Cool ice or burning heat June 8-14

liz_on_ice · #1 06-09-2008, 08:15 AM

It's a heat wave in NY. Are you skating in the nice cool rink, or wilting outside in the sun?

did no one practice on the 8th? I don't see a thread.

Cool ice: I made it to the rink this morning, had a nice practice. Spins have been just terrible lately, but I did some decent work on them. Jumps too. Finished up with a really nice program runthrough.

burning heat I love my job, but it has been a lot harder to schedule practice time. Many skills have fallen off. I switch to summer coach next week, hopefully the change in perspective will kick me back into gear.

abbi_1990 · #2 06-09-2008, 12:04 PM

2 weeks today till i test my Level 1 field moves.

Had my blades sharpened on friday, and skated in them for the 1st time today. I couldnt stop!!! Just what i needed - NOT!

Im not really ready for this test, was supposed to do it in September, but i cant so i have to do it now. Fingers crossed i pass.

Coach really tortured me on the spirals - Faster, higher, and push!

Crossovers in figure of 8 were okish, the actual crossovers were good but the transition from backwards to forwards and from backwards CCW to backwards CW needs work on.

Edges were ok, just need to work on my posture, making sure i keep my shoulders back and chin up.

Back crossovers to outside edge were good. Need to start in the centre of the circle and to 2 pushes and then a LFO 3turn before starting the crossovers.

RachelSk8er · #3 06-09-2008, 12:10 PM

Burning Heat: LOTS OF IT....basically any spot on my body not covered by my bathing suit yesterday. Went to Soak City (waterpark @ Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio) yesterday with my mom, since we have season passes to CP, it was hot, and we had nothing better to do. I had on sunscreen, it was waterproof, but today I'm burned, itchy, feeling sick, wanted to call in sick to work but didn't want to waste a day of PTO. So I'm sitting here in a dress and cardigan (because as much as it hurts to have my arms covered, I'm FREEZING) and all I want is my bed. If one more of my coworkers points out that I got sun over the weekend, I am going to scream. I'm glad I don't have to skate today because I don't want to even think of how much it would hurt to put on tights and skating clothes.

More burning heat: Got home from CP only to find that 3 of my 4 summer sessions were cancelled due to low registrations. The two Saturday morning sessions, and one of the two Wednesday evening sessions. So I had to scramble to find new ice because most summer ice time schedules aren't very helpful to adults with jobs (the rest is 8am-5pm M-F)...and the corporate world doesn't seem to understand that figure skating is necessary in order for me to maintain my sanity at work.

Cool ice: Luckily, I discovered that another local rink has ice from 8am-1:30pm on Saturdays. And since it's all walk-on for $10/hr, if I have a week I can't go or if I want to sleep in a bit, I can. And I can skate for more than 2 hrs if I'm feeling extra energetic. The rink is a little farther than my normal one (a whopping 15 min versus my normal 5 min drive), but at least it's one of the nice rinks.

My 3 week hiatus from skating ends Wednesday...woo hoo!

Helen88 · #4 06-09-2008, 12:43 PM

I practiced on the 8th but I couldn't think of a decent thread title

. So this is for yesterday.

Perfect Temp.
Today was my first session in a skirt!. I was panicking cos I thought it looked really frumpy and makeshift but it worked okay.

Cool Ice [Kinda...]:
Then we did a run-through of the test…which I’m testing a week tomorrow

. Little things, little things…I should be fine. *Nervous face…*

Burning Heat:
Uh…spirals – not happening. It’s gonna take an army of coaches to get my left hip to turn out. Or a hip transplant. One or the other. :]. Need to turn my foot/hip out before lifting it, but then keep it turned out, rather than letting it drop.

Cool Ice:
I have an extra lesson on Tuesday as test-prep so we’ll see how things go.

jazzpants · #5 06-09-2008, 02:49 PM

Liz, I tried to think of a cool thread but couldn't think of one... so here's my note for yesterday:

COOL ICE:
I had a good jump day! Landed a BUNCH of clean lutzes and flips and they had a nice pop up too!!! Even weirder, they felt EASY!!! This is weird!!! I must be dreaming...

Starting making some headway in fixing my toe-waltzing problem.

Have all 8 of the 3turns on a line!!! Yes, I can do BI3's now!!! WOO HOO!!! (And I also didn't do too bad of a FO bracket either...)

Now to see if I could keep it consistently enough that I could start trying it on the pattern for the Silver Moves/Pre-Juv Moves test...

And YAAAAAY!!! I start choreography for my new interp program THIS WEEK!!!

Burning Heat:
"That time of the month" took away my sit spin... well, at least I had a harder time at the beginning trying to go down as far as I can go at the beginning of the session. I sorta got a lower sit spin towards the end of the session though.

Camel spins is

I will get this spin, I SWEAR!!!

Skittl1321 · #6 06-09-2008, 05:28 PM

No heat wave here (it's just a very humid 80 or so) but major concerns about flooding...

Cool ice I went skating today! Getting to the rink on Mondays is an accomplishment. I gave myself 30 minutes to skate, then I had to go to the gym, and once I type this off to Pilates.

I ran through all my moves, did all my jumps, and worked on my spins. A very productive 30 minutes.

Forward power crossovers feel great. Back power crossovers, and back crossovers to outside edges felt good, but I'm having problems with getting the exact number of lobes right. I prefer patterns that say 3-6 or whatever, getting the right number in is impossible for me. They were REALLY slow today, but the ice was awful- I can blame that, right?

Waltz jumps were good until one of the guys started practicing his- they fly halfway across the rink and made mine feel even more puny than they already are. Flip feels more natural but I'm two-footing everytime. I need someone to watch, because I'm not entirely sure if I'm just two footing or if I'm doing that last half of the rotation on ice. Toe loop feels okay- how do I make these jumps leave the ice?

Heat wave 5 step mohawk and power 3s on the bad side were awful. They would be embarassing to test.

No salchow. I blame the blades.

I had a really bad fall and now it hurts to sit down. It was one of those stupid just standing there and suddenly you're down on the ice falls. But since I've fallen off the back of my blades skating a few times, and fell down off the back just standing there I'm prayihg that Ultima gets their backordered blades out soon. These ones are starting to prove dangerous I think. With the amount of "junk in my trunk" I would have thought I was better padded, but OUCH it hurts. I hate the falls that go up my spine and hurt my neck. If skating becomes a neck risk, I'll have to stop, and I don't want to do that I made myself skate for about 5 more minutes after falling, to get the shakes out and not scare myself away from the sport, but thankfully the fall was about 20 minutes into the time I had, so I didn't loose too much practice time.

stacyf419 · #7 06-09-2008, 05:47 PM

Sorry for your fall Jessi - those jolty ones are a b*tch.

Update on my fall - I went to the doctor and I had a mild concussion - no skull fracture. I felt nauseous and dizzy and 'not quite right' for a few more days. Today is the first day I feel slightly normal. I'm trying out the ice again tomorrow night, and hopefully won't feel scared to try the loop again. If I have my blades filed down a bit (I had the sharpener do a deeper hollow this time for the first time, and I'm not adjusting well to it after a week), I'm thinking I'll feel a bit more secure.

Terri C · #8 06-09-2008, 06:38 PM

Glad you made it to the doctor and feeling better, Stacy!

I skated yesterday- went to power class. Given the 100 degree heat and heat advisories outside, it was the only exercise I was going to get.

Now today- spins were great, but jumps were awful. Will only have a lessson with Primary Coach this week and am so going to beg her for more time to work on jumps.

Skittl1321 · #9 06-09-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stacyf419

Sorry for your fall Jessi - those jolty ones are a b*tch.

Update on my fall - I went to the doctor and I had a mild concussion - no skull fracture. I felt nauseous and dizzy and 'not quite right' for a few more days. Today is the first day I feel slightly normal. I'm trying out the ice again tomorrow night, and hopefully won't feel scared to try the loop again. If I have my blades filed down a bit (I had the sharpener do a deeper hollow this time for the first time, and I'm not adjusting well to it after a week), I'm thinking I'll feel a bit more secure.

Glad you're feeling a bit better. Did your doctor say it was okay to go back to the ice tomorrow? A second concussion right after the first carries much higher risks, so even though it's unlikely, and yours was mild, usually you are cautioned to not do too much high risk activity for a few weeks.

stacyf419 · #10 06-09-2008, 06:54 PM

You know I can't remember what she said about when to resume skating!! I was kind of out of it. I will call her tomorrow and check in first. That would be a big bummer - I have the adult camp in Hackensack at the end of the month and I was determined to solidify my flip and loop!!!

Oh well, better to be safe.

flo · #11 06-09-2008, 07:12 PM

Cool....the only cool place around here is he rink. It's sweltering outside. My partner and I had a good session and are looking forward to getting something choreographed.

Sweltering - the rest of Baltimore.

jskater49 · #12 06-09-2008, 10:03 PM

Burning Heat...

Summer ice camp...

15 minutes of off ice- basically running around the parking lot with little kids, I did not think this was such a good idea...

20 minutes off ice jumps...

Then It was time to put our skates on for power...but I was sore already...

Half hour power class - then an hour and a half of freestyle...and my lesson was the last half hour. I had to take my skates off and rest for 15 minutes. Maybe tomorrow I'll make it the whole time.

Or maybe I won't be able to get out of bed

Lesson -

Cool Ice -- we worked on my spin and I was actually able to pull my arm and leg around at the same time.

And I have graduated to taking one stroke and then doing a 3 turn for my intro steps for back crossovers and back landing position in my moves. Coach was most impressed and said the 3 turn was really queit. "That's because I remembered to streatch my shoulders out" She was flabbergasted and said she was going home she was so shocked I actually remembered something she told me to do

Back crossovers to outside back edge - her only complaint was on my left leg I tend to put my free leg out to the side and not behind and that gets me off the edge and off pattern.

Power 3s - 3 turns are beautiful but I need to push more to make the crossover side of the circle bigger.

Mohawks ...just need to get on the #3 edge quicker. She said I actually do better on my bad side -- that's because I've worked on that so much for the swing dance.

I am going to be sooo sore tomorrow.

j

dbny · #13 06-09-2008, 10:04 PM

Stacy - Glad you went to the doc and glad you are going to call about returning to the ice. Too many people do take concussion seriously enough.

Heat Wave:
Is what we are having here! I can't think of a better place to be than the rink.

Found out today that a young adult skater who is a college student and waitressing for $ had her blades ruined by one of the kids at our rink. He rounded the tails of her blades

. I tell all of my students to let only one person sharpen them (initials C M), but she isn't my student and didn't ask anyone.

Cool Ice:
Had a really good lesson Friday, with more progress on F threes and figures. Coach saw me doing F cross strokes before my lesson, and has upped the ante on them for me. I get good speed and nice edges and thought I had them down pat, but now she wants me to really push that edge at the end of each stroke. I can do it! I now hear the rip very clearly and have even more speed on them. This is not something I will be doing for fun when tired

I'm now practicing almost every weekday for about 2 hours each day. If I'm very tired, I just do figures and F threes. Today after about half an hour of FO 8's, I moved on to the BO 8's. Struggled a bit with the rotation, but managed to get around the circles most of the time. I've taken my F 3 turn practice to another level by trying to do the figures. I have not yet managed to get back to the start for the next circle, but today I did one perfect and perfectly checked FI three, and on Fri did one perfectly checked FO three that would have gotten back to the start except some random skater cut me off

.

Finally got myself back to BO threes today after neglecting them since getting my blades sharpened. They really feel easy, except for the fear factor. I love the feeling of pressing thighs together, pointing toe, shoulders rotated, bend, and turn. While teaching today, I had to demo a FI three, BO three, FI three sequence for a student who wants to enter her loop that way. I said a silent prayer and did it!

singerskates · #14 06-10-2008, 12:53 AM

Burning Heat: It was humid and repressively hot outside. It was even hot in the rink and super damp. And the compressor was either shut off or not working right because the ice felt like cotton balls and glue. My blades just stuck to the ice. It was like skating on icing on cake that has been taken out of the fridge and then left out in the heat. The blades didn't really cut the ice but rather they skimmed the very top layer of the ice. It took me several attempts of my Salchow to actually get a proper take off. I kept skidding instead of taking off of the three turn.

I'm falling asleep so I'll write more in the morning.

ibreakhearts66 · #15 06-10-2008, 01:14 AM

we've got a heat wave here in Los Angeles too.

Cool ice
-double flips were super solid today. i even managed some 2flip2loop combos
-i was able to change edges on a back camel. i only held it like 3 revs, but usually i get like 1/2 a rev then fall.
-some of my 2axel attempts felt pretty good. i asked my coach if it would take me years to be able to land one (because it was feeling like i would never be able to) and she said "no way." so hopefully there will be 2axel in the not-too-distant future
-my coach said my moves look good. hopefully i'm testing this saturday (my birthday!)

Burning heat
Took some really nasty falls. One on a 2flip2loop. i landed the 2loop, but then caught my edge or something and flew up and smashed my elbow. it's all bruised and swollen. smacked my hand really hard as well (also bruised and swollen).

Thin-Ice · #16 06-10-2008, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbny

Cool Ice: (snip) I'm now practicing almost every weekday for about 2 hours each day. If I'm very tired, I just do figures and F threes. Today after about half an hour of FO 8's, I moved on to the BO 8's. Struggled a bit with the rotation, but managed to get around the circles most of the time. I've taken my F 3 turn practice to another level by trying to do the figures. I have not yet managed to get back to the start for the next circle, but today I did one perfect and perfectly checked FI three, and on Fri did one perfectly checked FO three that would have gotten back to the start except some random skater cut me off

.

Finally got myself back to BO threes today after neglecting them since getting my blades sharpened. They really feel easy, except for the fear factor. I love the feeling of pressing thighs together, pointing toe, shoulders rotated, bend, and turn. While teaching today, I had to demo a FI three, BO three, FI three sequence for a student who wants to enter her loop that way. I said a silent prayer and did it!

CONGRATULATIONS!! It sounds like you are making huge amounts of progress!

katz in boots · #17 06-10-2008, 03:45 AM

Good Luck with the test 1BreakHearts66 !!! And happy birthday for Saturday !!!

Cool Ice:
Very cool, it's winter down here at the bottom of the world!

Building on my experiments with what I call "rag roll" spins, ie being very relaxed on entry, my spins were much better on Sunday.
Even did some sit spins that felt reasonable, and one change edge camel - not great, but at least the change happened, which it hasn't for a while.

Also accidentally rediscovered that my upright backspins work much better from a slightly shorter, straighter entry edge. Coach insists I work on the longer, curvier edge, but the shorter one yields consistently better results.

Burning Heat:
Well, hot, they're not, but my jumps are coming. Still struggling with the take offs of most jumps since switching to the new boots & blades, but even though they're not great, at least most of them are getting off the ice now. next will be getting them consistent again and getting loops off them.

oh, one more Cool Ice: I did a lutz that wasn't a flutz! Wasn't a good jump, but at least the take off tracing was pretty!

jazzpants · #18 06-10-2008, 12:38 PM

Cool Ice:

All my 3's are still there, though I can't seemed to get them to pattern yet. This time I know my primary coach is watching. I saw him watching me do those 3's when he thinks I wasn't watching him.
I did a slew of crossovers and mohawks at faster speed when I was able to. My primary coach had better noticed... I intentionally used him as a obstacle in my speed obstacle course!!! (Hey! He always GRIPED that I was AFRAID of crashing into someone when I got within 10 feet of someone... )
Spins are there for the most part. I'm getting over on that FO edge more on the spin entry to the camel and STAYING on it longer now! I think I even managed one good camel... so that's a blessing for me!

Burning heat:

Opted not to push for jumps today since a "certain relative" is here...

I did push for sit spins though and THAT was hard with "that relative" around. I'm probably gonna take it easy and NOT do my workout today. I'm feeling VERY SLUGGISH!!! And I have to save my energy for my lesson with my secondary coach and....

REALLY COOL ICE:
... my brand new choreographer!!! My first session is tomorrow!!! So looking forward to it!!!

singerskates · #19 06-10-2008, 01:14 PM

Continuation of Monday's Part two: Like I was saying, the ice was horrible. Everything took extra effort. I couldn't get my edges to rip because it was so slushy on top. Stopping had me just barly able to grab the ice with my blades because the slop just was stripping off of the top too easy.

There was no way for me to play my program music because my coach wasn't there and they had the music pipped in from the arena stereo.

Spins were traveling all over.

I didn't try the flip, loop or lutz.

It seems that rink A will be getting their ice out soon. I just hope not too soon.

Lukewarm:

Three turns and mohawks were OK. My waltz and toe loops were so so.

Cool: almost had the ice to myself the last 15 minutes of the session. Was able to practice the opening of my freeskate a few times.

But then if they take out the rink A ice, they will have to put the so called Public ice for the rest of June in rink B of which is being kept better care because the Tecumseh Summer Skating School is being run on it. Hmmmm?

Helen88 · #20 06-10-2008, 03:09 PM

Ice:

Really, really, really good session. Extra lesson went really well...sorted out the stuff I was worried about too.And it was just a really good session for some reason

Oh, and my kindaselftaughtkindawobbly salchow got real praise!

HEAT:

It's boiling outside and I hate the heat

Stormy · #21 06-10-2008, 09:22 PM

Ice: Did good axels, and great spins! Also practiced my Novice moves for the first time in ages, with a promise to myself to work on them every session.

Also, got my new (well, new used) boots in. I found a pair of Reidell 1500s in my size, 3 1/2 kids on eBay and I figured I'd take a chance with the thought if they didn't fit I'd just resell them. I was pleasantly surprised that they fit and aren't broken down at all! They fit well on the floor, now I just have to get a pair of blades to put on and actually skate on them. I'm done with my Ultima blades, I'm going back to Wilsons.

Heat: 2 footed every double sal I tried. After landing them last week, this was a real dissapointment.

I'm testing my Gold Free again on Monday, and I feel good about it! We put in a different set up for the axel that I am 100% comfortable with. Plus, two of the judges are a husband and wife who have judged me for years and know my skating. So I am really confident with this one!!

jskater49 · #22 06-10-2008, 09:35 PM

Day two of Summer Ice Camp Hell

It's either going to get better or it's going to kill me....

So at the end of off ice warm up the coach asks "is there anything else anyone else would like to work on?" and one girl pipes up - Yea - let's do a charlotte stretch."..and all these little girls promptly turn upside down with their legs up in the air...some of us older ladies settled for a plain old spiral stretch...

Today was Moves class rather than power and that was fun...did these back cross strokes but you go on an inside edge and cross in front...I worked on those mostly against the wall...and we made hearts - with a bracket (? I think) for the v on the bottom and a back 3 turn for the top...but of course I can't do a back 3 turn or a bracket unless I'm holding on to the wall.

I only lasted about 45 minutes of the hour and half FS session after that...my excuse was I had a meeting right after and I needed to get some dinner before.

I worked on some jumps and I do think the off ice jumps class are making difference already...felt like I was actually getting up in the air.

I think I will take some Ibruprofen before camp tomorrow...

j

doubletoe · #23 06-10-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormy

Ice: Did good axels, and great spins! Also practiced my Novice moves for the first time in ages, with a promise to myself to work on them every session.

Also, got my new (well, new used) boots in. I found a pair of Reidell 1500s in my size, 3 1/2 kids on eBay and I figured I'd take a chance with the thought if they didn't fit I'd just resell them. I was pleasantly surprised that they fit and aren't broken down at all! They fit well on the floor, now I just have to get a pair of blades to put on and actually skate on them. I'm done with my Ultima blades, I'm going back to Wilsons.

Heat: 2 footed every double sal I tried. After landing them last week, this was a real dissapointment.

I'm testing my Gold Free again on Monday, and I feel good about it! We put in a different set up for the axel that I am 100% comfortable with. Plus, two of the judges are a husband and wife who have judged me for years and know my skating. So I am really confident with this one!!

How awesome that you managed to get good boots that fit you and aren't broken down! But what size did you say again?!
I'm excited about your Gold test, especially since you are feeling so good about that axel! Be sure to tell us how it goes!

Thin-Ice · #24 06-11-2008, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormy

I'm testing my Gold Free again on Monday, and I feel good about it! We put in a different set up for the axel that I am 100% comfortable with. Plus, two of the judges are a husband and wife who have judged me for years and know my skating. So I am really confident with this one!!

Good luck on Monday! We'll be thinking good thoughts for you.

By the way, are you in an area where there are very few judges? In our area, two related judges are not allowed to be on the same test panel unless it's an emergency situation (i.e. another judge goes home sick and the test would otherwise have to be canceled). I guess it has to do with the appearance of conflict of interest.

But it is always nice to know you have "friendly" judges who are familiar with your skating on your test panel! Again, best wishes!

Skittl1321 · #25 06-11-2008, 08:02 AM

Still no heat wave here, but i'm more and more worried about the extensive flooding (which thus far hasn't affected me directly).

Burning heat I'm in SO much pain from my fall on Monday. My tailbone is mostly okay, it and my "sit bones" only hurt when I rock back on them, like to tie a bootlace- but just sitting is okay. But all the muscles in my back have totally knotted up and I have a greatly decreased range of motion due to it.

Skating wise- the backspin is totally gone. I don't have anywhere on the blade to spin, and even on a 2 foot spin I can feel the blade dragging differently than normal. Blades are backordered and rink still hasn't called to ask for a date. One of the women said she'd call today. If it's gonna be a long time I'm calling rainbo sports and just getting paramounts instead. (The Lite is also backordered there too- I haven't found anyone who keeps it in stock, and Ultima doesn't have any right now.) I need new blades before I lose everything!

Cool Ice
Even though I was going slowly because of my backpain, I got a compliment on my forward crossovers

And I was getting some nice ripping sounds one them- always better than the toe pick sounds I tend to get when I skate!

Did some good waltz-toe combinations, and I was told I wasn't toe waltzing the second jump!!!!

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