Geez... I'm 40 and right on the cusp, so I'm 50-50 A and B still! I guess I'll know when I get there!

Anyone know about the airport shuttle thing? Besides my check being cashed, how do I get confirmation on the my airport shuttle ride? Who do I call when I get to Albany and need a ride there?

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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!!!

Thanx! I'm not sure that my partner will be receptive to any comments/suggestions/critiques! Our coaches are good (we recently started working with Jonathon Hunt), but we focus mainly on throws, lifts, and pair spins.

If we skate on the same practice sessions, maybe we will do some impromptu death spirals.

__________________
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

I'm the same way. I don't want any corrections & comments from anybody except my coaches, and I really don't want it immediately before I compete. At that point, it's too late to "fix" anything, and all it does is mess with your technique (or worse, your head!).

We had a bronze level judge around here who is, herself, an adult skater. She had very little experience judging pairs and NO experience skating pairs, but she felt obligated to offer her commentary on our practice session at the New Years Invitational the very first time we ever competed in pairs. Um, no thanks!

I tend to agree with this . My coach can't be there unless I pay for the hotel ,travel etc, Lets face it where all Adults, Weve had all the coaching we need to that point and now its up to us. If you can afford to bring your coach along then bless you and Im happy for all of you.. . But to have someone elses Ideas at the last minute is confusing when your trying to remember everything you have been taught from your coaches. Where adults , we can put ourselves on the ice ,, all we need is the support of our friends.. and lots of applause.. We have to do the rest.. The practice is over its just enough time to warm up and get used to the ice and just let fly , come what may..

We will have a blast cheering each other on and doing our best to entertain you. I wish my coach could be there . She is a good Egg and very talented coach but i can't afford to have her come to lake Placid as well.. Best of luck to all the skaters and (coaches if you can make it ) . If you like to have someone put you on the ice then so be it and I wish you the best as well.. have fun..
No offense to Flo , she is a good Egg and the offer is kind..

I think flo was just trying to be nice. I don't know if she's a coach or not but sometimes you just wish someone was there for you. I thought it was a nice gesture.

I also have put myself on the ice MANY times and all worked out great but there have been times when I could have used some guidance or words of encouragement even if it were from a friend. I also understand there are some people that you do not want advice from. We have plenty of those at our rinks too.

I think your coach must be doing some great things for you guys . Your where great . I loved the number...

Went to the Doctor yesteday and things are improving . Im walking again and can go back to work. Still bruised badly over 1/3 of my lower body. should be back on the ice around the first week in April ( a different color ) but back on the ice. I may only get a couple of day's on the ice before Nationals.
I have new blades , ( Im trying something new Pat 99) so Ill have to get used to new blades as well , there already mounted . ( Im looking for a miracle in spinning ) This will be fun....
Whats life without a challenge "eh"...

I choreographed most of the number after having numerous scheduling conflicts with several choreographers. Skating to "Spartacus" (or Sporadicus, depending on one's viewpoint), I used YouTube and Netflix to get some ideas on previous skating programs and the ballet.

And I was half being facetious with flo. I hate having my own coach(es) rinkside at competition time, but sometimes an element goes awry and a phrase or two from an independent observer is all it takes to correct the error.

__________________
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

Hey Star!
Although you are bruised, I'm glad to hear that you have now recovered enough to skate! You're a real trooper to come through all this. See you at Lake Placid, hopefully competing in Championship Gold Men - I'll cheer from the stands!

I don't think anyone, including coaches, putting a skater on or being there at practices has any intentions of "changing" anything. It's primarily to re-inforce what the skater already knows, has heard a million times, and as Nova said an "independent" observer picks up right away. I've been competing long enough to know what suggestions to take, and what not to. Sometimes it's just nice to have a friend there to hold your water bottle and guards and smile. I also know that some of the things said to me before I got on to compete is what I've remembered. Even as an experienced competitor, I appreciated it at one nats when (because my coach had to leave early) a friend put us on, then ran up into the stands to watch. At previous nationals, our coach has also made arrangements with other coaches to be there at practices and I like having the different view points. I don't find it confusing at all, but benefit from each coach's or friend's strength.

Thank you herniated, I do teach adults and often stand in at events to put people on. What I do depends on their needs and what their coach tells me! I know that many skaters can not have their coach there and some appreciate an encouraging word or two.

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The age division within A/B groups is relative to the ages of the other entrants, just for the purposes of dividing into evenly sized groups. So it's not based on an absolute age but your age relative to those in your class/event.

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Thanks for the clarification, mikawendy.

Still, the guess whether I'm in A or B still remains at 50-50... Based on my experience at Skate SF, there aren't that many Bronze skaters that are in Group III that are younger than me. If anything it just seems like I keep running into the skaters that are slightly older than me or even on the verge of moving up next year to Group IV. YMMV, however!!! (Now when I was competing in Group II, I keep running into the young'ums in Group I's!!! LOL!!!)

Doesn't matter... I'll be happy competing with either groups! I have friends in both!!! LOL!!!

__________________
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!!!

I didn't mean to imply that flo's offer wasn't generous, because it was very graciously offered. I was just commenting that some people (including me) are delighted to have somebody "put us on" the ice -- hold the kleenex & blade guards, watch the clock, etc. -- but we don't want any hints, tips, observations, or comments, regardless of how kindly or subtly they are offered. It messes with our heads right before a competition. And goodness knows, we've got enough demons in there already before we take the ice.

On the other hand, sometimes an element will start going haywire in the practice sessions at Nationals and if your coach isn't there, it can be a lifesaver to have another coach available to consult in case of emergency. Last year another skater offered her coach's services to me in case I needed them and it was very reassuring to know I had a backup. Of course, unsolicited advice right before a competition is another story.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

Okay, in my foodie and "learning the ways of Americana" quest, my DH suggest I try a "beef on weck.". He said it's something unique to the NY state. (Yes, in my few visits to NYC, I have never had one.) Does anyone know where I can get one while I'm at LP?

TIA!

__________________
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!!!

Does anyone know how long the unofficial practices are? Thanks.

I think that is more of a Central/Western New York food (i.e., Buffalo), rather than an Upstate NY food.

__________________
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

I think it's even pretty localized to Buffalo specifically - I live an hour away from Buffalo (Rochester) and have to say I have never seen it on a menu here. I'm just a sample of one though - so don't quote me

I can't say I've ever seen or heard of it in the eastern half of NY State. I KNOW I've never seen it on any of the menus in Lake Placid.

My guess is that it's a regional specialty - and that region isn't Upstate/Lakes Region.

I now live in Tucson, but a "beef on weck" or it might be "wick?" is just a roast beef sandwich. The roll is nothing exciting as far as I know. They sometimes have them at fairs and festivals.

The other weird western New York thing is a "white hot" which is a white hot dog. I think it tastes weird but others swear by them. I have had to import them for people. Not to be confused with a "red hot" which is not spicy as I once believed but a normal hot dog.

Lake Placid isn't western NY though.

Just my thoughts.....

Brenda

A Buffalo Native here....Beef on Weck is roast beef on a Kimmelweck bun/roll that is a Western NY speciality. The beef is dipped in the au jui (fr spelling sorry) before being placed on the fairly soft roll/bun that has been baked with coarse salt on the top along with caraway seeds. It is a delicious sandwich and is great with a good strong brew! YUM!!!!!

There are several Buffalo taverns, etc. that have this on the menu. I forget the name of my favorite but it closed I beleive. It was on Union rd in Cheektowaga (Buffalo Suburb) right near Route 400. I used to go there after my clarinet lesson with a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic and have a Beef on Weck and several brewskis!

Ahh the good old Buffalo Days....Dont do those things here in DC...not with skating at 6am every day!

On another note.....NO WFSC Send off for the adult skaters this year. I am sad!

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Why are you skating so slowly? Get out of my way!

If you skate faster, it makes everything look better!

If you guys havent signed up for practice ice, here is the contact:

Mary Elizabeth Wightman
518-523-1655 ext. 295
Email: mwightman@orda.org

And have your credit card handy

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Tim David's Website

I'm afraid mine is already screaming for mercy.

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Champagne in 2005, 2008, 2009 - who's next out of the pre-bronze club...?

Wang chung!

Mine too!! I already signed up for practice ice though....do we know when that schedule comes out?

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

Same here, I have to use a different one when I arrive at LP... For Food, DVD, photo CD, and other misc. expense

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Tim David's Website