Being in Oz, it's already 15th June here, so I'll start things off.

Awful:
major fights with husband about money this week, he told me we can't afford for me to skate any more !!!! He did give me money to skate yesterday, but my mind wasn't in it and I skated really badly. I couldn't imagine a life without skating, it was too awful to think about.

He also gave me money to skate today, as he wanted me to take our DD.
The ice hadn't been cut since I skated on it yesterday morning, so it was pretty cut up, and very hard & brittle. Every flip took out chunks of ice, and I swear I wasn't banging the toe in. Also made spinning hard, get tripping on ruts.

Awesome:
Me, & DD, according to a group of teenagers skating today. Ah, nothing like some public session adoration from recreational skaters to make me feel good.

Skated quite well, despite the awful ice, jumps were pretty good today. Still getting used to the new skates though.

Even more Awesome: when I got home husband took one look at my glowing face and said we would just have to find a way for me to keep skating. I'll have to be very frugal and not waste my money, but I can keep skating !

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Katz

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

*Hugs* Money is such an issue in skating, isn't it?

For us today:

Awesome: We rechoreographed the part of our free dance that really wasn't working and didn't work in competition. I hope we have it sorted now, but won't know until next time we skate.

Awful: The ice was, as expected, manic as this afternoon there is our major club competition, and people were having last-minute practices. And even ten minutes of dancing with Husband made my thumb hurt like anything - I had thought it was getting better, but no..... Coach says to strap it before I skate on Tuesday, but am not quite sure how.

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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!

Averaging...?

Test tomorrow

I've never done a test before, I'm petrified!! If I skate it how I did today in practice, I should be fine. If I forget to breathe, and start shaking like I generally do in music exams...well, we won't go there!

And I have to be up at 5.30

Never skated at that time of the morning...dubious, to say the least.

good luck! im sure you will be fine. Let us know how you get on

Helen88 - good luck and have fun!

Katz - I know what you are going through. My husband finally realized that skating was so good for me mentally and physically, that he definitely wants me to continue.

Awful - Work has been so busy that I have not been on the boards for a long time, and I have missed all of you!

Awesome - 4 weeks ago, after 11 years of skating, at age 54, I landed my flip. And, I have done it every time I have skated since, I'm so afraid of losing it! It's baby, a bit cheated, but it's there, and I can build on it. I can also, about half the time land it in the waltz jump - half loop - flip combination. Also, I have lost 20 pounds since January on the South Beach diet, all my skating dress fit again hooray!

Yay! Congrats for all those accomplishments!

Awesome: Our summer skating schedule begins this week, which means much more ice time! I can't wait because I narrowed my coaching schedule down to two days (don't know how I managed that one, LOL!), so I have nearly every morning free to skate...and the rest of the afternoons to lay out poolside.

Well, I am testing Gold free again tomorrow morning, and I really didn't skate all that well this morning. I'm chalking it up to an off day. I'll be fine tomorrow. I'm looking forward to just having the test DONE with!

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

Take it from me. It's always good to have a terrible skate before testing or competing. It gets all the bad stuff out of the way. On the other hand, I find that if I skate a perfect program or dance in practice before testing or competing, I'm in for major screw ups. But then not everyone is like me.

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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

That's really great! Is it possible for you to do some kind of work, or even volunteer at the rink for extra money or free ice time?

I found a VIDEO that is quite detailed.

Good luck!

Congratulations!

Hope you can stick a fork in it tomorrow !

Awesome:
I didn't practice today, just taught, first a small class, then a few private lessons. After that I skated around a while, tried some FO figures, got frustrated with them, and for no good reason at all, decided to do FO3's in the figure pattern. I always warm up my threes first in several small stages, but this time I just pushed off and did them - no problem. Did the same with the FI's and they were so good that had there been a smaller crowd on the public session, I would have tried to hold on to complete the entire circle. I seem to be finally be over my F three turn fear! I also later on, just did a few RBO threes, again no fear. I was able to do a few prelim power threes also, and am getting the speed back up again.

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Just Plain Awful
Yesterday was terrible. I got a retry on my preliminary moves. I'm so frustrated/upset/discouraged. It was the alternating 3's that killed me. Normally I do those beautifully. But not when it counts.

I'm just humiliated that I didn't pass my PRELIMINARY moves. WTF! Who does that? I do apparently.

Oh, and it was my birthday too.

And OMG my hands. They hurt so badly while I tested. It was too cold. I'm a tough girl and I can take a lot of pain, but I got off the ice and burst into tears because they hurt so badly. They weren't just cold, but they burned and felt like they were being stabbed with pins and needles.

Happy 18th birthday to me...

Awesome?
One comment I did get from all of the judges is that I'm a powerful skater. They said I just need to learn to control it. I'm gonna start taking MIF lessons, so hopefully next time I'll pass (like I know I can).

Blarg.

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Youtube Videos

Sorry to hear that! That's rough, especially on your birthday.

The thing with Preliminary MIF is that many of the moves require lots of body and edge control, like the spirals and the alternating 3-turns. Take a few more MIF lessons like you said, and I'm sure you'll get it next time!

Don't be discouraged, frustrated, and upset. The comment about the power: that's fabulous because when you do pass your Preliminary moves (which you totally will) and work your way up to the Intermediate test, for example, you'll be ahead of the game, as that's typically the "power" test.

I know it doesn't seem this way now, but the Preliminary test is just a short chapter in your skating career. Try not to be discouraged and use your frustration as motivation. Take it from me. I just passed to my Novice freestyle after finally passing my Intermediate freestyle test in April on the fourth try. So, believe me...it can be done.

Did your birthday go well otherwise?

Thanks for the nice/encouraging resopnse. I need that right now.

I normally do have decent body control, and I did get good marks on the spirals (although I did have a few issues on the inside edge spirals, but most people do). But they're right, I don't know how to control my power (probably because skating with power isn't something I've done for very long, I used to be a very weak skater).

The rest of my birthday was pretty unremarkable, TBH lol. I got home from my test and slept. I did go see "Sex in the City" with a friend, and I loved it.

I'm going to continue the celebration throughout the week probably. I want to go get something pierced, and my sister will probably take me to do that tomorrow.

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Youtube Videos

I know lots of people who got retrys on Prelim MIF. It's usually the lack of power that gets them, so you are actually ahead of the game.

I'm that you didn't have some MIF lessons specifically to prepare for the test. You really need to know what the judges are looking for, and what they are sticklers on in your area. I also know lots of people who passed Prelim MIF who would not have in many places. I've seen some extremely sloppy threes on the line pass. For example, stepping forward a foot from the line because the skater can't check the turn enough to make it all the way back without retrogressing. I've seen a 5'5" tall skater pass with 8 threes on the line instead of 4 - tiny, tiny lobes. I'm sure with some MIF lessons you will breeze through next time.

Re control - there is nothing better than figures. If your coach teaches figures, you could start those too. Since you won't be testing, but doing them for the discipline, you don't absolutely have to have a scribe.

Hope the birthday wasn't spoiled by the retry - 18 is a major milestone and deserves a celebration!

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I definitely think the judges played a part in the retry. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming the judges, but I know I would have passed in other places.

As for not having moves lessons--I don't even know that they would have helped. My coach would never have let me test if she didn't think I could pass. I guess I just choked. I don't have very much experience with testing or competing, so I haven't really learned how to deal with skating under pressue. I'm trying very hard to look on the bright side re: power. Before my break, I was a very weak, very stiff skater. Recently, my old 2nd coach has told me that I have become a much stronger skater, and this test validated that.

I'm hoping to work on figures as well. My coach is offering a figures group lesson, but I'm sure she we could work on them in privates.

Maybe if I combine figures with moves/ice dance lessons, I'll be unstoppable!

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Youtube Videos

ITA — coaches are essential, but especially for moves! Moves are so detail-oriented. You have to have someone not only teaching you the moves the right way, but giving you the right corrections. An objective eye is key. I could never imagine doing moves without a coach.

That said, I'm sorry you failed, and on your birthday, too. I'm sure you'll respond to lessons very quickly and pass the next time!

I think I'm misunderstanding — do you take moves lessons at all, or are you saying you should've taken more? Did you test against the wishes of your coach?

Good luck to Stormy and Helen88! Let us know how it goes.

If you have power on your preliminary moves you'll be great on Pre-Juve and Juvenile since those are mostly power tests. You were probably unnerved by the burning sensation in your hands as well as the entire idea of testing. Testing is a completely different skill than anything else.. it's like jumping or spinning. The only way to learn how to do it is just to do it. You can simulate it.. but it's not quite the same. See if you can have your coach (or you, if you know someone) set up a critique from one of the judges who saw your test. Then you'll have a better idea what judges in your area are looking for and what you can do to meet those expectations. Also, if you have a judge come critique you and they see you do better they sometimes feel responsible for that and you are then "their skater" -- and they take pride in your accomplishments. That's not saying they'll pass you because you talked to them once.. but they MIGHT feel more protective of you and if you ask for advice, then take that advice... well, sometimes it's like a parent's pride in their kid.

You'll do better next time and good luck with the moves lessons!

Oh, and I failed a test on a major birthday too... and then on my Mother's birthday... I'm beginning to think tests should not be taken on birthdays of people we know!

That happens to me, too! I had a miserable week leading up to when I passed Novice MIF - tweaked the ankle I sprained six months prior, didn't do full test runthroughs for four days, slept poorly the night before, ripped my competition tights and practically missed the test warm-up. After surviving that, the test was nothing!

Stormy, I know you will kick butt and take names! Good luck!!

I've seen a lot of kids fail PreJuv because of the F/B 3-turns. IMO it's worth it to spend the extra time getting the alternating 3's really good before tackling the F/B pattern.

Thanks!


Bad luck! It happens - I did that in my last Moves test; simply didn't skate as well as I could, and duly failed. Sigh..... More moves-specific lessons are a good idea, I think - or at least get your coach to have you run through them at least once every lesson so s/he can see what you need to work on.

Belated happy birthday for yesterday - in this country I'd be asking how you'd enjoyed your first legal drink, but I believe in the USA drinking age is a little older than 18? I had a birthday on Saturday and drank pink champagne..... which was nice!

Helen - how did you get on? Enquiring minds want to know.

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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!

And belated happy birthday to you Mrs. RB!

AWFUL! (Techinically this was Sat the 14th)....was planning on getting in 3 solid hous of practice to get my progarm back together (competing in Grand Rapids in just 2 weeks), but woke up with a slight headache...which as I took a shower and started to get dressed to go to the rink turned into a full blown migraine (and me on my bed curled up in a ball crying), vomiting, the works. Didn't get to skate at all. I was able to fall asleep eventually and woke up ok a few hours later.

I'm trying to pick up extra ice at this Friday morning (and maybe actually get with my coach and have a lesson) but the morning sessions are for high tested freestyle skaters...I *think* it'll still be ok, my coach is the director of the summer program. Even though I'm only silver free (technically bronze, haven't tested yet), I'm on junior MIF and pre-gold dances, so I can hold my own in terms of strength and won't get in the way...I'm much better off on that session than the general session where there are a ton of little kids and I can't get anything done because the coaches don't teach them how to look out for other skaters.

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2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything

Awww, Rachel, that sucks! I'm glad you're feeling better! Don't worry about Grand Rapids....you're going to be great!

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

Thanks Keep me posted on testing, you'll kick butt this time!!!

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2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything

Awesome: I skated this morning! It's been over a week and a half since I've been on the ice, but I had a lesson with my coach this morning and summer ice opens at my rink today. Later, I have another contract, two group lessons, and an off ice. Super excited.

Awful: My jump run-thru was wonky for some reason. Instead of gliding back after the pick on my flip, I'm going around; I've never had this problem. My entrance edge to my lutz is also weak... Grrr, it's benn a long time since I've had major issues with these jumps! Hopefully it's just muscle fatigue from lack of use and flying so much this past week. And temporary. My program afterwards sucked. I missed the first 5 or 10 sec of my music because it was playing too softly. And then I finished super late. Not to mention the fact that I wanted to stop dead and start panting in the middle! I guess endurance fades quickly too when I sit on my butt all week.

Awesome: I might be able to bump my lesson count up to 3 from 2 each week.

Awful: My axel and double sal weren't cooperating today. I think it's because of the loss of muscle tone from getting fat this past week. Anyways, I'll try them again later today. Hopefully they will work then.

Awful/Awesome: My test date is next Friday!!! I totally lost track of time. My program is decent and most likely passable, but I'm starting to freak out at this impending date!!!

Passed!! Thank you all for the good wishes, they obviously worked

I need to work on being neater - which isn't a surprise really. I was the first on - first skater in the first group which was interesting...hopefully, I'll be much more relaxed next time, as I'll know how it all works. I think I seemed a bit unenthusiastic when I got off the ice actually - it was just relief talking though!

Oh, and belated happy birthdays to you and ibreakhearts