OK, this thread is in honor of my almost-three-year-old, Milo, who skated for his first time ever on Saturday morning, yay!

Newbie (me): It was out first dance lesson! And much fun. Worked on some technical stuff, then progressives, forward chasses, swing rolls, cross rolls, and cross strokes. Progressives and chasses were pretty good, need more knee bend (of course...). Found myself stepping not-quite right on swing rolls, though the rest of the roll wasn't too bad. Cross rolls feel great when I'm crossing mt right over left, and suck wind on the other side. Same with cross strokes. I think this means I need to practice my CW progressives like mad so that I can feel more comfortable with the strike and slide motion.

Newbie (Milo): Well, it took much persuading and bribery (he could ride the helicopter coin ride if he put the skates on), but after fifteen minutes of cajoling, he got the skates on and marched all over the padded bench area playing follow-the-leader with me until I marched him over to his "class". The "class" consisted of two other parent/tot combos, one of whom is on his third or fourth session and one, like Milo, who had never gotten on the ice before. Plus me and Milo and two other instructors. I signed him up for parent/tot as I figured I'd be teaching the tot class anyway, so he'd be in my class no matter what.

He was fine until the lead instructor said. "Let's get on the ice!" He let out a wail and refused. Well, I knew that once he got out there, he'd be fine, but he wasn't going to take those first steps on his own. Please, before you think I was forcing him to go -- he was so excited about the lessons and learning to skate that he was asking me every morning all week if it was Saturday. Anyway, I just picked him up and skated out about 8 feet and stood him up. I said, "OK, buddy, we're out here now. If you want to get off the ice, you'll need to march over to the door." He decided that wasn't worth his effort and stood there for a while. Until mommy "fell" and brought him down to the ice with me.

Old Timer: (Milo) Poor mommy just couldn't get up no matter how hard she tried, so Milo showed me how to do it a couple of times before he did the sweetest thing EVER and, standing on his two little skates, he offered me his hands and said, "Here, mommy, I'll help you get up!" And we were in like Flynn... By the time the last 15 minutes of the 30 minute class were up, he was marching by himself without my hands, picking up beanie babies from the ice, grinning ear-to-ear and generally charming the heck out of the other coaches. That's my boy!

Old timer: (Me) Group lessons started with jumps. I managed a few waltz-steps away from the wall (with coach's hands, so still not entirely on my own). Moved on to half-flips. Did a really putrid one (in my book), but coach was watching and called it "Hey! That was a jump! Good -- move on to whatever other jumps you're working on now." So I practiced 1/2 toe, 1/2 lutz, and 1/2 loop. I thought for a second about trying a full toe, but noticed that DH, Milo and Violet were arriving for Milo's lesson, so I hopped off to help him get skates on.

Hopefully, he'll remember the END of the lesson next week when we try again. The most fun was that daddy and Violet were standing at the boards cheering for him -- Violet was grinning ear-to-ear and squealing watching us on the ice. I'm so dang proud of him!

YAY! I'm so glad Milo skated... I meant to ask you that. I wasn't sure if you'd be able to get him into the skates- but he wasn't being nearly as 'no way, I'm not doing this' as some kids I see at the rink. You definetly didn't force him. Sorry to hear you forgot how to stand up good thing Milo was there to help you! Marching all on his own by the end of the class, and getting beanies- he's a natural!

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Aww, what a smart mom! Good job, both of 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

Well it was back to lessons after a week off after our show. Back to the old Bronze moves.

5 Step Mohawk

Well I think we are getting into old-timer territory. We actually did not have to work on the mohawk itself--she was more concerned that I get step #3 right on an outside edge and start getting that baby around the circle...and get my arms passed and head turned in time - I tend to drag that out and get off time. She had me just practice back edges on a circle to get that better.

Then since we were talking about back edges...on to the back edges. On this move the edge is fine - but my crossover is too small - I need to make sure I put my foot down facing the wall, not sideways like I tend to do....

Then 3 turns. She said my 3 turns are beautiful...but and I'm sensing a patter - the crossover...actually I was leaving out the push after the roll over

She also said a year ago she would have never believed I'd be doing mohawks the way I am now...so I guess there's been some progress

Watch out - paying for two skaters will kill ya!

j

Newbie
My body was definitely on strike today. I had a lesson, and she just wanted to see my preliminary moves. Crossovers were fine, but I did them with so much power that I was wiped out by the end. Then I went to do the spirals, got to the second half of the pattern (the inside edge spirals) and my leg said "NO WAY!" We skipped those due to my leg and went on to the power 3s into backcrossovers. I was so tired by the second half of the pattern, that I couldn't even do the RFO 3s properly, and effectively collapsed on the ice.

Caught my breath, moved on to jumps. 2loops were not as good as usual. I'm still adjusting to my new blades and the height they give me. I still sometimes pull in just as tight as I used to, but when combined with increased height and flight time, it translates into one overrotated 2loop.

2flip. Oy. Timing was totally off. My arms were going way too fast. After a few falls, I got up, and immediately sat back down as my heart went into an arrhythmia. Coach comes over, the episode passes, we talk a couple of minutes so I can rest, and then go back to the jumps. 3 or so jumps later, another episode. It was at this point she told me to go sit down.

But those 2 episodes within minutes of each other convinced me I need to go back to the cardiologist. At first, I was only have the episodes a few times a year. I've had about 4 in the past month (2 within minutes of each other).

And I think I'm finally catching the cold that has been ravaging Los Angeles. My sinuses are so clogged and burn horribly. Hopefully it's just a cold, but it is more likely the dreaded cold.

Oldtimer
After my lesson things got better!

I took it easy for a bit until I was pretty sure my heart had totally calmed down. I spun for a bit, and did some really good back camels. I'm now able to get really good speed going straight into a back camel.

Camel-change-camel was nice too.

Decided to work on death drops a liiiittle bit. They're far from good, far from even recognizable I think, but still way better than they used to be.

As I got more tired, my jumps got better (probably because I didn't have the energy to overrotate them!). Did some good 2loop2loops.

In the last few minutes of the session, I did some good 2flips. I was able to slow my upper body down and get the feeling right. I didn't land the ones at the end of the session, but the timing was right (which was all that really mattered)

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Youtube Videos

I actually skated Monday! I always mean to, but never do.

Newbie: Boots hurt my feet badly. I need something with an arch support. The rink has GREAT deals on Jacksons- but I'm not sure if Jacksons are best for me (I'm in them now. I don't know if it's a bad fit, or the brand isn't right.) The nearest pro-shop is a few hundred miles away. Getting fitted is not an easy thing. I also really need new blades, but I want to have an idea if I'm going to be getting larger boots, so I can order the blade so that it will fit it too. I need the blade now, but can't afford the boots until Christmas. I hate skates.

Rink was really crowded with a school group. Usually no one is there on mondays.

Oldtimer: Well, kind of. I practiced the things we learned in the dance lesson and they went better. I have NO knee bend and need to get the skates sharpened if I want an outside edge. But in the progressives and the cross rolls I was able to hit the ice before moving it over. YAY. Swing rolls I'm still leaning forward a bit rather than bending, but during the cross rolls I was able to keep my chest up better.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

I have really high arches, and with an over-the-counter arch support my Jacksons are great. I don't know if there are brands that naturally have better arch support, but if the Jacksons fit aside from the arch problem, you could try getting one at the drugstore to put in. When you get a chance, it would probably be worth double-checking that you're in the right size boot, just because if the length is off, the arch is in the wrong place and that could be part of the problem.

Isn't having weird feet great?

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Shae-Lynn and Victor: We knew you were champions, and on 3/28/03 the whole WORLD found out! Thank you for twelve wonderful years!

Newbie: Still recovering from one MISERABLE COLD! Spins still weren't working though they were better than last week. Footwork resembled a drunken nag in hobbles Turns were ..... what turns?

Oldtimer: (You called?) Forward edges were great and FXOs were DYNAMITE! Back edges are starting to smoke and I am within spitting distance of BXO's.

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Newbie: I hate hate hate hate hate... hate hate hate footwork!!! Arg. It's making me really frustrated. At the beginning of my lesson today, we did push outside pull inside thingys that just were not working. I felt like an idiot. Then we did the back strokes and the best I could do was "handicapped." Ugh, and don't even get me started on my program footwork. At least my mohawk slide is working (kind of...).

Oldtimer: I managed to do a runthrough of my program and we added another part.

Newbie: My spins were off today. And my jumps. On my backspin, I need a better lift out instead of a swimming leg... and the swimming leg has traveled to ruin my jumps! Ugh, today was just not a good day.

Oldtimer: I have a set test date for my prejuv free: June 27! Yay!

Newbie: My bloody skirt fell off!!!! Right in the middle of our warm-up, one of the other skaters suddenly shouted out, and when we looked, there it was sitting in the middle of the hockey circle. So I had my husband, Coach1, and this other skater (also a middle-aged man) all wetting themselves with laughter while I tied it back on again! Luckily I was wearing a long T-shirt, a long jumper AND black magic knickers to hold my tights up so I was totally decent..... all the same....

Old-Timer: The actual skating went well! Ran through everything as it was the penultimate lesson before the Mountain Cup (the coaches are away for the next week).

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

EEK! But just so you know it's not only you- a few weeks ago I pulled my pants about halfway down my bottom when I caught my blade during a backspin. They would have come all the way off if I didn't just fall immediatly when I realized what was happening. And i just had tights on.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

I would've died!

Newbie:
-Flips were off today. Loops were tiny.
-Camel-back camels weren't happening. Back camel by itself seems much easier.
-Still having problems checking LBO 3 at speed. I can do it fine in the double 3 pattern, but when it comes to the slide chasse pattern (and I'm going much faster), I can't seem to hold the check.

Oldtimer:
-Lutzes were good after I thought about jumping up rather than around. Salchows were decent.
-Spins were good. The last few back camels I did actually felt like spins rather than a big loop on a deep back outside edge
-Dances were okay.
-Moves were mostly good.
-Did FI brackets that were suprisingly decent

Trust our very own Boots to steal the show!

BAW HAW ha ha!

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

If I hadn't been almost the only woman on the ice.... not quite, as Clare was there, but she was down the far end doing Interesting Things, and no other woman had yet arrived!

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

That's ok Annabelle, I KNOW I will pay for laughing in our Scrabble game

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Sorry about the wardrobe malfunction.

That reminded me of the final night of the ice show this year. Two girls stripped off their skirts (they were wearing a leotard and a side tie thing on their hips) before skating out for the finale. The two coaches holding open their curtain skated over to us after they went out holding their skirts laughing.

Old-timer:
Oh, I had an awesome moves lesson today. I'm starting to think that I might actually be able to pass SENIOR moves this year. Seems like just yesterday I was struggling to pass Intermediate. Whee!!!

My coach told me to think about opening my shoulder, but closing the hip on the inside double 3s/outside double rocker pattern, going into the rockers - and it worked! I actually did the whole pattern with speed and steady turns. I usually nose-dive. Spirals were so-so and I didn't get to the circular step (lucky me).

I videotaped a couple double loops. They're definitely looking like doubles, but I'm still about half a rotation short and falling. I wish my double sals were as good!

Newbie:
Flying camel has become very hit-or-miss on the jump. I did one really great one, and all the others were tippy and weird. Silver Tango continues to struggle, though my coach thinks I will be test-ready this summer.

When everyone used to wear leotards with wrap skirts when I was a teenager (we were not allowed to wear pants, we had to have on a dress or some sort of leotard/skirt), the skaters' eqivalent of depantsing someone was to sneak up and pull one of the ties on their skirt so it would fall off. I always made sure mine were double knotted. Ahh good times!

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2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything

[Newbie]
Counters...forward ones are okay, it's the back ones (hmmm...I'm sensing a pattern here...first the back brackets, now the back counters?). Forward ones I am putting my foot down on the edge before the outsides.

Bracket/choctaw (both patterns that include those)...getting better, but I still need a lot of work on these

Axels...they just were not good today...still close, but I didn't work on them all that long...when I fall on them, I am pretty close to fully rotated, but when I actually land on one foot they are horribly short....it's something to do with me opening up and not staying in for that last 1/2 rotation...

Double Sals...did a few of them, but then I started dropping my right shoulder, and needed to stop...

[Oldtimer]
Laybacks were pretty good today.

I am actually working on double sals again

I have my new skates in my possession!!! Picked them up on Friday, but I haven't skated in them because I want to make sure that I have the time to both skate and break them in on a given day....I will probably end up trying to do 3 sessions a day once I get back from vacation next week....one session to break in the skates and another 2 sessions to skate in the old skates

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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

I really needed that , Annabel! I'm not laughing at what happened, but at your very droll description of it. Thank you!!!

Quark - Congratulations on turning Milo into a little skater on his first try!

Oldtimer:
Since I'm going to miss my lesson both this Friday (younger DD is graduating college), and next Friday (will be at PSA Conference), I asked coach if she minded my having a few lessons with a different coach, and she said it was fine. Although I felt a bit shakey, as in too much coffee, and a bit tired, it was overall a very good lesson. We started with FO threes, and I got a teensy bit closer to fully checking them (Zeno's paradox, anyone?). FI threes on the line were surprisingly good, with only one toe tap on the R. My temp coach then asked if I wanted to do waltz threes, which I've never done before. To my surprise, we started with FI's. This is a FI three, push to BO edge, step to FI edge again. FO's were what I expected, and coach added a flourish with the arms when stepping forward. Prelim power threes were better than usual, meaning not so slow and more secure on the threes. Coach had me deepen the 3-turn exit edge, which was fun. Ended with spins, which was nice, as this coach has a slightly different approach to my current coach, which of course, is the main value in having another coach once in a while.

Newbie:
Just did not feel as secure and solid as I wanted to, and so was tentative throughout the lesson. Discovered that I've been scraping a bit on the Prelim power threes, R side on the step forward. I was really surprised by that, and will have to pay close attention to see if I repeat it. Hoping it was a glitch today only. I HATE scraping. Felt tired after lesson and did not stay long to practice. It's really hard to get to bed early when DH gets home from work after 11 PM!

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Tee, hee! That happened to me one time! Thankfully, I was wearing a thicker pair of Mondor skating tights, in black, over my leotard, as if they were leggings. Also thankfully, no one skated/fell/tripped over my skirt as it lay on the ice before I retrieved it.

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Ask me about becoming a bone marrow donor.
http://www.marrow.org
http://www.nmdp.org

Newbie: Missed skating yesterday because I just can't seem to decide what my new program music will be. I looked through and listen to hundreds of pieces of music and wasn't sure what I felt I should use for freeskate. Made it to the rink with only a half hour left and then decided to just drive off and go to the library to look up music. Found 3 CD's that are possibilities. Today I missed another day of skating to accompany my husband to purchase a Corvette in the States. Called my coach yesterday ahead of time to let him know that I wouldn't be at the rink today.

Oldtimer: Spent all day with my hubby. Haven't done that for a while since he's been working a lot of 7 day weeks. Husband got the Chevy dealer to lower the price of a black 6 speed standard 2002 Corvette with only 15 000 miles on it down by almost $3 000. Coached called me when I was back in Windsor around 9 PM eating supper in a Wendy's to tell me that he can't make it to the rink where I skate on Wednesday but that I'll get a full hour lesson on Friday. Yikes. I'll be good and tired on Friday but I think I'll be getting a lot done.

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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

Newbie: Arguably should have gone with my instinct not to skate today; after a poor night's sleep, was very tired and, after 30 minutes' skating, realised that it wasn't happening and if I carried on, I'd injure myself.

Old-Timer: Having said that, we did have an excellent run-through of our compulsory dances before I got too tired!

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

Newbie:
-Seriously lacking in energy/motivation this morning, had an ok lesson but then did nothing beyond that so gave it up and got off.

Old Timer:
-Wasn't too miserable about today's wishy washy skate as I had a really good session yesterday morning- lots of work on cross rolls and closed chasses (aka scary little buggers).

-Did a fairly ok Rhythm Blues this morning so it wasn't all bad.

-Mrs Redboots' skirt stayed on