Bearing in mind that it is summer for our skaters from Down Under, lucky them!

Winter Storms: I miss one practice, and can't do a thing! Simply couldn't skate backwards this morning for ages without going straight up on to my toes - where, oh where, was my weight? Couldn't get it in the right place for love nor money....

Doing the Willow Waltz with Husband I was scraping away like a bad violinist, sheesh....

We spent a long time just doing edges and swings in waltz hold, and tried skating backwards in Kilian hold, too.

Summer Breezes: Husband, by contrast, was having a Good Skate Day, working on his level 4 Dance Moves, and doing the mohawks better than he's ever done them. They're not great, but they have stopped being quite so violent and stiff!

We tried working Willow Mohawks round the circle, which was actually quite successful. As the skating backwards in Kilian was being rather dire, we went back to the circle and started doing the end pattern of the Fiesta. This was fine. I said it was because we didn't have to change lobes, I thought - it is RBO, LBI, round the circle. "Okay," said Husband, "let's do it the other way round." So we did LBO, RBI clockwise round the circle, and that was fine, too. So it is obviously the changing lobes that we, or I, have trouble with. Trying again, and thinking of it, worked better. Not great, not even well, but better!

There was a fair amount of dance music being played, and we danced several Willows, a Golden Skaters Waltz, a Riverside Rumba, a Fiesta and a Swing Dance, with greater or lesser success. Fiesta still horrible! Side pattern is desperate as we concentrate too much on the end pattern. Swing Dance not at all bad, I didn't think - the coach may disagree! We will ask him on Tuesday.

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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 haven't skated in a few days so no skating comments, but it's more like Winter Gale Force Winds around here - gusting up to 50!

Winter Storms: that's how our ice show rehearsal went today...it was COLD on the ice!!! First, we had pictures for the paper, and someone forgot to turn on the heat in the ladies bathroom (the locker rooms were in use by hockey guys)...luckily, we weren't on the ice for pics but in a side room with an antique sleigh that we use every year, along with the float we used in the local town's parade.

And I'm still having issues with the kids playing games during club time...and people crossing our space while we are in lesson...even though I'm letting them know I'm in lesson (and one guy who is doing it is good at spouting rules when it suits him).

Summer Breezes: well, I told my coach I didn't really have anything I wanted to work on...so we changed my routine to catch it up to my new level (ISI Freestyle 2). Changed the spiral sequence, and added a ballet jump and a half-toe walley and a 1/2 lutz and a lunge (but using the same music). Guess I'd better get good at those elements!

Also had one of those moments, towards the end of lessons, when we were working on the loop....where she showed that "for the axel and double jumps your free leg is more of a "d" than an "h""...so when I did my next loop attempt, I almost did it!!! (of course I almost fell, but that's ok). I had my feet crossed, and barely two-footed the landing (all my other attempts are/have been with the feet uncrossed)!!!!! Wow! I was soooo excited, as was she!!!! Of course, I could not do it again... but did it once, so I can do it again!

Dropped my skates off for a quickie sharpening, due back tomorrow. Maybe I can get it again on Wednesday night!!! My edges are really dull.

Also worked with hubby on some pair/dance stuff-his swing rolls are really flat-so we did work on that, and spent 15-20 minutes on the scratch spin....yeah, I'm like "do it again" over and over again, but he was making progress-just needs to bend his knees more.

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

Winter Storms: In an ongoing quest to figure out what has been giving me a rash on my ankles, I tried skating barefoot today and LOVE the feeling!!! Unfortunately, the itch came back with a vengeance after only an hour. When I got home, I sprayed the inside of my boots with an antibacterial - we’ll see if that helps.

Summer Breezes: After my 5 week distraction with forward stroking and having all my backwards evaporate, the backward stroking and edges are improving rapidly - hopefully I can be to back cross-overs again in a week or two. I also figured out some of the opening choreography that I think looks pretty good (thanks to having backward edges again)!

If we don't have any unseasonably warm weather this week (which isn't forecast) my backyard rink should be skateable by next weekend. Imagine that! Pretty coloured lights, stereo hi-fi music (of my choice) and unlimited ice time. Oh the decadence!

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

Winter Storms: Area rinks have been more packed in both freestyle times and public sessions. It makes it difficult especially for practice on MIF stuff.

Back spin attempts have regressed. Not sure why but I keep trying!

Summer Breezes: Had a nice weekend of skating. Feeling more confident with the waltz 8 and the 3 turn pattern for pre bronze testing. Have only done the 3 turn pattern on right so far but not as bad as I thought it might be.

Really working on one footed spin from back cross overs. I can now step "into" the circle but sometimes that messes my center up a bit and the recovery is difficult. Seems to be improving though with each attempt.

Although I have worn my new crash pads everytime since getting them, I have not found out if they work well or not as I have not taken a spill yet! Not anxious enough to find out or I would throw my self on the ice!

Practiced all the more challenging parts for me of the Christmas recital. Sure can do it when it is not an actual run through. Hope it is there when I need it the most!

Just found out we are having back-to-back rehearsals on Thursday...one starting at 5...the next at 7 pm....think I will die just zamboni over my body.........

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

Winter Storms:

I don't know what is going on with a set of performances anymore. I'm just taking it day by day instruction by instruction. Its so awfully un-me to not know my schedule to the minute weeks ahead of time. But well yeah, forced to do this now.

Haven't skated all that much, ice is bad as usual and ice time is extremely limited.

Summer Breezes:

Everything not withstanding, I still landed a couple double salchows

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Tidesong

You *really* want the 40 C heat we've had sporadically since October?? Sure?? There's a summer storm brewing as I type - I can hear the thunder in the background, so hopefully there's a cool change on the way...

Winter storms

Last night was dress rehearsal for the Xmas show. After a 30-min warmup on crowded ice (the warmup was for the whole of the 100+ skaters!), I then stood round in a cold rink for 90 minutes before my 1st number. I was rather chilled. Any suggestions for what to do come show night? (Same warmup, only show night's warmup is from 4.30 to 5.00 p,m, then my 1st number doesn't start until 7pm...so 2 hours from the end of warmup until I need to go on...)

Summer breezes

Despite the cold and the fear, we didn't die. This was good. We were slow (glacial), and stiff, and one of the coaches said today we looked nervous (well, duh! It's our first time ever out in public!) But we failed to die.

Not only that, we got lots of applause from the rest of the cast when we managed not to die while I did a drape over his lap (and didn't fall off, though it was a near thing!), and a counter turn in a teapot supported by him (just remind me, how many falls did that little trick cost us over the past 6 months?) I heard it and couldn't help grinning like a Cheshire cat as we finished! What a buzz! Now if everyone could send lots of good thoughts to hope that we can pull the whole thing off when it counts next week...my aged mother is coming to watch, and I *really* don't want to look like an idiot...

I'm thinking "contact dermatitis" but I'm not a doctor. (Nor do I play one on TV) Whatever it started out as has now "morphed" into something more complicated. I think it's time to consult a real MD to get something to heal your ankle.

As for the cause, the tongue edges might be getting hard and dry. Use a suede brush to give the inside of the leather tongue a good brushing, and clean the outside with saddle soap. The brush will give it some nap and the saddle soap will soften the leather a bit. A suede brush is a metal-bristled brush; they sell it where you can buy shoe polish.

If it's still bothing you, test some moleskin to see if you're allergic to it. If not, cover the inside edge of your skate tongue with it, wrapping around a bit to the outside so you get a smooth edge.

You know we're all jealous of you!

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Winter Storms:
The manager didn't do a mid-session ice cut, so by the time I finished giving lessons, the ice was yuck. (Sorry, Casey, I'm not a he-man ice skater. Bad ice gives me fits.)

My legs are getting weak - all of my jumps were pathetic little things, even when I was practicing toe loops with one of my students. I challenged her to jump higher than me and she did! LOL


Summer Breezes:
The inside spirals are looking pretty good! I still think my arms are spastic, but hey, it works.

Good spins and turns are getting better.

I have a lesson scheduled for this Wednesday AM. Can't wait.

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Summer - it feels like summer here today. Had a good skate after my 2 month break and it felt like I was never off the ice.

Winter - Blister, the skates are still horrid.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Well, I'd rather a summer storm than a winter one, any day! It's so wet and grey and nasty here, almost no daylight....

Is there a cafe or somewhere you can go and sit and watch? Failing that, watch for a bit, then go outside into the car park and get warm. About half an hour before you're due to go on, do a big off-ice warm-up with your husband, and then put your skates back on. Make sure you're well wrapped up while you're in the rink - fleece jackets, a rug and so on.

Good luck and have fun!

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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!

Winter Storm: My improving sit spin felt very low last time I skated, so I took my camera to the rink to make a video to see how far my butt is from the boot tops.

Shouldn't have done that.

I'm like any other beginning sit-spinner with legs bent just a little bit The thigh wasn't even level to the ice. Sigh.

Summer Breeze: At least the sits feel low!

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Bill Schneider

When you feel the ice on your butt, it's low. I remember the first time my skirt dragged on the ice in a sit spin (during a comp) - I was amazed and thrilled! You'll get it, just make sure your knees can manage coming back up!

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Summer breeze: Jumped for the very first time in earnest. Managed all singles waltz-lutz and flip-toe and sow-toe combos. Not huge but all fully rotated and landed on my right leg. Feels soooo strange, loop was not as bad as I thought it would be, working on axels in harness Wednesday.

Program is about 75% done and very pretty, for me...we'll see how it progresses. Overall, not to terribly awful and a good place to start.

Winter Storm: Back camel and back sit still weak only pressing 72 lbs on Right leg looks like we'll need at least 100. Oi!

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

That's why the sit spin should be the LAST element of your program!

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

Wow! You are truly an inspiration! I'm guessing you'll be landing your axel within the next week or two!

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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

Try the calf-to-thigh indicator. If you can feel the calf of your skating leg pressing against the inside of the thigh of your free leg, that means your skating thigh is parallel to the ice. It really works!

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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

Talk about finishing with a BANG!

I have one student with a killer shoot-the-duck, but she's only able to lower herself; getting back up just isn't happening. The knee strength is probably why her sit spins are weak, unfortunately. But, once she gets stronger, look out! She literally has her butt 2" off the ice.

Alas, I couldn't put the Shoot-the-Duck in her program since she can't push back up out of it. Couldn't have her flop on the ice in her grass skirt, even at the end! It would just ruin the whole "Christmas Hula" spirit. LOL

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Winter Storms
I am convinced that the session I skate on Sundays attracts the most self-centered skaters in the county! Everyone seems to be in her own world, even some of the coaches! I had to skip a section of my program and alter the pattern on another section because of a coach not getting herself and her skater out of my way. Then I was so distracted that then I blanked out on the next element and totally forgot what I was supposed to do!

Summer Breezes
Video: The harshest coach you can get, but also the most effective! The notes I took while watching the video of my Christmas recital program on Friday were totally worth the $50 I paid for the entry fee and video! I fixed something I noticed on my salchow entry that I know will help my double sal, I came up with a fix for my change foot combo spin, and I made a major fix to my flying camel which brought it back after it had been AWOL for at least 2 weeks (including the recital on Friday)!

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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

LOL yeh I hate seeing closeups of my rear too
Lyle

Thanks for that tip. I'll start paying attention to those areas instead of thinking about the strain involved. On my '"strain meter", I'm already there although reality is very different.

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Bill Schneider

Ditto!

When I get the sit improved as much as my old knees can take, then I'll get an appropriate overall shot (no close ups!) and happily live within my limitations.

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Bill Schneider

Like many things in this complicated sport, the sitspin is only partly a strength move; a lot of it is technique. One great thing about the calf-to-inside-of-thigh position is that in order to feel that, you need to lower your butt AND push your free leg forward as you get lower. In doing that, it helps keep your weight from shifting to your heel and that makes it easier to get down and up. You also need to keep your back tight and arched and your chest pushed out instead of concave. The centrifugal force helps, too, so it's easier to get up if you're spinning.

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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

Summer Breezes:
I'm finally back on the freestyle bandwagon! Yippee! After all these years as a Pre Bronze skater, it feels good to be "Bronze" something, even though it's only moves.

Winter Storms:
Spins are a mess and my jumps need height!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"