess. However, the doc who injected my knee said it would be fine to play sports, and fine it was!

Awesome
I had a lesson! I rarely have lessons, so that was awesome by itself.
We worked on 2lutzes. I can do them! I haven't worked on them in a lesson in probably 4 years--since before I quit. I didn't actually land any, because I was so surprised to be standing up nicely that I promptly sat down, but I had them landed for a couple of feet before sitting.

2flips remained consistent

I can do a split-jump double toe sequence too! I didn't think I could, until I tried. They actually worked very nicely--I definitely suggest using that to work on 2toe

Just Plain Awful
2axels
I haven't even been working on them that long, but I feel like I'll NEVER be able to do one. They say that 2axels make or break a skater--It's gonna break me.

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Youtube Videos

My max is usually a little over 170. The 159 average was also a record so it's never happened before. Typically my 2 hour skating average is somewhere around 145-150. At the gym I typically average around 120-130. My record high happend when I first started at the gym. I think I got it over 180 a couple of times

I think my skating average is a combination of my size and the amount of effort I put into it. It takes energy to hurl 170 pounds into the air! I always look like I've just gotten out of a pool when I'm done.

Awful
Had a really lousy skate on wednesday night, couldn't do a thing right. Somehow hurt my right (landing) knee, and it wasn't better today (Saturday).
Hurt like heck every time I tried to do anything which required full weight on a bended knee on that leg. Severely limited what I could do today.

Awesome
I really enjoyed my session this morning, even though limited by my knee. Got some reasonable spins in, and one amazingly well-centred scratch. The tracing was possibly the best I've done in my almost 3 years since returning to skating after a 20 yr absence. That's something to feel good about.

Started learning ice dance today. I've done some Aussie Skate badge tests in different types of chasses before, now I'm going to learn the Dutch Waltz.
So funny, all dances have to be severely modified to fit on our 1/4 size rink, and even then it's gonna be fun squeezing it in.

And I really enjoyed the social side this morning. The Saturday morning public session is when skaters even older than me come, plus some younger figure skaters. Then skate school is on, and I get to chat with the kids and their mums, and it's really nice.

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !