Pulling The Plug:

I picked this title for the negative reports because well, I'm still not feeling comfortable in my skates because my coach isn't finished working on them to make the soles get straighted out. I've been skating against the warp ever since I got the boots a year and half ago. Only now that the boots have broken down enough to bend in them, I can feel my feet rolling inward on both feet, mostly right landing foot.

I'm feeling that if I don't get my boots to feel right soon, that I will have to pull my Junior Bronze Fiesta Tango dance test.

I was beat in a friendly game of Chance with my good friend Misty. Instead of playing Chance doing basketball, we used our jumps. I started with the Watlz jump as my lowest jump and Misty used the Toe Loop as lowest. She made it all the way to Lutz before having to restart when her Axel attempt went awry. I did Waltz, Salchow, Toe Loop and then not once but 3 times had to restart because of the Loop. I kept on having my free foot slightly touch down as it passed the skating foot on the Loop. The rule was that in order to move on to the next jump on the next turn, you had to do your jumps absolutely clean. Otherwise, you had to go back to your starting jump all over again.

My Camel wasn't staying up longer than one and half revs. I tried 4 times and then just left it alone.

Never got to do my Lutz jump.

The StarSkate 2 session was jam packed. We had Junior Level Pair skaters on the ice along with other high level skaters visiting. It was a total organized zoo. We must have had about 30 or so skaters on the session.

Waltzing Mohawk pattern on second side is pittiful in that I have to slow down to a crawl to do the LFI Mohawk but the rest is OK.

Show Time:

Ran through my shorter version of my new interpretive, "Held" by Natalie Grant", which is about 2 and half minutes and it felt like I should have kept going. It didn't feel like a natural end. Felt rather short to me. I do however need to have it choreographed. This time I'd like my coach to choreograph it from scratch since we have much more time. Last time we started less than a month before my first competition. I must be in better condition than before.

Scratch spin was wickedly fast and made me feel dizzy. Love when I get to a new fast speed. Now to just control the exit.

Sit Spin is getting lower again. Actually had enough speed to crack 5 revs before switching to broken and cranking another 4 in broken and 2 revs when I got up to get out. It's been quit awhile coming.

Waltzing Mohawk pattern is doing fine on the first half (RFI Mohawk side).

Practiced in the corner the Fiesta Tango steps over and over to clean up my technique. Finally cleaned up a few things. (It was to busy to do the dance using the whole ice without a coach in lesson.) I just need to be more confident with my skates.

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"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

"Pulling the Pug" ???
I knew what you meant, but it got my mind boggling

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Katz

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

I really should have posted this in last week's thread, but I understand how you're feeling. I thought I had found a local tech to remount my blades properly, but he can't plug them. I sent an email to the guy in Maryland that everyone uses. I'm hoping I can set up an appointment and not have to leave the skates since I don't have backup skates.

When I can't center a back scratch or a sit spin, you know it's bad. I'm afraid to jump, especially with toe jumps - my feet feel tangled up and landings are ridiculously difficult.

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Hi singerskates

What is a broken sit spin? Just curious.

londonicechamp

http://www.sk8stuff.com/f_recog/recog_s_brokenleg.htm

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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

Hi doubletoe

The broken leg spin is really nice. Now I understand what it is.

My coach has also taught me a variation spin, which is tuck my right free skating leg behind the left thigh, and that is my favourite spin. Previous coach had said that that spin was quite difficult for most skaters, but somehow I managed to do it. Any idea what variation spin that I have learnt?

Just curious. Is the broken sit spin recognised in competitions? Or must it be proper sit spin, with leg crossed?

londonicechamp

Hope your coach gets your skates working better! That must be frustrating. I love that song "Held" but always start bawling every time I hear it.

Pulling the plug I didn't remember our freestyle session being moved to one of the back rinks. I had parked in the front, had to walk to the back, and was late getting on the ice. The ice was really crappy and it was super cold. Bronze moves were okay, but seemed a bit tougher to get power. Wondering if my skates need a sharpening or it was just the crap ice.

Showtime Had a great lesson with coach today. She liked my sit spin and thought it was low enough. She had me try doing a sit with a change to back sit. It was okay, but a little high. I did a quote "very nice camel" with 4 revs. Then she had me start working on camel sits. My coach is pretty picky so getting small praise out of her made me pretty happy.

I landed a loop jump with the foot in front. Just one at the end, but I'm pretty pleased with that. Feel like I'm on the right track. Same with the flip. Didn't land any but feel like I'm getting closer. Since I picked up an extra lesson a week, I feel like I'm making way more progress.

Pulling the Plug:

-Just Plain Jane upright 1-footed spins STILL giving me problems!!! Grrrrr!!!
-Got back too far on a slalom and fell backwards, giving myself a nice little goose egg.
-New boots today = ouchie but not too bad.
-And with a suggestion from a fellow skater the backspin attempts are getting better.
-Daily midweek public sessions are BACK!

Show Time:

-Coach quite pleased with progress on FI-BO3s and FO-BI3s, along with other Silver MITF. Wants to shoot for testing in November. I guess if I don't get too distracted with other stuff. . . .

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"Go wash an elephant if you wanna do something big." -Baby Gramps

Pulling the Plug: -So my test application didn't make it in time, so no test for me this week. There is a talk of another test in September?
-My work schedule got all wonky, so I could only skate 20 minutes today during a lesson. No time to warm up = Bad feet

Show time:-Despite the application not getting there in time, all my moves seem to have made a resurgence. Sure have interesting timing...
- I might get to do an exhibition next month! First show in about 18 months

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~Always Dream!~

Check my progress at www.freewebs.com/sk8tegirl06

There are many variations on the sitspin that are recognized as sitspins and considered difficult variations that can raise the level of the spin. However, all of these variations will only count if done in a low sit position with the skating thigh parallel to the ice.

The broken leg sitspin is one of those difficult variations. Others include the pancake, the cannonball, the twisted and the tuck sitspin. The tuck sitspin is usually done as a reverse sitspin (CCW on the right foot). Photos here:

pancake (arm position is optional)
cannonball
Twisted sitspin
Tuck sitspin
Tuck sitspin - another variation

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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

Just FYI, the "tuck" is called the "clam" or "clamshell" in my neck of the woods (NYC area). And the pancake is somtimes called the mushroom spin. (These positions must have been named by a hungry skater! )

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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.

Oh, THAT'S a broken leg! I was always imagining it with the free leg bent across the front (knee pointing to outside, leg crossed in front of skating knee), not out to the side.

Showtime Had my group lesson tonight. Waltz jump, salchow, and toe loop were good. Scratch spin was good. I was getting some sucess with the backspin again toward the end of the lesson.

Pulling the plug Worked on the flip. Feet are together in the air and I am landing on 2 feet or touching down right away. Group instructor taught the 2 girls the flip for first time tonight. One girl landed it first try. I'm not going to let that discourage me.

No skating tonight I'm going to my parents. My dd is attending skate camp out there this week. My sister says DD's making great progress in ice dance this week. Keeping my fingers crossed for the test session on Saturday.

Showtime: My little skating buddy who had been off the ice for a year until a few weeks ago due to major health problems landed her double toe loop for the first time today! She actually landed it more times than not, we are all so proud of her!

More Showtime: My program is definitely ready for Peach Classic next week.

Pulling the Plug: Skating at my regular rink goes back to 2 mornings a week, so I will have to go back to further away rink the other 3 mornings. I do realize how lucky I am, though, to have another rink to go do.

When you take off on your flip, pick, pull back and then lift the knee/thigh of your front leg as you lift up into the air. That will help keep you over the landing side so you won't 2-foot the landing!

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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

Ooh, hadn't heard "clam" or "clamshell"! Good to know!

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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

Show Time: I WENT SKATING TODAY!!!! Woo-Hoo!!! Sneak-peek freestyle! The ice was really, really nice, and not crowded...only 5 people!!!! Not bad at all!

I took my time, haven't skated since Hackensack Adult Skating Camp. Allowed a few laps of stroking (um, no more laps of swizzles) and then hit some crossovers (used my champion cord for my arms). Forward edges, 3-turns, then some back crossovers. Did a few waltz jumps and salchows and some scratch spins (for the scratch used the cords for my free leg to help me concentrate on lifting my leg higher). And ended up the session with some backspins (using the cord on my free leg) and some spirals. Didn't want to do too much, because I'm helping out for skating camp tomorrow and might have a private lesson on Friday.

All-in-all I'm pleased with my skating. My two week hiatus from the gym is showing....I need to fix that (you know, that "flabby" feeling in the belly).

Dilemma-to take the power skating class or not???? I don't want to over-extend myself with my time/skating/life/etc. I guess it can wait until I talk with my coach.

Pulling the plug: didn't attempt any toe-loops or sit-spins. But it's still early in the season. I've been doing some new stuff for my back and it's getting better-don't want to mess up progress.

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

Show Time !!!
My coach is back after a 3 week absence, a brief visit in between ice shows overseas. Had a lesson this morning.

I haven't been able to do backspins since she left, so I joked that she took it with her, that it went to Abu Dhabi with her So funny, this morning, cos it immediately came back. She was a bit disappointed with my lack of progress on the exit edge, but it's hard to practise the exit on a non-existent spin. Anyway, she has challenged me to get it up to 10 revs while she's away for 5 weeks this time. Immediately she made that challenge, I got 7 revs this morning
She seemed pleased with my overall progress.

We worked on change foot spins, sit spins and change sit spins. Got some work to do re-learning how she wants me to change feet, different from how I was taught before.

It feels sooooooo good to work hard, skate quite well. Then I had to go to work, but the endorphins pulled me through the day.

Pulling the Plug
We'll fit in one more lesson this Sunday before she goes away for 5 weeks. Hope to work on camel spin & flip so I can start improving them while she's away.

__________________
Katz

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

Pulling the plug
Though I did not fall down a lot, the times when I fell, I fell hard on the ice, and everyone was staring at me, once I got booed at. Sigh I don't understand it. I try so hard during lessons, put in a lot of speed, get my basics correct, sometimes can't concentrate too much, and I fall. But people look at me, like it's wrong to fall so hard. Isn't it like if you don't fall during lessons, it means you don't try hard enough? But well apparently my coach sees it as a sign that I can't do anything, so she doesn't teach me much new things.

Show time
Nothing really.

Just laugh those falls off. You've not done the clink of death right? Once, I was saying okay, then I did one BXO (for spin) and CLINK I went down. Really a one moment up, and the next you don't see me kind of fall. I fall on stupid stuff sometimes. But when I'm learning something I try my hardest. I don't want to fall because I'm not trying hard enough eg shoot the duck - sit down instead of (trying to) hold it there. I rather fall doing something I know I tried. Eg going over the toepick on camel and do a body splat. That way, even if my coach continues to work on camel, I know it's okay because matter of fact, I haven't gotten it down. If people laugh at you, well, ask yourself, who are they to laugh at you? They are either callous or that they don't wanna make it seem like they can't do it either! I got laughed at by public skaters, but boo hoo. I don't care about them.
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Pulling the plug
Okay I asked my coach if I can learn a flying spin. He said I need a back camel so I learnt that today. Guess what. If camel had been given the Number 1 spot for being the most difficult spin, then back camel just took the crown. I am so annoyed. I can't get into a camel position. My upper body doesn't go down. I seem to be going in a huge circle.

Pulling more plugs during showtime...
Axel was better in lesson. Like seriously better, no crossing, but more rotation and I actually feel the rotation. I ALMOST cheated some while practising. uhhh. but I sat down all the time. AND THEN!!! They all disappeared! Disappear as in they became huge over-rotated waltz jumps. -dies-

A friend helped with layback. I had one really nice one after she left. One. Pathetic one.

I'll be away from the ice for maybe 3 weeks (no lesson) and not sure about practice... -sigh- I'll miss the ice.

Oh good gracious. Falls HAPPEN. To EVERYONE. What's the big deal? Talk with your coach. There may be another reason she's not teaching you new things. See what she says when you tell her you want to learn something new.

Show Time:
-Managed one good fwd spin, one good backspin in my 15-minute lesson today.
Pulling the Plug:
-In 15 minutes, I managed only one good fwd spin, one good backspin.
Why am I such a spinning idiot? I've been working iwth a spin coach, usually just once every other week, since APRIL, folks. I mean, there's improvement, but seriously? All this time and work and I'm still not terribly consistent on a plain-Jane fwd spin??????? Maybe if I just amputate my entire upper body (this is the source of most of the problems) I'll do better. . .

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"Go wash an elephant if you wanna do something big." -Baby Gramps

Hey don't worry. I'm such a spinner. Maybe if I just amputate my flyaway arms and hunched shoulder and uncrossed legs and tilted body, I'll jump better! Be glad it's not jumps. It seems like everyone I know is a jumper...

I find the flying camel easier than the back camel and many skaters I've talked to agree. I think it's quite common for skaters to learn the flying camel before the back camel (my coach taught me the flying camel first). Then again, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to try to learn the flying camel and the axel at the same time. You certainly wouldn't want to use the flying camel technique on your axel.

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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

I don't get that. It's rude to get booed at for one thing. I agree that you should discuss it with your coach. If falling is a regular occurance for you then perhaps you need to find out why and your coach can shed some light onto that (positioning, poor core strength, being distracted, improper form, etc can all contribute).

Show time: helped out at the rink's summer skate camp---those little girls wore me out! Well, add 4 boys to the mix and call me exhausted! At least I brought my own food....tons of healthy stuff and protein shakes. I was on my way out and saw my coach skating on freestyle, she wanted me to come skate with her but I was wiped! But there was no way!

Pulling the Plug: I am helping again tomorrow!!! AAAAHHHHH!!!! someone save me LOL!

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