First time starting a practice thread!

Running edge:
-Prevented a potential meltdown. I started off by popping my first few axels. Instead of getting flustered and frustrated, I said, "I am NOT starting the week like this" and proceeded to land my jumps.
-Quick rocker choctaws are improving, as are Int power 3s.
-Did some perfectly quiet, solid FO brackets. No scraping of the blade, no toe scratches.
-Jumps were bigger than ever today

Scratchy Landing:
-still can't manage to get rid of the wrap on my landings. My air position is fine DURING the jump, but as I go to land, the foot comes up and I wrap as I check out.
-Joining the bracket-3-bracket hate club. Finally tried it full speed today. Bracket-3-SPLAT. Pretty epic fall, but didn't hurt too badly.

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Youtube Videos

Scratchy Landing: coach has torn apart my forward outside edge rolls entirely, I'm now struggling to do this correctly. This is something I thought I did great. It's good he's being picky, I like it, really. le sigh.

Running Edge - worked on sit spins in practice, really concentrating on things from my notes. Got one pretty good one, I feel like I can bring this up to scratch if I just concentrate steadily instead of practicing mindlessly.

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It's all about the dress!

Running Edges Had lesson with my coach today. She liked my scratch spin. She scratched an A+ in the ice. She's pretty tough so I felt like that was an accomplishment. She is happy with the progress on 5 Step Mohawk pattern.

Scratchy Landing Loop jump - I only mangaged to do 3-4 with the foot in front the whole time. Flip was just not happening. I feel sad about this, because it used to be my fav jump when I was younger.

Power 3's - I told coach about how no matter what I try I flub the 1st right 3. She started breaking it down for me and realized that my blade placement may be off on the left foot. In a way, it's a relief that there may be something wrong with the blade. In another way, I'm nervous about getting it moved and having the problem be me after all

Scratchy Landing

I have come down with man flu (an orindary cold to those who don't know!) so have not ventured out on the ice this week at all until my nose stops streaming and head stops hurting

Ant

If it's only the very first RFO three that's bothering you, it doesn't make sense to me that it's the blade. More likely where your weight is or your timing. Are you stepping wide when you push forward? That can do it.

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Skated for the first time since about a week.

Scratchy Landing:
-Kept falling on back sit, something that was in hand. No falls for combo with backsit.
-Lots of stupid falls, as if I just changed my blades! I think I'm still not very used to them!
-I lost my feeling for axels.
-Taped ankle was fine, but the tape made my foot sticky

Running Edge:
-Everything felt much more effortless. I credit that to cheer training and doing push ups and crunches on my own! I could do 3-bracket-3 with so much ease and take my own sweet time!
-Sit spin was pretty low and I tried grabbing the free foot while its straight (not sure what it's called).

Not a satisfying skate since I was not into it.

Running Edge

My axel was perfect from the new setup I'm using in my program! Yay!

Scratchy Landing

My actual program run-through from Sunday looked AWFUL when I finally got up the courage to watch the video last night. I didn't have the strength/stamina to get all the way down on my sitspins or make it through my final jump and spin, and the overall impression was sloppy, choreographically blah. . . and sloooww. Sigh. With this new program, you'd think I'd never skated before in my life.

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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

Very productive session yesterday. My regular coach is on vacation so I had my second lesson with Venerable Coach, a wonderful lady who's probably forgotten more than most coaches ever learn. I can't whine about being old, either, because she's older and way more active than I am.

Running edges: spins!!! The sit sat, the backspin rotated, and the scratch centered, seemingly without any effort on my part. There are issues with head and hands positions but VC was pleased (and so was I.) Jumps are actually getting some lift back. Surprisingly, my least favorite jump (of the ones I can do now), the loop, was the neatest of the lot. As for the dances, the issue there is that my edges are TOO strong, so it throws the pattern off. But I'm remembering the steps most of the time now.

Scratchy landings: too much scratching! I haven't learned to deal with the height I'm getting on the easier jumps now and all the landings sound horrible. And the Canasta "needs a tango attitude." VC says my slide chasse needs major work as well, especially if I'm testing in the fall. *sigh* Who would have thought that knee bend comes from the ankle?

Running Edge - I went and watched a test session this morning. It was exciting and loads of fun. There were even a couple of adult tests - one pre-bronze moves and freeskate, and a silver freeskate. There was also a novice freedance that was a joy to watch. I'm going to have to chear on the home team at regionals - which is actually nearby this year. I think I'm going to go watch at least the last couple days in person, maybe even volunteer.

Scratchy Landing - after the test session there was a camp session so I had to sit around for an hour and a half before I could skate. I worked hard for 50 min, but don't know that I really made much progress, too many things on my mind and the session was much more crowded than I hoped.

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It's all about the dress!

I tried it again yesterday and tonight. I think it was a combo of dull skates and mental. I'm not stepping wide....more like hesitating when I get to the first 3 from the entry steps. I got my skates sharpened this morning. It seemed to help some - even though I fell on the 2nd 3.


Tuesday

Running EdgeCoach agreed to give me an extra lesson since she was coming in to supervise LTS after the open freestyle. Spent lots of time on Moves. Got really good BW Power Cross-over pattern and the BW Alternating pattern. She tweaked the entry of my FW Power Cross-over pattern. Landed 3 loop jumps in front of her with the foot in front. Landed 1 flip with the foot in front.

Had group lesson and group coach was happy with salchow, toe-loop(made her look to see if my toe was behind and it was!), waltz-toe loop, and backspin.

Scratch LandingMany loops and flips with 2 footed landings or foot to the side or aborted/spun out.

Change foot spin was 50/50.

Wednesday

Scratchy Landing Was extremely tired tonight so felt a little off-balance...especially on the backspin. Also distracted by DD working with a potential new dance coach. Fell during my Power 3 pattern. Not hard. Sat there for a moment trying to figure out how to get up without putting pressure on left knee and managed to do it.

Running EdgeAll my stand-bys worked well - salchow, waltz, waltz-toe, toe-loop, and scratch spin. Sit spin was 5 revs and centered(needs more sit though).

Running Edge
-Passed Int moves (but I already gave myself a whole thread to be happy about that)
-Worked on the push into spins in camp today. We did an exercise, then I was the first one to do a sit spin from a regular entrance. It had to be the BEST sit spin I've ever done. I must have held it for close to 30 revs, and I only came up because my legs were already so tired from testing. It didn't seem to lose ANY speed. It was centered on a dime, quiet, straight back, just felt absolutely spectacular.
-Counters felt really solid.
-Everyone who tested today passed! I was the only moves test, then an adult skater passed her prelim free, a Pre-Juv free passed, two Juvenile frees and a Novice. The test session just had a very positive vibe to it--everyone was in a good mood (not just because they passed, I mean going on to the ice too).

Scratchy Landing
-Worked on choctaws. Gah I don't know how I'll EVER be able to get those good enough for the junior test. I have very closed hips exacerbated by hip problems. That will DEFINITELY be my problem move. But somehow I doubt I'm the only skater in the history of moves in the field tests to have closed hips and hip problems, so I suppose with lots of work, it'll be possible to get them to passing standard.

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Youtube Videos

Scratchy Landing
After very tiring, emotional few days, I fronted for my early lesson exhausted and with a bit of a hangover. Still, I worked very hard (my head was giving off steam again) and squeezed every last bit of wisdom from the lesson.

Running Edge
Backspins are definitely coming, finally! Coach described the first part of them from inside edge entry as 'professional', which coming from her was high praise. Still rocking back on the blade from a standing start . I wasn't able to replicate the scratch spins from Sunday, but coach was pleased with the improvement anyway.

Important thing I learned today was to get my upper body & posture set prior to entry for spins or jumps, rather than going into it and somehow trying to get it all aligned once I go into the element. Duh!

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

Welcome to my world. This is the only thing on the test right now for me that is downright bad (I could use a tad more power and speed on the other diagonal pattern, but the turns are clean and the rhythm is consistent and I tested on a test session at an adult competition, I'd pass). It is possible to get them down good with closed hips, they're just a heck of a lot harder and you have to think more about maintaining your turnout. Really working your shoulders and looking down ice through your turns helps. There is a judge here who is traditionally VERY tough on tests, but she refuses to fail someone on choctaws that are less than perfect because of hip turnout. Truthfully, choctaws are not that hard for someone at this level. Someone without turnout can do a huge, beautiful choctaw, it's just the way this pattern is set up with 2 consecutive ones that makes it harder for these people to do.

Running Edge: Jumps (except axel, which I didn't work on) were awesome yesterday! Focusing on knee bend and actually using my R arm is giving me more height and power. I also think roller derby has helped strengthen my ankles (derby skates are short like speed ice skates) and that's giving the jumps a little extra boost. Timing on my lutz was good yesterday. Starting to play with arms (arms over the head, etc) a little more.

Layback, back camel were good. Did a few ok flying camels.

Did a program run-thru (first one in over 2 weeks since I was in a skating funk and then went on vacation), it was ok. Did all my spins, couldn't do 2 jumps because of people in my way. Didn't fill out the rink as much as I'd like, but you'll have that with a new program and by the end of the season I'll be running out of room. Thinking of testing my pre-juv free on August 15 just as a way to get a performance under my belt before Peach. I'll have to water the jumps and spins down a little but that's ok.

Also did 2 really good patterns of the Blues. I am taking a break from dance other than the 2 silver solo dances being competed this year, and can't remember the last time I did the Blues (AN social dance maybe?). Felt good.

Junior moves--only did the rockers, they were good. I'll have to run the full test and work on the diagonal patterns tomorrow (yuck).

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

I finnaly got around to making some videos. I hope this works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thgWIU4b-uI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InQNSwKcmak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV1hNHTgQsY

Your links worked Kander! Nice axels - lovely delay on the first one especially! (I'm jealous - even though as a dancer I don't aspire to have an axel, I can still wish...)

running - lots of moves practice for prebronze, started looking at the bronze moves. sitspin improving

scratchy - by the time I get around to jumping, I'm tired. I get through the easy ones, then flip and lutz are clumsy because I'm pooped. Got to do them in the other order.

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It's all about the dress!

Kander-Those axels are GORGEOUS! You're doing everything right--awesome height, distance, air position, really just a beautiful jump

Running Edge
-Ok. So bracket-3-bracket is MUCH easier when you actually follow the pattern lol. I was starting RFO. When I looked at the book and realized it starts RFI, the whole pattern was easier. Not amazing, that's for sure, but much less scary and much smoother.
-I'm starting to feel the rhythm on the quick rocker choctaws and rolling 3s. Also getting more confident doing the outside swing rocker at speed.
-Sit spins continued to feel amazing today. SO much faster than they've ever been.

Scratchy Landing
-Rolling 3s are still a little too bouncy, but now I can at least feel where it goes wrong and gets bouncy and WHY it gets bouncy.
-Was absolutely exhausted today. I kept trying to jump and my body just went, "Mmm, no." I did a few axels and double sals, but left it at that.

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Youtube Videos

Thanks! It took me several years to "unlearn" the way I originally did it. The moral of the story is to do it right the first time! At least it proves an old geezer is capable of making progress, however slowly.

Scratchy Landing
Have strained/pulled a muscle in my left leg, probably coming out of a sit spin. Really hard to do anything that requires a bent knee, just standing up after sitting in a chair is painful.

Coach is away now for a while, not exactly sure of the dates, but she has show commitments so lessons will be patchy over the next 3 months.

Running Edge
Today I did some really good backspins. Scratchspins weren't bad, a couple of okay camels too. Toe-loops were good and I did one excelllent (for me) salchow. I really struggle with salchows, so this was good. Loops weren't too good but not too bad either. Flips hurt too much.

Scratchy Landing
not sure whether I'll skate tomorrow because of the leg pain. I hate getting injured, such a nuisance interrupting my progress. Still, if I can't skate, no point pushing myself.

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

I found that moving my jumps to the beginning (right after my warmup) made more sense and I had more energy...spins don't seem to require as much and if I'm slightly tired spinning I don't hunch my shoulders as much (which is a good thing).

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

Running Edge: I've been taking my own advice lately & working on power by skating fast into whatever moves element I'm working on, & just seeing how far through it I get at that speed. And if you have to bail, you bail & then try it again. I've been surprised how it really works, & each time I get a little further, so eventually the whole move is put back together, but at higher power!

Also been working on Starlight, especially the 3-turn end section, and actually did it in time w/ music yesterday for the first time. Again, it seems the way to do it is put the music on, and just try again & again and see how far you can get.

Scratchy Landing: Had to cancel my lesson this week, because I stupidly procrastinated in going to the bank, which resulted in a bounced check, which resulted in me not having enough to pay for my lesson after the bank took their fees for my stupidity!

runing and keeping running!
Had a really nice practice today with partner. We had the opportunity to skate with a high level pair and observe quite a bit. it was also realy nice to have Mika and Debie on the ice!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Scratchy Landing or Running Edge?
Following on from the strained muscles yesterday, I didn't skate this morning. For the first Sunday morning in a long time, I slept late!

I spent the day doing things like sorting out my skating practise clothes and my fabric cupboard. The fabric cupboard gets messy when I'm making dresses, so it occasionally needs sorting before I get stuck into my next sewing frenzy.

Much as I love skating, it was nice to have a quiet day at home for once.

The leg isn't too bad today, so I could've skated, but probably best to let it have a day off.

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

running elder daughter came with me to public session, she tootled around while I ran moves and jumps

scratchy - complete lack of rink guards meant she got scared by a couple of big teens who were whipping around at high speed and low care. I complained at the desk, but nobody got sent in.

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It's all about the dress!

[Running Edge]
Had an awesome lesson with temporary coach (regular coach had her baby!!! yay!!!)....and before my lesson I did some absolutely HUGE, feet crossed, clean (minus the whole landing on the toe thing) axels....temp coach thinks that I am right on track to pass my Juv test soon...we worked on the foot work in my program and some arms....and then....

[Scratchy Landing]
I was doing a part of my program where I go from my layback, CW crossovers, into a LFO rocker, into CCW back crossovers into my axel....well, somehow I "stopped" while doing the rocker (probably caught an edge), put my RIGHT foot down and twisted that ankle (I can walk on it and everything, the outside of it is just a little sore when I try to rotate it too far...it should be fine by tomorrow - I'm going to ice it tonight with my trusty ice pack which is usually used for butt cheeks), and fell....and in all of that, somehow created a 7-8" cut on the back of my LEFT thigh...it is only superficial and stopped bleeding within a few minutes, I am very lucky it didn't need stitches...came home and put the humungo bandages (and neosporen) on it and it took 2! I swear...that took some talent!! I am fully expecting things to be fine by Tuesday since this is relatively minor....I told my mom and she laughed (after making sure I wasn't really hurt)...but, her test was...did you pop out your hip? did you have to have your jaw wired shut? No? Then you are doing good (when I skated as a kid we knew many skaters who had both of those happen as well as other surgery requiring injuries).

So, the sad part was......I was pissed because this happened at the end of the first session I skated on, which meant that I couldn't skate the rest of the sessions....that is REALLY sad....

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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