THICK FOG - They say you never really know what you've got till it's gone. Well this week was the first week of the summer session, and it is just cram-packed with kids now that they are out of school. I know I'll get used to it eventually, but I feel like I need rear view and side view mirrors! Thank goodness it thins out a bit at the end, because trying to do things like the Power Circles MIFs are just impossible!

HEAT HAZE - On the other hand, it's really motivating to skate with such strong young skaters, and it reminds me to keep pushing and stretching. The kids at our rink are so nice and accepting of an "old" adult skater like me. I find them all delightful, especially the ones who work really hard. A couple of them stopped me during practice to tell me that they thought my axels were so BIG. Well bless them all, I've written them into my will.

OK, on to my practices. Was on the ice on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. I've been working on my Intermediate MIFs because my coach wants me to test in August. I'm pretty pleased with my progress, except it's time to improve on those Clockwise forward power circles! The power 3s on the end caps are coming along, now that I've figured out how to push so there is actually some power (and that wonderful crunching noise) going on.

What's especially WONDERFUL is that I seem to have gotten my "groove" back. My knees are no longer hurting and I'm excited about all the new things I'm learning. Monday was a Creative Moves class and I picked up a couple of cool arm movements to do during sit spins.

Today's practice was especially fab. Hubby came to videotape, and I showed him all the new stuff I'm learning. Apparently my layback has progressed from just an eyebrow-back. There is at least a little lean happening now. Jumps were strong, moves were fast with good edges. I worked myself into a big sweatball! Tonight I'll watch the videos and critique.

We started working on scratch back in ?Jan?, then slowed down while I was working on programs for competing, but I still practice spinning for 15-20 minutes out of each 60-90 minute session. It seems like a big waste of my time, but I have to do it to get past prebronze, so I keep plugging away at it.

I do have a spin trainer--the plastic, arched one--but not really anywhere to practice it at home, and my daughter has banned me from spinning and jumping in the house. Hmmmm, maybe I should take it to work.

It does help to know that I'm not the only one struggling with it. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

IT'S ALL HEAT BABY!!!
I passed my learn to skate school test. We are doing ISI and I just passed levels 5 & 6 ( which is roughly delta and freestyle 1) I'm walking on air (though my 2 foot spin still kind of sucks). On to the next challenge.
Cid

Well done - I'm feeling the same, as the competition Looms Large. Plus we have our local club competition tomorrow, so I've entered my Interpretive in there to be a dress rehearsal and to know vaguely what British judges will think of it - French and American judges loved it! Of course, what with one thing and another, I've barely skated this week..... typical.

See you on Thursday!

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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 can't believe the Opens are upon us again so soon. This year has gone so quickly. I'm looking forward to seeing you again on Thursday, Annabel!

Nicki

Heat Haze Had a pretty good lesson--we actually worked on something new, although I think my coach is trying to kill me. I learned waltz jump-side toe hop-waltz jump. I may not seem like much, but with my fear of the STH from a nasty fall, it was a BIG step forward. It was actually pretty cool. Worked on scratch spin too. I really worked hard on unclenching my toes on my skating foot, and it seems to make a difference. Now, if I could just make my other body parts move together.

Thick Fog Not much, really. I think I made some progress on the scratch spin, so I won't whine about that today.