Spinning:
I GOT BACKSPINS TODAY!!!, Real ones! With circles, no twizzle marks!!!! LOL! I did it 5 times in a row. My coach told me what I was supposed to with my upper body, and it all clicked. I had to do it several times to really know I was doing it! I was ready to scream and jump all over the place! Still am...kinda. Did it a few times bring my free leg and cross it over. Did them each 5+ revs. I can't believe I can do it now.

Sit spins were awesome today.

Splat: Literally, splat, caught the back of my blade during a layback spin I was working on and landed on my rear. It was funny at the time, but not so much tonight. My left part of the rear is sore tonight.

Again, backspin, baby!!!! Axles here I come!

After all the skating I did today, I feel TOTALLY SPLAT! I hit the freestyle session, then taught LTS and our Academy which is advanced LTS.

Spinning: Because everyone seems to be at sectionals, the rink was fairly empty! I was able to go through my complete moves routine twice as well as run through an old competition routine (even though I forgot some of it it still went well and I ended on time).

Splat: Caught the heel of my blade on one of the 3-turns and almost went down. It torqued me and I could feel my back spasming up.....I had to really stretch it out before I felt "even" again. My muscles are really giving me fits lately!

Worked on some toe-loop combinations and tried really hard keeping my arms out...man that is going to take some doing!

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

My coach does these with me sometimes, backward, and it is lots of fun. He will use them as a treat sometimes. For me, CCW backward is scary because I don't twist my upper body as much that direction.

dance2sk8 and RachelSk8ter-- When I first got on the ice after recovering from my ankle break it was painful for me, too. Especially backward crossovers, because of the flex in the ankle that's needed. But it was good therapy and improved my range of motion. Hang in there, it will get better, frustrating though it is in the moment. I can't remember your specific injuries, but it can take a long time to get back to 100%. My ankle is about 98% back, but it's been 3 years. Still it continues to improve, so that's encouraging.

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August 22, back on the ice!

Hi dance2sk8

How long does it take you to get the 5+ revolution in your backspin? I just learnt it about 3 months ago, and still am getting through the frustration that cannot do more than 1 revolution at the moment.

londonicechamp

I just got it yesterday, the back spin (i've never done it before, other than on accident in the past, maybe twice?), and I just focus I continuing to keep my shoulders turned towards the circle I am making, leaning my weight on my foot (for me thinking baby toe helped), and finding that sweet spot on the blade. Its taken several months to figure a backspin out for me. But yesterday, it just happened! I just kept focused. I kept doing it over and over (5 times total, I think) and then I started bringing my hips more forward, that would speed up the spin a little, and then bring my free leg in. Keeping my back straighter also seemed to change things.

I am probably not explaining this very well. I know I have to get video. Its been on my mind more to get some videos up of me skating.

Thanks This just blows. I'm going to try roller skating tonight at roller derby practice. I initially thought that getting back on ice skates would be easiest since the boots have ankles support, but I almost wonder if rollers will be better since they don't come up around my ankle bone. I have a brace to wear under my skate on the bad ankle. I went and got new wheels yesterday that are narrower and will be better for my agility, since I've wanted them for a while and I figured it would be a good time to get used to them.

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

Spinning:

I GOT MY NEW SKATES!! I've needed them for a long time, and they have been ready to go since July, but waited to switch the blades over until I tested, so I skated in them for the first time tonight...

Splat:

I GOT MY NEW SKATES!! I spent tonight stroking, doing moves (lots of cross strokes and the 8-step mohawk), and was able to jump up to and including the lutz and did all my junior moves except the choctaws. Did lots and lots of waltz jumps. Tried at the end of the session to do a waltz back spin but because I don't take off right (I tend to skid), I was afraid I would break something, so I held off on those.

My plan was to have my lesson with coach on Thursday (nope, she got stuck at work), switch my skates this weekend (obvious) and then skate a lot and have my lesson with coach the week after Thanksgiving and be all good to go. The problem now is that coach had mentioned trying to get a lesson in this week sometime.

By the end of the night, they were starting to feel more comfortable and like "my" skates. Now I just need them to soften up that little bit...

I will say that I was getting some wonderful edges in my new skates though

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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

Hi dance2sk8

Wow, that is so cool. You get your backspin straight away!!!!!!!!

I am still working on the speed part now. My coach said that I need to work on my speed part, before even thinking about getting past the 1 revolution. My problem is that my body tends to lean too far backwards.

And yes, you should put your video up sometime.

londonicechamp

This is for last night, I was very tired and drained when I got home so I didn't feel like posting. There was some drama at the rink and the rink moms were out for blood.

Spinning: That pretty much sums it up! Most of the lesson was spent on spins....Scratch went from blah to zing with some repetitive pointers from coach. "Go back into your circle" which works like a charm when I actually do it. Sit spin-managed to actually hit a 3-revolution sit (coach said not to worry about the "sit" part yet...it will come. Backspins were great, added the 2nd push and really put that one out!

Splat: me and the loop! It's an security issue for me and my non-pointing toes! Although I can get all the way around, I could get more airtime if I actually launched off my toes and landed back onto them. I know this, she knows this, you all know this. My brain knows this but refuses! Oh well, one day it will happen!

All in all, a great session, drama not-withstanding.

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

Have you tried really bending down in the knee on your backspin until it centers? It's hard to lean backwards when you are in that position. See if that helps.

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

Yes, that is great advice. Press the ball of your blade into the ice, stay completely level and pretend you are going into a reverse sitspin, drawing a half circle on the ice with your blade.
Once you have completed that half circle, turn your skating hip in to face your free leg, keeping your free leg really tight and the free side hip completely closed so that the leg is right in front of you. This is something I wish my coach had harped on a lot earlier because I have open hips and did not realize my free leg was opening out as I turned into the spin. That made me lean back and away from the free leg.

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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

Spinning: Got a few more back spins in today. I even did a back sit spin! (couldn't sit all the way down due to my ankle, but still, I felt how its supposed to be).

Had a few good camels, both open (arrow?) position and standard, with a back catch.

My jumps were back to their NORMAL height again! I felt so much joy. I jump nice and high. Hopefully this will help me once I start working on doubles or my axle.

Sit spins keep getting lower. I am also focusing on keeping my free leg up and straight.

Coach was really happy with how I did my program today. Lots of speed and being consistent. Woohoo!!! I didn't think I did that great because I kept having to dodge little kids. But she was happy with what I was doing.

Splat: Not much of a splat other than rushing my camel spin entry every once in a while and twizzling a few times on my back spin.

I think this is why it's important to work on pivots...altho I did not realize it until later and had that "aha" moment!

I'm still thinking about the drama that happened on Sunday. I might as well vent because it still bothers me-I had asked some of the younger girls to scootch off to the side for a minute so I could do my pattern without interruption (they were standing around giggling where I needed to do a transition). They did and never said anything to me. End of things-so I thought. When I got off the ice, mom #1 & #2 lit into me like you would not believe and accused me of all sorts of things! One accused me of swearing at her daughter and threatening her in addition to swearing at her a few days ago at my home rink!!!! I didn't even have a chance to respond other than to say, "What????" totally dumbfounded as they stomped off. (later I thought-if someone had been swearing at MY kids, I sure would not wait days later to confront that person, KWIM?)

I was really frosted about this and I know I should not let this bother me but it does. As one of the few (and sometimes ONLY) adults on the ice, I do feel responsible for looking out for the kids. When they fall, I'm usually the only one that makes sure they are ok (especially at my home rink). The moms sit in the lobby, not rinkside (although they are allowed).

I don't know if they will make trouble or let it end there. This is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me. I know they were being protective but I feel they went way overboard and I feel assaulted. Ugh! My instinct is to give them wide berth, not say anymore to them or their girls and keep to my own skating.

I'd appreciate any advice.

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

Thanks for the tips on this. It did seem to make a difference when I would bend my knee, a lot easier to find where I needed to be, even though I was still having some slight difficulties compared to Saturday. But I kept working on them.

No offense to skating moms, and I know a lot of them that are super nice, but then you have your select few that are just complete poodles with their noses way up in the air and think they are better than everyone else. Also, they are the ones I want to beat down because they yell and scream at their kids for not completing a double axle during practice and shame them when you can tell they are working really hard. Basically, living their lives through their kids. NOT the way to do things and a great way for your kids to resent you in life down the road.

However, getting back to the situation you speak of, keep your distance for now, or possible approach the director and discuss the situation with them and let them know what happened in case those women approach them or provide a written complaint. Not sure if you belong to the club you were at.

Those are good suggestions, this is at a county run community center rink-not a club just open freestyle sessions so there are only money-takers and cleaning staff when we are there-no management or director. I get along with all of the other mom's not sure about these women..... Their girls are on this rink's synchro team but don't do anything beyond that (other than chase each other on the ice and giggle during freestyle session).

I will just keep about my own business for a while and see how things go. I will be skating there next Sunday then not for two weeks (coach is away and so I will have no reason to go there). This is just bugging...and I have finals coming up (and my mom has been sick again, grrrrr! why do things happen all at once?)

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

Could the mothers actually hear you from where they were sitting at the time? I wonder if the girls might have exaggerated to their mothers and told them you had sworn at them, knowing it would get a rise out of them?

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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

There was no way the mother's could have heard me, they were sitting in the lobby of the rink which is separated by a temporary wall (there isn't even a window overlooking the rink at this point). I'm sure the girls might have said "that skater lady told us to get out of the way" or something like that, neglecting to mention that it was only for a minute while I did my pattern. I don't personally know these girls, as I only see them on Sunday so I cannot vouch for their behavior or honesty.

Not 30 minutes after I had asked them to scootch, another skater asked me to yield a section so she could do her pattern. I didn't have to-I was in a lesson-but I did. No big deal for me, I yielded and when she passed, that section was free again. No interference, no frustration, all handled between two skaters sharing the ice.

it's all give and take and you GET what you GIVE.

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

I think mostly likely this was the case and that why they went all mama bear. Sorry you had to deal with that. I'd just advoid them if possible.

We have lots of rink drama here lately. It sucks. Apparently, one of the coaches went off about me last night. I am normally there on Monday nights, but my DD hurt her knee in her competition this past weekend so is off ice this week. This coach read the test schedule for today's test on her blackberry wrong. We have multiple rinks. I put all the home club skaters on their normal practice rink and all the guests on another. She thought it was the other way around and went off on a tirade about what a terrible test chair I was. This was in front of other parents (who told me about it today) and skaters. Totally unprofessional. Then this morning she sent me a very nice note about what a good job I'm doing. Very weird and too much drama.

Splat: First lesson in 3 weeks, & it ended up being on a public with all the kids out of school. So, yeah, no fast skating today and certainly no Paso patterns!

Spinning: HOWEVER, since we couldn't really work on anything else I talked my coach into working with me on the partnering for the Tango Romantica!! Such fun--and I did much better than the last time I managed to talk him into it, which was probably a good 4 months ago. We never did get through a whole pattern, but did get through pretty big chunks & did all the pieces. Of course, we're just slowly 'walking' through it, but it makes me feel like such a real skater!!

Also--despite not having seen my Paso for like a month, coach gave me permission to send in my test form, so Jan. 11, do or die, I *will* be skating that dance to music! It's good--I need a deadline to motivate me.

I've skipped the public session for the last two Sundays. I know, bad! Just had other stuff I wanted to do. I'll go back next week.

Last class went okay.

Splat:
I felt sort "inept" to start out. Maybe because I hadn't skated in a week! But got better later. Still can't spin. Coach tried to show me and even took my arm and gave me a spin but I still ground to a stop on my toe picks. GRR!!

Oh, and splat *literally*--fell backwards (but luckily didn't hit my head). Didn't give myself a headache either, though every time I fall backwards my bun loosens up and later my hair is falling down!

Some edges still skidding, which is unnerving on jump landings! Didn't get a chance to ask coach at class, but emailed her later to ask what I might be doing wrong. First thing she wants to do is look at my skates.

Spinning:
Fell/landed not-prettily on a few waltz jumps, BUT I know it's because I'm getting more gutsy and trying to jump higher/further, so I'm okay with that. Plus it didn't hurt And I think sometimes I can feel the "quick and light" thing that coach is trying to impress on us. Need to have her look at my waltzes and give me pointers.

CW salchow is still okay. not great, but I haven't regressed. Also started work on toe loop.

Rink buddy (RB) D. says she is impressed that I picked up jumping so quickly for someone who hasn't skated before. I still think I'm pretty dismal, but I'll go with it! I told her it makes up for me not being able to spin, lol. RB S. says that as she cant stop spinning once she starts, some day we'll do an ice show routine and she can spin in the center and I'll do jumps in a circle around her, lol.


After not finding a chance to get to the "school" rink for like a month, I think I may give up on going there. For one, the time this year is more inconvenient--instead of 3:00-4:00 like last year, it's now 3:30-4:30, which means I get back to work just in time to pack up and leave. I don't want to get in trouble for something like that. I doubt I would since my boss is cool, but still. For two, this year it seems to be more crowded, which sort of negates my reasons for liking it, though last year I only started skating there in the spring--maybe it starts out busy in the fall and thins out. And for three, there is a part of me that is afraid that I'll be skating there one day and get hurt (you know, the famous three-turn broken ankle or whatever) and then what? I mean, I work 30 miles from home. Granted, my partner works in that town too so it'd actually be easier than if I got hurt at my home rink while he's at work, but still. I dunno. Still thinking about it, but...

Spinning Appropriate as most of my lesson and practice focused on spinning. Worked on sit spin...especially closing the gap between the legs. Was able to do that but spin is not low. Coach didn't care. Coach showed me a good arm position on the back spin. OMGosh. That worked so great. We even moved on to the camel spin. Working on the snap and getting it to all come together. Got only 1 rev for the coach, but she was happy that. She wanted me to work on camel-backspin after my lesson. I could get up to 2 revs on the camel and very nice centered backspin for about 3-4 revs. It is soooo much easier to do the backspin part when you are already spinning. Did one toe loop before the end of my lesson. Coach was happy with the position and I'm getting less waltz toes and more toe loops.

Splat My blades totally suck and are shot. I'm going to drive an hour away to a shop that is very well known here as being "the" place to get figure skates. They stock lots of brands of boots, blades, and sizes. Hopefully, I will come home with some new skates.

Are you no longer attending DSC LTS class on Saturdays? I haven't seen you there in several weeks.

This is for last night:
Spinning: worked a little bit on sit-spins, they weren't as good as on Sunday but I'll take them. Also worked on backspins and scratch which were good.

Splat: did some run-throughs of an old program, and it was nice (just skipped a ballet jump in it). Fairly empty session meant no fighting over the music box, although when I did put my music on the skating director (who was coaching my friend, another adult) did look up to notice. He never said anything to me (as he should not)...repetitive playing of show music is ok, but I needed to work on my routine.

Double-splat: Can you BELIEVE IT??? We are once again without a RINK manager! Word is neither he nor the fair board saw eye-to-eye....which has been happening to ALL the recent hires. Not sure if it's because of the "good ole' boy" mentality of the farmer-boys on the fair board or because they just need to hire business people instead of skating people.....sheesh!

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

Splat: I was tired today-hot flashes kept me up and down most of the night. Meant to get to the rink earlier for extra skating time, BUT my son had a friend over and since my husband was working.....I couldn't leave right away. I had a discussion with my boy about making sure I was the one he cleared these things with from now on!!! My 5pm freestyle is taken up with a show number practice, so I don't get much extra practice time; I also had a bad headache from the weather....and was cold ...this weather is icky.

Spinning: we worked on our show number (there are 4 of us ladies and one man plus a girl who plays scrooge). We ROCKED this number! It has some awesome parts: a line where the ladies on the end hit a spiral and let go while still spiraling; and a 4-person pinwheel in which we all peel away into a 2-foot spin. There's more but it's so much better because we are essentially the only ones out on the ice during this number!

During the lesson portion of tonight, we worked on "stuff" and the coach gave me a different thing to try on the salchow-after I jump, hit more of a backspin position before checking out into my landing position....I did a few and found myself over-rotated and had to really check hard. He thinks I could have a double if I work hard at it and asked if I have been doing any off-ice jumps. I said I have been hitting the off-ice axel. He wants me to keep doing them and backspins off-ice and go for height and quickness. Yeah!!! It was a good lesson.

My rink is holding a Winter Break Skating Camp, December 27-31. 8am-4pm with skating, off-ice jumping, lunch etc for all ages. I am not sure if I can do it, the ladies and I are waiting to see if we can do one day on a "drop-in" basis. I don't think I can do 4 days-I don't want to die!

Now it's off to study microbiology...I have a quiz on Monday, a lab test next Wednesday then an exam followed by the final.....

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