Bouncy (I think): Having finally figured out that my "mental block" against doing jump on open ice resulted from spending nearly all my time skating within 8 feet of the boards (to stay out of the way of "more advanced" skaters and Kamikaze kiddies) I started today's session with the resolve to keep everything (sans jumps) along the rink centerline as much as possible - yup, sure feels different! Upright spins, sit spins, footwork, everything in mid-rink. (Even head coach noticed and chuckled with approval.) I am sure, once I make centre ice "familiar territory" things will get a lot better.

Flat: In lesson we worked on the Freeskate program some more. Coach was disappointed that I decided to withdraw it from Sunday's competition but I just don't have much faith in it yet (even if I miraculously had my two jumps by then).

In program run-thoughs, I only had ONE good run-through - the same two skaters who cut me off on Friday cut me off again TWICE, then their coach stepped out in front of me just as I was setting up my jump sequence parallel to the boards - three program aborts caused by the same skaters and their coach!

You know those air horns that work on a can of compressed air, the ones you often hear at football and hockey games that are REALLY loud? Can you get those small enough to fit in a pocket? I just might be able to make a point.

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

Rusty blades, try a "bag stealing alarm" or whatever it's called. It's basically a box the size of a matchbox with a pin in it. The box goes in your inside pocket or other tight and secure place, the pin has a wire attached to it which goes to your purse. Somebody tries to steal the purse, a 110 decibel alarm goes off and only stops when the pin is re-inserted in the box. I used to have one, and I expected 110 decibel to be loud, however, I was completely shocked by just *how* loud that is. Significantly louder than a fire alarm. Apparently a taking-off fighter jet in close proximity causes 120 decibel... So you might wanna practice putting the pin in and out without batteries, or with earplugs, unlike me.

You can get them here at dollarstores (eurostores) occasionally, or other thrift shops, online and in some gift stores too. They work off 2 AA batteries.

Flat - NOT the ice at my main crappola hockey-rink, that's for sure! The ice was better than it was last week because apparently they got the zam fixed but still pretty crappy for doing figures and really not at all flat -- it's like being on a bunch of hills, - up, down, up down - and that's not just me!!!!

Bouncy: Getting the knee action on the BI3 and the FO3 is getting better on that figure. Working now to get the centers more even and circles-size more even. Hey - maybe if I can do this figure I will seriously think about working on my 2nd figure TEST and not worry about those silly Adult Silver figures anymore!

THAT would be an accomplishment.

Liking the new MK dance blades that I put on a month ago - the ones I got on ebay for about $50. They are more stable than my old ones and just feel better all-around. Still working on speed going into and out of turns, but it is starting to feel better, so - yea!!

__________________
Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

Flat:
-4-5 inches of snow & ice prevented me from going to my session this morning. Now I have only 2 more practices before testing

Bouncy:
-I love snow!!!!!

Flat: I haven't skated in two weeks because of flu. This has been a MEAN one, and I'm still not over it.

I have to photograph the competition at our rink on Saturday, so I'd better be healthy enough for "rink air" by then.

Bouncy: My back pain has lessened in the meantime. It shouldn't be a problem for me once I get back from the flu - I hope.

[cough, cough - HONK, sniff, sniff]

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Bill Schneider

I used to do the same thing...hanging around the endzones so I would be out of everyone's way and apologizing when I was in the way...then I realized HEY I PAY JUST AS MUCH AS THEY DO FOR THE SAME ICE and I'm paying the THE WHOLE FRICKIN' SHEET!!!!
You could YELL an even louder "EXCUSE ME" in a MOM-type voice when you are skating and keep on truckin'...eventually they will yield when they realize you mean business!

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

Or yell, "Program!" so that they are aware that YOU are the skater skating her program. Sometimes skaters in lessons don't look up to see whose program is on, so they don't know who that one person is who has right of way over them in their lesson.

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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

rusty blade congrats on getting out more on center ice!! You'll get better than me in surviving in those rinks since I won't have practise fighting for space with higher level skaters here.

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~
Tidesong

[Flat]

So cold outside and that translated into a cold rink so cold that I couldn't feel my toes for an hour and a half yuck!

Axels were not jumping today...I so need to clean my house so that I have room in my living room to jump but, I hate cleaning

[Bouncy]

Finally saw coach...no lesson, but we briefly talked about when I'm going to retest...not on the 29th like I originally thought (which is okay, now I don't have to worry about getting someone to hold the duty phone that week), but on March 16th. Which is again right after a week of duty for me, but that is also spring break for us, so I'm going to break some rules and take the phone more than 15 minutes away from campus... Now I need to ask coach what I'm testing...if it's just moves or if it's both moves and freestyle...I can't wait for my lesson on Friday

Did a program run through and it wasn't horrible I missed my camel spin, but did everything else...the ice was cruddy, so the chasse and crossovers into my spiral were shaky, but that's not the norm...I even did the scratch/back scratch!!

My other singles were were nice and big, and my lutz was even decent....

Bouncy: My first lesson in almost 5 weeks! I have a recognizable sit spin, though coach wants it lower. I have a fast, centered scratch spin. I have speed yet control and flow on some jumps. I will be competing, it is not a question of if, just a question of when. I started back scratch spins and restarted loop jumps, against the wall I think I might have squeaked out a tiny loop...before the zamboni driver came out

Flat: Not much, coach made me attempt a camel spins again...not such a good idea. Other than that it was the first day of classes for the new semester.

__________________
~Always Dream!~

Check my progress at www.freewebs.com/sk8tegirl06

Bouncy I got to skate again! 2 weeks early!
Flat My knees only made it through 5 minutes of forward stroking before they were upset with me.

So I went and put icy hot on them and ran through forward and backward crossovers, and those weren't so bad (guess I don't get the knee bend I need there...)

Then I taught my LTS classes and that went well. Problem- the main element we work on is dips, in both of the classes I do, although I can DO dips- I'm really not supposed to do anything that works the outer quad- which is the muscle you use for them. I tried to demonstrate as few as possible.

Afterward I was feeling up to taking the freestyle lesson so I did and the instructor knew I hadn't skated in 2 months and couldn't do a lot. While the class worked on half flips, I did the silver 3 turn pattern. My turns are not even close to the tops of the lobes, and were a bit wild with the free leg, but I'm happy to say that I haven't lost them! Even the back inside ones were still there. After working on those for about 10 minutes my right knee was starting to hurt, so I moved to left brackets- it was the only thing I could think of that didn't use my right leg Then the instructor asked if I could do waltz jumps, because I land on my left side, and I said sure- but apparently the one I did was really bad, because he told me that it clearly looked like it hurt to jump. It didn't- but I was really shaky having not tried in 2 months.

Then we moved onto half lutz entrances, and those went pretty well. We did them from really fast edges- so I couldn't have jumped even if I wanted to. We were supposed to be doing 2 foot up and down jumps, but even those hurt after a few, so I just worked on setting up the edge.


But overall things went great. I saw the synchro coach as I came off the ice and said "Look! I got skates on!" and I intended to skate Wed synchro- at least a bit.

So I went home, super excited, told my husband all about how great the lesson was (even though stroking was NOT great) and we got ready to go out to meet his friends for a post-seminar (they're all grad students) celebration. As we are going to the car, I miss the last step on the stairs and fall and twist my ankle. I am SO mad at myself. My knees are finally on the rebound so I can skate again and I go mess up my ankle! I couldn't walk last night, but I can today- it's just a constant dull ache now, so hopefully it was just a minor ouch, and nothing I have to care about. But, I doubt I can do synchro today

Stupid stairs.

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Not bouncy - My back crossovers, which is a good thing - we want smooth crossovers, not bouncing! Still need to keep my heel down, I tend to go up on my toes on one side...

Power 3s - I'm still forcing the turn just the littlest bit but when I really concentrate on stretching my arms ...coach says to work on that and we will have what she calls "a real move" - which means passable.

Then I worked on my spin entry. Sigh. I just keep rushing it, I just can't seem to trust it to hook on it's own.

j

Jessi! Quit being a klutz!

Seriously, I hope your ankle feels better...

Jessi, watch your last step! It's a doozy, as you figured out!!!

Seriously, rest that ankle and hope you feel better!!! We'll get excited for 'ya!!!

Nothing bouncy today... all flat!!!

Remember the old saying for me that the first few flips and loops are good and from then on it's progressively worse!?!?! Well, my secondary coach doesn't seemed to care about that and made me do my flip jump over and OVER and OVER and OVER again... There were some moments of glory, but for the most part they felt heavier and heavier and heavier... and I felt like I was rushing thru the jump towards the end too. I wanted to tell my secondary coach "This is it! I don't want to reinforce bad habits b/c I'm tired!" but believe me, she probably wouldn't let up on me anyway.

And then I took off my boots and the inside ankle bone is hurting like hell. Actually it's been hurting the last few times I've put on my skates, so I think my boots need to go into repairs! Next Tuesday, I'm gonna get Harlicks to go in and replace the padding on the ankle bone. I also think that I might want to get the tongue padding replaced too b/c they feel like I'm not getting enough support too.

__________________
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!!!

Hey Jazz,

I've found that when jumps get worse and worse it's because you're usually tired. I have found that my success rate goes up quite a bit the longer I rest between attempts. When you're on a lesson coach usually makes you do them rapid fire. I agree about not reinforcing bad habbits. If it isn't working let it alone. There will be other days!

Regarding boots, the ankles usually start to hurt as the boot starts bending in one direction or the other. It's a form of breaking down. The support is still there, but the boot doesn't fit right.

Bouncy: Everything was clicking tuesday night. It's rare when both spins and jumps are good. My rotational mojo is still coming back. I did a long, fast sit spin just before I got off the ice and some young lady said it was "beautiful". A guy can never hear enough of that. I'm also looking forward to this saturday when I go to WonderCon at the Moscone Center then walk over to the Yerba Buena rink for a skate. Two of my favorite interests in one afternoon!

Flat: I lost my gloves again for the umpteenth time. This time I bought a six pack at walmart which should last awhile. I'm also guessing that my thursday morning session is going to be a letdown (like usual) from tuesday night.

Which afternoon session are you going to? I might join 'ya...

I'll get some Bunga Pad nubs to go over the bone area so it will cushion whatever is pushing on my ankle bone. That should solve the problem 'til I get my boot fixed...

__________________
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!!!

Wednesday Night

Bouncy: everything!!

Flat: nothing!!

I had an amazing practice last night!

__________________
2014 and 2018 Olympics here I come!

Skating, skating all day long, skating, skating all night long! May seem tiring to some people but not me, it's my life!!

Goals: Triple Loop, Novice Competitive, Sr.Silver Dances, Gold Artistic, and top 3 at Sectionals

Bouncy: Our team had a great practice last night. We're coming along on our new LP -- only about a minute left to choreograph and what's already done is going well. We added a circular footwork sequence and all of managed to get it in the first practice -- and that's a first, LOL!

And then wqe ran our compulsory program and, with the exception of a few glitches in footwork that DIDN'T result in falls or people out of place, we hit everything for the first time ever -- came out of the circle into the block both times we did it AND hit the scary fast pass-through both times -- we even managed to get in line for the straightline footwork on time -- ALL of us... WOW!

We all got off the ice happy and no one was frustrated -- that's the way to end a practice! Yippee!!!


Oh -- my coach DIDN'T laugh when I told her I was thinking of entering our rink's competition in the ISI Interpretive event -- she thought it would be the perfect event for me. As did the other coaches who skate on our team. So, I guess it's a done deal -- Quarkiki will take the ice alone for the first time in April... gulp....

Bouncy: First day of class yesterday-I did a mazurka for the first time and feel pretty groovy about it.

Flat: A skating mom actually told me I was too old to be taking classes and I should leave so the kids get more attention from the teacher. I wanted to cry-still do.

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deannathegeek
"It's like trying to do a toe loop in hockey skates-you have to have the right tools for the job."

YAY! I'm glad the practice went well. I really want to get back on the ice- I'm so scared about the mohawks in both programs, I NEED the practice on that, and then just being able to DO the programs. Walking through last night made my ankle not happy though. Hey- at least it's not my knees.

You're going to be GREAT in the interp event. No requirements, just skate and make it look pretty- you can do that!

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Oh, my goodness! How awful! You may want to speak to the skating durector about that - that's totally inappropriate for any human being (and we're talking about an adult here!) to say to someone else.

I guess I was lucky that parents didn't pay much attention to me, and my group lesson instructors were good about giving equal attention to all students in the class.

Congrats on the mazurka!

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Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

YAY! for the mazurka- those things are HARD!

I would also mention the skating director what that parent said. That is absurd. You're paying just as much for those classes and deserve to be there- don't give up, and don't cry. If she feels so entitled she can put her daughter in private lessons.

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Deanna - sorry to hear someone made such an uncalled for remark. Try to ignore the nasty skate moms - there are plenty of nice ones around.

If she makes any more comments try the line - "well maybe I wont' be going to the Olympics but then neither are 99% or more of the kids here. I don't think my few minutes of teacher time are going to be affecting anyone's future!"

Congrats on the Mazurka - though as a UK skater I have no idea what one of those is!!!!!

Flat: About ten minutes into warm-up this morning, I had just started doing forward edges when I felt a sudden sharp pain in my left ankle (behind and below the boney point in a vertical line). I hadn't even started cross-overs yet! There was no "pop" or anything (like when I sprained my right ankle in August '06) - just a sharp intense pain.

I took my boot off, massaged and warmed the area for a bit thinking it might be a muscle cramp and tried skating again - the pain was still there and quite intense every time I tried doing a FLI edge. Something wrong! Rather than risk doing any serious damage this close to Nationals I packed up, limped away, and went straight to my physiotherapist who was good enough to fit me in right away.

Not Quite Bouncy but not Flat: She said it is very likely a muscle strain and it was good to have it seen to so quickly. A few sessions in physio and I'll be as good as old (not "good as new" - I am too old for that! ) I might have to take it a little easy on the left ankle tomorrow but I should be back to (ab)normal by Tuesday. Hopefully all that has been lost is one practice session.

I have never hurt myself on anything strenuous but the "easy stuff" bites!

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