No caviar... LOTS of maggot food!!!

We'll start with the kids who zipped through the middle of the rink today. The ice guard doesn't have a CLUE that if kids don't listen to you about rules, you're supposed to ESCORT THEM OFF THE ICE!?!?!

UH OH!!! My LFO3 is TOTALLY gone and I'm trying to get them back. It's probably a good thing since my old one is not "technically correct" and I need to relearn it correctly anyway. I was closer to getting them back but it wasn't consistent. I'm don't know what the heck happened.

The worst part... my lower back is SORE again! I *MUST* see my chiro soon.

__________________
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!!!

Mmm, the joy of skating is back. Not that I had ever really lost it mind you, but lately I was beginning to feel burned out. (Hence my lack of posting in these weekly threads.) However, continuing encouragement from my coach as well as the possibility of getting new skates has perked me up, and my local seasonal rink will be opening within days. Gonna save a lot of time and gas money for sure.

I have a chance to get some hardly used Klingbeils for only $175. I don't think I'll be able to resist this one. My moves coach isn't keen on my Risport boots and frankly, they are starting to cause me problems. As some of you know, the heels on the Risports are sky-high, and that throws me too far forward.

Today, my club hosted its first-ever Adults Only freestyle session, at my suggestion. The feedback I got from the people who did attend was really good and they want more sessions like this. I fully intend to push for more of these, as well as better publicize it next time, but now I know more about the group of skaters we need to target. It's pleasant to be able to skate and not worry about people making sudden moves or little kids who don't know ice ettiquette. We adults, as a group, are very respectful of each other and just do our own thing without getting in each other's way. As a group, we're very complimentary of each other's skating, focusing on the positive, and offering constructive feedback. Put the spark back in me today to do some elements with my peers and get and offer tips and tricks to make elements the best they could be.

I did my best camel spin *ever* today too. W00t!!! Some other skaters and I also experimented with catch-foot camels, and that had...um...humorous and mixed results.

Moves are coming along, and the power 3's are steadily improving. Jazzpants, you may borrow my LFO 3 if you need it...might I be able to borrow your RFO 3? With moves, I go from so hot to cold on them. One day will rock, the next will suck. Hopefully, now that the rink in my city will be opening in a couple of weeks, I can get there at least every other day to practice. Now, I'm making it twice a week if I'm lucky.

Happy about today, no matter what.

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All that glitters has a high refractive index.

Caviar:

Went to a public session at my home club's rink. What a difference from what my city lets you do on the ice! Windsor doesn't let you go backwards, never mind footwork. I love Tecumseh for what they allow you to do and how they handle things.

I was allowed to do anything I wanted; spins, jumps, footwork, spirals and the works. I made sure to ask the skate patrol first before I did anything. He told me as long as I watched out for everyone else, I could do anything I wanted. So I did.

Waltz jump by itself
toe loop by itself
salchow by itself
footwork by itself
waltz/toe/toe combo preceeded by 4 forward crossstrokes and jumped from them
back right edge with left leg extended high infront
spirals
3 forward spins from RBO lunge centred

Maggot Food:
backspin won't go passed 1 and 1/2 revs before I fall out of them.
forward spins without the RBO lunge preceeding them were not centered.
flip jump was still under rotated and I am not getting my left foot to wrap in front of my right foot when I pick in with my right foot and my legs are wide open in the air. Still forgetting to use my arms when doing the flip.

__________________
"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

caviar:
I did a one foot spin again, apparently last week's spin was not a fluke.
Adult group lessons start next Saturday, still out of town but closer than where I have been skating.

maggot food:
I went to a public session also today. The first 15 minutes were ok, only about 20 people on the ice and I practiced my spin and another lady was practicing her swing dance. Then the other 150 people came on the ice with the strollers and ice helper things so I'd had enough.

Maggot food: Saturday group lesson. Was warming up back crossovers in a figure eight. Tried to get good deep knees when my right knee just collapsed under my weight. Right knee smacked the ice. Left leg drug behind pulling my groin muscle. Ice and NSAIDS. Ouch!!!

Caviar: Went to a skating demo Saturday evening and met Matt Savoie while he was warming up in the lobby. A very nice young gentleman. We didn't talk for long as he was trying to warm up. He's the kind of skater I hate. He's so good that he makes it look easy and I know it's not. He made me feel better when he caught a toepick moving straight and level down the ice. On all of the jumps, spins, and footwork he didn't miss a beat. He stumbled while gliding. The ice puts us all in our places.

Also, my favorite local skater (although she skates at the national level), Kelsey Drewel, skated two programs. I've watched Kelsey practice and her power is amazing. In the past, I was concerned that her artistic ability wasn't up to national levels. Within 10 seconds of her first program I had to eat those thoughts. She's obviously been working hard on those lovely flowing movements that give figure skating it's style and grace.

Way to go Matt and Kelsey!!!

I've always said that I could do everthing Kelsey and Matt can do on the ice. I'll just do it a whole lot slower and the ambulance can be waiting for me when I'm done.

Aw, Gary Do you wear knee pads? They've saved me more than once and I even skated my test with them. I've never had a knee give way, it must be frightening. Hope I don't ever have to find out.

Maggot food:
Went to a crowded Sat public session because friend was meeting us so we could help her daughter get new skates. Turned out the daughter sprained her ankle the night before, but we had scheduled lessons, so we had to go. It was such a zoo, that I told our coach we couldn't stay. She very graciously refused our attempt to pay, as she hadn't passed by anyone else for that time and was at the rink for other lessons anyway (OK, that's caviar).

Monday freestyle is cancelled in favor of a noon to 4 public session, since NYC public schools are closed on Mon for Yom Kippur. You can see how observant I am, I was going to that freestyle.

__________________

Gary--you might want to try the SkatingSafe pads (http://www.skatingsafe.com) that elsy2 recommended in a post a few months ago. A skater at my rink also recommended them to me. She skates pairs and always wears her pads when practicing jumps, throws, or death spirals.

I ordered a pair and they've saved me from bashing up my knee (except for the time that I caught a toe pick on forward stroking BEFORE my pads arrived in the mail, ouchy). The new ones that SkatingSafe offers are gel-filled, but I bought the older version, called "Impact Absorbers" because they're sort of a thick rubber and thus are cuttable--I cut them into pieces that are better suited for my size. And I know the pads work because I caught a toe pick the other day in edge class and had quite a spectacular, noisy fall, but didn't hurt myself anywhere that I was padded. I think I tweaked out my upper back, though--it's been twinging ever since...

Gary--I hope you're feeling better soon

First thing... Gary, I hope you'll feel better real soon.

dbny: I unfortunately had my leg buckle under on crossovers last year. The worst part was that back then I wore those bulky foam knee pads and when I fell, the pad shift on impact from the fall, so it was essentially as good as NOT having the knee pads. I was off skating for at least a couple of weeks from a NASTY bruise! (Thank goodness it wasn't worse...) And took the better part of a half year to recover from the shock well enough where I'm not as afraid to go faster again.

Because of that and this relates to mikawendy's post, I can vouch for the SkatingSafe pads. (I got the gel filled ones.) I have fell on them before, INCLUDING on my tailbone. The worst fall to date so far wearing those was falling on the tailbone and having the initially sting. After that I was back skating in about 5 minutes and it didn't hurt at all. As for knees, it certainly lessen the pain of the impact. At worst I got a small bruise that went away in a couple of days. As for hips... I don't know. I've fallen on the ice, but lately my falls were more of the sliding variety. which is exactly what you should do b/c it lessen the impact on the fall, so it won't hurt as much. Of course, my worst fear now is becoming the "bowling ball" and hitting another skater as I'm sliding.

__________________
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!!!

Oh, Gary - how very nasty. My leg never has collapsed, thankfully, but when I had sciatica I was afraid it would!

Yesterday we had a really good lesson in the morning; the coach won't let us do too much to our OD, except exaggerate things, as he said the re-positioning I was working on meant we kept waving our behinds at the judges, which I said would be very nice for them, given Robert's behind, but he wasn't having that..... so really we have only changed the ending. But he was most complimentary, and had also heard very good things about us from someone who'd gone to watch the Championships.

In the afternoon we had our RIDL match, and I heard from another friend who'd been at the Championships that he'd videotaped our performance, so I'm longing to see that. Everybody says it's far and away the best thing that we've ever done, even though it's a bit uneven, but I'm so pleased!

However, back to earth and we lost our match again - sadly, the only skaters from our club who did! The Club won both Junior and Senior legs, and overall won the Juniors on skating only, was second when all the feeble "bonus points" (for older or younger couples, etc) were taken into consideration, and was second outright in the Seniors. I just wish Robert and I could have done more to help that win.... But we were pleased with how we skated, and a friendly judge told me we were skating much more as a couple now (which is exactly what I wanted to hear, as we've been working on it), but now needed to move more and Robert needs not to defer to me so much!

And I wasn't too disappointed we lost, given our opposition - we'd have been very hard put to beat them, and we were pleased with how we skated.

The Exhibitions were given by our Junior skaters, Kerry Austin and Harry Souter, who are just off to Ostrava (I think), and we were totally amazed - in costume, with the rink to themselves, they are really fantastic. I've known Kerry some years now, and I've never seen her skate so well. Good luck to them both. One of our senior couples (okay, so this belongs on another forum, but indulge me for once!), Candice Towler-Green and James Phillipson, gave a demonstration of the Ravensberger Waltz, and I know they hate doing it, but they looked good! They are off to Skate Israel, along with Candy's sister Phillipa and her partner, Philip Poole (there are too many variations on "Philip" around the place!), and I think they are all feeling that their wildest dreams are coming true....

Oh, and, every finger crossed, I was realising how much better my back felt now....

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

Oh, I did have ONE CAVIAR on Sat!!! I got my skating dress from the company. (Wait! Since I hate wearing skating dresses, is that REALLY a caviar???) Anyway, it's a pretty dress. Now I have to get it stoned.

__________________
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!!!

By the way, jazzpants, your message box is now overflowing - I tried to PM you with good luck for your routine, but it rejected it.

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

Thanks to all for the suggestions and sympathy. The knee isn't swollen much anymore, but does have a huge purple-brown bruise. At least I'm not limping this morning and will probably skate tonight.

That's the first time I've really fallen hard on my knees. If I had to put padding on to protect all of the places I've fallen, I'd look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy on the ice.

Still, having the pads does sound like a good idea.

Hi Gary,
Glad you're better.
Here's a Halloween costume for you. Last year I went as a special delivery package. I made a skating outfit out of bubble wrap, and had "handle with care", "fragile", and "priority mail" stickers all over.

Halloween heck.... I need to wear that anytime I skate.

What a cool idea for a costume.

Gary, so sorry to hear about your fall. Sounds like a hard one.

On the other hand, LOL, the thought of you covered in padding reminds me of the moms who send their young'uns onto the ice in huge padded snowsuits so thick they can't move, LOL!

Well, I tested Freestyle 1 on Saturday. I don't have a clue how I did. If my instructor was testing us, I'm fairly certain I'd have a "gimme" pass, but we had someone else test us. I know I got High Passes on the pivot, two-foot, spin and spiral. I'm sure I got a Pass on the back inside edges and may have gotten a Low Pass on the 1/2 flip and back outside edges. I also know I Failed the waltz jump. If you average all of the elements, I may have passed, but I won't find out until Saturday.

In any case, I hope that my next class is much smaller. 8-10 in a Freestyle 1 class is way too many. We spend more time trying to gather everyone than we do learning. I that the other adults and I struggled with some of the elements (2-foot spin) because we never got to them in class, really. Just a discussion about how to set them up, no actual mention of hat to do while in the spin. I managed to glean a few pointers from another adult with whom I occasionally practice and I did turn out a 5-revolution spin for the test, but I could have easily botched it.

Anyway, I'm planning to practice my back outside edges in case I need a quick re-test on this coming Saturday. I don't know how much hope there is for my waltz jump, but I'll try to make my 1/2 flip a little more than a skip, LOL! Plus I need to work on my Synchro footwork. The chorepgrapher wants us to do inside Ina Bauers and the dircetion she picked hurts my hip, so I'm going to fool around with it and see if I can get into the position without pain. It's funny -- it doesn't hurt at all off-ice, but on-ice it kills.

Glad to hear you joy on ice is returning.

A couple of rinks in my area offer Adult Only sessions. People travel up to 50 miles to attend. These sessions are not only for figure skaters. We get hockey and speed skaters, too. Since we're all adults, we don't get in each others way very often. The sessions are well attended.

Make sure you advertise your adult session at all of the area rinks.

I just clean out the Inbox again. (Sheesh, the mailbox here is TINY!!!) But since you have my email, I suggest using my email address. You'll get faster response through there.

Thank you for the well wishes! I'll need it!

__________________
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!!!

Glad your feeling better Gary, I landed on my left butt again doing silly backwards swizzles demonstrating them to someone, such silliness!

And good luck Jazzpants!

Caviar: (OMG! Caviar came first today!) I was able to get in a lesson with my old coach, I spent an hour with her going over the waltz jump and the two foot spin. Both are coming along pretty good it seems, she was pleased with how I progressed even though I didn't see it. I hope I can remember most of the stuff she taught me, it's not easy to get a lesson with her.

Maggot Food: Oh my, I guess five hours is a bit much, albeit three hours at one rink, a two hour break, then two more hours at the other rink. My boots are still a bit crazy I think, I must not be doing something right for them to still be so annoying.

Steven

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"A sure sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." - Albert Einstein
"A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular." - Adlai Stevenson
"Got Edge?" - Steven J. Arness - Coachless, two years and counting.
"He who carves himself to suit others will soon whittle himself away."
"Sometimes you get what you want but loose what you have."

Why don't you write it down when you finish the lesson/get off the ice? It'd make it much easier to remember the details. I have a small notebook that I use to write in what I did in my lessons and practices, what I learnt, things to remember, technical details, footwork sequences, dance steps, etc etc. Makes it a lot easier to rememeber stuff (and it means you can see your progress more easily).

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"It’s never too late to skate at any age." - Alexei Mishin.