I came up with this theme in honor of the Major League Baseball Game to be held tomorrow night in Pittsburgh! "Riding the Pine" is a saying in baseball for not playing.

Starting Lineup:
Back crossover to back extension :Coach says that I'm making better effort at holding the edges.
Back power perimeter crossover is the most improved move!

Riding the Pine:
I'm on vacation this week, so my lesson was first thing this morning. Yes, I can read doctor's handwriting and enter orders at 6:50 am, but spins simply do not happen.
Did my freeskate for the first time in months, heck this runthrough should be sent back to the minor leagues on the DL list!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Starting Line Up:
Completed all my elements in my program (freestyle and artistic) run throughs on sunday, none were perfect but at least I didnt wipe out on them!

I gained a further insight into the beilmann position and managed a just barely passable but I think its a noticeably beilmann spin (with only two rounds but.. there will be more coming!)

Riding the Pine:
Double toeloop and double loop took vacation.... (toeloop seems to be on a long one ...)

After practising camel-layback-backsit so much... my camel-sit-backsit has deteloriated... especailly the camel-sit part. This is horrifying, I have to remember to practise that spin combination as well so not to lose it!

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~
Tidesong

starting lineup

Jumps working today and even surprised myself (and coach) by landing a flip/loop combo Wonder if I'll ever manage that again!! Wasn't great by any means but at least I know it's possible now!

Coach tried to introduce some really tricky footwork (including something from inter-silver field moves - 3 levels above my level). Looked great when he demonstrated it but it'll be a long while before I can make it look anything like his. Fun to try though.

riding the pine:
backspin - will I ever get this? - I'm beginning to doubt it!
rink crowded as a neighbouring rink got struck by lightening and will be out of action for several months.

Which one????? I haven't heard anything of this - was anybody hurt?

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

Swindon!!!! Apparently they lost their power which resulted in loss of ice and now they are going to do a total re-fit.....or so we were told this morning.

I'm finally getting into town in the morning, Annabel, so will be putting Rob's fleece in the post, just in case you thought I'd forgotten!

Nicki

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www.myspace.com/insatiableskater

Starting Lineup: FLIP-JUMP, FLIP-JUMP, FLIP-JUMP..... I landed a flip-jump last night- it hardly left the ice and if you blinked you missed it, but it was fully rotated and not two footed!!!!

Last night was an awesome freeskate session. I got four revolutions in my back spin, three revolutions in my camel, and I added two new steps to my straightline footwork sequence. Oh and did I mention - I landed my flip-jump!

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

Hey Raye, congratulations on the Flip! That jump is my current nemesis - I think I have got it and then it just vanishes. It feels great when it lands though.

Starting lineup

Double salchows. Why are these better than axels? I feel I can control double salchows. Axels have a mind of their own. I think I even managed one fully rotated to backwards on one foot. I usually get them on one foot but often with a cheat on landing.

Even landed it in my programme despite almost jumping on another teacher and having to jump on the very wet patch of ice. Maybe thats what made me land it - fear of getting very very wet!

I did a whole lap of double threes bronze field moves style. Ok the right back inside double 3s and right forward inside double 3s weren't fantastic but I didn't put my free foot down! Yay

Managed 2 loops (the field move kind not the jump) but only 2 and I have no idea how I did it.

Learnt the quickstep......which was fun....... ish........

Riding the pine

Learnt the quickstep and realised previous instructions from old coach were completely wrong. Very depressing to constantly find that I have 4 million bad habits dance-wise. My dance coach couldn't quite find the fake enthusiasm to say it was good when I attempted my poor version of the breakout in the quickstep. I just laughed when I saw his expression. It was as if he didn't know where to begin with the corrections. But he made me feel a bit better when he reminded me it was a very hard dance. But then wouldn't skate it with me - made me do it solo (probably wise - I may have killed him - he must have feared for his life) The change of edge after the crossroll is HARD

Couldn't remember how I managed to do the 2 good loops so I spent a lot of time wiggling in a circle trying to get the feeling of it back!

Flying camel has run away due to lack of practice

Starting Lineup:
Bronze moves looked good on lesson today- even the power threes!!
Managed a sitspin that sat.

Riding the Pine:
As sitspin will not show up for primary coach, the backscratch will not happen with secondary coach. Jumps sucked today- but this were done after a MIF heavy lesson!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

YAAAAY!!! CONGRATS!!! You go, Raye!!! You GO, GIRL!!!

Starting Lineup: Saw a friend from RSSIR. He has business around my neck of the woods and occasionally shows up at my rink. He's doing better on those 3turns!!! I'm happy to see him and his 3turns. (Those of you who are still lurking on RSSIR know who I'm talking about.)

Also, I did make some progress on the RFI mohawks in terms of how I was supposed to adjust my arms/shoulders/chest. It's better so far, but we'll see what happens tomorrow during my lesson.

Riding the Pine: Pretty much what I was doing last night, since the rink was just WAAAAY too crowd to skate!!! (Okay, I practiced the RFI mohawks... and my backspins were there... and I landed a clean loop though the landing was quite shaky, but otherwise...)

My energy is not quite there last night! DOH!!!

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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!!!

Raye - -Way to go!
Kateskate: I like double sals better because I can go into them faster!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Starting Lineup Even though I am still working on the basics, my new summer coach is GREAT and was showing me ways to dress up my basics for my Intro. Interp. next spring. Backward skating is coming along better every day.

Riding the Pine Still only 45 minute sessions this week.

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

Haven't been on RSSIR in a long while as most internet providers have dropped newsgroups 'round here and I haven't been into the University in a while to log on. Send my congrats to you know who.

Starting Line up:

There's ice back in town. I have figured out my music for next year. My freeskate coach is answering my phone calls again. I ran into dance guy in the mall, and he said Hi. This is good, because we were fighting like old marrieds about nothing and had to take a break.

Riding the Pine:

I have to work so can't skate the daytime sessions and there wasn't enough interest for early mornings. Grrrrr! Might have to call in sick (cough cough) but with my luck I'd fall and break something and have to explain THAT!

Actually I can't skate at all, I was a dumb blonde (yes I am one) at the beach and didn't put sunscreen on all my pale parts so I've sunburned my feet. It would be agony to put skate on at the moment and am sneaking through work wearing sandals (very forbidden).

....I've been reading dance patterns and do the European quite nicely in the stock room.......

Riding the Pine:
DH and I drove an hour last Fri to skate on what is usually a not too crowded public session. Got there to find the parking lot waaaay too empty. Public session had been cancelled . I did get to pick up two paychecks, though, for groups I had taught the previous month.

Starting Lineup:
I'm going to a public session tomorrow at an area rink I've never been to before. I expect it may be full of day camp kids, in which case I will find a little corner to practice 3-turns, FI Mohawks, and spins. I must have ice now!

Bright Idea Department:
Since I don't have a coach, and haven't had one for over a year, maybe now is the time to hire a personal trainer for at least a month and get myself started on getting into much better shape all over. I know someone that I think I will call. Will have to put off starting until I come back from camping on 8/6, but it will be something to look forward to.

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Starting Line Up:
I've refocused on practising my flying camel again and the change edge came back for a short while. The beilmann spin is progressing as well as the back sit with variations. I've attempted successfully the "dream" combination spin I want to do at competitions but its at a very low success rate at the moment though and includes the bielmann hence why I am only starting to attempt it now because I only just got my bielmann spin on sunday...

And believe it or not... I forgot to practise camel-sit specifically but I did try camel-sit - manyother things so its still cool.

Suddenly I feel like I'm taking on too much at once though

Double salchow is in a wierd area... its no longer (for the last month or two now...) in the I dont believe I can land this jump but I'll keep trying and then maybe I'll land one or two zone now.
Now its in the I believe I can land this jump and one of these few attempts I can land one. And it ranges from 30% all the way to 80% at any given day.
But its still good... I'll take 30% over 10% anyday.

Riding the Pine:
All the spinning has taken over the other doubles time...
I started falling on the back of my blade for double loop (usually these get the most painful falls) so I decided not to try it again until my lesson.

Generic News:
I've gotten the schedule for Skate Asia... I have competitors in every event (yay) and the number ranges from 1 to 5 (i think) so it will be interesting at least. I am the oldest for most of the events in my group though

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~
Tidesong

Thanks - I've just PMed you, as we were afraid it had got lost in the post! Thank you so much.

Poor Swindon - hmmm, I know one or two skaters from there, and skated there myself the first British Adult Championships.

Raye - magic! Many congratulations on your flip! I remember texting round my friends with joy when I passed my driving test last Christmas, and someone texted me back that they'd landed their flip - much more special, if you ask me!

As for me, today, there were dance tests which I went to watch - very senior judge indeed today! Wished I'd had something ready to test, but there you are, I don't.

However, tiny glimmer of hope in my back cross-cuts today! Two of them, just two, were on edges and passable! So I'm hoping that I'm in the "Darkest hour being just before dawn" syndrome, and a fortnight's steady work while the coaches are on holiday will lead to a breakthrough, the way you sometimes get them. Hope so, anyway.

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

Starting lineup:
did some good axels and double salchows. worked on my proram and landed all three axels with the music on

Riding the pine:
on my double salchows i fell on every one of them. i would get all the way around and then fall.very annoying
~Cutie

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Skating is suppose to be fun , no PRESSURE at all

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

Starting Lineup:

First two moves on the Bronze Moves test was good! She was particularly happy to see extensions on the perimeter forward crossovers and the speed on the perimeter back crossovers.

Riding the Pine:
The extension on the forward crossovers came after a horrible time with the 5 step mohawk. She didn't have as much trouble with the FI mohawks now as she was concentrating more on the EXTENSION on the move. She got me to do my extension more consistently after she told me that one of the skaters was watching me do my 5 step mohawks and she pointed out that the only extension she saw was on the 5th step. DOH!!! (Of course, my evil coach didn't tell me that it was one of her teenager student 'til the very end. I thought it was WeirFan06 !!!)

And speaking on WeirFan06... evil secondary coach then had me and her go race around the rink two laps as fast as we both can go to see who's going faster. I overheard evil secondary coach warn WeirFan06 beforehand that she better get her butt moving b/c she saw some seriously fast edges coming from me. Was quite surprised that I managed to beat WeirFan06 this time (by a 1/4 length of the rink!!! HOLY COW!!! )

As I told another skater at the end, "That was fun! Let's NOT do that again!!!" (WeirFan06, I am retiring from speed skating from here!!!)

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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!!!

Sorry you didn't get to skate, that's a real bummer! That's a wonderful idea to get a trainer, though!!! I've been working out at the gym because my skating sessions are few and far between (managing about 2-4 a month which is just enough to get the feel of the ice....) but can tell the difference on my jumps (they feel more solid anywho).

Good Luck with your summer training!!!

Also, does anyone have good stretches/exercises for a very tight hamstring/inner thigh?????

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

Riding The Pine After suffering from food poisoning all night I was weak and groggy today and everything was down the tubes. Worked on forward edges, some backwards, and some forward one foot slalom but not really expecting any progress. On a day like today, just not falling behind is good.

(edited)
Oh yea, I forgot:

Starting Lineup Yesterday was my birthday so I just HAD to skate on my birthday for the firt time ever!

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

Starting Lineup:

First private lesson yesterday, woohoo!! Since my abilities are scattered all over the basic 8 spectrum (USFSA) we're going through element by element to see what I can do and what I can't do. Forward crossovers, check. Forward inside mohawks, both ways, check. Outside 3-turns, check (with a little work). Forward consecutive inside & outside edges, check.

Oh, and got my very first impromptu dance lesson yesterday--Jim (aka rink guy about town, husband of my coach) goes around partnering the various women at the rink during the public skate, at the womens' various levels. So now I know what Kilian, reverse Kilian, foxtrot, and waltz holds are. For whatever it's worth--I don't have much interest in dance. Fun, though--haven't been "real" ballroom dancing in years.

Riding the Pine:

FORWARD PIVOT. A total and complete dud. Hopefully with a little work and the tips from the coach I will get somewhere, but I end up either (1) stuck with the toepick in and my other leg behind in T position, going nowhere quickly or (2) I start the rotation and freeleg gets farther and farther away from toepick and ick. pppppppphhhhhhhhhhhhhbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbttttttttt. We'll get there, though. (If I can do waltz jumps both ways--and I can--I sure as heck am not going to let this stupid pivot triumph over me.)

Riding the Pine: We don't look good in waltz hold, and I'm not quite sure why not. We spent a long time working on our exercises, dancing a Dutch Waltz and a Fiesta Tango when the music came on. Fiesta not perfect yet. Nor is Dutch Waltz, come to that, but it's a lot nearer perfection!

Why is it we can't go backwards fast? "I can," says Husband, but doesn't. And we don't get anywhere near the speed in waltz hold that we are capable of attaining in Kilian hold going forwards. We did manage to go backwards in Kilian hold, too, but not very well. Oh well, plod on, plod on. Still no real progress on my dance moves, either, and awful grindy toe-picky noises! I can get quite good back edges when stroking with Husband, though.

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

Riding the pine:
We are learning the swing dance and I'm to scared to do the back mohawk at speed.

Starting line up: My knee is getting better. I did my first ever one foot spin today and my coach reckons it looks better than my two foot spins. Yay.

I was scheduled to teach privates during that time. Haven't been able to reach the students/parents to reschedule yet. BTW, they added an early hour onto the Friday evening public, but the website hasn't been updated yet. (Website says 8:30pm, but it really starts at 7:30pm) THere'll only be regulars there - I'm going to check it out; maybe I can move my privates to that session.

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I hear you---I did a local competition last Friday & for some unknown reason on the start lists they had the skaters AGES listed too......I was far & away the oldest competitor in the entire weekend competition (38)--next oldest was a senior man at 21, then it went down to a few 18's & then on down from there. Now, why did they do that??