Lift-Off: Finally felt well enough to skate - well, I think I was well enough yesterday, but the Husband disagreed. Coach said I looked awful (do you like coaches?! I said it was just because I'd forgotten to do my face, but he said no, it was more than that. So rude!), but I managed to skate pretty well, just the same. More rests than usual, and I was as breathless as I used to be when I was fat.

Our free dance is going okay - we had a good run-through to the music. And the Riverside Rhumba, although we do mistime it. We did a Golden Skaters' Waltz at the very end of the lesson, to be told we had good extension, but no toe-point, "But at least you match!"

Mission aborted: No morning ice next week due to hockey school! Just what we want with a competition next Sunday. Oh well... so only 2 more training sessions between now and then, unless we go to Alexandra Palace on Wednesday, but I doubt we will. I suppose we'll be okay, but I wish I hadn't missed three training sessions due to this wretched cold!

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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!

We Have Liftoff: Spirals are back. I've been working on them for a while, but without the forward lean. Coach had me do them, and said they look better than before I broke my ankle. Go figure.

Mission Scrubbed: Back edges. I've got the basics down, but can't seem to get the pushes strong enough to get back to the line or the lobe size anywhere near equal.

I got the rink manager to check on my blades (that were alledgedly ordered July 16th) They were backordered and are supposed to be released (or in--not clear which) Aug 15th--that's tomorrow. If they come in sometime this week, I can have them mounted Friday while I am off. I can't wait--maybe I can do 3turns and spins again, without skidding out of them.

Lift-off:

What a session was today! First of all, yesterday in a desperate attempt to do something about my right boot that is about to give me a bunion (if haven't already) I put a hockey puck inside, laced it tight and left overnight. Today it felt much more comfortable, and maybe for that reason, or maybe 5 days of 4-hour practice finally paid off, but I felt like things were definitely improving. Group coach complimented me on my gliding and even asked to demonstrate it to the rest of the group. Spiral is getting higher, tea-pot - lower, backward cross-rolls - faster. I even manage to get a decent spin entry that made me feel like I'm actually spinning. Couldn't quite replicate it though.....

Mission scrubbed:

Is the next one a nation-wide Hockey School Week? Because our morning ice is cancelled as well, same as Mrs Redboots'. Well, maybe it's ok - I can still go to public sessions, but at least I'll get some sleep and do some off-ice that I've been neglecting this week.

What really makes me pull my hair is my spins. 2-3 revs at best!! I know they will come, but I just don't know from which direction. I've been experimenting with speed, arm positions, shoulder positions - anything. Still can't quite hold the balance. I can recite the theory in my sleep but it still doesn't quite transfer to what my body is doing. "Something is rotten in Denmark" (C)

I don't think so.... as far as I know, Alexandra Palace's is the week after! I, too, am looking forward to sleep - I don't have to get up early until next Sunday, by which time I'll be in Scotland anyway!

No, mine neither! And, sadly, ice-dancers need spins these days. Husband and I have a very respectable spin in our free dance, but it's a linked-arms spin, both of us on a LFO edge, not a conventional "pairs" spin, which we still can't do. Neither of us can spin solo, either! Ah well....

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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!

Mission Scrubbed: My quiet, Sunday-afternoon session seemed full of evil children today - several of whom insisted on crossing through the coned-off center ice after the rink guard explained that they didn't need to go there. Count me in for the can't spin club - my attempts were just sad today. Also botched a lunge and banged up my other knee (at least I match - did a job on the other on Fri)

Lift-off: Waltz jumps are slowly imroving - I now go a foot or more instead of 6 inches, and I'm entering with actual speed. Hey, progress is progress. Toe loop is coming, and I managed some decent waltz-toes today. Fundamentals finally seem solid (back x-overs and the lot).

Lift Off: Went skating today, possibly for the last time at host rink on public session, but maybe we will go one more time... Brought one other person with us which made for a full van, and she pitched in for the gas which really helped a lot! Ok, I finally got ONE scratch spin that worked, even though it traveled to asia and back, but my leg was up and it was 10+ revolutions....(yeah, it traveled about 8 feet and I forgot what my arms were doing, right now I don't care.)

Mission Scrubbed: Spent the first hour working with hubby on his edges, 3-turns, and crossovers. He is still not bending enough. I think he gets frustrated because he sees me do things and expects to be as good-I'm not bragging but he's a beginner and I'm an advanced beginner. Simple fact. I've fallen more than him. He sat out the last half of the session instead of working on his back swizzle-pumps that I asked him to do. Just because I'm a free teacher doesn't mean he will get off easy! AAAGH! Students! Then I brought my mp3 player and fm transmitter, but for some reason it wasn't working as well at least I had a backup CD. I'm tired now.

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

Aww I wish I was skating right now!! I have 2 weeks to go until I can get back onto the ice....why won't my rink open early???

I wish I could move to a place where the rinks never close.....maybe when hubby retires.....

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

For a while I wore a pair of someone else's custom Klingbeils that had heels too deep for my feet. I bought a pair of thick silicone insoles and cut pieces to fit the heels. It worked really well, and I would have kept those boots except that the toe boxes were really two narrow for me.

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lift off:
landed some good axels today

mission scrubbed:coach was sort of in a bad mood today, program still needs work.
~cutie

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Skating is suppose to be fun , no PRESSURE at all

~*Courage*~*Confidence*~*Consistance*~

Lift off: In adult session last night I was helping someone learn to do backward crossovers and I was showing her my poor attempt at them when I realised I was doing them in the direction that I couldn't do! So after much laughing at my self I tried again and I can now do them, yay.

Been working on my outside edges for weeks and I'm finally getting good at them, even my coach said that they were much improved. I finally got the pattern right for the dutch waltz and can do the whole pattern without stuffing something up.

Mission scrubbed: I still can't do forward 3 turns, its all a mental problem, I can do them when someone is there to spot for me but as soon as no one around I chicken out. Cross rolls still scare me after falling over doing them a couple of weeks ago. I'm completely useless at the canasta tango, more likely I can't remember the pattern.

[QUOTE=sk8pics]LOL, I call that my spread "eaglette!"

THAT is perfect!!! I had always called tiny waltz jumps "waltz-ettes"!!! But I had never translated it to other elements... and after all, an eaglet is a small eagle.. so maybe an "eaglette" is a tiny girl eagle??? (or a drill team member for a high school that has an eagle as the mascot -- hahahahaha!!!)

And Jazzpants, thanks for the "cheer"!

Happy Skating!