Public holiday here in the UK today, so had a really long practice with the Husband, although it has to be said we didn't rush down to the rink, and it was well after 7:30 am before we got there! The ice was pretty empty, mostly adults (one young family did come in, but mostly the kids only come if their coaches are going to be there, and the only coach that was in this morning teaches mostly adults).

Spring Flowers: Whisper it, but of the three adult couples at our rink, at the moment our Fiesta Tango is the best of the lot! I am surprised at our no 1 adult couple, they are usually much better than us, but they obviously have issues with the Fiesta. Well, so do we, but I was pleased with our run-through of it this morning! I dare say they will overtake us when it comes to competition-time, though....

Did good Dutch Waltz, needed 2 goes at the Canadian Cha-cha to get it up and running but the 2nd time was okay, Rhythm Blues did 2 really good patterns and the 3rd one went so out of time what we were doing bore no relation to the music. The Swing Dance also went out of time as we were using the seriously slow USFSA music, not the proper beat. But it was not bad, all the same, though I don't know what our coach would have said.

I had a good run-through of my interp, too. And our free dance needs work, but we began to break down the bits that really need work - we must, must, MUST do it off-ice more!

Snow showers: It's raining and I'm stressed, but apart from that..... dance moves not desperately good, but at least I did them without stopping. I do run out of steam on them, though, and really need to work on keeping them going for a whole lap - as it is, the first side is always reasonable and the second not so good!

Off now until Monday night - have a wonderful Easter, everybody!

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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!

Well, last night I think I plowed up enough snow to make my own personal blizzard but I'm not that bummed about it. My coach decided that it was time to do many run-throughs of the Interp program so I can get used to remembering the entire program while music was playing to distract me. I managed better than I thought I would, except that I took two very nasty falls in the exact same place (the middle of the footwork going tinto the ending) and managed to bruise both elbows, both knees, half of my ribcage and one hip in the process. Added to the bruise on my other hip that I got on Sunday (stepping onto the ice with guards on - Stupid Move of the Year #1 for me) and I'm going to be more colorful than an Easter Egg by Sunday. I think I'll pass on wearing a dress to church this week.

Spring Flowers: I'm pushing through the program and the choreography is finally being imprinted on my brain so that I can think about HOW I'm doing things rather than just WHAT I'm doing. And my sitspin was really on, at least before I fell on my knee.

Plus my USFSA Regional Accountant's appointment came through last week so I'm super-happy.

Spring flowers: yesterday was our first day of spring break! yaay, and suprisingly it is nice outside! yaay. ok anyways, yesterday i had a lesson with my freestyle coach and i landed some good axels and double salchows so my lesson was going good. i have recently started working on my new program and by the way im skating to west side story

Snow Drifts: then we got to working on it and adding things nd making the program when it was like nothing would work i kept falling on brackets which hurt. and they were good on tueday so it was very fruastrating that for my lesson they decided not to work.so we really didnt get very far in my program and my competition is at the end of may, so hopefully things will go better for my next lesson and we can move on

~Cutie

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Skating is suppose to be fun , no PRESSURE at all

~*Courage*~*Confidence*~*Consistance*~

Spring Flowers:
Okay, I booked my flights to Lake Placid today & I'm so excited! I got a great price for my ticket so that makes me very happy. And I'm going to be staying in a townhouse w/ Jenlyon & others from her rink, which will be so great! Thank you to those who encouraged me to go for it. Now I just have to learn how to dance........yikes!!

Snow Drifts:
I started working on the European Waltz this week, & it's a good thing I've got 4 months to pull it together--wow. It's really, really bad. I'll be working on the drop 3's for the entire summer, for sure. But I'm hoping it will make me a lot stronger in the long run. I haven't decided whether my problem is a technique issue, or if it's just one of those things that you have to do 10 million times before you can do it well. Probably it's a little of both.

Also have given myself a deadline of 2 weeks MAX to choose tango music so we can get going on choreography. I have a few possibilities, that will work all right, if I don't find something that I really love.

Snow Drifts: I scheduled a last-minute pre-test touch-up lesson last night, and can't really say that I was surprised to find that it looked like *everyone* else at the rink had done the same. We had two too-near misses and one collision, with nobody hurt, luckily.

Spring Flowers: However, today was the test session, and it conveniently worked out that son had his two tests in a compact time block with mine. I passed both dances tried (with some warranted criticism, but that just gives me something to work on), and son passed his as well, so it was all smiles on the way home this morning. On to the next lessons!

Rob Dean

Snow drifts: It has suddenly hit me, holy CR*P I test my Jr moves in a week! I wonder, would it be wrong to test with an arrow pointing to my hip noting my surgery date? Would it help? Eeek I signed up for the Foxtrot, what was I thinking...? Gads!

Spring Flowers: Jumps and spins are really freakishly good, double sow is just scary, really clean nice and neat, double toe is starting to come around--just got some new choreography--combo spin, to bauer, to 2 toe, then flying camel to footwork...seriously dizzy, practicing that a lot. Former dance coach likes my catchfoot pose so suggested I go straight from that into 2sow. Thanks a lot. Must remember to trip him...

Awfully good week overall, 1st one this year, of course only had 5-6 last year.

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Who me? Couldn't be....
http://www.youtube.com/bouldersk8r

Snow Drift! There were so many little hockey people and birthday parties going on that it was so hard to practice what I learned in my lesson. The kids were going the wrong direction and going right through the middle of the rink where I was practicing my 3 turns, and I couldn't get anything done. I also have to get my braces taken off so I can get my jaw fixed so I can get rid of the headaches that I've been having for 5 months, and then relive the pain of getting them put on at the end of the summer.
Spring Flowers I'm a really fast learned apparently, because whenever my teacher teaches me something, I can do it with little trouble. I was so excited because I was having issues with one foot turns and then when I got them perfect and glided backwards without putting my foot down immediately, I was so proud. And then I just learned backwards crossovers today and I did them so well in practice afterwards.

Spring Flowers:

• The ice is getting better.. it was actually nice for my group lesson this morning! Ended up still being awful towards the end but I didnt stay on until the end so it didnt matter (see Snow Drifts )
• Stroking - getting much better.. I feel like I am doing what hubby does when he does stroking... deep knee bends, back leg extended and control... it felt REALLY nice... probably didnt look as good as hubby, but oh well, its a start... I was also actually taking my time with my pushes and putting my foot down next to my skating leg... so I think Im getting a bit more control.
• Lesson - crossrolls, change of edges, 3-turns and mohawks mainly.. all not too bad.. my 3-turns are getting more control (probably cos of my bending leg )... but also hubby gave me a lesson on edges (my control is all from my torso Ive found.. if thats solid, Im fine), so it helped with my turns etc.

Snow Drifts:

• The ice was PACKED!!! And mainly full of the public who didnt know to stay out of the middle (or those who couldnt understand that whilst yes we in the middle must share the ice, they have to understand that public sessions are the only time we get to practise, so please stay out ).
• We have a competition this weekend, so whilst it was good watching practise before class, the ice was packed and there was a synchro team practising as well, which wasnt very safe..
• Ok... my major snow drift?? I was practising back crossovers, which Ive recently gotten... and because of said packed ice, when I saw someone duck behind me, I was in the middle of a crossover, and silly me tried to stop in that position... hence click of death, and I fell on my knees again... Dont ask me how I managed it... you would think I would fall on my bum... but no, on my knees... kinda hurt and I once again have an ice pack on it... but Im sure it will be fine... the one that hurts most is the one I bruised on Wednesday and was still purple.. now its multicolor!! the other knee which used to hurt more seems to have gotten used to it, cos its fine! lots of Arnica cream tonight!

But otherwise, it was a mainly good day because I got my stroking rythmn nice... very pleased with myself.. and I dont have uni until Thursday, and next set skating session is Wednesday... so Im taking it nice and easy until then and I WILL get these damn crossovers!!!!!!!! Did/is anyone else have/having as much trouble as I am??? I did a few today and it helped more having bent knees (funny about that ), but still not good enough...

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-Erinna-
aka cassarilda

My Progress Report!
"Did I mention there is only ONE rink in Melbourne?!"
"If you're not flying, you're obviously not trying!!!" - courtsey of the guy who helped me up off the ice after my last spectacular and sore fall

Shingles or no shingles, I am still going ahead with the 2 Adult Sessions at Lake Placid this summer. Since this thing doesn't seem to interfer with my figures, I can work on these this summer. Freestyle will have to be put on hold for awhile. I tried a Salchow the other day and it was a tad painful. Also I was going to do pairs but I think that will have to wait as well as I am not really keen on anyone grabbing me around the waist at the moment.

Things could be worse.

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Keeping School Figures Alive!!

Snow Drifts: What's harder than a solo European Waltz? A solo European Waltz *with your hands behind your back*!!! And here's the kicker--my coach didn't even ask for it--I started trying it on my own during practice. (he probably will ask for it sooner or later anyway) It will help, but man, it's so hard. And no, I haven't even thought about trying it with music yet.

Spring Flowers: I did three, count them, three consecutive patterns of the Kilian on time w/ the music today! Edges were not great, but they were there, so I'm very pleased. And even more pleased by the fact that this dance is becoming comfortable, there are no terror spots anymore, and I can see a place in the future that this will be an easy dance to do. Not yet, but I can see it coming. That amazes me!

Spring Flowers:
Not as crowded a freestyle session today, because of Easter.
Had a nice, fast, LOW ( ) and centered sitspin today- came up from it with a WHOA! feeling.

April Showers:
Had to skate around little beginners that were getting their programs choreographed for the ISI competition at our rink next month. On coach playes their skaters music 4-5 times a piece .
End of new freeskate program is still a mess, but toward the end of the session, got the idea.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Snow Drifts: I accidently ended up skating for a total of 3 hours yesterday, so my legs are killing me. My hips are so sore. OUCH.

Spring Flowers: I passed my Pre Alpha test! Yay! Although I knew I would because that stuff is easy for me, since I'm already working on Gamma level moves with my coach. But still.. it's exciting.

Decided to pick up a couple of hours casual ice to find my LF edges (which went AWOL while I was working on my RF edges!) Made some recovery on LF edges. RF edges still pretty good. Coach took me back to T-starts with emphasis on form and posture this time and had me do some FO edges on a circle.

Spring Flowers Worked a lot on backward sculling and half-sculls. Actually got some one-foot backward glides for the first time - not steady, not long, and not every attempt, but for the first time! WAHOO!!! Another little step in the right direction.

Snow Drifts Took another fall doing forward glides - almost felt like chewing gum on the ice! No damage, just more practice doing falls ;-)

Spring Flowers Met with my personal trainer for the first time. We went over what I have been doing and my objectives and she's going to put together an at-home program for me (my schedule doesn't normally allow "classes"). We're going to do a couple of personal sessions to get me started on pilates.

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

Snow Drifts:

• Got up early for Club Ice session
• Muscles took a lot long to warm up before my moves critique... lower back was definitely aching!!!

Spring Flowers:

• So happy to know thru the moves critique I got this morning that I'm getting really close to being ready to take the Bronze Moves test and pass!!! Still have stuff to work on, but I AM contemplating whether to take the Bronze Moves test in June now before the summer kids hog up the ice for regionals!!!

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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!!!

spring flowers: hmm, flying camel is slowly getting better, can get about 6 revolutions now.

snow drifts: lost my double loop again. Kept two footing double toe landing. Learning my new footwork sequence is a total pain. Didn't even see any improvement today.

Spring Flowers: a quiet public session this morning (Sunday), with only 4 adults and 4 children, all recreational skaters. Miracles, they stayed out of my way. Even the "sled of death" users were okay after being gently told to stay around the outside.

So I got plenty of work done. Backspins are really coming. Improving my general footwork, turns and edges. Some nice waltz jumps, toe-loops, mediocre salcahows and half loops. And generally enjoyed relatively clear ice for a change.

April Showers: We seem to have skipped autumn and gone straight to winter here, it was freezing.

My spins have really gone off, cannot centre for love or money, no matter what I try, whether from a T-push or crossovers. Most peculiar.

Somewhere between the showers and flowers: I got brave and tried some sit spins. Not very low and only a 2-3 of revolutions, but it's good to try them again. Tried entering from the low position, as well as entering upright then dropping. Not sure which is going to work best for me, but I suspect upright then dropping helps me centre them better. Also tried a couple of camels. Again, not great, with only 2-3 revolutions. having trouble getting up over the blade, falling in even though I'm trying the lift and open the free hip.

It's just great to be working on these things again. Haven't had a lesson for a couple of weeks, and very crowded practise sessions, so it was just nice to have a fun skate today.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

Spring Flowers: Last night was the last show performance and I went out with some high school friends (got in about 2 am this morning). Had a good time and the show ended on a good note. I'm sure by now the rink is starting to slush up.....my vacation is officially underway!

I'm planning on swapping out my blades and when I find out about that "optional" summer rink I should be good to go. Yay!!!

Snow Drifts: Personal trainer has plans to beef up my training when I get back from vacation.....

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

Spring Flowers Started bulldozing my yard for a rink http://www.geocities.com/diannebest/skating/rink.html

Snow Drift Ran out of gas for the dozer and everything is closed for Easter

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

Dianne:
That rocks that you are going to put in your own rink!!

I'm not going to skate for another week or two-still unwinding from the show. I swear, next show I'm not staying in the same room with certain kids and their moms/grandma's!!! All I heard was yelling and #####ing at these kids from these adults....mind you, these adults were doing this to 3-5 year old kids! I asked them to please tone it down-I was promptly told to mind my own business!! I told them it was kind of hard, since we were in a public area (I consider a public rink hockey changing room with 20 other people in it a fairly public area). Oh! I was pissed! That's the only drawback to show skating....#####y stage moms. It only takes 1-2 to ruin the reputation of all! The rest were wonderful! I even had one help me with my hair (I'm hopeless doing hair).

I'll recover by the time Nutcracker rolls around......maybe I'll get to be a snowflake!!!

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

Spring Flowers: I LANDED A TOE LOOP! Yes, I realize it's like the easiest jump, but I DID ONE! And I didn't fall. YAY!

Awesome! Good for you! May it be the first of many!

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If you keep your eyes on God, you can walk on water.