Lots of jewelry advertisements in today's papers. I lose jewelry, so Cubic Zirconia is a better choice for me over Diamonds! LOL

Diamonds:
Back spins with foot behind, back scratch spins, forward scratch spins, sit spins, camel spins and -- camel-into-sit spins were great.

Waltz jumps, salchows were okay. Flips are the same.

Highlight of the practice was landing my loop jump for the first time in years! Did a bunch of tiny ones with the RFI3 entrance, then nailed them with speed and height on the LFO3 entrance. Must have landed 20 of them! Yayyyy!

Zircons:
Prel MITF - yucky as usual.
Toe loop - not great, but the advice was really helpful. (Thanks, Lov2Sk8)
Waltz-toe loop - non-existent.

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Diamonds: Well, we worked on the scratch some more today. From a t-stop on the line...they were a bit better and finally coming together more. We moved on to my combo jump which was good so she added a new jump: toe-loop but you pick in, turn to front, hop on that same toe-pick, then glide out on the other foot all with speed! It's cool but will need some (lots) work.

Zircons: I'll place this here since it's not finished...the loop! She did say my jumps are much better than months ago, but what happened to the ones (2) I landed? Where are the rest? Yeah, I'd like to know the answer also!

So, my "new" exercise: waltz-loops!!! Did some and they were actually decent (her words).

Coal (i.e. premade diamonds): this was my 2nd to last lesson of the season !!! After next Sunday, I go away for vacation and miss the rink closing and spring show. When I return there will be no ice. I did tell coach that I would like to take an occasional lesson from her over the summer and she said ok. Maybe once a month would be good. I will be skating twice a week on the fake ice (for show) and the plan is to hit the real stuff 1-2 times a month. We will see!!!

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

Glad I could help. I Hope I feel better next week. By the way the loops were great.

Team arthritis explains the toe loop well in hardly working....

Diamonds: Everything (hip, injury, even balance on my blades!) felt well enough to skate-- did a little bit of light stuff on Saturday night public skate out of fear of hurting myself, but didn't hold myself back today.

my loop-like jump is feeling more and more comfortable-- especially after I did an entire lap of the rink during public session today going backwards and just jamming my toepick in the ice and hopping up (my coach gave me this drill just to get me more comfortable with the whole toe-pick in the ice, leg crossed behind me motion).

My favorite moments of the weekend, though? My sister and her boyfriend went skating with me on the Saturday public skate and they told me today that I was "absolutely killing everyone out there" (they meant it in a good way, I found out...) with my skating. They said that my spins and jumps *snort* looked really cool and that every time I started spinning, they noticed that all of the little girls in the rink started gravitating in my direction. I reminded them that next to advanced skaters, I look like a rotating and jumping lump, but I took their compliments happily!

And my parents finally saw me skate (for a few minutes). They didn't seem too impressed at the time, but later in the day, when I mentioned that I was going to try to film myself skating so that I could actually see what I look like, my dad volunteered to film me himself. In the past, he would have just said, "Aren't you too old to be doing this stuff?", so I take it that he and mom were probably more impressed than they let on...

Zircons: Started learning power pulls today. Mine were more like wobbly 1-footed glides. Eeeew.

I really need to work on my timing on my XO, XO, mohawk, etc combo. I rush the mohawk way too much.

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When asked what his "secret" to success was, Wayne Gretsky said: "Skate to where the puck is going and not to where it has been."
Is the figure skating version of this: Skate as if you're doing an axel and not just learning how to hop?

Zircons

The perimeter back crossovers from Bronze moves - maybe it's just that people are in my way and I keep having to slow down and get off pattern, but when I do three lobes, I'm not quite at the end of the rink and when I try to tighten up the lobes and do four, they don't quite fit either.

I was all excited about all the things we covered on Sat. I had done so well with holding my edge for a scratch spin entry and spun so much when she pushed my hip, I was sure I was close to getting them. They weren't happening. Probably not bending my knee enough and coming up for the snap too soon.

Salchow...I didn't ask her to draw it because I did have a picture in my mind but that really wasn't happenng either.

Diamonds - TOE LOOPS I think I'm going to love toe loops. I think I'm a person who prefers toe jumps. I'm thinking too, if I can get used to that feeling of having my leg crossed behind me, step behinds will be easier. We worked on toe loops for my ten minute lesson since I figured it best to go with what I was feeling comfortable. She said I was making a lot of progress, and then got me started on doing back outside pivots so I could feel more comfortable with my toe pick behind me.

j

Crushed Zircon:
compressors went down 5AM Sat - on duty manager (Mr. Chuckles) didn't check them when he came in and ice melted out underneath us - not before I wrenched my back trying to do a sitspin in wet cement.

Then I stripped a thread (well really the hex hole) AGAIN trying to get my matrix blades off for sharpening - who's stupid idea was it to use ALUMINUM screws anyway, sheesh. Had to drill out the screw - NEXT!

Diamonds:
inspite of not sleeping much I went skating this AM and I was a Good Boy and followed Mr. Edge's advice and was vewy carewufoe and didn't hurt my frail decrepit body. BEST is that my wife went skating too and knee felt OK - first good skate for her since surgery in December!
Lyle

Very annoying Zircon....

A little boy who is 9 and a pre-pre skater and should no better decided he was going to goof off and lay on the ice and be stupid in the lutz corner. I cut off my half lutz 3 times because of him. I was whining about to my daughter and she says "Mom, just go, do not stop. He'll move or he'll get hurt" So he was laying on the ice in the corner hockey circle and I went for it. I didn't even look behind me. He was gone by the time I had jumped and was facing forward

j

Diamonds:
Managed to land double sals and double toes today after 3 days off because of a nasty cold/flu bug.

Zircons:
Did not land either double in the program, and couldn't spin for beans thanks to achey sinuses.

I have got to get healthy before Nationals!

I have no problem telling kids politely but firmly that what they are doing is not allowed and is dangerous.

Diamonds:
I can still do Prelim power threes, and am allowing myself to pick up a (very) little speed on the R side. Managed a few one foot spins from T push, and just stepped into one after seeing my coach demo it for a tot. Got 3/4 of a rev on a backspin! Decided that I have to start working on Prelim spiral pattern, and skated it with free leg extended as high as it would go, but no spiral. In the past, I've had trouble maintaining speed on this move and with holding the edges. Today, it was smooth, like a knife through butter. Other than one bad push on the FI edges, it was perfect. I think this is all the work on pushing that is now paying off. I'm making slow but sure progress on not wimping out on the FI threes. By about RFI three number 4, I'm no longer tapping my free foot down first. My stamina is definitely increasing. I was warmed up before I got worn out today!

Zircons:
It doesn't feel like a zircon to me, but I know it is: I need to stop trying to one foot the backspins, and work more on doing the two foot spin with the backspin approach so I can find the correct balance point. I'm in too much of a hurry to get this spin.

BIG SPARKLY TEN CARAT DIAMOND:
For the first time in almost two years, I am really enjoying skating and working on moves and spins. The fun is back!

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Normally I would, but it's club ice, his mom was skating on the ice too (she tends to be a hockey circle hog herself, but at least she's working and not goofin off) and I find when dealing with club people, it's best to just smile and be nice to everyone. I was hoping she would eventually say someting to him herself. Funny how they'll accept you mowing down their child more than you saying something to them

j

We have this issue sometimes on our club ice-have you tried mentioning it to one of the club officers? Sometimes the indirect approach is better, especially if you can get others to mention the same thing...then it looks like a safety issue. Then they might mention it to the mom who is responsible for his behavior. If your club is like mine, she agreed to obey the rules.

We had something happen at our club, my daughter (yup, my little princess) did something that ticked others off (standing on the ice chit-chatting. Mentioned to club officer, then to me...Of course, I had it out with her! She does NOT stand on the ice chit-chatting any longer (I'd rather skate and not have to pay attention to her but I am responsible for her, even tho she is 17).

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

You know, this was so unlike this kid - he tends to be a little clueless about those around him, but this goofin off was a one time (I hope) annoyance to me. Otherwise I would take the indirect route, although I have found sometimes you have to almost run into people for them to figure out that they need to pay attention.

Speaking of the indirect route, recently the junior board was asked (by a confidential source) to develop a "parents code of conduct" policy. Made me wonder (no actually I think I can guess) what prompted that idea ...

(am I missing the wink smiley?)
j

[QUOTE=Isk8NYC;315153]
Highlight of the practice was landing my loop jump for the first time in years! Did a bunch of tiny ones with the RFI3 entrance, then nailed them with speed and height on the LFO3 entrance. Must have landed 20 of them! Yayyyy!

Wow, congratulations!!

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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

Good for you!!

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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

Hi, all. . . Back after a week off.

Diamonds: Good lesson today; we worked on jumps and spins, which we hadn't done in a while. Got one decent (squared takeoff, secure landing) waltz jump and a decent toeloop. Hey, I'd been working on toeloops by myself, just for kicks, and the coach didn't laugh me out of the rink. I consider that a triumph : )

Cubic zirconia:
-Rink management changed synchro schedule at the last minute yesterday, so we all scrambled to make it to synchro practice in time. I had intended to use the free practice time (the girls' teams practice just before us and we're allowed to use whatever space is free for warmup & practice), but that didn't happen.
-I SUCK at spinning. Somehow I can never stay square. If it's not a shoulder out, it's a hip dropping or an arm going wacko. I'm wondering if I will ever get that one-footed spin; it's the only thing I don't have for the adult pre-bronze freeskate test. I know that I need to be patient and keep slowly practicing but being patient on this one is tough.
-banged my knee on the boards doing a little salchow exercise. I am such a klutz!!
-First competition on the 17th went, well, unevenly. I *did* get out there and more or less performed the required moves, but nerves did me in and I rushed and stumbled a bit (3rd of 3; and now I am Borg). Still, dd was excited that I got a trophy.
-Half-flip still feels *very* unnatural, as does the salchow. Wed. practice will have to incorporate many of these in the journey to it all becoming more natural.
-Rink #2 is finally down, as they've been threatening for a while. Ultimately this will be a good thing, but it means that ice will be ever scarcer as the (apparently) heavily monied hockey folks take up ice time from us (apparently poor) figure skaters. For a few months, at least.

Diamonds: Got the toe loop, again and again and again. It's a fun little maneuver. Tra la, tra la la la la. Note to self: Forget the big ol' three-turn entrance. It takes too long and by the time you tap, Miss FallDownGoBoom, you've forgotten what goes where. Instead, simply push, glide slowly on the back outside edge, tap, hop, land -- two or three times in a row. At the end of the skate, try again with the entrance.

Zirconia: That ... that ... that THING.
The one with the right knee bent and the left boot on the ice.
That is not a lunge.
At best it is a desperate cry for help. At worst it is an indictable offense. Either way, it's a sad little maneuver that ought never to be rolled out in public again.

Diamonds:

• Saw a kiddie skater that I haven't seen in QUITE a while. (I know her and her dad the best since they've both skated with me, but the mom knows me too!) Glad to see that she's doing well in school and is planning for college.
• Loops and flips were there beginning of session...

Zircons:

...but disappeared as the session wore on... Well, at least the flip did. The loop stayed around a little longer, luckily for me...

The saddest part... this is the very last Sunday I will be skating at my weekend rink. I said my goodbyes and "see you later" to those I suspect are not going to be following me to my home rink. (I'll try to at least make it to Oakland once in a blue moon, but can't guarantee anything...)

Diamond in the rough:
Was playing around with the footwork that primary coach gave me on Thursday. Was find until the VERY VERY end where I'm doing something that remotely looks like a one foot turn out of forward cross strokes. Could do them at slower speed, but faster speeds....yeah, RIIIIIIGHT!!!! (The worst part is that I wanted to do brackets there, but don't quite have the brackets yet going from BI to FO edge. I only have the FO to BI ones.)

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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!!!

Diamond:
Seems there a HUGE promotion over at my rink for "Blades of Glory" too, since our movie theatre is nearby. Don't know if I could make it to the premiere though, since I do have a workout commitment to keep. (Read the Parlor to see why I want to keep my commit...)

The funny part of this whole promo thing is that a couple of the kids at the front desk decided to dress up as the two pairs guys and did this funny routine where they both go around on the ice hand in hand. Oh, I wished I had my camera for blackmail materials for one of the kids!!!

Loop, sit spins, backspins, one foot spins were all there. Making some progress on the back sit but not that much...

Zircon:
Flip disappeared until the very VERY end, and then I landed one clean and called it a day!!! No camels!!!

__________________
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!!!

Diamond
Passed my level 6 compulsories and level 5 free dance so still a little happy on the back of that! Found everything incredibly thrilling and funny this morning as a result.
Axels are progressing. We reverted to a standing still exercise to get me to drive the FO edge and it was a little better.
Programme was nice apparently. Even the artisticky bits - Whoa!
I am apparently ok at variety 2 of Russian stroking - and a comment of 'ok' from dance coach must mean it is spectacular
Change foot sits are my new fave spin

Zircon
Camels spins went all funny today. I must have used up all my good camel spinning for my test yesterday.
Axels are STILL not correct. I can now do it correctly (ish) from standstill but as soon as I do it from back crossovers or a mohawk I lose the timing and forget to drive forwards. The extra speed throws me I think - I'm not scared of the speed but I think I rush everything and don't drive the edge because I feel a little out of control.
Double salchows had no height. Coach joked and asked was trying to do them as near to the ice as possible.
Blues Choctaw - laughable. I get into the correct position off the FI and have my feet correct but then let my shoulders go and have a nice outside-flat-wobble-outside edge exit.
Tango OD is so underrehearsed it was hilarious. I forgot large portions of it.

Diamonds: I signed up to test the swing dance on the 6th of April, and it isn't worrying me....much.

Zircons: I could/should have signed up for the Fiesta Tango as well, but I seem to have an unshakeable mental block regarding the mohawk. I can do it solo without mental anguish, but having to coordinate with a partner seems to be freaking me out. If my arms are in position I can't find the inside edge, if I've got the edge I'm hunched over, etc.... Having decided not to test it until June, I think I'm giving it one more lesson and then putting it away for a week or two while I work on something else. Does that sound sensible, or would you continue to beat on it?

Rob

That's what I was doing especially since I do the LFO 3 turn and change feet, I have to think about changing my feet and it can get confusing. I also was putting them on the back of my waltz jump and noticed my waltz jumps were better because I wasn't freaking out about the waltz jump - they were just a way to get to the toe loop!

j

Zircons: Found I'd lost my little bag of costume jewellery - must have left it in the changing-rooms in France. Hope someone has found it and handed it in; I must e-mail them to find out.

Back to work this morning, trying to get decent swing rolls and chassés in waltz hold with me going forwards (as in the Swing Dance). We find this far harder than with me going backwards, for some reason.

Also worked on end pattern of Fiesta Tango, which doesn't work to the music. I realised, afterwards, what we were doing wrong (we weren't turning our upper bodies to face up the rink), but wish the coach had seen it.

In my private practice, I was doing 3-turns round the hockey goal, and found, to my amazement, that whenever I thought I was at the top of the circle, I wasn't, but was at about 11:00 or 1:00 (depending on which foot I was doing). When I finally managed one at the top of the circle, it felt as though I'd held my edge round 3/4 of it.

Diamonds: Managed to do a Swing Dance without being warmed up! Did some good exercises once the Husband had gone.

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

Diamonds:

• I HAVE a backspin. Okay, so I can't cross the foot yet, but I seem to have the actual spinning bit down.
• Coach is very pleased with loop and camel spin - to the point where he wants to incorporate them into my programme
• Left back outside and inside threes are becomming consistent

Zirons

• Dances were all pretty poor last time I tried any of them
• Flip - the saga snores on. Ten months and counting.....

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

Oh ,my gosh that is my worst problem with power threes for my Bronze test. I even tell myself "hold it hold it hold it, now turn" and I think I've done such a good job, look at the tracing, it's way before the top

Hope you get your jewerly back. I left my camera at two competitions this year (one at our rink) and was lucky enough to get it back.

j