In keeping with all the great baseball games yesterday. I had the pleasure of being at the O's game on a beautiful day.

Base run - got my new skates on Saturday. I got Jackson Dance boots in my FS stiffness with some other custom changes. So far, I like the ability to point my toe and not have my heel come up. It was the first time I was able to put on a pair of new boots and go out and do a counter and for that matter stop.

Out - the one place that's irritating my foot is the back of the boot where the leather meets the elastic cuff. Have to work on covering the transition with some gel.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Base Run:
Camel spins, Camel-sit-change-sit were good.
Low-entry sit spin was good.
Prel MITF were just okay.
Waltz jumps were good; toe loops were very good and I didn't kick myself in the foot!

Out:
Loop jumps - still working on them. Only landed a few baby ones.
Back scratch spins were rocky, but I managed to hold them.
Worked on quick back spins in the scratch position for jump pullins/pullouts. (From a standstill.)
Tango stops are better, bringing the free foot to the front has helped, but now I'm using the heel of my blade to stop. Grrr.

March "Try It": Twizzles
Twizzles are definitely helping the forward threes AND keeping the foot in front for jumps/spins - yay! Plus, they're fun.
Still working on keeping the right foot in front on the LFI Twizzles - it's awkward because of the CW rotation. (I skate CCW)

April "Try It": BO spiral with the leg in front.
The off-ice stretches are really helping - I can bring the free leg from behind, around to the front. Not as high as I want, but I'm not wobbling. Still need to ride the edge more.

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Base run

Well, the 5 step mohawk still isn't pretty but I'm doing it, lots of scrapping and two footing on the right ones, but you gotta start somewhere.

Started working on my compulsary again that I'm going to compete in June...and quite proud of myself - there are two places I need to turn forward to backward and I turned one of the two foot turns into a mohawk (left of course) and it is actually quite smooth and no loss of speed. Darn I wish I could do a left mohawk in the Swing Dance!

Made up a little spin program for my one foot and two foot spins competition, inbetweens consisting of forward chasses and back swing rolls. Woohoo.

Out

Worked on the compulsary in my lesson - coach says "You are not allowed to hook that entry edge in your waltz jump" - once she pointed me in the right direction it was much better. Then she got out the dreaded bands -- these stretchy bands that I had to hold on to while I jumped to keep my arms where they belonged. That was terrible - it threw me all off. Ugh - we might be moving to another rink next week and she's planning to bring the #$$!! bands with her!

j

I'm impressed you can jump with those things. I get tangled up just holding onto the band behind my back, when I'm doing moves! My secondary coach even laughs and calls it "torture time".

Did I say I could jump with them???

J

Base Hit: Since it was a Monday off (for me) I went in to enjoy the 7 a.m. almost-empty ice and work on backwards edges - they’re coming along slowly but surely. Also took in 3 different music cuts to listen to with my coach and discuss the possibilities and we played around with possible moves to suit the music.

We also talked about shifting one of my lessons from Thursday afternoon to Thursday morning since she is so busy on the afternoon session and morning ice is so DEAD! So I decided to add Monday mornings as well

I told her that I am going to want to move into jumps when my back edges are more solid and I get settled into my new boots so I got an introductory lesson to the Waltz jump .... oh yea! This should be do-able!

Out!: Not a particularly strong session today - nothing new or noteworthy - but any Monday morning on the ice is better than a Monday at the office

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

Base run:
As if I even understand baseball terminology.
Today was a very good day for me, I land 3 axels today fully rotated nice cross on the foot for the very first time. Double sow has hope, all of this bodes well since my shot is next week. New footwork is coming along nicely currently just getting it memorized and working on making it faster and deeper should be a 2 or a 3. Getting inside edge on back sit and back scratch, outside edge on end front.

Out:
Took incredibly hard fall on Tango after swing mohawk, rocked back onto heel, (no heel on MK dance blades ) onto bad hip and just crunched neck, not pleasant at all! Everything seems to work, so I'll just continue onward.

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Who me? Couldn't be....
http://www.youtube.com/bouldersk8r

Base Run:

Did a decent scratch spin which nobody saw since it was an empty session. Finally made my coach come over and look at the tracing.

Out:
Was shown the bronze moves. They are comical. Also thoroughly enjoyed having my coach drag me around the ice at a speed that I would never chose to move at. Apparently, being afraid for your life shows "power" to the judges.

Called third strike looking with the bases loaded and 2 outs:
My coach is going on a 2 month sabbatical and I have yet to arrange interim coaching

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Happily defying the laws of physics when I skate...and not in a good way

If I could meet ole Axel Paulsen, I would kick him in the teeth

President and Founding member of the I hate Toe-Loops Club

Still a member, but trying to get out of the Pre-bronze peanut gallery.

Visit my skating journal

Base run: YAY did 3/4ths of a lutz four or five times today and in fact one of them was just about there, I don't think I really needed to put my left foot down. soveryclosetodoingalutz

Also base run because my little mental skating blocks annoy me and in almost every case today once I decided not to let them get the better of me, I did the element correctly.

Out: Oh dear, that sit spin has just gone on vacation ever since I got new blades that actually have a decent rocker. I am basically relearning it from the beginning and I had a really good sit spin on my totally flat 15 year old blades. Oh well, I'd rather have the rocker...but this is frustrating...

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Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

ooo, I'm jealous

Base Run:
-I got a camel with 3 revs today! I don't think my free leg position was even close to good, but it went around 3 times
-Power pulls actually went all the way down to the end of the rink without coming to a complete stop.
-I got up out of a sit-change-sit twice today.
-Did some flips with crossed legs.

Out:
-Lutz goes up, but only halfway around - I end up with a half-lutz with a 3-turn tacked onto the end. I'm not sure how to make it rotate more.
-Back 3s were wobbly today.

Base Run -
Uh, nope, I'm benched!

Out -
I haven't skated since getting home from AN, upon which I was promptly knocked out by this terrible flu. In the past week I've lost 5 pounds (I have no butt anymore!). I'm also even *paler* than I usually am, if you can imagine that! I don't even *feel* like skating, so you KNOW I must be sick!

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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

Tee hee- can't say we didn't warn ya! Why do you think me and jazzpants referred to "Bronze Moves Hell"?
In the meantime here is life for me in Bronze Free Hell.

Base run:
Doing my sitspin in the program runthrough.
Getting stronger and more consistent at the beginning of the program (backscratch and loop are my first two elements, back to back!). Loops are better too.

Fly ball out to centerfield:
Completely rotated loop in program runthrough, but two footed landing.

Strike out :
Had some weird falls today. One I was just stroking along and caught a toepick. The second one I got my feet tangled while playing with the flip.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

I decided to be a trooper and go to the rink normal time, even though my early student had cancelled. Bought me about 45 minutes (without chatting) of free ice time for myself. I'm so glad I'm over my "don't skate in front of the students" ego trip. *snicker*

Base Run:
Twizzles were good. I can handle a RFI and RBO easier, LFI with some concentration. LBO and any other one - hahaha.
(Are there FO twizzles? Must be, right?)

Pre-Bronze MITF 3-turn Pattern - I like it now that I can visualize the placement of the steps and lobes. I can do 2-3 sets widthwise across the ice, have to try it lengthwise another time.

Pop Up Behind the Plate:
One of these days, I'm going to finally land the loop and stop giving my knee pain. I think I'm due for a fall and a breakthrough.

Out:
Spins were as awful as tonight's ice. Not that I'm complaining, but it really was bad and I was digging in on edges, which is not good.

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(((Doubletoe))) I hope you are feeling better soon!

I didn't skate today but I will post from yesterdays practice
Base Run:
I saw progress in Loop,(thanks to the "help with loop" thread) Backspin, Camel Spin, "almost" flip, and footwork steps.

Out:
sit spin, spirals

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"Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Doubletoe PALER than she usually is!?!?! You must be ghost white there!!! EEEEK!!! (Hope you get well soon!!!)

Mostly an "Out" Day for me too!
My trainer really worked me Friday night and my outer quads muscle on the right side is STILL hurting after 3 days. I tried to get down on my sit spin but it's still sore (but not as bad as yesterday) to do them when I tried to get them lower. Oh, dear...

Had no energy to try jumps tonight... I did mostly spins and moves tonight.

The only base run:
Back sit (since the left quad is okay.) I manage to squat a little on the back sit in front of Primary Coach and I know he saw it. (Which means he might work me on it come Thursday. ) I primarily worked on footwork. I watch his Bronze guy working on Silver Moves today and he's already "getting it." (Unlike me... who STILL has trouble on the FO mohawks today on the 8 step and don't have a stinkin' BI3 and her BO3 is still "funky." )

I probably should take a weekend off skating and gym and just rest... of course, Auntie is coming soon, so I think I'll take the time then!!!

I'm going to the gym tomorrow. I should be able to at least do the elliptical and everything else besides the leg strength stuff. I'll let my trainer know that my right quad muslce were thinking of him this weekend!!!

Now now! Let's not scare Scarlett here!!! After all, we both managed to pass it!!!

It's difficult, but NOT impossible!!! If you have good crossovers (and I don't mean beginning crossovers but ones with deep lobes and edges and push....) then you're not so bad off. If you are "stepping over" your crossovers, THEN it will take a while.

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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!!!

Gee, it sounds to me like you at least attempted to jump with the bands.... I just stand there with a dull look on my face and my coach shaking her head saying "never mind". Nice to know I'm not the only adult who "has issues" with the stretchy-bands.

Six! (we don't play baseball here, so that's the cricket equivalent!):
Did a really good Fiesta Tango this morning - I remembered to turn my head to look where I am pointed on the step to forwards, and you wouldn't believe the difference it made!

Out: Willow went funny, but we realised what we were doing wrong. Swing Dance still not great. Canasta okay.

No lesson today as coach at a seminar.

Didn't work on free dance - was going to, but ended up talking weddings to a friend instead!

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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!

Oh it's a running joke for the adults to scream when a coach gets out the bands. I never see the kids using them. I guess we are the ones who don't know what to do with our arms.

It's my goal to make sure I get my arms right this week with that waltz jump so maybe she won't make me use them again!

j

OUT! : The Fiesta Tango is giving me fits again. Coach is trying to rearrange my mohawk, entry, hand position and foot position, and I can only think about one thing at a time when actually trying it--so there was no way it was happening yesterday. I'm signed up to do this at a pro-am in six weeks. Call 911 in advance...

A Hit: Monday is program dance night at the Skating Club of Wilmington, and I did a swing dance with my coach, which she said was one of the best I've done. I'm signed up to do this one too, so at least I won't embarrass myself on half the event.

Meanwhile, no practice time possible before the next lesson on Thursday, which is a pain when I want to see if I can't nail down some of what we talked about re the fiesta in the lesson.

Rob

You'll be fine. Just remember to extend on the first run, point your toes out on the cross-behind, which will help the change of edge, which needs to be staccato. Seriously bend your knees on the edge before the Mohawk, and do try to lean back doing those back edges.... and when you step to forwards, look where you're going.... It all helps.

Now, our Swing Dance used to be better than our Fiesta, but right now it's far and away our weakest dance, weaker even than our Willow. And I do love it so.... sob.

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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!

If anyone's in the area, there will be a show this weekend in Baltimore:

http://www.nvo.com/niceice

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Base: My backskin was awesome this morning, and I am actually in control enough to pull in some, rhythm blues end pattern is much closer to what it should be.

Out: traffic from the rink to work was pathetic, it took me twice as long as usual, grrrrrr.

I don't think we want to know any more ..... LOL!

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

Jazzpants & Sk8pdx, thanks for the get-well wishes!

I am actually enjoying hearing about everyone's progress! Loops! Camel spins! Reverse sits! Yay!!!! Keep it up, y'all!!

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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

Out -- first time back on ice in two weeks due to "lifestyle issues" as coach calls them. That basically means work. I had a business trip and work that dared to cut into skating time. Back on the ice today I fell twice on the 5-step -- the second time so hard the skating school director was scared for me. Luckily I only hit my knee. The first time I fell was on the WAY padded outer part of my right thigh. Too fat to even bruise! Camel spin also bit the big one.

Base run -- 3 turns continue to improve and I can actually do the pattern now putting my foot down only a few times. It feels so awesome to be able to do these things. We had enough FS time to do all spins. While camel bit the big one, sit change sit was great, back was great, scratch was great and I made strides on the layback. It was really exciting. Edge pulls also rocked.

Except for the great fall. I sit here with an ice pack on my knee right now!