Crisp or Clammy (Practices September 24 - 30) - Page 4

doubletoe · #76 09-30-2007, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sessy

CRISP

Tried my skates on ice. I think the left blade isn't straight under it, it drags a little, but otherwise - MY what a difference!!!

Edge control gets a whole different definition! With the old skates, they could just flip over from an inside to an outside edge or vice versa on a spin - these skates don't do that. The spins were just calm like cutting through butter! I might actually learn to like the spins in these.
The edges and powerpulls were also like WHOA, it was like none of the momentum was getting lost and like the edges weren't vibrating but were just way smooooooooooooooth... I didn't even know they could be like that. I can get deep enough of a kneebend to do hydroblades in them, but I'm not getting a lot of push (I think it's just because they need to be broken in).

I did get off the ice after just 40 minutes cuz I was starting to get blisters and the pain in my ankles was really beginning to get to me. But I think that after breaking in I might have myself a winning pair! Graf sure knows how to make em!

Yay!! That's so great! Do you have gel ankle sleeves and/or gel pads where you're getting your blisters? It can make a whole lot of difference!

Crisp:
Off-ice double loops and double sals were great today. On the ice, I saw a major improvement in my flying camel and I know how I did it so I'm hopeful that it's repeatable. Also, the new-and-improved opening spin has become ridiculously consistent.
Intermediate MIF were not bad today either; I'm finally starting to get some power on my back power 3-mohawk pattern. Now I just need to stop being dizzy after the first set because that makes me mess up the second set, LOL!

Clammy:
Even though my single salchow takeoff felt like it was perfect for a double, something happened when I actually went for the double today and it just didn't work. I have a new bruise on my right hip to show for it. Sigh. Also, the reverse sit is back to its old ways after I thought I'd gotten that entry worked out on Friday. It seemed easier when I did it out of the flying camel.

jazzpants · #77 09-30-2007, 11:39 PM

Sessy: PUUUUURTY new skates!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbny

Work should never be allowed to interfere with skating!

Here, here! We should pass a Federal law for that!!!

Meanwhile, trust me... my coworkers know I wasn't happy about it. Everyone in the office knows that my REAL job is a figure skater and I'm just moonlighting with them to pay the bills!

Congrats on the power 3's!!!

doubletoe: I just *know* you're gonna get your double sal soon! Just keep at it and go in with a relaxed analytical mind about it. (Yes, I know. "Relaxed" and "analytical" is an oxymoron in my case.

)

Clammy:

Only got around an hour to skate b/c of traffic. (There was a local street fair going on this weekend. Needless to say, since there are kids reading this board, I will not mention the name of the fair.)
Rink was QUITE crowded and we're getting into the Winter season now, which means I have to start thinking about changing my Sunday session to a less crowded session (like either Club Ice or even another morning FS session. )
Couldn't practice camels b/c of the crowds for fear of decapitating some poor young clueless soul who always manages to come in the middle despite the skate guards best efforts to keep the rugrats out of the middle...
Couldn't do straightline footwork w/o crashing into someone. In fact, it was so crowded that I couldn't even do my usual moves warmup straight down the length of the rink.
STILL working on show stops. It's better but it's still not there yet!!!

Crisp:

I landed 5 clean loops in a row.
I landed a slew of clean flips
OMG!!! What a BREAKTHROUGH!!! I FINALLY landed about 3 or 4 of what's probably a flutz, but it's intended to be a lutz!!! I RARELY land those clean and I landed 3 or 4 or those clean TODAY!!! (Yes, there is a young lady skater about 7 years old and her dad is a coach. She's my witness on the lutz today!!!)
Landed a couple of waltz-loops and called it a day on the jumps!!!
Spins are decent... at least the one foot, backspin, sit. Back sit still needs work, but it's not bad enough where I'm gonna panic about it. I can definitely do them in my FS program next month.

Sessy · #78 10-01-2007, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzpants

Here, here! We should pass a Federal law for that!!!

Meanwhile, trust me... my coworkers know I wasn't happy about it. Everyone in the office knows that my REAL job is a figure skater and I'm just moonlighting with them to pay the bills!

[/LIST]

Yeah!!!

Sessy · #79 10-01-2007, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubletoe

Yay!! That's so great! Do you have gel ankle sleeves and/or gel pads where you're getting your blisters? It can make a whole lot of difference!

Nah, I just suck it up and complain.

I could get gel pads on 1 foot (I only have 1 pad I'd consider thin enough) but I kind of think it might be counterproductive... Isn't the whole idea that my bones punch out a hole in the padding, sorta? So the more I smooth it out the longer it takes, right?

liz_on_ice · #80 10-01-2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sessy

Nah, I just suck it up and complain.

I could get gel pads on 1 foot (I only have 1 pad I'd consider thin enough) but I kind of think it might be counterproductive... Isn't the whole idea that my bones punch out a hole in the padding, sorta? So the more I smooth it out the longer it takes, right?

The problem is prolonged inflammation can make bones grow bumps, bunions and heel spurs are examples. Those are permanent changes to the bones, requiring surgery to correct, better to just baby them and fix the boots if you can.

doubletoe · #81 10-01-2007, 12:34 PM

NOOOOO!!!! Don't do that!! Liz is right. Your bones will grow big bumps on them and that will only lead to more of the same problem. I have a big bump on the top of the left foot from aggravating that bone, and now it pushes against the tops of my shoes. . . which makes it grow yet another layer of bone to protect it. . . which makes it stick out more and push even more against the tops of my shoes. . . You get the idea.

Get the ankles punched out, or at least heat mold them again.

Sessy · #82 10-01-2007, 02:07 PM

But aren't they supposed to get skated in?!
The skateshop guy says he won't mold them until I've tried them for at least a week (I went back for the blades to get fixed today)

I know about the prolonged inflammation bumps thing... I had to get these skates in the first place cuz of the bumps on the back of my feet.

techskater · #83 10-01-2007, 08:21 PM

No, you need to wear whatever it takes to keep from having permanent damage to your feet.

doubletoe · #84 10-01-2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sessy

But aren't they supposed to get skated in?!
The skateshop guy says he won't mold them until I've tried them for at least a week (I went back for the blades to get fixed today)

I know about the prolonged inflammation bumps thing... I had to get these skates in the first place cuz of the bumps on the back of my feet.

Really?! My shop molded them just before I skated in them for the first time. I thought the whole point of heat-molding was precisely to prevent the type of painful first week that you are experiencing! So what is this guy's rationale for not heat-molding them until you have suffered in them for a week?

garusha · #85 10-01-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubletoe

NOOOOO!!!! Don't do that!! Liz is right. Your bones will grow big bumps on them and that will only lead to more of the same problem. I have a big bump on the top of the left foot from aggravating that bone, and now it pushes against the tops of my shoes. . . which makes it grow yet another layer of bone to protect it. . . which makes it stick out more and push even more against the tops of my shoes. . . You get the idea.

Get the ankles punched out, or at least heat mold them again.

Try doughnut pads. Those are small sticky patches with holes in them. They go over bunions or whatever bone growths you have. Works for me. I don't skate without them, for it hurts when I get on my outside edges.

Sessy · #86 10-02-2007, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubletoe

Really?! My shop molded them just before I skated in them for the first time. I thought the whole point of heat-molding was precisely to prevent the type of painful first week that you are experiencing! So what is this guy's rationale for not heat-molding them until you have suffered in them for a week?

He's already molded them once and says the rest is just breaking in the skates.

Well I dunno. I mean I did take skates like WAY over my level - Edmonton would be cool if I were jumping doubles (I did take it with the idea that I want them to hold up if I'll be jumping axels, which I was trying) but right now I'm not jumping at all with the ankle, so the stress on the shoes is wayyyy less than they were calculated for.
For the spins and spirals and mif I could do with my old broken down skates easily, if my right ankle would hold which it didn't. And I didn't wanna buy skates for just the half a year it'll be before I can get back to jumping and then go through the whole we can't deliver this, we can't deliver that, wait a half a year and meanwhile skate in completely broken down skates again.

Besides only my right ankle keeps hurting after I take the skates off. Left is just blistered, but the bones don't hurt at all.

But I will put in gel, but I'm worried, won't this flatten out the padding?

Morgail · #87 10-02-2007, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sessy

But I will put in gel, but I'm worried, won't this flatten out the padding?

It should be fine. I wore those Bunga gel discs (along with the ankle sleeves) for several weeks while I was breaking my skates in. And they broke in just fine

The gel discs are flexible enough to allow the boot to mold to your foot's natural shape while still protecting your skin.
Did you get the ankle bone areas punched out? If not, that will help a lot.

doubletoe · #88 10-02-2007, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morgail

It should be fine. I wore those Bunga gel discs (along with the ankle sleeves) for several weeks while I was breaking my skates in. And they broke in just fine

The gel discs are flexible enough to allow the boot to mold to your foot's natural shape while still protecting your skin.
Did you get the ankle bone areas punched out? If not, that will help a lot.

Yep! I second the recommendations of the ankle punch-out and gel disks. Sometimes I suddenly have irritation or pressure somewhere on my foot for no apparent reason, so I'll put a gel disk right on that spot (often under my gel ankle sleeve). After a week or two I'll stop using the gel disk to see if the problem is still there, and I usually find that the pain/pressure is gone. I have to do this much more while breaking in new boots. I find there's no such thing as "too much padding" inside stiff new boots!

Sessy · #89 10-02-2007, 02:07 PM

Okay, gel it is. Well right now I can't afford bunga pads or anything of the sort, but I do have 1 compeed disk lying around and some sillicon gel from a bike seat (yeah seriously, it's VERY good stuff, amazing, but I'm not sure if it isn't too thick for skating boots)

You have convinced me.

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