DallasSkater!!! Did you SEE Spamama today on skate???

MARK THIS DAY!!!! SPAMAMA WENT ON THE ICE TODAY!!! WOO HOO!!! GO SPAMAMA!!!

You'll be fine...and I'm sure one of these days you'll be back on that pair of blue booties!!! Epsom Salt baths and OTC pain relievers should help you thru the muscle aches!!!

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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!!!

She said I need a break. I have been skating 17 months straight, 3 to 5 times a week. I made my goal (the adult championships) in March and I think she is afraid I am pushing too hard and maybe that I'll "burn out". I trust her so I'll take the 2.5 weeks off and see how that effects my skating.

I am not injured (physically) though my mental state is questionable

Thanks for asking!

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

I'm leaving for my group lesson in about ten minutes but I just wanted to say this.

Having joined XC this year, my first time running, I was supposed to run for 25 minutes straight, but I only made it 13.(I was going a bit faster than I should have because I didn't want my already runner friend to have to run really slow)

I ran a 9:45 mile so that's good I guess for someone who hasn't run any distance at all since a year and a half ago, and that was just because it was soccer preseason, and back then I ran a mile in about 13 minutes. Go figure. In 6th grade I once ran a 7:30 mile during gym. Oh to be young again.

So this will be the first time I've run and skated in the same day, so it will be interesting to see how running affects my skating ability.

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The answer is in your PM!!!

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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!!!

I know how you feel! I was there and sooo close to burning out also-got to the point where I almost didint want to put my skates on when the rink closed for the season! Took a month off, then started running up to the summer rink. Felt better after that! Hang in there, you will get your mojo back!

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

In skating, as in love, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

I usually find myself in a mental slump toward the end of the season and wonder if it's all worth it. It's always a lack of progress that gets me down.

When our rink closes, I celebrate not having to get up at 4:30 am to skate. Soon however, I start making long trips to skate, and by the time our rink opens again in September, you couldn't drag me away from the ice.

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Bill Schneider

Bundle of Joy:
Nothing spectacular... coach things that my lack of sleep affects my practises... and I was on a low hours per night streak

Little Nuisance:
Most things were pretty much the same... well again at least the ice cleared up at the end and I got to work on some stroking and edges.

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Tidesong

Bundle of Joy Great lesson yesterday on almost completely empty ice (1 other skater, who was my coaches student so he stayed out of our way). As a result I was able to run the complete test from start to finish. Coach said it was completely passabled

Little Nuisance But the Waltz Eight and Backward Inside edges suck for my skating, even if they are passing standard. Oh- and coach decided my snowplow stop was babyish and he wouldn't let me do it. I can do a T-stop only if I'm going really really slow- so I have to take a pretty long glide out of some of the moves, because I have generated a good amount of power. I almost ran into the wall once- that was good motivation to get the t-stop.

Bigger Nuisance Right before practice I had a bad fall on my salchow. I didn't hit the landing well and started falling forward, so I shifed sideways so I'd hit my thigh instead of my head. I pretty much fell sitting, but really knocked my hip hard, which reverberated up my back to my neck. Having my neck pop really scared me! It was scary enough that I didn't get up right away, even though I wasn't hurt. I wasn't laying on the ice, but I must have looked shocked enough that a coach came by to ask if I was alright. OOPS- mustn't have people think there is a problem everytime I fall or else they won't come when there is one! I told him I was fine thanks, and stood up and went to the boards. My leg hurt horribly and so did my neck. After stretching my neck I was fine and went to do my lesson- my leg still hurts to walk though. BUT this is the first time anything I've done has hurt my neck- a few more of these and I might have to rethink skating- I can't risk my neck...

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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)

Rustyblades: it's good to take a break. Oftentimes something you couldn't get for a while suddenly sinks in after a break.

Bundle of joy:
- ankle's holding up for backspins and even a waltz jump or two, despite that the doctor said there was instability in it. Which is good, cuz when I got off the ice in April it wasn't holding up. Not gonna push it any further than this though for the moment. One time over the edge is enough for me.
- did a bunch of centered backspins, and the tracings are beginning to look like spins too even though the majority are still uncentered.
- figured out there's 3 problems with my forward spin ccw (the spin trainer is REALLY helping here with the being conscious of what you're doing part) : 1. dropping the right hip 2. dropping the same shoulder 3. coming up from the knee either too early or too late (it varies). Problem is, I don't know what the correct height is - can't see myself - and I can't focus on all 3 at the same time. So this is definitely a cookie for a coach - but it's good to have an idea for myself of where the problem is. Holding the arms on entrance instead of dropping them briefly like I was doing is helping tons for stability - but not for centering.

Nuisance:
- Totally need to think about taking ice dance (despite that the only serious ice dancing club in the vicinity has an average age of about 60) over the summer next summer. Spins and body position aren't sinking away that fast, but edge control is out the window completely. Even my 3-turns are sloppy.
- I fell on my back cw crossovers. To a spin entry. What's up with that?
- Apparently I really am the jumper explosive-brief-force type. I can hold the spinning position (on a backspin) - you know the one with the hips in and the chest pushed forward - for about 6-7 revolutions. Then the muscles are just exhausted and relax no matter if I focus on it. And really, I've got belly muscles that impress guys, so it's not for a lack of muscles. Guess I must practice on that position alone or something, holding it for a long time.

Overall well worth the 19 euro (25 dollar) for the not even 2 hours of ice actually.

Closed shoulders mainly. I was falling to the right cuz without closing the arms I was breaking and twisting to the right from the waist.

That spin trainer thing is really good... Seriously. It's not magical of course but... it's good.

Bundle of Joy: Amazing axels, decent double salchows (crossed my feet on a few!), and pretty good, fast flying camels. Dance was also great! Coach said Paso and Starlight should be ready to test by July 11th test sessioon! That's great too - I've already passed 4 dances in 9 weeks, and I really want to try and get these Pre-Golds done by the end of summer. All I've got left after Paso and Starlight is the Blues...

Yay!!!!! So are you hooked yet?

Be careful - some of the judges hate that!

There are some people out there who have very weird lacings to suit their particular feet - I may well not have the laces in the top two holes of my left foot, if it doesn't stop hurting soon, and I'm not the only one who does that! I don't expect the judges will notice, or mind if they do, but if you'd feel more comfortable in over-boot tights just in case, well, it's a great look! See you on Thursday!

As for me:

Nuisance: Foot still sore, although I think it was a little better today. This may be wishful thinking.....

Toe-picked myself in the first run-through of our free dance and fell over - let's hope I don't do that next Friday!

Joy: Compulsories felt really good - let's hope they looked that way! 2nd run-through of free dance was good and we fixed a problem at the start hat had been nagging at me. Couples' Interpretive piece (the Very Silly) is coming-along-nicely now, and coach's son says we can borrow his hobby-horse (don't even ask!!!) for it.

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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!

What a nuisance!

The rink was literally a swimming pool when I got there today - not just isolated puddles, but the entire rink seemed filled with water and the wake of the skates going through! This is what happens during public school holidays, when the rink would be busy the entire day, and there is not much time for the ice to sit and freeze.

I absolutely hate to fall in water, so I would not jump. Or if I did, I would find dry patches. It was a little better after resurfacing - there were 2 little dry patches, so I did manage some jumps. Still, was afraid to fall, slide and get into the pond, so jumps were horrible!

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Blog: http://chowskates.blogspot.com

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/chowskates
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And more importantly, when are you gonna put on those blue booties again???

Nuisance:

• My sit spin position. It's low enough... HOWEVER secondary coach wants it even LOWER!!! (Some of you that has seen my video... yes, folks! You've heard it here first!!! I still have to get it even LOWER than what I have.) But her main concern is that I'm a bit "crooked" on the sit position and she wants that fixed first!
• Camel: Not much time to work on those, and what I did try to do in front of her got her REALLY worried!!!
• There's always work to do on my scratch spin and today ain't any different.
• Ditto on FORWARD STROKING and crossovers!!! But it's definitely getting MUCH better!!!

Bundle of Joy:

• Had fun showing off my new artistic program music to her. Apparently the kids are thinking "Oh, whose music??? Is this someone's program or 'skating around the lap' music?" Secondary coach proudly boasted "Nope! It's Jazzpants' music!!!" and the next thing I know, secondary coach is shaking her booty and trying to nudge me to do the same. Meanwhile, the kids are chuckling, but I think it's more b/c secondary coach looks funny shaking her booty than my choice of music. (FWIW, primary coach is definitely trying to limit/avoid having me shake my booty in the program too... but so far he's busy working on the choreography for the artistic program of another one of his skaters, since my FS program is NOT QUITE FINISHED yet!)

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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!!!

Ahh, I am VERY familiar with that particular problem, LOL! I sometimes fall into the habit of not swinging my right arm in as I go into the backspin. It's really hard to get it going without doing that.

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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, sounds like you just need a little inspiration! Try this. . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8F5l4_R_38

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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

OMG!!! LMAO!!! (And I thought you were gonna post the one where Sasha does a triple sal right thru the ice into a pool of water...)

Yes, quite inspiring... especially the footwork!!!

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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!!!

Yes, indeed very inspiring... I've seen this before, but now that I know its on YouTube, I can watch it over and over again!!!

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Blog: http://chowskates.blogspot.com

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/chowskates
~~~~~

that's funny stuff.

Bundle of Joy: Finished choreographing my new free skate yesterday, and I can already finish on time with the music! I was kind of scared to try the lutzes with that much speed, so I just marked them in my lesson. I'll practice them today, and see if I can get them in.

Little Nuisance: Spins. It's always spins. That ($%#(*& camel! I also have a layback in this program for the first time, and I doubt it looks like much. I can get my leg up or my back down, but not both simultaneously. Sigh. It may become an attitude spin yet.

bundle of joy:
double loops are still on track again? I remmeber one crazy session, one ok one and today started really bad but coach had to get me to walk it through the single again before I could relax and do what I was supposed to do instead of just freezing up.
Its funny how basic somethings are... bending so I can jump and well pulling in at the right time. Just before I pull in I get this sense of just empty blueness... I've always attributed that to me staring down at the ice... but I have no idea, anyways its different and its SCARY but i know that if I pull in early so I don't get scared then it won't work. I have to relax, let the part come that i'm scared of... then pull in
and then its perfect (well not absolutely, coach said I had one full rotation one but I think i fell out of that landing) ...

only had time to run through spins vaguely today... and well they were ok I guess, camel didn't fall out too much. Oh and my flying sit spin made two surprising appearances last practise and this. Like yeah it flew (not perfect) but it wasn't a mini hop, and i spinned at the end! I really don't know whats up with it....

Little nuisance:
WHY can't i do my double toe loop just like last week?? WHY WHY WHY why
well ok after doing really crazy things all through sunday and tuesday, it some how magically cleared up to be slightly crazy when i told myself firmly to just relax and do the jump.
then my coach was quite pleased with the attempt, then we worked on somethings and I started freezing up again...
finally she gave me an exercise to work on the entry. at least I got something to practise now...

p.s. hiphop instructor made us do so many crunches and plank holding until my abs hurt today... suprisingly it didnt actually really seem to affect my skating... and i told my coach and she said ya i should be doing those everyday...and that reminds me that I did the plank faithfully everyday for i think almost three weeks after my ballet teacher told me to do it and then uh.... I forgot I guess I'll start again... i wonder if I will still remember next month....

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~
Tidesong

Bundle of joy:
Did a bunch of centered scratch spins (though even more uncentered ones) AND figured out how to spin controlled (not centered yet) with a leg extended out.

Can now do a change-foot spin that has enough revolutions to pass. This means that if I can get my sit-spin, I've got all the spins I need to test the freestyle test I want to take (although for the test, you need to do the spins centered, but I've got till april! Can be done).

Back inside edges are now there (now to get some speed on them! I need them for the next MIF test).

The top of the Dutch skating world was on the ice too and were getting lessons in like... hydroblade-ish positions close to the ground. I could do them too. Woot! ego-boost!!!

Nuisance:

Ear infection or head cold or something like it. Ear hurts, head hurts, I'm going nauseous from the slightest movement and I'm dizzy. It started yesterday afternoon and I'm guessing that's why I can't get into the sit spin for the life of me (I never had one for real, but something that resembled one) and that's also why I didn't do a lot of spinning today.

Bundle of joy: Awesome, awesome dance lesson! I worked mainly on learning the timing of the Starlight Waltz, which isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Heck, I actually like this waltz! (That's saying something for me, hahaha!) We're planning on putting it out, along with my Paso, sometime in mid-July, but unfortunately, I'll have to take the test in a standard size rink. Now typically this wouldn't be a problem, but I'm used to practicing in an Olympic rink and my coach said that she's concerned because I'm filling out the Olympic rink wall to wall. I thought it was because my edges aren't deep enough, but she said that I just push that hard, hahaha! Yay for power!

Little nuisance: Despite the fact that the rink was nearly empty, there were two other young girls skating...well, more like goofing around and getting in my way, which was a little irritating. Plus, one of the girls kept playing "Don't Rain on my Parade" and this one song from Grease over and over. Don't get me wrong - I love Grease, but if I heard the hand jive number one more time...

Bundle of joy: Landed my first clean double salchow since getting my new skates two weeks ago! Doubles were always rotated completely, but for some reason, I kept two-footing the landing. (Blame it on the whole mental aspect of new boots & blades...) Now I officially have my axel and double salchows perfect in my new boots. Thank you, Harlick!

joy-ish: got a half loop and a two footed 1/2 or 3/4 flip. i've got the takeoff, now i need the strength to rotate 1 rotation.
got 4 rotations on forward spin. plus, on the perfectly zambonied ice, i could see the nice tracings... which were in a circle, not a bunch of 3 turns. yay!
backspin is looking even more promising.


nuisance: ankle rubbing/chafing against one skate.
fell on a loop attempt and got scratches (???) on my arm. how does ice scratch?

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I've no idea but I've got it all over too. Usually I fall on cheesegrater ice, and then it's like one bloody pulp, but even mirror ice chafes somehow.