At least for a little while.

DD had to get evaluated for a summer skate camp at another rink since home rink is closing for 2 months. Since the last comp, dd and coach have been only working on skills no programs. So when evaluation came she placed at Freestyle 1 which is the competitative section. They have the basic skills to delta then the competitor's. I think they have another for higher freestlye. So now mum doesn't think we are wasting time with this, at least untill the next competition if DD doesn't place well. I'm not expectiong her to since she is still quite a weakling. The other girls in her class have been skating for 3-4 years and have these leg muscles that are just like iron! I don't think she could develope that power in the time she has been skating.

Honestly, don't under-estimate what your daughter can or cannot do. These kids never cease to amaze me! They do things I can only dream of doing! It's pretty amazing to watch the transformation. It's wornderful that your little girl is progressing well. I would not worry about your mom. Take one step at a time and enjoy the ride(it can be fun!)

Also, don't worry about what the kids who seem "stronger" are doing. If your daughter has good technique she could very well place better then the kids who look "stronger" to you. In fact, at a recent competition, I thought other skaters went out and looked "better" then my dd did. My daughter DID do well, but I thought all the skaters did. I didn't know what the outcome would be. Dd came in 1st! What we think put her over the top was 1 element... her camel spin. She pulled off a very nice spin!Rrequired revolutions were 3. I gasped as she completed 5! Her coach said she reacted much the same! I had seen her skate her program many times and sometimes in haste, she would under rotate her spin! Go figure!

Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that she is new to the level. We always tell our daughter the most important thing is how SHE feels after she has preformed. She needs to know she tried her best no matter what the outcome is. There have been times we've put her in a level just to challenge her. Sometimes the result is better then any of us expected and other times, it is a surprise and sometimes it is exactly what we thought would happen. My daughter will be skaitng pre-preliminary in September. Frankly, this will be a challenge for her. She will be in a completely different pond. We will set personal goals and have her aim for those(ie: landing her axel for the first time in a comp...). Again, I expect her to try her best but I certainly don't expect she will win(FWIW, I never expect that). Some of the kids will have been skating at that level for awhile and that can make a difference. She'll be at this level for awhile and can aim higher each time she skates.

This has turned into me babbling! Sorry! I know you are very proud of your girl. Don't let your mom get to you. She probably means well... but hopefully she will begin to see that kids feed off of adults and their unspoken feelings. My daughter's coach pointed this out to me once. She said that my daughter would pretty much go by my reaction. If I blew it off as no big deal, chances were she would also. It's true in most instances! If I am relaxed and less stressed, so is my daughter. I hope your daughter has fun skating this summer and that her competition goes very well... no matter what her placement is! When is the next competition?

__________________
skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven

Daughter is doing ISI, not USFSA? Don't let your mum know that ISI is the more recreational organization, or she'll get back on her Negative-Nelly bandwagon!

__________________
blades, gary, Lucy, Emily, take care of Aiden and Sami. Sami is my sweetest heart, and always will be, forever. RIP Cubby Boy, my hero dog.

I don't know when the next comp is, but she has 2 shows and she got a solo and group in both.

Yes the rink that is open in the summer is ISI. Her normal rink and her private coach do USFS but she registered her in ISI for the last competition. I'll be sure not to mention the distinctions

Good for her! Shows are fun. I hope she has a great time in both!

__________________
skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven

One question. Is it possible that dd can do a competition without mum knowing about it? Hide the dress and music, and have somebody take mum out for a pleasure day (preferably in another city) on competition day so dd can come and go without mum knowing?

Wild notion, I know, but it might work.

__________________
Right Brain: In the distant future, I will land all of the doubles.
Left Brain: HAHAHAHAHA
Left Brain: You can't even do a backspin.
Right Brain: ...

figurekb on YouTube.

Or just buy a gag

no not possible. It will be good till the fall. I'm sure I'll be venting here again then!

That would work, too

We'll all be here to absorb your venting! Vent away!

__________________
Right Brain: In the distant future, I will land all of the doubles.
Left Brain: HAHAHAHAHA
Left Brain: You can't even do a backspin.
Right Brain: ...

figurekb on YouTube.

Thanks !