Dusty: No lesson yesterday (my choice... because the rink was extremely crowded and coach was tired and I was stressed out from family matters) so I'm rescheduling to 6:30AM Monday morning for 45 minutes, and then my lesson next Wednesday will be 45 minutes.

Sparkling: Early morning lessons with hardly anyone on the ice are great... Also, (sorry Packer fans) they repainted the rink for the 2nd time in 3 weeks.... changing out the bright yellow/green back to a nice white/navy. Much easier on the eyes. Bright Yellow/Green looks nice on football jersies only.

That means, then, that your weight was too far forward. My coach says you have to "sit back" on your skates, and even if you are then bending forward like a hockey-skater, as long as your centre of gravity is in the right place, you won't scrape. He showed me once, when I was complaining of the exact same thing!

Anyway, much though I loathe getting out of bed early on a Saturday, we pretended today was Sunday and got ourselves down to the rink for just after 7.00. For once, it wasn't as crowded as usual, so it could have been a lot worse! Of course, we had newly-sharpened blades, so for the first 15 minutes could do very little except get used to them. Rob said his were so sharp as to be slow, just at first, but mine weren't - they just "didn't feel like my blades" for the first 15 minutes or so, then they were fine except that I couldn't stop!

Robert, for once, had his private lesson with our dance coach, as his normal coach (our dance coach's wife) was fully booked. They were working on the counter from the Argentine Tango (which I, for now, can do better than Robert, which pleases me! Except that I have a horrible feeling I was doing a bracket, not a counter. Oh well, tough!), and on his back cross-cuts. Then I joined them for our dance lesson.

Sparkly: Ever had one of those lessons where just a couple of tweaks makes all the difference? This was one of them. We started off working on our Swing Dance, and, as always, my Mohawk was appalling. I knew it wasn't entirely my fault, because I was doing quite good ones solo (except, when I tried to do that part of the Swing Dance solo, I think I had my weight just wrong, as I found I couldn't actually do it to time). Anyway, I then walked through the end pattern with my coach, who then realised what Robert was doing wrong, which was incredibly simple - he was looking the wrong way! Once that was fixed, it made everything just soooooooooooooooooo much easier, you wouldn't believe! I still don't do the Mohawk as well as I ought, but at least I'm not scrabbling!

Then we moved on to the Canadian Cha-Cha, which was dreadful, just at first. Slow and laborious. We are still not sure of a couple of the steps - need to find a pattern somewhere, but I'm fairly sure I know where one is - but my main grouse was that we simply weren't moving. Coach was amused at me, so I said I'd strangle Robert first, then him! But we went out there and did it again, and pushed, and oh, the difference! That's how I want to do that dance in future......

Dusty: I just wish I knew why we weren't pushing on that dance to start with.... and can we guarantee we'll push on our Dutch Waltz and Rhythm Blues, when the time comes? And why can't I do that wretched Mohawk in the Swing Dance consistently????

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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!

Yes! In my lesson with my dance coach I couldn't manage to check my three's properly and hold the edge after...and all it took to make them perfect was changing which arm was in front going into them! Anyways...
Dusty - Axels-Nothing seems to really work with them anymore...and if we fix one thing, we'll try to fix another but then I'll be doing the first thing wrong again...sigh...And I can't manage any good flying spins lately.
Also our ice is sooo crowded! 27 skaters last time and about 7 or 8 coaches. The ice is practically ruined after 20 minutes.
Sparkly - Double loops!!! My coach seemed to get fed up with the axels so we tried these and she was very excited about them...and so am I! My camel is also managing to feel good...finally!! My skills also should be ready to test at the end of May I think...yay!

Dusty: Why oh why do my camel spins come and then go. It's so frustrating.

So inconsistant that I'm doubting whether to try my junior bronze or not

Sparkley: did a gorgeous lutz/loop combo. Even my coach had to admit it was the nicest one I've done so far. Of course I know he was thinking how they can be better

Jumps were pretty good last night. Was the human zamboni as one coach pointed out, but was trying harder stuff and taking risks. She commented that I wasn't afraid to fall and that I was the hardest worker out there. I commented that because I pay for my skating I'm getting every cent worth. Its a lot different when mom was paying. Hehe I figure its better that I'm falling anyhow, because when we start axels next week I'll be doing the human zamboni again

Did 1..out of don't know how many tries..on a flying sit. It was tiny tiny tiny but I had the right technique and everything. I think that was yesterdays highlight

Thursdays lesson:
Worked on the choreography for my Rumba OD (solo dance) and while we have nearly completed it there are some moves in there that are horribly difficult for me, particularly a LFI swing roll directly into a LFI to RBI mohawk - doesnt' sound too bad but this is at considerable speed and I have trouble repositioning my weight after the swing roll and getting the right shoulder back to enable the right leg to come back and turn into the correct direction for the mohawk.

Couldnt figure out why my drag, to inside 3 in drag position for one rotation and then up to RBO was so out of control - til i realised I hadn't tucked my laces in and the plastic bit on the end was causing the boot to slide every which way. for once the out of controlness wasn't just me!!

BTW - what are the characteristics of a Rumba - does anyone know - I am hoping to have a lovely orangey-red competition dress (which also happens to come in useful for our forthcoming group artistic) which I hope is Rumba-ish but really dont' know what the 'expression' side of it should be?????

Jumps group lesson

Sparkly: did nice 3 jumps, salchow and toe-loop and felt like I very nearly had the hang of the Flip - seems easier than the loop anyway. I got the rotation mostly and coudl land on two feet and then managed a few on one foot but with no hope of flowing out of it - as usual it seems to be all about getting your weight in the right place.

Dusty: The Loop . I dread to think how long I have been working on this jump now. I have done one but I just can't repeat it- it is driving me mad

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'

batikat: I want to see your jumps! I've never seen you try a loop or a flip before. Haven't seen your new OD either.

Just like annabelle (Mrs. Redboots) I had newly sharpened skates today, and I couldn't do anything either. I thought I was the only one with that problem.

I had group lesson today--well group of which I am the only student. Not much better than a private lesson at group rates. Luckily, we get 30 minutes to practice/warm up before lesson, so I was able to work on the sharp blades before I worked with my coach.

Sparkly: We worked on back 3turns, and I did a couple, but still put my free foot down as soon as I rotate. And, I'm not on the back of my blade--but I am starting to get the rotation. And the scratch spin...I did one that had one rotation. Doesn't seem like much, but I've been struggling with it since Jan/Feb and have despaired of ever getting, so one rotation is just fine....for today.
All my jumps went well, with the exception of the waltz--since I missed two practices last week, my timing is off. It'll take me a several practices to get it back.

Dusty: It was only one rotation. Spins will kill me. I will also get the b3t one day.

Dusty:
Try anything in brand new boots- I got them Wednesday!


Sparkly:
The boots look GREAT and feel "cushy", Was actually able to do 5 step mohawk and forward crossovers in them after awhile. Back crossovers- they're a challenge!

Sparkly:

YEEEEEE HAAAAW!!! Just practiced the forward power 3's this afternoon and they are finally getting some amount of speed (at least faster than a snail's pace now.) WOOOOO HOOO!!! Of course, I didn't try my luck further by doing waltz jumps afterwards! I hope I can get it to go even faster so I can get this %#$&@* moves test over and done with.

YAY ME!!!

Dusty:

• Back crossovers are bad this afternoon, particular around the ends of the rink.
• Back crossovers to BO edge also sucks in one side... and it doesn't help either that there were some bratty city kids who are playing tag and skating right into people intentionally. KILL! KILL!!! KILL!!!
• Scratch spin and sit spins went to Hades too. The only spin that actually worked was the camel. WEIRD!!!

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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!!!

They're not worth seeing yet believe me - hopefully this will change soon. I will be at the adult Opens with my pathetic salchow and toe-loop - unfortunately I have to go in at level 1 because I took level 1 dance moves a year ago so despite this being my first ever Free programme I will be in with all the experienced level 1'ers. Help!!!

Are you competing this year?

The OD is pretty scary even without jumps - I am hoping there will be a bit more competition this year now that people have had a go at OD's for last years British Adult Championships. I dont' want it to be just two of us again.

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'

Yes, I'm doing the Level 2 and over free and interpretive ( I think, not sure whether my programme is really artistic or interpretive ). I'm not that well prepared though, I changed my free programme a few weeks ago, coach and I are both going away and I have exams coming up so limited practise time. After the exams I'll hopefully be skating a lot to make up the lost time. Looking forward to the competition anyway, it will be my only one of the year.

It doesn't have to be that way! Ask your sharpener to wipe down the blade when he finishes, and that takes just a tiny little bit of the edge off it. Both my current sharpener and my previous one did this, and my adjustment period after a sharpening is all of 2 or 3 minutes, and stopping is fine. The biggest adjustment I have is adjusting to the new speed, which my coach always told me is the mark of a good sharpening. I also get my blades sharpened every 30 hours or so on the ice, so it helps that they don't get all that dull.

Jazzpants--Congrats! Keep up the good work!

Pat

I find that when my sharpener runs the "soft stone" over my blades about 3 to 4 times, that the worst of the burr is removed and I don't stick to the ice (unless it's really soft) and I don't have problems stopping.

I like my blades very sharp, but if I am just needing a touch-up before a test day or competition, I will just ask for a "light" dance sharpening and they come out perfect.

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

So far since Sept. 2003 I've only had my skate blades sharpened 3 times. Twice because it was about four months and once to stop me from skating too close to the toe picks forwards and backwards (The blades were sharpened only near the picks because my boots were severely warped and it wasn't discovered until two weeks before Adult Canadians. Even at Adult Canadians, the blade correction wasn't made. It wasn't until a few weeks ago after AC that I had my blades fixed. I may have another correction done before competing at the Ann Arbour Spring Skate. Otherwise I litterally wait until I start to slide sideways before sharpening my blades.

Brigitte Laskowski

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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 get mine done after about 20-30 hours.

That's probably not such a good idea, because you will work on something with blunt blades for a while and get it in your muscle memory, then have to relearn it when your blades are sharp. Trying to compensate for blunt blades could slow down you learning, and it will take longer to get used to them when you finally do have them sharpened.

No, I agree with Brigitte there..... in fact, this last time I waited until I literally couldn't skate on them any more. Which I didn't actually mean to do, but now that the ice at our rink is actually good, it is also rather hard, and dulls your blades faster than normal. Still, they'll be nice for the Mountain Cup now, which is good - one year, I forgot to have them done, and was frantically putting an edge on with a stone before every time I skated!

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

Had my skates sharpened Saturday also... was going to order new boots (custom Klingbeils) but we started the measurements, and when I told Mike (Skaters Paradise) that I was doing South Beach diet, he suggested that I hold off on ordering new boots until I got my weight down and stabilized.

I wasn't sure how much my feet had changed over the past couple years with the weight gain + middle age foot spread, so we called up to Klingbeil to check (no on-site records due to last year's hurricane...). Major changes in my right foot (hadn't measured my left foot yet). Lorraine up at Klingbeil also suggested waiting until things were stabilized with my weight, and if I needed anything done to the boots until then, I could send them up for a re-build.

But will post more on lesson on a new thread...

I have gone from a size 9 shoe to a size 7 shoe. I lost weight and bought Grafs in Nov when I thought my weight had stabalized. Well, that was a waste of $700. Basically my feet, which i thought stabilized at 7.5 have shrunk to a 7 or even smaller making my Grafs at least a 1/2 size too big. It is frustrating because I have 3 insoles in them and cant afford to buy new ones

How can your feet shrink from size 9 to size 7? I've always had size 9 and 1/2 feet ever since I stopped growing even when I was 19 and 115 lbs at 5 feet 8 inches tall. I looked like I was from one of those kids they show for World Vision. Anyway, I have to run to work and then skate and teach skating. SEe ya!!!

Brigitte

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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 lost about 50-60 lbs in about a year-year and a half. Basically I lost a LOT of width in my feet. When you lose width then you can wear smaller sizes. And also, when you stand, the weight you have puts pressure on them making them wider. Hence when you lose weight your feet shrink.