I don't know if we would be able to see Jazzpants if she lost any weight. She's trim and fit, and I wish I could say the same about myself! I gained 8 pounds right before the holidays but have now lost 4 of them. I think glucosamine might have been stimulating my compulsive eating

I've been a chicken about setting goals for myself, but now that I'm taking lessons again, my coach is pushing me to do so.

Most of my progress has been in coaching. I attended the annual PSA conference in May and learned a lot there. I've also been able to increase my coaching hours significantly this season. I can say with confidence that I'm very good with beginners, both children and adults. I would love to teach MIF though, but three turns are holding me back. I know how to teach them, but do lousy demos.

On the positive side, I now have decent enough B power pulls that they are fun, and sometimes get power on the F pulls also. My coach is forcing me to clean up my FI Mohawks, and they are cleaning up! I've gotten off the wall on the FI threes but still don't have the nerve to do the FI alt three pattern. I'm going to get it this season!!! I also have to master the prelim power threes, which have been driving me crazy with the good side switching every other week. I'm also starting to work on B threes again. I lost my one foot spin last summer, and then my two foot spin followed, but now the two foot is very strong and I'm going to bring the one foot back starting this week. My goal for it this year is to become confident at it, including the windup and step in. The major problem with my spins is that I had become a wet noodle in the middle. I want to start doing crunches every day, and I think that will help a lot with the threes also.

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Hey don't feel bad! I found my used Klingbeils on eBay - spent a total of $40 or so including shipping, and they're actually quite nice (painful to break-in, but they skate well - much better than the old crappy skates I had that I spent just as much on, and better than rental skates). I just spent a lot on a new set, but as many here have told me, a great pair of skates doesn't have to cost a lot. In fact, the Klingbeils are actually starting to conform to my feet enough that I'm considering just shelving the new skates I bought when they come in until I pass a certain accomplishment (like obtaining FS1).

My skating goals for 2005:
- Not giving up, keeping up with the 5 public sessions a week I've been doing.
- Refine refine refine...work on proper arm and body position, more graceful moves, better edge control...
- Stretch every day, increase flexibility a lot.
- Lessons! Get a private coach starting in late February after my public lessons run out.
- Pass FS1.
- Learn to spin on one foot!!
- Pass FS2.

My goals in 2004 were to test Novice moves, work on getting good axel technique (kick through) and work on CCW spins that I'm not good at like layback, flying camel, back sit.

I definitely accomplished them, and came within a hair of passing Novice moves (dammit!) as I had one pass, and one fail that was only by .2. My axel isn't as good as I'd like but is much better. Layback improved like 200% but flying camel is still rather hideous and back sit is embarassing.

My goals for 2005 are to get my axel clean and keep working on the kick through, land double sal and work on double toe, and pass my Novice moves. And the big one, keep losing weight!

I lost about 15lbs over the course of 2004. It definitely helped my skating. I also really killed myself working on moves - for over a month, I skated 5 days a week and did the entire test, start to finish, in order, after a short warm-up. That totally paid off too, because I was able to skate the entire test without a mistake. I was winded after the first two moves, but the stamina training worked because in the past I'd make mistakes on the other moves due to my tiredness. It was a great to experience cause and effect, even if I failed!

I've never heard of that side-effect of glucosamine! It doesn't have it on me....

As for Jazzpants, I know she's trim and fit - but I gather she wasn't always like that, so she tells me.

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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!

My goal at the beginning of last year was just to be able to seriously skate again (having been diagonosed with knee damage). After spending a month or so just working on simple stuff, I was able to ease back into things.

Learned Blues/Paso for the WFSC Pro-Am and survived the appropriate number of patterns (although I did manage to forget part of the back breakout on the Paso, and did a touch-down cheat on the entry into the Blues choctaw).

Had a comment in passing about the quality of my basic skating that hit home, so came back after Pro-Am and told my coach that I wanted to be able to do my dances solo to the music (or at least very close to the proper timing) with good-sized patterns. So we spent all summer working on strengthening my basic skating and power, and re-started working on Tango near the end of the summer.

In September I started working with a 2nd coach focusing solely on core basics (mostly 3-turns). After much frustration, I'm now getting much improved technique into my turns and a much improved check coming out, on the FO3s... the other week we added the FI3s since the lady's RFI3 in the Tango has always been an "Oh--My--Gracious."

The outcome of all this is that I now have a much better understanding of using the fore/aft pressuring on the blade and even more so, a better understanding of where my free side is as I work on dance steps.

Still a long way to go..... so that I don't look like a chubby middle-aged woman being pushed around by my younger fit male coach...

Where can you find a description of the tests online? I'd love to start practicing for the FS1 test during my "refining period".

I'm totally not trying to put you off, but wouldn't it be more sensible to work on the beta/gamma/delta test elements first?

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

OK, here's my list:

Accomplishments:
* I'm skating with much more power and speed (well, for me, anyway)
* I have a reliable LFO3 and RFI mohawk (and this one's at speed in my Synchro program, yay!) My RFO3 and inside 3's are oh-so-close. My LFI mohawk is there, but nowhere near comfortable.
* My BO and BI edges would pass ISI Freestyle 1 test, but I think they need mucho work to be really comfortable. But they're getting better.
* I competed for the first time with my Synchro team and actually did all of the footwork A-OK in competition.
* I've gone from a weak skater on my team to a valuable member. I'm not afraid of the speed any more and enjoy trusting myself that no matter what happens, my feet can still stay underneath me.
* I love my powerskating class and the stroking and edgework we do in there. My forward cross rolls are deep and smooth, yay!
* I can do a 3 or 4 revolution one foot spin and am working on an entrance.
* My forward and backward crossovers are much deeper and faster, yay!

My goals for the new year:
* Skate well with my Synchro team at Forsty Bldes in February.
* Continue improving power, strength, and knee bend
* Have a healthy and happy baby (due July 3).
* Return to skating sometime this fall!!!

2004 was a good year for my skating. I finally landed an axel at 2 competitions and learned how to do a Y-spin, cannonball sit, and a catchfoot layback. I also got new skates (custom Klingbeils), which are feeling great after a couple of problems- the big bruise around my bunion has disappeared, whew! Well, since I recently turned 31, it's time to think about getting preggers, so I might not be skating anymore at the end of this year (much to my coach's chagrin). My goals for 2005 are to have a decent flying camel and a consistent axel, as usual. And maybe a double salchow.

2004 was definitely an up-and-down year for me.

On the upside:
I passed gold moves on the third try.
Started pairs lessons with NoVa, and found that pairs is both easier and harder than it looks.
Landed my (ugly) axel in all of my spring competitions.
Went to the adult camp in Hackensack.
Got new boots and blades in the spring.

On the downside:
My singles skating slid backward for a while, as I spent pretty much the whole summer working on MITF and pairs.
My axel got much less consistent when my coach decided it was time to rework it with better technique. Now it's much better technically, but unfortunately I two-foot it most of the time at the moment.

For 2005, my goals are:
Singles:
Skate a program I'm proud of at nationals
Regain consistency in my axel
More speed into jumps

Pairs:
Skate a program we're proud of at nationals
Learn another throw or two
More speed and flow

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Where are those knives when I need them?
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I need a detachable left foot!

What? I don't see "Get a better pair partner" on your list.

__________________
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

I don't even see "Get a different pair partner" on her list!

Oops, that's really what I meant. Can't get worse than me anyway.
One of these days, I will learn how to do proper crossovers!!!

__________________
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

Hmmm, sounds like something to work on tonight.

__________________
Where are those knives when I need them?
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I need a detachable left foot!

Hmmm. This year's been pretty frustrating at times, and there's been some great times.

Competed in my 10th adult nationals and received my 9th AN medal.
Competed in the Washington New Year's event and had a great time and two golds.

Competed at the Hallowween classic and had a wonderful time and medals. Really blew the spin event and was last, and rightfully so!

Elected VP of our club

Was able to sub in group lessons with the tots, had a great time.
Made great progress with double salchow - until the new boots and blades attacked my feet.

Saw a friend's novice short program and loved it - learned it (finished it last night) and replaced the doubles/tripples with singles. Decided to give it a try as a silver program, and am adapting it for the silver requirements - adding a jump and spin.

Have painted a few more costumes, and am starting on the next one!

Choreographed a friend's adult program and a tot's program, had two sussessful shows.

Unfortunately still no partner, but had the opportunity to help a few other pairs, including the well known Loops/Nova team, which was great fun!

Are you kidding me--skate ... tonight? I can barely move my shoulder/arm! And I'm on high doses of painkillers and sedatives (Tylenol PM has now become Tylenol AM ), so I won't be my usual bubbly self (oh, right; that's a good thing).
So what time--8PM?

__________________
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

Did you try the exercises I sent you yesterday? I'll see you 8ish.

__________________
Where are those knives when I need them?
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I need a detachable left foot!

Yup. I've gone from 60-lb weights to ... 2.5 lb weights! How embarrassing.

And no weightlifting for me this (whole?) month means you're gonna have a more svelte partner.
So this would NOT be a good time to up your ice cream/chocolate intake.

But we are *not* gonna hold back tonight. I don't want us sliding backward from what we learned last Fri. morning. Just no loop lifts, 'K?

__________________
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

Uh-oh.

__________________
Where are those knives when I need them?
----------------------------------
I need a detachable left foot!

Haha. As long as we keep a large weight differential, I don't care what and how much you eat.
[Heck, for putting up with me and my imbalances, you deserve all the chocolate in the world! ]

__________________
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

I've lurked long enough, am a bit tired from work today, so I'll post my 2004 in review.

Things started off well with double gold at the New Year Invitational, including a win in the Masters FS event (I skated up from Gold level).

It sorta went down from there though, as I was one spot away from qualifying for Championship Gold at sectionals. Also I finished 2nd in my open event at AN. At both these events, had two judges given me 0.1 more, I would have placed one precious rank higher.

After some lackluster training in the summer, I was able to close out the year with some positive highlights, but not ones I would have expected. At the Halloween classic, I was floored when I was awarded my FS medal by Don Jackson, and my team medal by Liz Manley. Big ups to IceWorks SC for that!

In December, I was a dancer in GMCW's production of "A Pink Nutcracker: Men in Tights". How does this relate to skating? Well, I did some Russian split leaps at the end of the Chinese dance; a number of fellow chorus members complimented me about those leaps and were a little surprised about it. I have to credit the skating training for the ability to do those leaps well and for having the fitness level to get through the dances in general.

Also in December, I was featured in a skating article, with quite a few quotes and a nice picture from the 2003 New Year Invitational:
http://www.dallasvoice.com/articles/...rticle_ID=5469

Finally, a picture of me doing a spiral was used on the promotional poster for the 2005 New Year Invitational.

Now if I can just transfer this off-ice positive energy onto the ice for 2005, I'll be happy...

2004 Goals from last year's thread:Goals:

1. To improve the consistancy of my axel.
2. To finally land some doubles...not cheated.
3. Pass my Gold FS test.
4. To continue improving my speed, edges & flow.
5. Intermediate MIF??

What I actually accomplished this year:

1. I did see some improvement with my consistancy, not where I want it to be, but definitely better.

2. No doubles. I think I'm getting closer lately, but a couple of minor injuries over the summer & fall kept me from making any real progress.

3. YAY! Passed in May. Gulp, now I have to compete at this level...with no doubles.

4. No progress made here, didn't skate enough. Spent my time working on axels and doubles.

5. Haven't worked on MIF since I passed my Gold test. Need to add this one back this year...will help on #4.

I won another gold medal at AN in the Interp event and was asked to skate this program in the exibition. Definitely the highlight of my skating career!

Not on my list but one of my significant accomplishments in 2004, I ran a Marathon in under 4 hours! I started running to control my weight and help my stamina for skating and got carried away. I lost 15 pounds from running and it made a huge difference in my skating. I've maintained this weight loss for over 2 years now.

2005 Goals:

1. Land a Double jump. I sound like a broken record!

2. Survive competing at the Gold level this year.

3. Have fun and enjoy skating without concern for competition placements.

4. Skate more than I did last year and finding the time to focus on basic skating skills again.

5. New spin combinations, positions.

That's it!

PattyP

Don't worry about the doubles - I didn't have any this last year either, and was ok. You'll be just fine - especially if your basic skating is good.

I've learned that bad things happen when you obsess about doubles.

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"The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary." -- Vidal Sasson

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." -- Unknown

Skating in 2004 had it's ups and downs. I passed my Intermediate Moves in the Field, which I was very happy about and learned all the Novice Moves. I was making good progress on them, but I had to stop skating for a bit.

The New Years Invitational went well last year, despite issues with the audio at Ashburn. Once the situation was resolved, I had skated half my program already and the judges wanted me to continue from where the music had stopped because of the sound system. After consulting with my coach, I informed the judges that while I would be more than happy to do this, I had just finished learning my program a week or two prior and that I had no idea where anything was in relation to my program. While they were fine with this the music began as I was still speaking to them. I then proceeded to make up my program. I won in the end as well as the spin competition.

Hackensack was my FAVORITE skating adventure of the year. I was on a role with my double loop landing it non-stop and even the STUPID axel more consistently. However, once I left NJ and came back to VA, I think I left my good skating behind.

The Halloween competition was more than a tad depressing, but I'm over it now. I was two months pregnant at that point, so I was tired and not skating enough to make it all work well.

I can't wait until June to be skating again and hopefully get my Novice Moves back again and test...get my silly axel to be my friend, and work on the double loop again...my happy jump.

Happy New Years!

While I didn't know this in Philly, congratulations!!!!
So, that makes two forum posters starting the journey to parenthood!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"