Good luck to you!

Husband is determined to have an axel before he is 60 - 4 years to go!

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Fresh snow

– I passed my inter-bronze field moves test on Monday! Yay!
– I learnt the level 5 field moves – Choctaws, double back outside threes, back change of edges and one foot slaloms. I feel like they are doable moves.
– Axels, I mean my attempts at axels, are feeling better. I know what I need to do – quicker spin, more up, tighter position.
– My coach has been demanding more speed on the flip-loop combo lately and I finally did some very fast ones without chickening out.

Old slush
- spins! I have a tendency to continually rock on and off the toe pick when spinning. Especially with the camel but this happens even with a regular upright.
- In general I feel that my skating is quite awkward – particularly forward runs and just various transitions.
- Change foot walleys and regular walleys are hard!!

way to go Manda!

Slush: feeling especially stupid -> I sprained my neck in HipHop class But I did finally get the head snaps
wait, does this imply that my heads too fat??
Lyle

Fresh Snow: I haven't actually passed Novice Moves but coach wanted to start on Junior Power Circles. They actually went pretty well.

Slush: Coach also still wants me to work on the axel. It's always been a problem since I was a teenager and I feel like it's two steps foward, one step back. I've been trying to fix old bad habits and it's almost like having to relearn it completely.

I might mention it to her; we might do the salchow from a mohawk (but then again, why ruin a good thing?) We did hit the flip a few months ago but skipped it; my 1/2 lutz is good and she did mention going ahead. We have skipped around a bit (I'm a difficult learner).

We touched on the flip because it helped me to learn the loop. I almost have the loop (but not my backspin). Isn't that funny?

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

It's PHAT! Not FAT!!! Check it!!!

Fresh Snow:

• Do some interesting footwork drill. Sorta like power 3's except instead of 3's I'm doing FI mohawks. And of course, I should be haulin' @$$ across the ice at the same time and my feet better be FAST!!! At times sloppy but it cleaned up pretty quickly thru the course of the lesson.
• One foot spin - check
• Sit spin - check
• Camel - improving... but still working on it!
• Sit to back sit - some progress. Primary coach had more fun seeing that I'm falling on the ice trying for them than actually trying to get the back sit, though. I started getting a couple of good attempts towards the end of the session too!!! There's hope for me yet on the back sit!
• Fellow skater who just came back from a foot injury and was raving about my progress since the last time she saw me skate... PRICELESS!!!

Old slush:
Nothing really! I'm learning all new things so I don't expect to be a perfectionist today on anything.

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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!!!

WELL DONE!!!!!!!

Fresh Snow: Managed two lessons with my back-up coach while primary is away at Nationals this week, with some progress on the Fiesta Tango (finally), some serious polishing work on the Swing Dance, and a little further work on the Willow Waltz. Not a bad week at all, and I hope the primary will be pleased.

Old Slush: Let's just not talk about the pre-bronze moves test schedule...

I've tried skating in blade guards, too...didn't work very well. My excuse wasn't running late (though it seems like a good one) but trying to take a camera on the ice, so that photography was taking more brain capacity than skating...Skating is not very forgiving about distractions. (Hence, when things are bothering me I like to skate, as it compels me to clear my mind of those distractions.)

Rob

Skate@Delaware - Congrats on the lutz! You mentioned learning the loop w/o the backspin? Is that not the norm? haha ..I must be doing a lot out of order too - since my coach hasnt even touched on the backspin yet I can do the loop and loop-loop combos.

Is learning jumps "out of order" unusual? I did that too - learned the waltz, toe loop, toe wally, flip, and then the salchow (which I cant do at all )

With the lutz what is the most common way to get into one?

Fresh Snow: Yup with are recent snow fall and dropping temperatures, came my new blades. Can finally skate backwards again without hearing the toe picks hit the ice! Yeah! Starting to get the hook back in my spin entries. Even got my camel spin to hook and do one and half revs. Haven't been able to hook the camel and get it going for a year and half (OK since just before getting injured with my hernated discs).

Problem with my one footed jump landings. I can't hear them anymore because of my new blades and now I'm not sure if I landed my jumps. This is also because I'm not making the toe pick annoying dragging sound anymore or forcing myself to land on the middle or back of my blade to not hit the toe pick on the old blades. Soft quiet landings are back.

Officially started working on the flip with my current coach today. My only problem with my flip now is that I have to get myself to keep my freeleg infront of my skating leg while in the air and until I've landed the jump. It's getting close to a clean jump and I'm able to tack on a toe loop but not yet a loop jump. One time, I jumped so high for my flip and gave it so much power than I did 1 and 1/2 revs. I really need to only have one rev. My coach showed me why it happened. I was too slow to get my right hip towards my left leg, so I got the extra half rev. I didn't even pull my arms up and in to do it either. Hmm, me thinks when the time comes for doubles, it will come easier than the singles.

Unofficially last week I was working on my lutz jump with the bad blades and was surprised to find out that I can get the full rotation of the lutz. Now I just have to get my coach to work on it with me. I have a feeling that it will happen next Thursday (only see my tech coach once a week for a lesson)

Old Slush: The old blades are now discarded at the proshop to show people not to go to places other than the proshop for sharpening. I had a former coach of mine who use to be a world competitor sharpen my blades a few times. He wrecked them putting a bad notch in them which caused me to fall forwards as soon as I would hit a backwards edge if I didn't try to skate on the heel of the blade when going backwards. This caused me to have very scratching backwards skating and not be able to hook my spins properly.

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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

Fresh Snow: Had a lesson with my sometimes coach yesterday-- I'm never bored in his lessons, and although I leave with my head spinning and so much to work on that I can barely think, I remember why I fell in love with skating. No "real" jumping (just side hops and mazurkas now and again), and lots of edge work and crossovers and 3 turns over and over and over again, and I don't mind at all (now, in LTS, I'm usually bored by the middle of class... but I think that has something to do with the instructor being overloaded with students!)

I need to get a notebook!

And for once, the "do it well in front of the coach, suck when it comes to practicing on my own" didn't happen... which meant that I got some fantastic corrections, and hopefully my practices will go better.

Oh, and my legs are getting sooooooo strong! It's even helping with my extensions and jumps in ballet... I even feel the difference in plies. Had I known this years ago, I wouldn't have run in terror whenever people suggested I strap on a pair of skates!

Old slush: How I felt most of the past week. Some sort of virus kept me off of the ice-- I wasn't sick enough to take off from work, etc, but I felt waves of nausea every time I moved.

It's bad enough that half of my falls are when I'm standing still on the ice... I don't need to add a dizzy me to it!

Sparkling White Snow: The rink was deserted this morning - with a big competition tomorrow I presume all the young hot-shots are on a day off - so I had two hours of "private ice"!

Did a short warm-up and launched right into program run-throughs. Found I was getting through the first half of my program WAY ahead of the music so I made some minor changes to the choreography - more ice coverage is always good! Did a few complete run-throughs and then toned it down and practiced my turns sequence and backward edges to some of my musical favorites. (Did I mention I LOVR "private ice"? )

When coach arrived, we went through the first half of the program a couple of times and the whole program once before the old legs started to give out. Coach likes the program, I like the program, and everything has come together nicely.

I was also asked if I would like to participate in a carnival in March. After thinking about it for awhile, I said I would - that'd I do "granny on ice" - an old lady with a walker that just happens to find herself on the wrong side of the boards during an ice show. This is gonna be FUN!

Old Slush: Can't think of any. My ribs are still sore from Wednesday's fall - that'll have to do.

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

Fresh snow: Beautiful double axel (I guess I should say I was in the harness ) but my coach swears she wasnt pulling..... My single axels were pretty good today too.

Slush: Welll you probably know how you get when you're out of the harness and you feel like your legs weigh a ton...yeah so thats how the rest of my day went along with mu back going into spasms too I'll live.

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dont eat me

Fresh Snow!

I finally got in, and stayed in, my new boots for two hours today (with time for relacing here and there, tightening, etc.). It was better today. There was plenty of "old slush" too, but SHRUG! I was thrilled I got some good, solid time in those new boots! Getting used to having a rocker again.......

Actually skated 4 days this week and am in no more pain than normal. Managed an hour of dance yesterday in my dances skates, they were a smidge dusty, took a while to get European back on time, like 15 tries..but finally.

Had 2 lessons today, practiced program discovered no jump warm up is necessary, just spins and footwork, choctaws are better still look like it hurts to do them but,...it does hurt, so why hide it. Had first dance lesson not bad, I have actually been doing the tango correctly...who knew? I like the silver tango even though it will be different practicing with a partner, r fox is good, forgot about how much power you need to do it with good depth and flow.

See the doctor Monday, and he will tell me when I can do my bigger jumps, managed 175 lbs leg press double leg, and 88 lbs on each leg single. Getting close to goal of 200 double and 100 single leg presses.

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

WOW!!! That's about where I am now!!! How many sets do you do and how many reps in each set??? (I obviously need to kick up the weight, but how many reps is the question...)

e-skater: Ahhhh!!! The joys of breaking in new boots and blades!!! Still has that "new boot" smell too, I'll bet!!! (AND... you'll be a lot happier with your jumps too! I promise you that. When I finally get new boots again, I'll humor secondary coach again and change over to Coronation Aces. After all, she was right about my mutant feet and ankles needed custom skates. )

Congrats to BatikatII and AmandaSkateGirl on both of them passing their tests!!! WOO HOO!!!

__________________
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!!!

Fresh snow: I picked and cut music for my freestyle program.
Old slush: I can't find a dress I like for the life of me.

Fresh snow: Program choreography moving along, basic moves laid out.
Old slush: Can no longer do one foot sal-flip combination and will have to replace with less cool combination.

Fresh snow: Mailed Sectionals entry form.
Old slush: Included 3-figure check with entry form.

Fresh snow: Landed one axel in practice.
Old slush: Fell on 8 other attempts at axel.

Fresh snow: Runthrough of Junior moves test went well today.
Old slush: Of course, I didn't do the first two moves (power circles).

Fresh snow: Judges for moves test on Tuesday are good ones.
Old slush: Junior moves test on Tuesday.

Fresh Snow:
It was sooo good to be back on the ice- never mind the "No Jumps" limitation given to me by PT. Secondary Coach and I worked on eight step mohawk- she actually counted it out for me to get quicker and on pattern ( ), and power pulls. The funny thing is, the best forward power pulls I have are on the right leg, the one with the ligament strain! We also worked on backscratch and sit spins.
After lesson, I did my program without the jumps and now I've set a new goal for myself- to do all three spins cleanly in program. The rest of the session I worked on the footwork and transitions. I only skated a hour, so as not to put my right ankle/heel/leg through too much agony.

Slush:
Nothing really. I was too happy skating again!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

ouch!


I haven't posted in the lesson thread for a long time mainly because my coach was away at nationals and local competitions and some other stuff and still isn't back but today I had time with Dance Guy so here it goes:

Fresh Snow:

The European. A simple dance made out of forward outside three turns and edges. Sounds easy. (cough cough). Well today I got a compliment on timing from the coach, this has been my bugaboo and I actually have a "knee" and "some rhythm"

Old Slush: (love it, that's me!)

It wasn't quite ready yet for Mr. Picky to actually assume the full dance position and partner the entire thing, but we did do the RFO 3 into the LFO 3's around the end. I can't get in position well enough to get into the RFO after the end, and he bailed out.

Pretty Snowflakes:

At the rate of improvement, I could possibly think about testing this at the end of the season.

(I'll just skip any description of freeskate practice afterwards, that would be a case of yellow snow)

Jazzpants I started of with doing 10 reps and lower weights and depending on how I feel I move up to 20, 30...40 and 50 once I can do 50 of a weight I go up to the next weight do 10 of those and 40 of the lighter weight and so on. I have a little sheet I use to keep track.

When I feel worse I will go down to the lower weight and do 50 of those instead of the higher weight, at least that way I get toned better, obviously I am not that toned but I am working on it, I have been doing this since late November.

Good luck, it does help!

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

Hmm, am I the only one getting slightly concerned that I have not the least idea of how much I can leg press and how many times, or even exactly what a leg press is?


John

Well, way behind on reports, but oh well. Practiced on M/W/Sat and had a lesson Wednesday. Good good good.

Fresh snow: Coach is getting nitpicky with prebronze moves, which is a good thing--means I'm getting close on stuff. Amazing what a change it made for the BO edges to do it "pretty." Balanced out one wonky side and got my free leg to do more than "just hang there" (her words). We worked for about 15 min on inside 3s, which desperately needed it. Figured out I'm going in too straight/not much of an inside edge. Presto! We're on our way to being controlled and consistent. Coach said let's shoot for the May test date.

Old slush: I was kind of hoping for the March test date--I really think i could do this--but oh well. It's not as though I'm ready to do pre-bronze FS stuff anyhow. Somehow I am chicken about the half-flip--I do the entry but don't really go for getting up in the air. I'm going to do some one-leg presses & lifts at the gym, since I think that's one thing that's hindering me. I know I'm strong with both legs but off the one leg is just feeling shaky at the moment.