Haven't started one of these in a long time!

Woo Hoo:
Had another easy weekend, so I got to practice today. Did all thee of the first dances, one right after the other and stayed on pattern and on time (to the best of my knowledge - without music). When I first started ice dance, I always fell way behind on the Dutch Waltz. I also showed a rink guard who was once a figure skater the Pre-Pre and Prelim MIF to encourage him to test so he could coach, and surprised myself with how easily I got around on the F perimeter stroking. Just a couple of months of ice dance has done wonders for my power! Spins are back, but I have to really focus on maintaining tension in my core and in my arms. I think my F power pulls are finally here to stay. I've been doing them in time to whatever music playing, which is really fun because I get to do things like 3 fast, one slow, instead of all the same. Did B cross strokes with increasing speed, which was also fun. Worked on the Fiesta Tango end pattern with improvement on both the FI mohawk and the B progressives.

Boo Hoo:
Where did my FI threes go? I can do them, but not in the Prelim pattern! Realized that although I have decent BI edges, I am not entirely comfy with the position I need to hold the check on FO threes. Guess I'll have to practice that by itself. Still unwilling to do the Fiesta Tango at appropriate speed because of the FI mohawk.

My coach will be away for the next two weeks because she is going to the PSA conference and taking two oral rating exams there. I would love to be able to show her some improvement when she gets back.

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Monday
Boo Hoo:
Was so late getting to the rink today that there was only 15 minutes left of my skating session because I spent too much time doing editing and remastering music getting caught up too deep in my work not noticing what time it was.

Woo Hoo:
I'm finished editing and remastering all 7 skater tracks for my skating coach and just need to press the 2 remaining CDs. I'm also glad that I'm done doing the pre-novice's short program music. It took quite a while to do and was quite tricky to make the selections fit well together musically but I called my coach to find out if he heard them and found out that he liked my choices for the edits very much. Now I just have to create the labels to burn them onto the Lightscribe discs, write up the invoice and present the last CDs with the bill to my coach. (I hope I get more work like this.)

Tuesday
Boo Hoo:
Tomorrow is a test day that I didn't know about and they've chosen my open session on which to run the tests which means I don't get my ice time. I also have yet to partner my Fiesta Tango and so I'm not ready to test it yet. I also have a few more things to work out before testing my freeskate test, so that's not happening Tuesday either. If I want to make up the lost skting time, I'll have to shell out an extra $20 dollars to buy on for the intermediate session.

Woo Hoo is going to have to wait until later. It's 3:15 AM and I can't possibly know if there's going to be any Woo Hoo for me yet this Tuesday.

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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

Woo Hoo - applied coach's advice from last lesson (always a good idea, I should do it more often) and improved spirals greatly. Salchows and toe loops caught good air. Loops are coming along, Flips are getting better than the occasional happy accident, I landed several. Sitspins were really on today.

Boo Hoo - camel spin is worse again, mostly from confusion due to attempting to apply spiral corrections to it. I really need a sharpening, I felt a couple of skids today that were scary, but getting to summer coach's place to have him do it is tough to fit in the schedule.

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It's all about the dress!

I'm suffering from the exactly opposite! I am doing my spirals like I would do a camel so all spirals are ridiculously low!

Wooooooooo Hoooooooooo:
I did a bunch of waltz-backspins! And exited them! It's not the longed-after axel, but it's halfway there! It may not have the snap but the feeling of jumping and spinning is much better! I think there is sometimes a wrap, but today's was better than the last time's!

Sit spin got more revolutions, and my quad is growing to accommodate backsit.

BOO HOO
Had a peak period where I kept landing waltzbackspin and then I fell really hard on my butt and hands. I leaned too behind.
I'm retiring flip. I hope that giving it a break will make it work when I try it next time. That's how backspin happened. I am landing flip and all, good distance, but it's just poor technique and bad habits. oh well.

Have fun skating everyone! Find some sanity on ice!

I've found that a break of 2 or 3 weeks does help unlearn some bad habits, good luck with it.

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It's all about the dress!

Woo Hoo - started new program this week and remembered the choreography

Boo Hoo - have to get up way early to open rink all week

Woo Hoo - If I get there early enough I get to jam up my music and skate to whatever I want

Boo-Hoo: could not find my balance or push on crossovers. Plus, I was unnerved by someone doing a footwork pattern and cutting through all the circles (no matter which one I picked, she used them all for her pattern). Couple of close calls...I did tell her she could shout out if she thought we were a little too close, as I don't mind but I think she might have felt odd doing so.

Down-right-cryin'-shame: Toe-loops. I'm so afraid my toe-loop is waltzy now (after lessons friday night where we learned the difference), now I'm nit-picking the whole freaking thing. It's falling apart. I do know I have no kick through.

Woo-Hoo: in addition to the success of the new "loop" exercise I tried, my waltz jump was improved-worked on kicking through and using my arms (not sure what my coach will think about it she isn't fond of using arms for momentum).

Scratch spin: I actually managed 2 (yes TWO) that were centered PLUS I had my free leg in a high crossed position! I think my workout is finally paying off!!!! I can't remember if my hip was open or closed but everything felt so good and the leg was high, it crossed, and I even managed to keep it together to a proper exit! Not sure if I captured it on video if so, I'll post it.

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

Woo Hoo:
Today was my second day back on the ice after AN. I was able to do both forward and backscratch spins today!!

Boo Hoo:
Since the ice contract for May went out right before I left for AN and was due while I was at AN, I have no ice contract and had to pay walk on! Only skated a hour because of this.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Boo Hoo:
Lost another job oppty. The recruiter did say that I actually interviewed well and they did like me, but I was beaten out by "someone more Senior" and they're sending out offers to those two lucky engineers.. Needless to say, I am now currently coachless b/c I can't afford coaching after AN and am lucky to just be skating (and BTW: on a midday public session where it's more quiet, b/c that's the best use of my time and money.)

Woo Hoo:
This is the second time I've been back skating and it's a much better one than the first one back. I had my jump up to and including my (royally cheated) lutz. Am trying to fix the look so I my picking leg is straighter before I actually pick and I almost am getting it.

Boo Hoo again:
Tried to get down lower on the sit spin but I need to fix turning my free foot out so that I don't end up hitting my free foot when I DO get down lower. Oh, and of course I have to figure out how I'm gonna GET BACK UP AGAIN after that too.

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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!!!

Sorry to hear that. I hope something turns up really, REALLY soon for you.

Monday:
Woo hoo
-Double toes felt nice, and I did a couple of AWESOME 1toe+2toe combos (not as easy as it sounds).
-Spins were good. I am quite please with how far my layback has come. I was also happy with my back sit and forward cannonball.
-Change of edge back camels were decent.
-Spirals were pretty decent
Boo hoo
-Jumps were all super wrapped on the check-out. I think I was just extra tired and couldn't quite put the effort in to not wrap (I naturally squeeze too tight in the inner thighs while checking out).

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUkhWBrw3uE

Today
Woo hoo
-Jumps were FAR less wrappy. Axels and double sals felt big.
-Double toes felt absolutely AMAZING. It feels like I'd be able to do a triple. My air position is open, I have time before I check out. I remember never thinking I'd be able to do a true double toe (as opposed to a toe axel). Now it's my best jump
-Did some OK double axels on the harness

Boo hoo
-My jump coach had some HARD exercises for me. For jump combos, instead of doing say, 1toe+2toe or 1loop+2loop, I had to do WALTZ JUMP+2toe and then, even worse, waltz jump +2LOOP! I managed to land some of each, but oh my goodness, they're HARD! Plus I had to do them from a standstill...
-Did a super crazy wacky double axel on the harness where I'm amazed I didn't impale my coach. Somehow I got COMPLETELY wrapped. Like Yukari Nakano 3 loop wrapped. I came down from that and was just
-Didn't jump beyond 2loop because I had to get home to my doggies. We're putting the old one down tomorrow

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Youtube Videos

WooHoo - coach said my salchow is getting really good, and she noticed my improved spiral since last week. Sit spin is approaching decent.

BooHoo - she also said my spin exit/final pose sucks. Have to work on it this week. Forgot to practice flips.

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It's all about the dress!

Jazz, sorry to hear that. Have you ever given any thought to teaching skating????? I know there isn't as much money in it but maybe it would help.

I've posted my (rather long and probably boring) practice video. Towards the end, it shows my success incorporating Audryb's loop exercise. I did show my numerous cr*ppy attempts at my toe-loop which is getting worse the more I seem to break down and concentrate about my technique instead of just letting it happen. and now it's carrying over to my salchow....Grrrrr!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o81Ou7y6K8A
(i just uploaded it so it might not be available right away, if you are familiar with youtube you have to wait a bit before it is available-i think they "check" it to make sure it doesn't contain copyrighted material).

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

oh that sucks! Good luck with your job search and skating on your own - may it be brief.

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It's all about the dress!

skate@delaware--

Thanks for posting your video. Since I have a little student who's a real jumping bean, I've been working on improving my critical eye when it comes to jumps & spins, so I practiced watching you & thinking about what I'd say to correct things! Thank you--you are helping me further my education!

I'm glad I could help! I am getting better about picking out what I'm doing wrong when things go awry. My coach likes this. Now we just need to fix things.

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

WOO HOO....not really skating related but...

That paper I was stressing over like a nutcase while we were at ANs (and missed the champ events and missed the party..ugh) was both the final for one of my classes and my contest submission for the competition to get on my school's Moot Court team.

I just found out I made the final round! I was one of only 2 people in my section to make it.

I haven't gotten my grade on it yet, but if it got me to the final for moot court, that means I'll get a really good grade on it, too!!!!

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2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything

Whoo-hoo: Yesterday had lesson with alternative coach as our regular coaches are on holiday. He was very helpful about our hold issues, and about making us sell ourselves with our body language, especially at the start of our compulsory dances.

Boo-hoo: Husband has a back injury and we may not be able to do the lift in our free dance; we need to rechoreograph the ending if that is the case. Probably put our second spin in instead.

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

Congrats, I am really happy to hear that!! You really worked hard on that paper.

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

I can't figure out what's Woo-Hoo and what's Boo-Hoo because there are pluses and minuses in just about everything:

New Coach (who is only the third coach ever I've had in 28 years) was standing at the boards and echanging comments with my old First Coach during my lesson. New Coach was complaining about how bad my memory for choreography was getting and that it had to be my advancing age (she was teasing - it's normal for us and I'm not offended). First Coach corrected her and said no, that's the way I've always been. She's right, too. Considering that I left First Coach in 1989, I don't know whether to or that she remembers me so well.

New Coach has been reworking the steps in the solo free dance. I'm sure it will be lovely - if I can A) do them and B) remember them when the music is playing and I'm trying to count and push and listen and watch out for other skaters.

Dressmaker in NYC has finished putting the new zipper into my old dress and will be shipping it up before I leave for France. Now I'm just hoping that the dress will still fit. It's been a tough winter and dieting wasn't foremost in my mind. The velvet was really stretchy, though.

Woo Hoo: had a good lesson and a good skating week, jumps are fine except loop combos, which is the norm for me. Spins seem solid.

Boo Hoo: To fit in a decent practice, I need to just get up early and hit the 6 am session. I have never been and will never be an early morning person. I function so poorly that time of day that I wonder if it's worth it or If I should stick to fewer and more far between practices at 11.

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Out of retirement and covered in bruises!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pr...62989&ref=name

I'm so sorry to hear this. I've had many dogs and it was very, very tough to say goodbye to them all, even when we knew the end was coming. ((((hugs))))

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"Go wash an elephant if you wanna do something big." -Baby Gramps

ibreakhearts66: I'm SO sorry to hear abut your dog!!! My condolences to you on your loss!!!

Woo Hoo:
My name is jazzpants and I have AOSS!!! I just couldn't resist the lure of my primary coach having a lesson with his Gold man student... and NOT have a lesson right afterwards!!!

Yup! I took a lesson today!!! Thankfully, I will have some money freed up from my CD account (earmarked for AN 2009 or "other emergencies") in about a couple of weeks, so I will be able to afford lessons here and there with the primary coach.

And those of you that are on FB will see that I have yet another interview coming up... Here's hoping I can prepare a good marketing sell to the VP of Engineering -- the hiring manager's boss and the thumbs up or down guy!) After two days ago, I'm now PISSED!!! And when I'm pissed, I'm determined! And when I'm determined, I WILL GET what I want!!! And I WANT A JOB NOW!!! SO ALL YOU OTHER CANDIDATES -- GET OUTTA MY WAY!!!

Boo Hoo:
Went over sit spins and camel spins. I have to turn my hip out more on the sit spin!!! Problem is that I would start out turning out my hip, but end up turning it in when I feel like I'm about to fall off my sweet spot, so I pull the leg out to try to save myself. Primary coach does NOT want that!!!

Not as great on my jumps today, but I think it's b/c I'm tired from doing spins today.

Woo Hoo:
I did one good sit spin attempt that while my primary coach was on another lesson he said "That is a good low sit spin, until you turned your hip back IN!!!" (Like DOH!!! That's b/c I was going DOWN!!?!?!?" ) It was definitely closer to shoot the duck level though.

Also did some okay camels, well okay for me anyway. I did do one GOOD one though, to which primary coach expressed his... relief! ("FINALLY!!! A decent attempt!!! If the free leg was slightly higher, you would have had a good camel spin too!!!")

I know that I shouldn't have taken the lesson given the circumstance... but it was just miserable NOT skating or taking lessons. Just DEPRESSING... and the last straw was the lure of bantering between my primary coach and his Gold Man skater!!! I missed that banter!!!

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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!!!

Hi

Well for this week's lesson, I have the following:

Woo ho: sit spins, managed to do it during group lesson from backward crosses, and managed about 3 revolutions or so, and then came up with an upright spin. Coach gave me some advice about kicking the leg from the back to the front, and she commented that 'it was not bad at all'.

Jumps not too bad either, managed loop jump half a revolution, salchow half a revolution.

Boo ho: change foot spin, well coach said that it was not a bad idea, but asked me to try the backspin. Well, could hold the free leg in front for 2 revolutions, just cannot cross it for more than 1 revolution. Well, this sucks, but at least I will be home to Singapore soon for good, and my coach there will be able to advise me how to improve the backspin.

londonicechamp

And also sorry about someone having to put down their old dogs. Reminded me of the recently released movie 'Marley and me'.

Boo Hoo: I failed Intermediate moves today. Ugh. I get so nervous and everything goes out the window. I feel bad for my coach. I feel like I let her down. Any tips for dealing with nerves on those oh-so-long moves tests, when the rink is silent and you have three judges staring down at you? My legs get slow and wobbly, and I can't seem to find my edges.

Woo Hoo: I passed adult gold freestyle! At least with the music playing and only 2 1/2 minutes to skate, the nerves don't kick in as much. I skated clean but a little scratchy and not my best, but ok. They made me re-skate the axel, even though I thought I did it pretty well in the program, and one judge still failed me (???). Good thing the other two didn't agree with her.

All in all, it was a good night. The judges were really tough -the majority of tests failed, and no test passed by all three judges. I'm glad it's over. Now I have to compete on Saturday, but at least my buddies Herniated and Sexyskates will be there with me!

Congratulation on the Gold Freestyle Patatty!! I'm sorry to hear about the moves Intermediate is a tough one...I have no advice on the nerves or the surviving of the long moves tests...when I took novice a few months ago, I pretty much rushed through and didn't stop...I finished that test in record time because I was so nervous! Coach was not pleased....

Just keep working and one of my tricks is to always do moves in the order of the test...it gets me in the mindset of testing and things become second nature...

But, anyways....I put up a new video...(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgbilBNAhWY)...I may start doing more...I'm finding watching them frame by frame is helpful, but also I have a friend who moved away because she graduated, so I want to make sure she knows how I am doing

[[Woo Hoo]]
Landed a couple of axels clean today!!! ((According to one of the girls at the rink...I of course am a little critical of myself!!))

Spins were good, although, I couldn't center a layback for anything...

Moves are getting better...I just need to keep practicing...

[[Boo Hoo]]

Most of my axels were cheated

Double sals were not happening whatsoever...but, I have been focusing so much on my axels, that by the time I get to the 2sal, I don't have the mental capacity to think about it...

I really need to start doing my program more...especially because coach has it in her head that I am going to test Juvenile this summer...

I am struggling with the rockers from Junior Moves...I just can't seem to get the outside ones....they will come, I'm just being impatient

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Skating Dreams

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES." --Nike