I noticed that the last practice thread expired on the 24th, so I thought I'd pop this one in. FYI Fusty is bad. Festive is good.

Fusty: Missed skating for two weeks due to social commitments. When I got back it was like slogging through mud. Took me 45 minutes to warm up my knees.

Festive. My mohawks are coming back after the broken ankle! And I think they're better than they were before the *Fall*.
A woman in her 40's came up and said she admired my skating. (I blush, bec. all I'm doing is forward stroking, two foot turns, mohawks and t-stops) I gave her the usual encouragement to take adult lessons, and when I left I saw her looking over the group lesson schedule, so I may have made a convert!
Mystery Guy Skater and I chatted about his practice schedule. For every half hour private he does 10 hours practice---and it shows.

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Great forum quotes:
On Falling: '...it doesn't matter, it's what you do AFTER you fall that's more important' ISK8NYC

Let's see now...

Festive:
Wednesday I had a lesson with primary coach. He and I started the lesson by giving me more footwork drills to do while "warming up."

Fusty:
Unfortunately the drill got complicated enough where even when I'm awake I wouldn't be able to get the steps down in the order he had them.

Then he said two words I didn't expect "Let's.... JUMP!!!" Of course, I didn't expect it b/c my secondary coach had said in our last lesson that he will do moves and she will do jumps and spins. I said "Ummm.... okay! I wasn't expecting that one." He said "You should expect ANYTHING out of me!!! " Right! I forgot "Coach Rule #1: The one drill that you're dreading to do during the lesson is likely to be the one you get. (Rule #2 is "The one drill you have been preparing all week for is LIKELY NOT the item s/he's gonna have you do in the next lesson!!! Rule #2a is "It doesn't mean you don't practice it though... it will come back in a future lesson!!! )

Festive:
I have a few things to keep in mind while during waltz and loop jumps. He's determined to make those jumps look REAL sparkly clean and pretty... so he can do "show and tell" to my secondary coach and say "Look what I made Jazzpants do now!!!"


Thursdays and More "Festive":
Thursday is Thanksgiving... so no lesson with secondary coach. That said, I had LOADS of fun during the annual Thanksgiving coffee club session. I saw LOTS of my fellow coffee club session friends. And it's no surprise majority of them were ice dancers since our coffee club is sorta more an ice dance session that allows FS skaters to do their skate. When the Dutch Waltz comes up, I follow along. (It's the only dance pattern I do know. )

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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!!!

Festive
Second time back on the ice post-injury yesterday. Weather was in the 50s and sunny so another adult skater and I hit up a free public session at the outdoor rink here (not one of those dingy little temporary holiday outdoor rinks, a full-size one with decent ice that is open Oct-April, they only have public skate but it's free if you don't need to rent skates). Too bad they're closed Sundays, because today is even a few degrees warmer and it would have been great to go. I forgot this rink was still around, I'll have to remember it if I have a day off work and it's a day like today, because they have daytime ice.

Still hurts to have the skate on over the swelling in my ankle, although not as much as last week. Lasted a whole hour. Backward/forward crossovers are easier, so are 3 turns on the bad foot. Did some good back sits and back camels even though the push into them isn't as strong. Even did some loop jumps (they were tentative since I didn't want to fall so they didn't have a whole lot of height) and by the end of the session, even managed a clean flip jump.

Mysteriously my Y spiral, which I started working on in August, got better with my month of inactivity. My leg got up much easier and it was a lot higher than it used to be. Not sure how/why that is, I didn't do any exercise for a month and no stretching. Maybe that somehow made my hip more loose? I don't know but I can't complain.

Fusty
Speed and power are (obviously) still down. Still can't do other jumps (haven't tried) and can't really spin on the L ankle so any forward spins are still out of the question. Have yet to try more complicated turns (twizzles, counters, rockers, etc) on the bad ankle, it was a little too crowded on the public session for that. For some reason I decided it would be a good idea to try a flying camel, but on the edge into it realized I wasn't quite ready, so it was more of a hoppy thing but the back camel was surprisingly decent.

I'm hoping that by next weekend, I can handle all the turns in my program's step sequence (even if I have to go back to the watered down version from Peach and not the beefed up version I planned for Buckeye--the CCW quick rocker choctaws I put in are def going to have to come out and the LFI twizzle will have to be a single and not a double) and maybe even start to run my program w/o all the jumps/spins and start doing some dances.

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

this is for last night, i was going to post but my computer was mis-behaving so i ran a virus program.....

Festive: hardly anyone at the rink they were still out for the holiday, so no one was running into each other! Synchro girl was there, she is always nice to watch! Talked with coach about the technique my group coach wants me to do on my jumps (incorporating a backspin-wrap thing when I land)....she wants me to focus more on: height and quality first then we will add it in later. Although she does agree that it's time to start thinking about working towards doubles, maybe not necessarily doing them (haha i agree!). Worked on some back spirals, which is good to take advantage of an empty rink....I need to work on these but they weren't too bad if I don't swing my leg out too far.

Fusty: Worked on some sit spins, I had a harder time this time, maybe my back was sore (everything was hurting today, maybe the weather?). They just didn't get where they needed to be.

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

Fusty Got new skates last week. They felt fine when I left the shop. They couldn't find laces long enough for my big, wide feet so I had to tie them really tight to get them skateable. (120's not long enough). Could only skate 20 minutes in them before my feet went numb. Not good. I've been trying to wear them at home to break them in, but can only wear them 30 mins at a time.

Fusty: Got my second retry on the Ten-Fox last night.

Festive: Got a pass from a judge who gave me a retry on my first try (June 08). And this time I was officially testing standard--my first try had been mistakenly noted as adult.

I'm bouncing back and forth between feeling like I've had it with testing dance and being more determined than ever to conquer this one. The latter feeling will win out, I know, but I allowed myself not to do one little bit of dance practice this morning (I'm also working on Gold moves and Bronze free.)

I'm sorry I don't post much, but I do read everyone's posts.

Johanna

It's amazing how a little basic skating can impress the uninitiated! I was working on a crowded public session yesterday and I know for a fact that I did absolutely nothing remarkable - not even a three turn or mohawk, but a Russian woman who grew up skating told me I'm a beautiful skater . The only thing I could guess impressed her was that I often do slow motion stroking to show my students exactly what is going on, since so many beginners think they should either step ahead or slide their feet ahead.

When you are not wearing them, pull the laces as tight as you can and tie them that way. That will help stretch them, and will also pull down the sides of the boots where the holes are.

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Get two short pairs and tie them together to make two long laces. Put the knot at the bottom and lace as usual.

However, I have to wonder if you weren't mismeasured for skates. I've never seen stock boots with too-short laces unless the skates were too narrow for the foot. Then, the "throat" (space where the tongue shows between the eyelets) is really spread apart.

If your feet ache across the ball or instep, your skates are probably too narrow. Take the skates back and ask them to order the proper width skates.


Speaking of which:

Fusty: Decided that Santa should bring me new skates for Christmas. Just a stock pair of boots - I have plenty of blades I can use. Measured myself using three different Jackson sticks. I need a size 7.5 boot. The width is insane though - my foot measurements are off the chart, yet a pair of 8B skates fit me fine, width-wise. Nowhere to try on a pair. Gak.

Festive: Nailed a few toe loops and loop entries this weekend.

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Welcome to my world!!! LOL!!
I found I was better at certain elements than before whenever I took a week or longer off. Not sure why, but I am glad I am not the only one plagued with this blessing.

Breaking in new skates are the WORST!!! I hope they relax soon so you can enjoy skating again!

Fusty AND Festive, all together: Well, coach has approved testing Paso in Jan (11), so I sent in the paperwork today. And, as I licked the envelope & sealed it, my heart started pounding, and the nerves started kicking in!!

Which is probably fine, as I've learned that the more I freak out ahead of time, the less I freak out on the actual test. Of course, there's always the issue of not being actually able to get through 2 patterns w/ music just yet......yikes!!

Festive: Decided to spring for a gym membership over the winter so I can keep running, which I did all summer & which definitely helped my stamina.

Thanks for the tip!

I am seriously wondering about this. I went to the biggest most reputable skate place in the state to try to avoid this. I've probably broken 3-4 pairs of skates over the years and my feet have been sore after skating, but never numb. I did call the manufacturer to see about longer laces and he thought that they came standard with the 114 so is sending me out some 120s. I did get the wide width.

If the 120's don't work, Jackson make white 130's, which may be the right size. They're thin laces, though, and may not be to your liking. I love thin laces, but know plenty of skaters who prefer the thicker cotton ones.)

(PS - good luck breaking in the new boots! Hope they feel a little more "yours" soon.)

festive: off the ice this week on vacation. Checking in from sunny Mexico.

fusty: not much. Driving here was easier than I anticipated and everything is easily identified!

Decidedly festive - I FINALLY took an official USFSA test, or three actually - all of the Preliminary dances, and, miraculously, passed them. This was (is) a very big deal that required my darling husband, who promises to ice dance with me some day, to take me (and kids, too) out to dinner. Very nice. Now I have to get through the next three, as quickly as possible!!!

I think I bought my pink laces from Jackson when they were a vendor at the US Nationals in 2008. Love those laces, but had to stop wearing them when my old boots started getting too broken down. Maybe the upside is that I can wear them again.

I wear a stock 8B Jackson. Which is weird, since the whole line was "redesigned" I went from a C/D width to a B. Although I find the heel a bit wide for me and I'm thinking maybe a 7.5 would be a better fit, now that the padding is packing down.... Although I'm glad I didn't have to buy another 8C/D semi-custom boot ($$$$$$$$$).

I still can't point my toes sufficiently in these (Elites). They are still pretty stiff. If I lace to the top I can't bend; if I loosen then enough to get enough toe point (for proper push off on the loop jump) then I don't feel as though I have enough ankle support). Yikes!

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

Congratulations!!!! That's a great feeling, isn't it? I remember my first dance tests--I couldn't bend my knees for anything, I was so nervous. Later my coach joked that someone else had my legs that night.

Festive: Worked on my back spins. Am now more comfortable going into them, however, still need to get some more muscle memory in and be more conscious of my right shoulder and my entry needs to be slightly deeper to get that "circle". I twizzle at least 3 times and then start spinning. Will get that corrected soon.

Spirals were really nice today. My coach commented on my catch spiral and I was able to do it with control and dropping my leg easily into a spiral and holding it. I have been struggling on doing this within a circle. Its easy to do across the rink with minimal turns. I was really happy about this.

Got the slide chassez..(sp?) and now need to practice it!

Am able to do an open (arrow) camel now as well as the standard position. Now I need to get more comfortable grabbing my blade for the catch camel. Grr. I tip forward on this at times.

Fusty: Got a little bit of video of me last night and need to post my spiral. I didn't like any of my spins, which I realized right away, I NEED TO SHARPEN MY SKATES! I was skidding every-which-way and unable to hold my scratch spin. So, dropped them off to Fred Martin and I pick them up tonight and will try more video again. ( they were really dull)

Sit spins were a disaster in my book. (Me the perfectionist). My coach said they were still really good even though I am not as low as I usually am. Everyone has tough weeks at times with skating. So hoping my sit spin returns tonight. I love doing them.

My first practice post in a while!

Festive:
-Just about everything. Landed all of my jumps through 2lutz, only falling on ONE 2lutz (and I did a ton a of jumps). In fact, only fell a few times the whole session, twice on combo jumps, once on the 2lutz and once on an amusing pop. I don't mind falling, but it was great to have consistency. Also landed 2flip+2loop, 2flip+2toe (a combo I never attempt) and some solid 2toe+2toes.
-Spins felt really good. Started messing around with new arm positions for my layback and I really like what i saw (I videotaped). Grab camels have gained a lot of extension.

Fusty
-Even this is kind of festive because it meant I was working so hard and enjoying myself so much that I didn't want to rest, but I spun til I puked! I think I was pushing myself just a little too hard for coming back from a heart procedure.

Really, the best part was just that I ENJOYED being out there. I've been stuck in a rut and have been struggling with depression and just haven't really enjoyed skating lately. I almost didn't go today but decided to at the last minute and I'm SO glad I did.

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Youtube Videos

Festive Coach had me lace new skates skipping the second notch and lacing the the 3rd and top ones. What a difference that made! Yea! Had a lesson tonight. We went through the 3 of the Bronze Moves and coach was happy with how quiet my skating is with the new blades. I even got some nice growl on some of the edges. She was happy to see that I was putting in less effort and getting better results. We worked on some jumps: waltz, salchow, and toe loop.

Fusty Had to cut lesson to 15 mins(usually do 20). My feet really hurt. I had to take off my skates every 20 minutes and rest my feet. Then when I put them back on and I could skate again. Spins were totally off. Scratch spins traveled. Backspins ground to a halt after about 3 revs. Didn't attempt sits or camels.

Festive: Had a couples dance lesson today and things started well although I have to say I am not happy to be doing the Dutch Waltz as one of the British Championship dances this year. I hate it because it is soooo boring. Still we did some work on power, speed and edges which was fine until....

Fusty....at the start of a run through we hadn't got beyond the first push of the intro steps when partner caught toepick and fell heavily taking me down too and wrenching my arm back Who'd have thought just doing the baby dances could be so dangerous. Didn't think it was too bad til I tried to drive home and changing gear or trying to pull on the handbrake was actually quite painful. Have iced the shoulder and will rest it now and hope it's better by Friday when I have synchro practice!

I have the same problem. It seems we both bought a boot that was one level too stiff for us. I have the Elite Plus boots. I should have only bought the regular Elite boots. But look at it this way once and if we ever get the boots to bend in the way we want them to bend, the boot will last much longer.

Now to grab my skates and work on them while watching TV.

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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

I'm tempted to switch my blades back to my old boots...and take my chances (duct tape anyone?) at least I could point my toes (I could always pad out the heels so there's no slipping around).

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

Festive: I went to the gym yesterday to meet w/ trainer for the first time to set up which exercises/machines I should be using. He did some strength tests & stuff to see what level of fitness I'm currently at. One of the things he had me do was crunches for one minute--he said I did more crunches than anyone he'd ever seen. HA!! Respect the skating muscles, bub!!