We are so overdue for a new thread, I expanded to include the following week!

Crisp autumn apples, or that other fruit we aren't supposed to compare apples to

Apples - moves lesson, coach liked my "landing position" move


Oranges - back inside crossovers, still under construction. Spent most of the lesson on it, One more lesson before the test. I will be working that one carefully from my notes. Even if I incorporate all the corrections, it is getting tight to get that fully automatic by the 7th

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It's all about the dress!

Hi liz_on_ice

My lesson was yesterday, and since you started a new thread, I will put my progress here too.

Apples- coach said that my jumps are getting bigger and higher, though if I sometimes hesitate, the jumps are not that high.

Coach taught me some exercises to strengthen both my legs such as inside 3 turns on both legs, and also 3 forward lemons (swizzles) and 4 saloms, which really helped.

My sit spins are not too bad, said the coach, just needs to get lower on my butt, and be not afraid of falling on the ice. When I was doing my sit spin(s) during lesson, a woman (mother) came up to my coach, asked her about availability of having lessons with her. She must be impressed with me, I guess.

The second time that coach said that I did a good job during my lesson, twice in a week.

Oranges- still working on backspins. The entry position is now correct, but still cannot get pass more than 1 revolution. Coach said that with a lot of practice on my backspins, I should be able to build up more power on my left leg and get more than 1 revolution. Still a long way to go on those.

Coach is improving my frees skate program, up to bronze level. When she adds new bits, during the lesson, I forgot the earlier bit.

Apples Afternoon practice session yesterday with me, 2 skaters and their coaches. I actually got the first 20 minutes of ice to myself. I ran through the Bronze Moves test in order. Focused on putting as much power as I could to it. It felt pretty good. Really focused on pushing hard on the cross-overs on the ends.

Oranges There were a few things to fix. The 1st 3 turn on the power 3 is lopsided - turning too soon instead of riding the edge more. The left mohawk on the 5 step pattern is better but still a bit too soon. The 3rd edge on the landing position loses a lot of flow if I have to avoid anyone and it's hard to get the momentum back. Worked on all the exercises that coach gave me to correct them.

Apples Backspins are about 5-7 revs now. The arms are starting to be more automatic. Loops from the 3 turn are getting better and I can get about every 4th one from cross-overs. We are about 2/3 done with my Bronze freeskate test program. I really like it so far.

Oranges We are only 2/3 through the program and after I run it, I am a bit out of breath. There is a slower part where I do my spiral and go into a loop and then a backspin - it almost felt slo-mo. Flips were pretty good at the beginning of the week, but only landed a couple. I have to be going really slow and concentrate to land one.

Good Luck on your test Liz!!!!

Apples: Spins are back from vacation, except for a (weak) CW spin that I used to have. Normally, I'm a CCW spinner and CCW spins are back to last spring's quality.

Oranges: When I tried the CW spin though, I ended up flat on the ice several times. I quit trying before I got hurt.

Then I attempted to do a slow, easy hockey stop near the boards to avoid two other skaters, and again ended up on my back - hard! Ouch.

Why do the simple, easy things hurt the most when you fall?

Apples: I've got speed in spades, especially going backward for some reason. It's a blast to feel the acceleration with each stroke, and to be going full bore after just a few strong pushes.

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Bill Schneider

What move is that? For the life of me, I can't picture BI XO's.

Apples:
Wed night I dreamed of doing backspins from a deep FI edge entrance and wanted to continue my student who is working on them with that on Thurs, but spinning turned out to not be her thing at that particular time, so when I got to the rink today for my own practice (coach away, no lesson), I tried it myself, heading for the wall so I could hang on if necessary. To my great surprise, I managed 1+ rev several times, with free leg crossed over in good position. I did catch my heel a few times but was able to bail without falling. I also fell to the L (I'm CW) pretty consistently, but overall, this was a nice, juicy apple for me.

Oranges:
Everything else! I could not get comfortable on that ice today. The rink was 38' and I was freezing most of the time. The ice was super hard too. Mostly, though, I think it was just me. I hit a few decent one foot spins, and then simply chickened out. I couldn't practice threes, even two footed except very, very slowly, because my back is still hurting, and every little tug is painful. Of course, perfect threes don't procude a "tug" . I did run through the Canasta Tango and Dutch Waltz in slo-mo just to work on the FO to FO transitions, but didn't feel like it did me any good.

Apples:
Almost forgot - had my dance lesson on a freestyle yesterday so I could wear a dress in preparation for testing later this month. It took me half an hour to get dressed for this, since I had to fool around with tights and knee pads, but I got it all together, and it withstood the rigors of the lesson. Nothing bunched up, nothing slid, and according to my friends, it all looked great, and the (Skating Safe) knee pads were almost invisible. The lesson itself was pretty good except that my coach said my arms were shaking at the start - weird. Now I just have to get confirmation from the test chair.

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Apples: Great pairs practice, and we're starting choreography soon.
Oranges: Forgot how cold the rink could get. Waiting for our newly renovated rink to open!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Apples: had a great lesson with private coach, worked on things for pre-bronze test: stroking and getting power with each push and the extension needed; worked on spins-I'm still traveling but we owed it to the recent readjustment and migraine. We decided to try to test somewhere before the end of the year while I have more availability (i.e. before nursing school kicks off).

Oranges: I had (still have) a migraine so I was feeling off, spins traveled.

Apples: Group lesson was fun, we worked on jumps, running through waltz, toe-loop, salchow, and loop.

Oranges: my loop is still very low to the ice....but once I get more height I'll have this nailed. We both agree (group coach and I) I've come a long way since last year. I just need to come off my toe more! I don't know why I don't...and not sure what will make me except for just working on it more!

And I decided to not pick my toe-loop apart any more-I'm going back to the way I had it before-it was good and I'm done dissecting it! It was making me crazy! All I need it to get down lower and pick in more. That's all!

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

2nd move on adult bronze. it's probably called something else that slipped my mind

I've dreamed all kinds of wild skating moves, but some how it doesn't actually work when I get on the ice. How fun that yours worked.

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It's all about the dress!

That's backward power or Russian stroking.

As techskater said "Back power crossovers", AKA "Russian Stroking".

Oh, I dream all the time about things I used to be able to do on roller skates. They are wonderful dreams. Then I wake up and face reality. This was one of the few times that I was actually able to do the thing. I think it's because I had been working on it a bit already, and had been doing it somewhat in the other direction.

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[Oranges]
Flipping axel....they are okay...but I know that they are not "right"...I know that I don't do the weight transfer completely correct which transfers over to my double sal and double toe, and while it's "okay" it makes me upset with myself about it. I'm doing a ton of drills to try to fix this

Today I took a fall during my lesson that scared the bejeebers out of temporary coach...I was doing a right forward inside rocker (junior moves) and afterwards, something was wonky and my leg went up and I went down on my left butt cheek...she was scared that I was hurt and that I hit my head (which I did not)...butt cheek is okay, just sore

My students! ((sorry, where I work, our mascot is an orange, and that totally gives away my location and where I work, but it's okay )

[Apples]
Had a freestyle lesson yesterday and we worked on my program and some of the in between stuff (i.e. relaxing in the crossovers because I tend to rush them and they look horrid). Axel was okay on the reskate, and I may have needed to reskate the camel/back sit, but otherwise, it was okay.

Today we did moves and there was NO ONE on the ice, so I was able to do a pattern of the power pulls at full speed without needing to worry about bowling for kids. The right foot was actually okay the left foot however...still needs some work...they are getting better though. I still need to make the turns a little quicker, but whatevs...I'm at least getting through the pattern!!

I sent in my test form for November 14th - a month before the deadline, but that club's test sessions full up...FAST...I am going to scream if I don't get in!! That screws with my plans of going to Skate America in Lake Placid, but testing is more important...

[Neither]
Today was my last lesson with temporary coach. Regular coach is back on the ice on Monday (Tuesday and Thursday at my rink). I am so excited she is coming back, and I am surprised, but I am slightly sad that I won't be working with temporary coach. It was nice to work with someone else for a little while and to get some new perspectives on my skating. I have a lot of respect for temporary coach and luckily she has offered to come in occasionally to my rink if regular coach cannot make it one week (so I am not without a lesson) and if I would like an extra lesson before my test.

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Skating Dreams

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES." --Nike

Friday

Apples Had my lesson with my coach. Went through my Bronze Moves test. Made a number of small fixes - like not slacking off on the cross-overs around the edges. We also fixed my timing on the 5 Step Mohawk - wasn't holding the #2 long enough.

Oranges My Bronze Free Skate test program. We didn't finish it. After I went through what we have, I only had 20 seconds left and I have to get in one more jump and one more spin. I need to get faster. Well, I did get a few seconds faster practicing on my own after my lesson - maybe 2-3.


Today Grassroots to Champions Seminar

I got talked into this by some other adult skaters at our rink. They had 2 groups: one for the adults and one for the kids. My DD was in the kids group. Wow! Really learned a lot today.

Apples Since we had a small group and over an hour for one on-ice session, one of the instructors let us work on whichever jump we were having the most trouble with. I worked on my flip and made lots of progress. We also went in the off-ice jump harness. First time for me, that was quite the experience.

Oranges Knees are sore from all the jumping done today. Not used to it as I usually spend half my session on Moves.

Apples: Spins and pivots improving, just a tiny bit.

Oranges: all my stops are still meh. Hockey stop still close to nonexistent. Snowplow and T stops are okay. However, no matter how I stop, I have trouble doing it from any amount of speed....

Didn't feel like I got a ton of time in class on Saturday to work on 3-turns. And when I did, they were sort of crap.

Started learning back 3-turns, and OMG. I DO NOT get it. I'm practicing on the wall so I'm not so afraid I'll die, but it's hard to use the wall for them. Will need A to really show them to me so I'll know what I'm doing as well. I just...can't get them right. I don't know if I'm not hitting the right part of my heel, or what. I just don't get around, and back onto my edge. I know part of it is fear--because I know if I fall, I'm going down backwards, and that could end badly.

I'm also starting to feel again like I'm being worked too fast. Here's my problem: for one, I would rather master A, B, and C before moving on to D, E, and F. Otherwise I'll have a bunch of half-@ssed skills, and I don't want that. For two, a hour or so might be enough time for A, B, and C. However, then I add D, E, and F. Yet I still need to practice A, B, and C as well. Then when I add G, H, and I, my time to work on each skill cuts down even more...and let's face it, I don't even have many skills under my belt right now, so...I can't imagine how it will be when I really start learning even more stuff. I mean, I could see me spending 15 minutes to half an hour just on 3-turns...and spins...and crossovers...etc. etc. The time disappears quickly.

Do them two footed on a hockey circle. That way you can practice the rotation and feel where you should be on the blade without the fear. Fear will stiffen you up and make the turns impossible and falls more likely. You don't always fall backwards on a B three fall, and if you bend your knee as soon as you feel yourself losing it, you will fall from a lower height. That said, I go through phases where I can do BO threes, then chicken out, and can't do them at all just because of fear!

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Yeah what she said! I always warm them up using 2 feet, and on the hockey circle.

I didn't practice today, but taught a mini-lesson for a birthday party. I had 2 groups of kids- very low-level skaters and mid-to-high level. What a mixing! Anyway, I split them up and had the higher level work on holding their jump setups/landings and then see how long they could hold then do a little waltz jump (they actually had a hard time jumping from a glide); the others I worked on one-foot glides and some intro stroking.

It was fun but I didn't stick around. I am still recovering after a 3-day burning migraine so I wanted to get home and eat something and rehydrate. I did manage to do a few spins-and they were fairly centered (yay I'm not crazy-it was my boot/blade LOL).

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

Isn't that a great feeling?

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Knowing that I'm not crazy? Yeah! (well, not 100% anyway, more like 50-50!) But being able to spin again? It's an awesome feeling!

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

Apples - been drilling those moves, coach's corrections from last week are getting incorporated, I think I'm good. One more lesson, the day before the test.

Oranges - That may be a bad thing rather than a good thing - I don't want to go into it making last second changes.

Apples - some sit spin improvement, I almost felt like I was sitting for a moment, before I toppled over and bailed on it.

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It's all about the dress!

Liz_on_ice: Good luck on your Bronze Moves test!!!!

Nice CRISPY APPLES!!!

Well, most of you already know via Facebook, but I've landed a new job and the job has a REALLY nice gym!

Oranges:
Was struggling Thursday on everything! I'm still scrapping on the BI3's at times. Same problem as Liz, couldn't commit myself to go faster on those BI3's. Couldn't even commit myself to a BI3's at slower speeds on a consistent basis either!!! GRRRR!!!

Was pretty much struggling on ALL Silver Moves test at one point or another. I can't think of any moves that I'm close to passing on... not even that STUPID SPIRAL!!!

Was on a very busy FS session with a bunch of kiddie skater and one VERY BIG and FAST skater. Oh, boy! That was interesting!!! BUT...I could JUST picture my secondary coach saying "You need to get used to skating on busy crowded FS sessions and with VERY FAST skaters! It might inspire you to MOVE YOUR BUTT FASTER ON THE ICE!!!"

Apples:
So happy to be amongst the employed again!!! I will be able to afford lessons again soon!

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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!!!

Apples:

Friday's freestyle - nearly empty. Just four skaters (counting me) and two coaches.
Camel spin on Friday - first ones I've tried since getting back on the ice. Hit a camel position on nearly all of them.
Loops in general - timing is starting to come back on them. Did 4 or 5 nice ones that were clean on yesterday's public.
Felt brave enough to try a few axel exercises yesterday....waltz-loop, waltz-backspin.

Oranges (mushy rotten ones):
Friday's freestyle was freezing COLD. Worse than normal. Left my sweat pants on the whole time.
Sit spin on Friday - couldn't beg, borrow, or steal one. Only thing I can think of was that my knee bend was affected by the excessive cold temperatures.
Lutzes - trying to get the timing back on those. Took a couple of spills that I am certain would have HURT the wrist had I not had the wrist guards on, but I didn't even feel them.
Back 3's - yucky. Just yucky. And I get kind of nauseous even thinking the words "8 step mohawk", trying it is still a long way off. Have been using pre-pre edges as part of my "warmup" instead of any of the Silver moves, and have pretty much abandoned any intention I might have had of testing those in the foreseeable future. Better off to work on some of the stuff I was grandfathered through, I think.

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CONGRATS ON THE NEW JOB JAZZPANTS!!!!!!

I also do SQA, so I know how hard it its, but they ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU!!!

Apples
Had two "apple" practices in a row! The first was on Friday, when I went back to the rink after work to skate the 7:00pm freestyle session (having skated the 6:30am session before work). I started to get my pancake spin back, and best of all, I got my flying camel back! It wasn't my usual wonky flying camel, either; it was a really solid one! I nailed it on the first try, then again on the next try! Apparently, just thinking about the physics of a spin off ice yields better results for me than actually practicing the thing!

My second "apple" practice was yesterday, when I did the best program run-through yet with this program. For the first time, I not only completed every element, but I also managed to successfully complete all of the level features on the spins and spirals! Woo hoo!! I also felt that I skated to the music better than I ever had, hitting every musical cue in the program!

Oranges? None this weekend, thanks anyway!

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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

thank you, and CONGRATULATIONS!

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It's all about the dress!