Reference to a certain pairs skater on this forum is not intended!

So anyway, everybody is in Scotland at the moment, so the rink was pretty empty. My Husband wasn't in Scotland, but he had gone to Basingstoke to practice with yet another partner (neither I nor his usual alternate partner do the Hickory Hoedown, which is one of the dances for the aptly-named Zimmer Trophy at Oxford). So it was just me, and, of course, one or two other skaters.

Great: Because there was only one dance couple this morning (plus one of the pros being used as a professional partner), the ice was really good. And I don't know if that was why, but my back cross-cuts were the best I've ever done them - I managed a whole length of the rink several times without having to do an extra "push". Okay, so they aren't at test standard yet, but they are certainly beginning to happen - bet I won't be able to reproduce them next lesson!

I had increasingly improving run-throughs of the Dutch Waltz and Canasta Tango - not great, but they will pass with a shove. I'm hoping for a top-half finish at Oxford (class of 17 skaters!), but will settle for top 10, or top 15 if I have to. Anyway, if I skate as I did this morning, certainly towards the end of the session, I'll be well enough pleased with myself. I think - of course, I can't actually see myself skate, but it felt okay!

Managed some really fast backwards skating, too - one rather better-than-me skater did a lap of really, really fast back cross-rolls. I didn't think they were incredibly good back cross-rolls, but a lot faster than I've ever managed! Then she did some really fast back inside edges, so I decided to see how fast I could go on them, and surprised myself. And delighted myself by not being afraid, either!

Grim: Not a lot. My FO swing rolls can be a bit dire, I find, and were at the start of the session today, but they did improve. And my back cross-rolls were pretty awful - I find that if I try to lift my free leg as high as my coach wants me to, it doesn't improve the move any! It's more about swing than lift, right now. And I am probably still wide-stepping, I think.

Two of the coaches - at least, they are coach/pupil, but she's a trained coach too, if that makes sense - were working on the new high-level dance moves that may be brought in. Sooner them than me, is all I can say! She was reading them out, he was doing them.... no, not something I think I aspire to! There was one move where you were dancing round on your tip-toes, little toe-pick jumps, yikes! And earlier she'd been doing some move involving all sorts of turns - the kind of move where the one thing you mustn't do is push, but have to use your edges to maintain your speed & flow, just what I find hard!

Tomorrow will also be very quiet, and Husband will be in with me, so we should get some fairly solid work done, I hope. No solo lesson this week, though.

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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!

Worked on moves mostly today - coach is trying to teach me the interbronze field moves (UK) since I dont' need to do the prelim ones as my level 2 dance moves test counts the same.

great: I foot slaloms have improved. I can now do backwards on both right and left foot to a reasonable standard - the only one that is still giving me trouble is forwards on the right foot.

inside 3 , crossover, inside 3 (other foot) crossover. - this is actually not too bad and much better than the dreaded alternating outside 3's. It's nto that I have trouble with outside 3's - I like them - but having to keep my foot extended through the turns is making it difficult for me to get in the right place for the next one. I used to do these quite happily when I could put my free leg wherever I wanted but the way coach wants them, I cant' do.

My best move today was probably the change of edge RO to RI then LI to RO and the opposite on other side of rink. Still need to keep off the toepicks with this move but it's getting there and much better than when I tried doing these last year.


grim: mohawk/back 3 and repeat move. I dont like open mohawks at the best of times but trying to follow them with a controlled back 3 to be able to repeat it is dreadful. Improved slightly when I concentrated on checking the 3 turn but still will require a lot of work.

back cross rolls - I can do these but again not the way coach wants them i.e. without any sign of toepicking


in practice later I was pleased to find my 3 jump (waltz) - loop jump combo, was back and the loop on it's own was OK too. Tried a Flip and managed one but with no speed in or out I can't really count it.

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'

Great:

• Unusually empty for a Monday night!!! WOW!!! Even primary coach decided to stay for the session to practice!!! he was having fun... and most of us were having fun watching him. (Okay! He was staying for the next half hour b/c his check from me is in my wallet and the wallet is in the locker.)
• Jumps were a bit better. I did managed to land a couple of loops. (Am experimenting with a new arm position. Looks promising...)
• Moves were okay... still need to work on 5 step mohawk so FI mohawk isn't so hoppy at faster speeds -- NOT an easy thing to do...
• Sit spin is getting lower. Primary coach IS watching...

Grim:

• A certain little girl about 4-5 years old whose MOM is NOT telling the little girl to watch where she's going... and went right onto me from behind. No harm done! She was going plenty slow. I probably scared the poor girl when I physically stopped her. (Not that I wasn't guilty of this too. A very TALL skating coach did the same to me when I slowly backed right into him. He gave me a smiling but menacing look. ) And yes, this young lady and her mom has been warned by the ice guard (a very nice guy) to watch where she's going.
• I also managed a couple of loops landing on one foot... but most of those are more toe pick hops than a straight glide. GRRRRR!!!
• Flips and lutz were a hopeless cause after the very first one. (Which I landed on both...)
• Backspins were funky today... am trying hard to pull in but end up going on the inside edge as a result... (I think it's gonna be as frustrating as my trying for a scratch spin.... in fact, that's what I'm trying for... a back scratch!!! Probably easier just to get a back scratcher. I know. Har har... )

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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!!!

Grim

Death by toepick.

I was stepping out of back crosscuts at speed and I guess the weight was't in the right place and I did a classic toepick "toepick" (say with that voice) and since the ice was just cut I slid a long way too.

I was a little bit cautious after that and things are stiff and hurty now.

but

Great
I'm starting to learn a layback! I generally say my spins suck and they do, but having to think about doing something with my arms is letting my brain think all by itself on the spinning part. Strange and weird but skating is all that isn't it?

Grim - partner is having knee problems, so it's a solo lesson tonight.

Great - Program is fully choreographed!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Great:
My power threes are perfect on one side!

Grim:
Does anyone out there have your coach yell "STOP!" right after barely starting on a move?? My coach does this all the time and just when I think I've got the move down, there's something else to fix!!

Too many little Clueless Children and high level skaters to dodge and I had a few near misses!

BTW- this is for yesterday!!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Grim-- Coach couldn't make it because school work is more important than her skating student!(LOL)

Felt exahsted most of the time ( it's ramadan-no eating or drinking all day).
My inside spirals stank! So did my salchows.

Great-- My (almost) loops are still okay. Also my sit spins are getting opretty good. I attempted a camel (it didn't work!)

~kittie

Grim -

I'm still not sure what on earth is going on with my spins. Travelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!! (and then travel some more!) So because of this I didn't do much spinning.

When I went to go do jumps instead my lace broke and I almost broke my neck landing a waltz jump not realizing my boot was almost completely untied. I went down and was all, "what the heck??" I had enough lace left to keep going, but the skate kept coming untied. I did manage some REALLY nice loops though and a couple of passable flips. I attempted a couple lutz jumps but I was afraid of my skate coming undone again.

Great! -

I started the choreography for the christmas show and I have to say our little duet is SO cute. (I don't like to toot my own horn, but BEEP BEEP.) I FINALLY settled on music and I choreographed the bulk of it in like, 10 minutes. Then I took it on the ice and marked it - didn't want to get too into it with my skate issues. It SHOULD turn out really, really nice for my first skate choreography. I need to add some finishing touches and then teach it to my partner and then drill, drill, drill until December 3rd.

I brought my ipod for the first time today and it was SO nice having my OWN music to listen to. My own music inspired me to skate faster, harder, BETTER. Good stuff. I think I'll bring it EVERY time...I need to get one of those armbands though since I might not always have pockets.

Also, the skating director told me she had a friend who gave her like 30 or so practice dresses and I picked out about 10 plain ones that I tried on and fit me great - I could stand to lose a couple pounds though lol. But free skating apparel rocks.

I also picked up my application for USFSA. I can't believe this, I'm actually going to start testing. I think I'm going to document my whole progress in my journal so I'll keep you posted. It's scary and exciting at the same time

Grim: Practice was not meant to be: picked up the boy and found out his elastic thingy on his braces had broken, so we drove to the orthodontist only to find out today was their day in another town....so we went home and dealt with other issues....by the time I could call them their office was closed So, I stayed home and waxed laces (weird huh?), put them in the boots, then went to scouting.

Here's hoping my Salchow stays with me tomorrow night so I can show my coach! MikaWendy, you didn't borrow it yet did you?

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

Great: Forward spin has gotten very consistent (now I've probably just jinxed it), and I did a few good sideways leaning spins today. Need to work on getting more speed and revs, but it actually feels like a spin now, and coach says it looks MUCH better! Backspin on its own is improving. Waltz and sal still good. Worked on getting height on toe-loop, and not pre-rotating my shoulders. Did one REALLY nice one! Did some solid flips too, and lutzes improved today.

Grim: Loop has gotten pretty good on its own, but now it STINKS in combination! Front spin to back spin is non-existent. Got really tired towards the end of my session today, and could not physically do any more jumps. I've never really had that feeling before, where no matter how much I tried to convince my legs they could do "just one more," they wouldn't listen!

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

To be sure, no--mine's still wacky....

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Great - my sit spin is baaaackkk. Oh yeah! And I took a fall today! I'm one of those skaters who just never falls, and I think it's a bad thing, you stop yourself doing things that you know you will fall on (ie I will pop a jump midair instead of going for it and crashing). And it was a big-ol' slide across the ice number too. Just what I needed actually! Off the back of a loop, of all things.

Grim - back on the ice today after a month off with work hassles, bronchitis (I'm asthmatic) etc. Not a bad session given the break and my health, but still. Slow steps to recovery.

Both dance and free coaches have climbed repeatedly down my collar for getting too far back on my blades. Finally one of them said maybe the heels of the skates need building up. So I spent last evening (until about 11 pm) playing around with my boots. Thanks to Skate@Delaware's suggestion in another thread, I cut up an old mousepad into half-insoles (the back half), and put them into the boots underneath the regular insole and the orthotic. Then skated in them like that for the first time this morning.

Great - it worked brilliantly. I know this because (a) I felt scared silly I was going to pitch forward over my toepicks; and (b) the coach said so. Knee bend was better. I was in the middle of the blade. I was fast (well, for me) and quiet. He was happy. So was I. (Insert big grin smiley here.)

What was more, the back crossovers were still well off the toepick, fast and quiet. (Insert even bigger grin smiley here.) Because I used to sit so far back on the blade, hitting the toepick - forwards or backwards - has never been a problem, so I was worried that the heel lift would pitch me so far forward that I would suddenly start having problems I haven't had before.

Grim - I *really* felt like I was going to pitch forward over the picks. This will take some getting used to. Turns (3's, mohawks etc) are harder because I'm a bit rockier on the blade. Again, I hope this is just a matter of getting used to it.

Are you absolutely sure on that? Only, I was credited with Level 2 Dance Moves after passing Novice Dance moves, and was told that I wouldn't have to do Novice Field Moves but would have to do Prelim. So I think I'm going for level 3 Dance Moves, it's easier!

Great: And, what's more, is beginning to look possible! I did them better than I've ever done them, this morning. Wish I'd had a lesson to show my coach, what's the betting they'll have vanished again by next week?

Was also very pleased with my Canasta Tango, and decided only to do it once - did do my Dutch Waltz twice, though. And my plain vanilla backwards skating is way faster than it used to be, I'm rather pleased - plus I managed to get half-decent edges. And really fast anti-clockwise back crossovers - the clockwise ones were better than they used to be, but that's not saying much.

Oh, and I also had fun doing waltz 3s round the circle, seeing if I could manage just 4 of them round the hockey circle - which I could! Easily, anti-clockwise, and just a bit of a struggle clockwise.

With Husband we did a reasonably good Riverside Rhumba, and a good run-through of our free dance, then I spent most of the rest of his time coaching him! He could be so good in his solo dances, but it's the little things that let him down, all the time.... Not just timing, for the 14-step and Fiesta that isn't really a problem; it's more lack of pointed toes, sticking his bum out, and his forward swing rolls. He is quite capable of correcting all of these, I think......

Grim: Not a lot, except I have a sore knee, and sometimes it was a bit painful. Don't know what I've done to it, if anything - it sometimes gets a bit sore. It will pass..... I take enough glucosamine and cod-liver oil to sink a battleship, so it should!

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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!

[QUOTE=Mrs Redboots]Are you absolutely sure on that? Only, I was credited with Level 2 Dance Moves after passing Novice Dance moves, and was told that I wouldn't have to do Novice Field Moves but would have to do Prelim. So I think I'm going for level 3 Dance Moves, it's easier!


QUOTE]


I imagine the difference is that you were credited with level 2 dance moves from the old novice moves whereas I took the actual level 2 dance moves after the time they declared them to be comparable level for level with field moves. At least novice = level 1, prelim = level 2, but interbronze would I guess be = level 4. You're right it doesnt' make sense but I was told I didn't need to take the prelim field moves as level 2 dance was equal and the next field moves are interbronze.

What are the level 3 dance moves anyway?

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'

If you end up getting new skates, you could check on having the heel height adjusted, either by the skate manufacturer or by a cobbler (if there are any in your area). I'm glad it worked for you! You'll adjust in no time-wait till you spin! I'm going to add more to the front 'cause I'm still too far forward on mine (I hate heels and never wear them anywhere else) might have my next skates with less heel!

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

Great: Had a fun lesson last night. Worked on axels and doubles, did a tripple sal in the harness - gives my coach some excercise.

Grim: feet hurt! It's back to the skate shop to get the boots re-heated. I think they are too big. Grrrrrr.

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1 lap back cross-cuts; 1 lap back cross-rolls. First time ever today I actually managed to get through them! Maybe I will get them testable before the system changes.... if it ever does.

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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!

This is from yesterday

Great: I had a 4 double day! Everything up to double flip was nice and secure, even the dreaded double toe - I landed at least four nice solid ones and didn't miss one. I even made some progress on the double axel, I had lots of splats but one in particular felt really promising

Grim: Couldn't get the 2lutz to work at all. My 2lutz is sporadic at best and yesterday I couldn't even rotate it to backwards, it just didn't feel right at all. Annoying because I've been making some good progress on this lately and it has felt like it is on the verge on coming back. I so want a full set of doubles!

John

That's interesting as the cross cuts are on prelim field moves. I actually quite like doing them and reckon mine would pass OK. the back cross rolls are on interbronze test so I am practising them and while I can do them, I certainly can't do them the way coach wants (i.e no toepicking as you put the back foot down). Doing them is OK but trying to do them properly is scary! Think I'll go back to practising the back cross cuts too in case I end up having to do level 3 dance or taking prelim FM's.

no lesson today other than group dance which was fine - did a Canasta Tango I quite enjoyed for a change (normally I hate that dance!).

Played with bunny hops,drag,bunny hop, drag combos

Fell doing nothing much but luckily didnt hurt myself. Flip not cooperating, loop awol again!

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'

Freestyle practice this morning. Most of my half an hour lesson was dedicated to finding a footwork sequence that works for me in the program. I'm kind of slow at learning footwork, but we got settled on a relatively nice sequence. It's probably a tad easy, but it's what I can do right now. Perhaps I can add to it later.

As of right now, it's 2 waltz 3s followed by a double inside 3 into a swing rocker. From there, I change direction and crossover into my second lutz.

So that's the great, even though it wasn't really great, but I am excited to get the entire program planned. Now I just have to do it, many many times.

My coach said about the cross-rolls is that the foot movement is exactly the same as for outside Mohawks (Foxtrot Mohawk, if you know what I mean), so you can practice the one to improve the other, and vice versa! The other thing that helps is to think of pointing your heels at the opposite barrier. Mine are not the way my coach wants yet, either, as I widestep, but everybody does that!

So do I - why am I doing it at Oxford?

We haven't skated yet today, but since I last posted I've been looking for free skating music for the Husband, and we have decided to enter our club's "Hop Step and Jump" competition! It's just three elements, done separately - a cherry flip (toe loop), forward spiral and upright spin. I can't do the upright spin very well, but so what?

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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!

For my private coach session last night:
Grim: Sit-spins are still not low enough (no news there!); backspins still not there..., need more "oomph" on my waltz-I can do it, why am I holding back?

Great: Salchow stuck around to show coach-she was happy! Scratch spins were good, although I bailed out of the first one because it didn't feel right (but when I looked at the tracing-it was centered! ), coach was happy that I'm improving on them-they are mucho better. Did some LFO spirals and surprised coach cause I went all the way around the center of the rink on my edge...then we added the RFI (not my best side) and that was ok (just wobbly). Toe-loop is getting there. Started on the loop.

Homework: Add speed to the jumps; add "oomph" to waltz (anyone got some to spare?); try to roll off toe-picks more (please!); work on spirals, backspins, sits, mohawks. Try to raise leg a bit higher on scratch spin (weak hip flexors don't help...)

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

Great
I worked on spins this morning. Of course everything worked fine when my coach was there. Loops can attest to this as we have the same coach. It always works fine when he's watching us. I worked on a sit spin with my arms behind my back. Loops was trying to help me Monday with this. I've got it now. There's a trick to it. You definitely go really fast doing it. I also worked on camel, flying camel, the layback (which came back...it's related to the axel I believe), and backspin. However, the most fun was working on the flying sit, which I haven't done since last year. My coach says it will all but eliminate the flying camel because of the point value associated with it. They were actually really good. Loops if Nick hasn't told you the arm secret yet, let me know and I will fill you in. It was like a completely different spin. We also worked on this flex/hyperextend thing with your leg on jumps. It's amazing how a tiny thing can change a jump completely.

Axels were back from their vacation on Monday night. Let's hope they stay.

Grim
Monday nights disasterous skating episode. I popped two lutzes....I haven't done that since I was like 10 or 11. Hopefully, since I had my skates sharpened for the first time in a year and a half everything will remain the way it did this morning.

Hee hee, I have a different experience with our coach, skatergirl. Very often I CANNOT do a camel spin in front of him. I tell him that the poor camel is scared of him. We've done the hyperextend your right leg thing on jumps too; well, he's TRIED to get me to do it. I cooperate occasionally.

Did the arm thing on the flying sit involve your left arm and sweeping it across before pulling it back for the takeoff?

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I need a detachable left foot!