Wow! I can't believe we don't have a Lesson/Practice thread up for the week. I've never started this one before, but in Honor of the new month... In like a lion or out like a lamb??

I haven't wanted to jinx it, but it's been three times out on the ice that I feel like I've FINALLY gotten back to where I was when I got off the ice last May to have Milo. I actually feel like I'm moving forward!!!

I'm choosing the aggressive as the positive here, so In Like a Lion:

1. I'm skating faster, woo-hoo! Left my classmate in the dust during my power skating class. She and I started skating about the same time and have struggled as beginning adult skaters, and I had been about keeping pace with her speed-wise until last week when we were doing swing rolls down the long axis and I got all the way to the other end and looked back to see her not quite to the middle yet. Then I started lapping her on forward and backwards crossovers. My instructor commented on my power on the swing rolls and my speed on the corssovers, yay!

2. I finally did my one-foot spin on one foot! OK, It was so slow it was barely a spin, but I had a nasty habit of tapping my free foot down just as I popped into the spin. Now I just need to work on doing it from a stronger push, then from the wind up, and then I'll actually have a spin, whoopie!

3. Learned the waltz-8 pattern after my coach (also the synchro coach) said that if she could, she'd make it a requirement that all of the skater have passed the pre-pre moves (or pre-bronze for adults). I asked what was on the test and she said the only thing I'd even need to really practice to pass was the waltz-8, so we worked on it for a while. She said the hardest part was stepping forward on a strong outside edge to stay on the circle, but I actually found that to be not that hard as I practice my forward swing rolls every time I hit the ice.

4. Started working on an Ina Bauer and inside and outside spread eagles. Got a few Bauers that didn't just go in a tiny circle like a funky pivot. Inside spread eagles very easy, managed one outside where both feet were on the outside edges for a split second. Once I stop being a chicken, I think this will be a good move for me as I have very open hips and knees.

5. Then for fun coach asked to see my 1/2 flip. I haven't practiced this one in ages, but did a couple well enough that she said "Let's work on a toe loop." I answered "LFO3, step pick?" She said "Yes". I did LFO3, step pick and nearly got into the air on the first try. Did a couple more before the session ended. As we got off the ice for the cut, I asked my coach if she though we'd be working on toe loops today and she said "Nope. But then I didn't expect to see you spinning on one foot when I got on the ice, either."

Out like a Lamb:
1. Mohawks. LFI to RFI suddenly disappeared. Worked on them with more speed and they weren't terribly successful For some reason, on this side a closed mohawk feels better and it's a constant fight for me to step with my right foot in front.

2. Back swing rolls. Left is ok. Right is woolly because the RBO edge is my nemesis. Have started working on my backspin and hope this will help me feel this edge better. I just don't even like to pick my left foot up after the push. I'm not getting my weight all the way over my right side, and I know this. So that's what I need to practice the most...

Have a great week!

My lion moment doesnt' sound like much but I finally managed to do alternating inside 3's to crossovers (interbronze field moves, UK), without making any noise(!) because I was actually keeping my weight in the right place over the skate and not leaning forward onto the picks. YAY!!!!!

This is a first for me and I really noticed the difference in speed and ease. My new coach is spending a lot of time making me slow things down and take the time to use the edges instead of rushing through things slightly unbalanced. It's hard but I think it will pay dividends in the end.

lamb Flip was a bit wimpy and did not want to show up properly today. Camel spin is still in the desert.

Daughter had lion moments this week too as she landed 4 doubles in her lesson when she has been struggling with doubles for ages.

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'

flo and I had another good weekend of practicing. 7:30am-12:30pm on Saturday and 8:00am-10:00am on Sunday. The local TV station was doing a live remote from the rink Sat. morning, and we were in the background doing pairs spins. We did take about a 1/2 hour off during Sat morning, and part of that time we were either taking a group class or playing with the kids on Club Ice.

Most of the program is complete, just a few more little things at the end.. And, we can sort of get through it. I'm still having issues with the footwork sequence and a one-handed death spiral. My last partner and I never progressed past a 2-hand hold.

It's amazing what we've been able to put together in 5 weekends of skating. Only a few more before AN!

Rob

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Geriatric Figure Skating Crew - President for Life!
Georgia Figure Skating Club - President (again)
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"I'm too old to die young, and too smart to be happy" - Kinky Friedman, The Mile High Club

2010 Adult Nationals - earning a gold - "Priceless"
2009 Adult Nationals - competing with a cold is not much fun.
2008 Adult Nationals - Too little sleep, too much vodka!

Rob, are you and Flo coming to Europe and showing us your progress? I do hope so.

Lion: As for us, Husband has finally bought a camcorder, so when I get my act together, I shall speak sweetly to Casey & post some clips of us. At the moment, we only have a clip of his Pathetic Parallel, aka his Cr*ppy Camel, so I think I'll be kind and not post that! What we're seriously hoping is for coach to video us doing the Canadian (pre-Bronze) cha-cha and then get some critique from those who know (unlike us) what the judges are looking for. It's not a test dance here, so we haven't the faintest idea!

However, we spent our entire lesson on our free dance today, hoping to finish the choreography, but that still hasn't happened. We ran through it to the music, and despite missing the start of the step sequence, we got through it, "winging" the end of it. Coach said it's beginning to take shape.

And in one run-through, I actually managed to let go in the lift, which I've been trying to make myself do since forever.

Coach is at a seminar tomorrow, so I had my solo lesson today. He was actually impressed by the way I did my new (inter-Bronze) change-of-edge exercise!

Lamb: I have exactly one year to pass my level 3 Dance Moves - do you think I'll do it? I'm really hoping so. Coach thinks I should. Naturally, I couldn't do the cross-cuts when he was watching, typical! And I did them beautifully in the break, while he was having a cup of tea! We spent a lot of the lesson working on my back crossovers, which need work.

We also decided I can't do back cross-rolls into a back spiral, it's too hard, so we've swopped the cross-rolls & the cross-cuts, but back cross-cuts into a back spiral aren't exactly easy!

In the free dance, Coach has changed one bit of the choreography and made it even more terrifying! I'm sure I won't be able to do it... but I hope I will!

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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!

Mrs. Redboots - I hope to. Just getting some particulars taken care of

"We did take about a 1/2 hour off during Sat morning, and part of that time we were either taking a group class or playing with the kids on Club Ice."

It was a great practice! The kids won't leave Rob alone and are egarly awaiting his return. And the time off the ice? I needed coffee!!!!!!
Our coach is having a great time and impressed with we've been able to do in such a short time.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

I'm so glad someone started one....I never know what to say (altho I'm mouthy enough the rest of the time )
This is for last night's dance practice:
Lion: Had a great time and the dance instructor complemented me on my "deep swing rolls" and fast progressives!!! But, I'm a one-hit wonder, as the Dutch Waltz is the only dance on my card. But, I can do it well! We partnered up and I danced with two young ladies (13 and 7 years old) and it was fun but harder for the 7 year old You would think their pattern would be smaller!
Lamb: Again, hubby felt overwhelmed and sat out 20 minutes of the 30 minute class...how can you learn if you don't...learn??? Even if you can only do parts, eventually your parts become longer! Then we came home and he was mad at me! MEN!!! (really, HUSBANDS!!!)

Mrs. Redboots, do you think I can claim insanity and get away with it??? or just blame my toepick

Anyway, not sure if I'm skating today as my son is still recuperating from the flu and I don't want to drag him around too much....I do have a competition this weekend (Skate Annapolis). I'm ready, but I'd like to keep up my "routine" a bit. If I don't skate at all today (already missed the morning session), that leaves club time on Wednesday, Public on Thursday and Friday, and that's it! Not really conducive to practicing a routine! Hmmmm. Maybe I'll give him some meds and schlepp him to the rink for a bit.....I'll have to think about it. He might be going back to school tomorrow anyway.

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

lion:

- all my crossovers are stead again (i was turning out too much)
- i'm not wobbling on my back inside edges anymore (i hate them more than anything else in the world)
- i'm checking in my jump landings so i'm not twisting around
- my changefoot spin is coming along AWESOMELY. way better than expected.

lamb:
- i'm still doing my full rotation, landing on my left foot and then hopping to my right foot in my flip (it's because i'm not pulling in enough)
- my coach decided we had to work on the loop to correct the pulling in issue and i'm terrified of it (i had to quit skating from a reptitive motion injury to my hip from falling on a double loop)

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the truth lies in between the 1st and 40th drink - tori amos

This is for yesterday and it looks as if yesterday is the only day I'll be skating this week:

Lion:
In pursuit of the legally low enough sit spin, I've been working my quads and glutes off ice. As a result of overkill on this last week, I've now got a strained left groin. Yesterday on lesson, I could not muster a salchow to save my life and my sitspin is barely do able. It also does not help that I skate in a meatlocker!

Lamb:
Started working on flips and will be working on waltz toe combo!
Coach cut new program music and while I haven't heard the finished product yet, it's sounds like it's going to rock! Well,it's symphonic rock, so it better!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Terri C, when you get it figured out, clue me in and my coach will LUV U 4EVER!!!! Seriously!!! I just can't get low enough! When I try to go lower, I get all off-balanced and end up bailing out (although it is somewhat better because I go into it from a regular scratch spin entrance and try to go low from the beginning).


No skating today after all....son's fever has returned (low-grade, but still a fever). He has no appetite, but I'm pushing the fluids. At this rate, I'm not sure if he can go to school tomorrow. He seems more energetic today, but looks terrible (pale with dark circles under his eyes).

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

That's the approach my coach has been after- to start low.
However, it doesn't work for me and in order to get on balance, you do have to work the quad muscles and strengthen them up.
What I've been doing is going into the spin and getting low as I rotate.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Lion: I love it when I skate at sessions with great skaters. No offence to the wonderful skaters I share ice with at the two rinks I go to, but I feel extra inspired and fired up when an Olympian shows up for practice. I go faster, my jumps are higher, and spins are better.

I'm back at rink 2 on Wednesdays now that semester has started which went ok. The ice is different from rink 1 which throws me out a little each week.

Finally starting to get flips back around to 1.5, 1 3/4 around, same with loops. Hooray. Sit spin is slowly coming back, I used to have the best sit spin at my rink a long time ago (and it was always the first element in my programs) but then I got older and my muscles seized up. Another year to go before it's there I think.

Lamb: Camel was all off today. Toe loop and Salchow are still feeling wimpy. Axel has gone completely. Wacked my head trying a fancy spiral move (with ensuing headache). Must get on with calling to arrange coaching but feeling too sheepish to do it (ha ha).

(Okay, so I have to admit, I always get mixed up whether lion or lamb is "good" or not, so I'll follow the other posters as I've no clue)

Lion: Working on lutz--trying to get correct entry, height in jump, and rotation all coordinated. Sunday, I had a few close ones and am usually managing to land on landing foot (even if way underrotated and even if the free foot taps down a little after). I think a few were 2/3 to 3/4 rotated, the rest were less or wonky timing. I'm alternating practicing flips with good speed and height and then the lutz attempts.

The good news about it all is the lutz practice keeps helping my flip. The bad news is I can tell how far I am from coming close to "owning" the lutz because I can feel the contrast of the quality of my flip.

Lamb: Working on stamina with the Bronze moves. In lesson I was very winded while doing these. Also dodging the little kids is ever so fun, esp. in the alt BXO to BO edge pattern. On Saturday, there were about 3 kids who were oblivious to the world right in the path of what would have been the second lobe on most of my patterns. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Because of working on the lutz, my spins have been very neglected. I wanted to devote a lot of time to the jumping, though, because I felt like I was close to learning the "feel" of the jump.

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Ask me about becoming a bone marrow donor.
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Well, this for Monday but there is a BIG FREAKIN SHEEP I want to share that I found out about today...

Lion:

• Spins are okay except camel
• Moves are okay...what I CAN do w/o crashing into the crowds anyway.
• Landed a few flips
• At least I CAN jump now!!! My lower back is much better now.

Lamb:

• Camels are wimpy
• Also two footed a few flips, including a two footed funky landing right in front of primary coach (which primary coach made jokes about to his other student....GRRRR!!!)
• No clean loop landing in sight. GRRRRR!!!

The BIG FREAKIN' SHEEP (for those of you skaters in the Bay Area especially...you might be interested in this news...)

For the last few weeks at my weekend rink the ice has been horrible. It's bumpy and it's HARD!!! And the general attitude towards it is "The ice is good!!! REALLY GOOD!!!" (What are you smokin'!!?!?!? )

Well now I found out why and it's not good news:

http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article...&storyID=23513

Okay, so does anyone have $6.5 million to buy a rink plus the permanent cooling system that's acceptable by Berkeley's city code? (Yeah, I didn't think so either!)

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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!!!

Ok, much lower down the ladder . . .

Lion Had all my forward edges back a week ago Tuesday and had a ball doing scallops and 8s

(smelly) Lamb Haven't seen my solid forward edges since Left edges are starting to come back but right is still terrible.

Clinging to those lower rungs . . .

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

Actually it's $6.5 million for the rink.. it will cost at least another $100,000 for the new refrigeration system.. and that's at today's price... who knows what it would cost next month or the month after or the month after that.

And it's very likely no one will want to take over the rink.. so it will be turned into a parking lot or something else equally useless to skaters. RATS!!!

Lion

Passed my Novice Field Moves on Monday

Lamb

Got some nasty flu that seems only to be getting worse. Definitely no skating tonight: feel too weak even to sit and type.

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My other car is a Zamboni

All I have to say about today's practice: MOTHERF*CKING COCCYX.

Thank you.

(crayonskater does not endorse the previous statement, and apologizes for the language, but is pretty sure the Tylenol 3 dosage is to blame. Friggin' tailbone.)

WooHoo! Congratulations! I hear that is a tough one.

Lion: Found out that Pilates starts tonight!!!! Wow, I sure missed that class!!! AND, my warmup time for Artistic 1 at Skate Annapolis on Sunday is 1 p.m. That's a goooood time!!! Gives me time in the morning for show rehearsal, then to hop in the car, drop the boy off at Grandma's house, drive over to Annapolis and get there in plenty of time for lunch and warmup.

Lamb: assuming I'm not sick with the flu, or nerves, or nothing else happens by then............................BUT I have to drag big brat with me (she is on my sh*t list for being bratty teen).

And, I'm wondering if my skating should be "wimpy" before a competition? or more "normal?" Any thoughts? It's my first competition.

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

Clarification - this is UK Novice FM, the lowest one (stroking, forward edges, forward spiral, BXO into backward glide). Next year NISA are changing them to level 1 - 10 FM tests, so there will be less confusion.

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My other car is a Zamboni

http://www.gordoncommercial.com/deta...Sale&from=site

And I think the current temporary refrigeration system is about $100,000 and it's rented for about 6 months.

Doesn't matter... all I know is that I'll lose my weekend rink... and probably the only other rink I've been on as a little kid.

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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!!!

Gah. Not skating for a week (and partying hard for ones bday) REALLY takes it’s toll. I honestly felt like I’d regressed to two months ago. I had a very shaky warm up that was interrupted by two adult skaters asking a couple of questions. I think it’s awesome that people always assume I’m an instructor - I can't imagine what they'd say if I knew what I was doing half of the time. In any event they wanted to know how to stop, and then wanted to know how long I’ve been skating, and how to do crossovers etc. etc.

Then I proceeded to warm up back crossovers…and then - had the click of death and down I went. Landed on both knees (more on the left) and proceeded to slide right into the boards on my tummy. Aside from getting the wind knocked out of me and my aching knees the belly slide was quite fun.

After that I moved on to edges, and then as I finished one set of forward edges when my coach came over and commented that my edges looked nice. Then we spent a considerable amount of time gossiping - something we never do, but we just got caught up in it today for some reason. Finally we started to work - she wanted to see the waltz 8 and the 3 turn pattern.

I do feel like I’m making progress in certain areas, particularly with crossovers and the waltz 8, but then I regress in other areas. And why are my 3 turns all of a sudden SO awful? Also my jumps, despite not being that good to begin with, have slipped even more.

My coach says I’ll be ready to test in May or June…that doesn’t leave me much time to get myself pulled together! She wants me to pick up a couple of lessons with the moves guru at our rink before I test so she can “fine tune” even more. Can’t hurt - although now I’m wondering what I’ll do if I get the click of death on crossovers during the test

I worked a bit on spins today too, but they weren’t happening all that great either - the first spin centered nicely but after that it was garbage time. Before I left I worked on alternating inside 3 turns to get the feeling of taking a deeper curve before the turn. My outside 3’s are too deep and my inside 3’s are too shallow. Sigh. It could be a sharpening thing - Its been about 3 months since my last sharpening and I do notice a lot of sliding and skidding...but in reality I think a lot of it has to do with technique so...blah.

My first dual lesson with my skate buddy is tomorrow - should be interesting to say the least! We’re at the same level but we have different issues to tackle - namely my legs and her arms. Use her legs and my arms and we might make a decent skater.

OUCH! Hope you aren't too banged up and not too sore tomorrow!

OMG!!! 3 MONTHS!!! Girl, you know you need to get them sharpened!

I have one in my group class-she spends 90% of the class with her arms crossed on her chest....she is NOT allowed to move them....poor thing. The arms just GO CRAZY!!!

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

LOL - sounds like my skate buddy. She used to do inline speed skating so her arms were behind her back most of the time - she's not graceful in the least, but gets pretty decent knee bend and extension. But half of the time I can't get past her arms. In her scratch spin she somehow ends up doing a perfectly centered spin with her arms in the "universal choking" position. Kid you not.

Lion: Flip attempt was interesting because I actually managed to get a few where I was picked back and glided into it. The first one surprised me so much...I stopped before the jump! But on observation of others doing their flip, they don't bend much, or pick back very far....(yes, I ask other to "demo" stuff for me. They usually oblige). Skated my routine and "the Ice Dancer" saw-the only critique was to not have the "deer in the headlights look" which I didn't know I had (must-take-inhaler-to-competition as I had a hard time breathing-air was damp-humid).

Found out I skate right after warm-up at the competition. There are 4 in my group.

Lamb: Sit-spins, jump practice, spins, etc.... Rink was CROWDED tonight with everyone wanting to skate their routine (comp on Saturday and Sunday) AND some people played their music more than twice or thrice or.... LONG waiting list. Therefore, I skated close to end of session....frozen. I'm going to Saturday's club session to 'tweak' two things and skate while most everyone's gone (most are skating on Saturday of the competition).

I hope I'm not the oldest person skating in the competition!

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