It is August already!!!

HEAT WAVE: Adult Week starts in 3 weeks in Lake Placid...coach has given me an long list of things to work on when I go up there. Looking forward to it and seeing old friends again

COOL SPELL:The bad thing about summer is the amount of ice time goes way down and you just skate enough to at least keep your skills at the same level. Coach is on vacation until midweek but my schedule at work is a disaster so it won't be until next week I can get a lesson.

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Keeping School Figures Alive!!

HEATWAVE- lesson today and I landed my double loop in my lesson (first time in quite a while as its one where I just dont seem to jump cause of the fear factor!!!) All my other jumps were actually considerably good, only 3 of us on the ice which always helps!

COOLSPELL- Dont think I am ever going to manage to keep breathing the whole way through my programme!!! Everytime I get half way through my legs just seem like jelly!!

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Keep Smiling!

Heatwave: Off-ice jump class was moved to tonite; I was sooo tired all day but went anyway. Glad I went because it was really worth it! I really learned a lot! Got into the whole position with leg crossed on the loopand got all the way around! Now, if I could just get that done on the ice (without chickening out-bwak-bwak!) Also got some pointers on why I pitch forward on my waltz. Boy this jumping stuff is hard work!

Cool Spell: Only 3 or 4 sessions at my "host" rink before my home rink opens (34 days and counting). I will be glad about not having the long drive, but will miss them as they have been good hosts! Edited to add: just checked their revised calendar and I only have 2 sessions with them now before my home rink opens-somehow 2 weekday sessions are no longer available Dare I try to loop? Maybe I'll wait until my super-duper pads come in. Maybe I'll hit the beach instead.

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

Heat wave:
No kids at the afternoon freestyle today!!! There was only 2-3 people at a time out there! And the ice was awesome! While I didn't run through my freeskate program, I did do segements!


Cold front:
This was at the small rink, so doing moves was a joke!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

icy front:sit spin was so slow... i think it was one of the slowest ive ever done , and backspin was horrible

heat wave:my coach immediately loved the new music i picked out for my new spotlight and artistic routines..., learned and nailed some new footwork, finally fixed my spin entry postition (coach cheered), and skating went really well today!

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~Dreams Can Come True~

Heat Wave
Spins were on today. Did a very centred backspin and some very good combinations (sit-sit and camel-camel-sit etc)

Jumps started good, worked on 2loop first time in ages and although the few i landed were very cheated it was better than I thought considering the amount of time since I was working on it.

Cool Spell
Jumps got worser! Axel dodgy, salchow technique not there. Also I wish there were more adult skaters. The competitive teenage skaters are so serious... I'm sure I was the only one out there enjoying myself and smiling when i went splat

But I don't really like hot weather......

Heatwave: I skated today. And I did some decent forward cross-rolls. And we worked on a new introduction to the Golden Skaters' Waltz.

Cold spell: Everything else! It was one of those days - the coaches said we all have them - when I simply couldn't do anything right. Working with the husband, I was all hunched forwards - I could see his feet, which always shows. The end pattern of our Riverside Rhumba was awful, slowed right down, felt clunky. GSW okay, but only okay - I kept forgetting the steps, so did he; I could see his feet; I made a mistake with the RFO swing roll and blamed him.... actually, not, once I realised it was my mistake! He was utterly hooked on chassés today and kept putting them in our free dance in places where they don't go! And we messed up our step sequence yet again.... sigh....

Then after he'd gone I tried to work on moves, and couldn't do anything except forwards cross-rolls, which I don't need to! Back cross-cuts hurt, and even then weren't quite proper. Just one of those days when nothing wanted to work, and I wondered what I was doing there! I mean, I'm a skater, sore tailbones are par for the course, but my muscles are bruised, too, and that does make life awkward.

Oh well, maybe tomorrow will be better. It'd have need to be!

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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!

Heat wave: My program is almost done!!! Can't wait. Spins were better.

Cold Front: couldn't do any axels!! I just had them friday! My coach is gone for the week so I will have to ask my sub to help my. I do them off ice all the time so I hope I was just having an off day. Has this happend to any of you?? Didn't even try double salchows.

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SKATING: It's the feeling you get at the end of a hard practice when you pushed yourself to the limit. It's a part of YOU, something you LOVE and HATE. A bond that NO ONE ELSE understands, but that's okay, because every time you get out on the ice it isn't just you; it's all the friends and coaches, all the practices, the pain, the tears, the memories,the laughter, the "off" competitions. It may seem, skating is really a team sport, it's more than just a sport. IT'S A WAY OF LIFE."

Heat Wave: Jumps are getting better, spins are faster and power is getting better overall. EWaltz is smooth and R Fox is good except for xbehind a opening progressive, everything else is good.

Cool Spell: Foxtrot, that stuipd mohawk just can't get it soft enough for coaches liking. Free dance, oh my achin' back, if I wasn't sway backed to begin w/ I am now. If I arch anymore my ribs will become more pronounced than what little figure I have. But, they are fun for the most part, pair spinning is really different. Everyone should try it.

la

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

I want to pair spin! I just have to wait until hubby gets up to speed with his skating.......although he says he wants to do a death spiral with me, I'm afraid he'd drop me on my head.....

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

Me neither.

Heatwave: I haven't been skating much this summer because of work, however my coach and I started off ice sessions about five weeks ago, and they are really helping my on-ice doubles. I feel like I'm actually going to own some by next AN. Getting my doubles back has been a multi-year struggle for me.

Two weeks ago he had me try an axel-double toe combination off ice, which I surprised myself by landing. Decided to try some on ice today for the first time, and after about 5 attempts I managed to land two in a row! I think they were no more than 1/4 cheated! Then I landed two double loops later. Yippee!

Cold front: Coach is on vacation, of all things, and I can't tell him or show him until next week.

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"The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary." -- Vidal Sasson

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." -- Unknown

Yesterday one of my young skating friends asked how I could be so darn cheerful about falling over, and over, and over again. I suppose, though, that my double falls don't hurt half as much as his triple falls!

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"The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary." -- Vidal Sasson

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." -- Unknown

Heat Wave:

• Sit spins, scratch, attitude and backspins are decent enough.
• I landed ONE stinkin' loop and one stinkin' flip jump...
• The moves part of the artistic program seems to be getting better!

Cool Spell:

• The crowds!!! Just couldn't do any moves tonight!!! Darn college kids!!!
• Had several attempts at Chinese spirals and couldn't do them to completion. (Again, the crowd got in the way...)
• Lutz attempt was iffy today. The rest of the loop and flip landings were toe tapped.
• Didn't bother trying for a camel... (i.e. I did two attempts and decided to quit while I'm still behind...)

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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'm guessing the Heat Wave is supposed to be the positive this week...but I am so sick of the heat here, it's going to be my negatives. A Cool Spell would be HEAVEN right now! So...

Cool Spell: Flips have gotten pretty solid. Toe loops are actually fun now, since I've worked on the new entry. I love the feeling of getting that really solid pick, and popping into the air! Backspins are thisclose to existing. Still not quite on the sweet spot, but I was actually spinning backwards instead of forwards for once!

Heat Wave: Strange situation at the rink tonight. I was on a 1-hour open session. There is a test day this Friday, but for some reason they tested a few kids tonight...on the session. A judge was there, and evaluated the kids being tested while we all just skated around them. The testing skaters were told to watch out for US, because it was our session, not theirs. I found the whole thing just bizarre!

As for my actual skating...been off the ice since Thursday, and it took a bit to get my feet under me. Waltz's didn't feel so hot, and it took quite a while to get comfortable with my forward spin.

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

Heat:

My 4-month anniversary: started skating on 2nd April this year.

Took a couple of days off to attend a choreography workshop. Really liked it. It reminded me why I wanted to take up skating in the first place: because of creativity, expression as well as athleticism. Skated with a bunch of more advanced kids - the coach said: "Do the best you can and see how it goes". 99% of the exercises turned out to be something I never tried before, but it wasn't as bad as one could expect. Backward edges were pretty good, even with "creative" arm movements thrown in. Didn't replace consecutive 3-turns with cross-rolls, as coach suggested for us "beginners", and almost got them. I'm sure I'll nail them next time. Spinning around while walking on my toes was the climax! Kept thinking "this is suicidal" but still managed almost a full circle round the rink. Also had a go at trying jump approach and landing, without actual jump yet, and some sort of quasi-salchow, which a half- rather than a full turn. Ufff! Could barely walk up the stairs to my bed. Was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Before the workshop had my usual lesson and was told that I'm having the first patrt of my Skate UK Gold Star Passport test next Saturday. Nothing major - my coach will check my spiral, two-foot spin, bunny hop -> lunge and waltz jump. Lunge was a bit tricky on Saturday (again, never tried it before!) so I went home and did a few PNF stretches. My splits are still a good foot off the floor, I got about two inches lower, but it helped my lunges a lot. On Sunday I prowdly showed my husband the scrapped side of my boot - which means I'm now gliding with my boot on ice, not my blade.

Cold:

I really need to start working on my speed. It's not that I can't go faster, it's the fear. I notice that as soon as I pick up the speed to what feels like "unsafe" level, I slow myself down. When I go across the rink, I start braking at about quarter line. I need to try to skate more agressively next time or maybe do more footwork drills focusing on speed, not precision. Need to think about it....

HOT After 6 weeks of doing crappy forward and backspins today. I realised what I was doing wrong, so today is a HOT day ;-)

COLD Prolly just the ice is cold, tried Hydroblading today at the rink and did some good ones :-)

Heat: Better skate day than yesterday. Wouldn't be difficult! Worked on free dance with Husband, then had my lesson. It's Alexandra Palace night, so didn't stay on the ice. Back cross-rolls are really beginning to happen now - they are still not good, "But so much better than they were!" said the coach.

Cold: Part of our step sequence isn't working, and what would make it work would be a pirouette, but you aren't allowed to pirouette in a step sequence in ice dance! Ah well.... Think I know what we can change to make it work, will have to try tonight if I get a moment. Still very stiff & sore. Can't do back cross-cuts to save my life.... partly because it hurts if I try, and mostly because I can't do them anyway. Kept losing my posture when focussing on other things - still can't do everything at once! I know I'm skating better than I was, but it does seem that I get nagged at more about posture these days. Coach says it's because when I was fat, my bad posture wasn't so noticeable..... oh well.... And he keeps saying "relax your shoulders back!" but if I relax my shoulders, they don't go back!

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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!

I'm with Mrs. Redboots on the Heat wave thing!

Cool Spell
haven't skated for a month, but finally, on vacation in the Adirondacks, we went to Plattsburgh and skated last Sunday. I had only skated with my new orthotics twice before my recess, so when I got on the ice, I promptly caught my toe pick and very nearly planted my face. Between the month off and the orthotics,t was like learning to skate all over again

Heat Wave:
The public session was empty! Only a dad with 5 yr old daughter and one other adult skater, whom we met last year. Also, the hour session was extended for another half hour until a hockey player showed up for the public "sticks & pucks" session. Happily, my three turns have not deserted me, but I didn't really work on much.

When I get home next week, my goal is going to be to get to a rink three times a week, no matter how early I have to get up or how far I have to trave. Wish me luck

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Heat Wave: I've been 2-footing my half-flips since I started back from the broken ankle--we fixed it today! I knew I was doing something wrong, but not sure what it was. Coach saw it and fixed it immediately. Now I just have to remember it the next time I skate.

Cool Spell: The rink was trying to order new boots and blades, size 9 3/4, instead of just new blades. I've been trying to find out if they were ordered for a week or so. Hubby asked for me last week and was told "if she hasn't been called, they haven't come in." He called someone else today and got the scoop. He'll call tomorrow and get the blades ordered. Geesh....I could've gotten them from Rainbo ages ago and had them mounted already.

Cool spell:
Well, I decided to have another go at the Gold moves (before the rule change)...especially since I was going to be doing the Hickory Hoedown for the test session anyway. Ugh. Big mistake. This time, I fell and crashed into the boards on the FI-BI 3 pattern (the novice move, going CW, on the second end pattern). Got so shaken up and embarrassed that my legs were shaking during the brackets (not good). Then, I was asked to re-skate the novice pattern. Fell again, in pretty much the same spot. Failed test, no question about it.

So...maybe third time's the charm at Peach?

Heat wave:
Well, my jumps and spins have improved, after not working on them seriously for about 2 weeks to concentrate on moves and dance. Landed a double sal, double loop (quarter turn cheat), axel-loop, and axel out of outside spread eagle. Flying camel feels great.

Of course, when I start *working* on the spins and jumps again, they won't be as good...such is the law of skating, right?

Cool Spell:
Have had a stomach flu since last Friday and am so weak since I have been unable to eat. I was feeling overly confident on Monday, so rather than just pay for each practice session as I walk on (which I have been doing) I idiotically bought a full weeks worth of freestyle sessions (Mon - made it 20 minutes, Tues - made it 15 minutes, Wed (today) skipped it entirely...). Tomorrow I HAVE to go, I already canceled my private lesson on Tuesday so I must have my lesson tomorrow. I just hope I have some more strength so I can take advantage of the ice. Paying for ice and missing it makes me My new skates, with a total of maybe 7 hours on them, are still giving me major cramps ARG.

Heat Wave:
I have the 2 hour Jump Clinic with Elvis Stojko this Saturday. At the very least, I will at least stand on the ice and absorb LOL ... But I hope to be feeling better by then so I can take advantage of this opportunity!

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Natalie

http://www.ILoveTaB.com

Hope you feel better soon, Natalie!

We had our usual monthly session at Alexandra Palace last night. For once, the ice there was atrocious - undulating, uneven, and the bottom end was unskateable and had to be coned off. Which impacted everybody's speed, especially mine! The class started off on a good note. We were told to do perimeter stroking:

Coach: "For those who are feeling strong, 4 strokes per side; those a little less strong, 6. The rest of you...."
Skater (no, it was not me!): "Thirty-seven?"

Collapse of the entire class..... Incidentally, I managed 5 strokes one side, which pleased me. We also worked on clockwise perimeter stroking, and a simple exercise of chasses and swings, which she made us do clockwise, too. And back crossovers in both directions (yuck!), and back chasses and swing rolls. And then the level 4 and 5 Dance Moves, which I'm still struggling with, although I'm beginning to manage the level 4 3-turn exercise (an American Waltz 3-turn followed by a back crossover, then you repeat on the other foot). Only not when we did it to music..... Which was when one of the coaches, showing off to the Zamboni driver who was barracking from the side, skated straight into the barrier and fell over, to loud applause and cheers from the class!

Husband managed to fall over three times during the course of the evening; once in the lesson and twice in the social dance. AND he dropped me when we did our free dance in the interval! Not badly - but he didn't hold the lift and let me down in a controlled fashion!

I didn't feel I skated well - kept losing my posture and finding I was all hunched over. Sigh! And my tailbone still hurts, and the muscles around it feel almost in spasm, which didn't help. It's feeling a bit better today, but then, I haven't skated yet!

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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!

Too cool: skated last night and had lots of fun teaching pair elements. I was showing a male friend how to do a throw waltz, and wanted him to get the "assisted jump feeling" so I threw him. It was lots of fun. Also a female friend of mine can throw me into a great throw loop.

Thanks Mrs. Redboots - I feel 100% better today!

More heat Wave:
Today, my feet didn't hurt at all! I have been having foot cramps that make me want to amputate my feet every single time I skate, and today... Nothing! I am more in shock than anything. Let's hope those cramps stay away!

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Natalie

http://www.ILoveTaB.com

Cool spell Had lesson yesterday, coach suggested I would not be ready to do the program for the competition in October but could try the competition in February. Have had this silly fear of falling over the last couple of weeks and really haven't been able to do much on the ice since then. Also no ice time until Monday as there is an ice hockey tournament all weekend.

Heatwave The coach did suggest that I go in the competition doing edges/stroking which involves:
Forward Stroking & BackwardStroking – 1 circuit of each around rink perimeter withcrossovers at each end
Forward Outside Prelim Edges – full Length of rink

Which I can do but I'm a bit confused about the exact body positions I have to be in, doing all of the above in order to be competitive. Any suggestions would be great.