Pass
Turns out I can still do my axel and 2sal with arm variations! I used to do my axel tano style all the time before i quit skating, and never really tried once i came back (i figured it would throw me off too much). But today I decided first to try 2sal with my hands on my hips, then got brave and did a tano style 2sal, then decided "heck, i'll give it a try on the axel" I did both just fine!

i only tried one 2loop2loop, but it was great! I was prepared to do one, but when I cam out of the 1st double loop, my coach yelled "OUT!" (because I'll fall even when I have a jump landed). That startled me as I wasn't in a lesson or anything, so I fell.

Jumps continue to get bigger. Double sals were huge. Only did a couple 2toes, but got compliments. 2loop is pretty big. It covers a decent amount of ice, and I know it's high.

Didn't do too many spins (cant do forward camels bc of a pulled hip flexor, can't do forward sits OR back camels after about 15 minutes on the ice bc of my leg), but the ones I did do were nice. It's amazing what properly sharpened blades will do for your spins! I didn't even realized how messed up my old blades were until I used good ones.

Retry
Leg is pretty sore. The outside of my shin gets pretty stiff after like 15 mins on the ice, and then the nerve pain kicks in too.

2flips were off today. I didn't try too many bc I was hoping to have a lesson, but had to leave before I could get one.

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Youtube Videos

Pass: hm, maybe silver moves? I dunno ... worked on them again today in my lesson and I'm pretty thrilled with the 8-step. It has issues that can be fixed by practicing over and over. The cross rolls are not passable now but may be, and the back ones (don't have test sheet next to me, back cross rolls??) are actually pretty good. Got my skates sharpened so the power pulls were better. Backspins were good now that I have edges again! Anyway, I'm now very eager to test and pass silver moves, so I can get that done and then work on freestyle at a more competitive level, potentially to compete in silver at AN 2009. (I always set these crazy goals). Silver moves are tough but at least seem much more fun than the pre-bronze and bronze moves were.

Retry: I really don't know when or if I'll get that RBI 3 turn to passing standard. My sit spins for some reason have gone on vacation - I literally couldn't do one at all again today (doesn't bode well for my above-stated goal). Didn't jump today.

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Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

Retry:
Could not spin to save my life. My middle was simply jello today, as it was yesterday too! Fortunately, my coach knows when we should just move on. No use in getting demoralized! Began lesson with tremendous problem on FI threes. Just could not do them yesterday and seemed off balance today. Did not even attempt any B threes. No time, and no nerve.

Pass:
FO threes on the line are much better, skating them faster. Coach fixed up my FI threes. I wasn't getting forward on the blade enough. As an exercise, I'm just holding the FI edge until the turn happens (my idea, coach approved.)
B power pulls were smokin'. Coach asked about F and B cross strokes, which I do for fun. Did the F, and was asked to slow them down, which was a piece of cake. (I've been doing Mrs Redboots' exercise of doing them to an increasing tempo.) There were a bunch of troublesome hockey boys (10 yr old's party), so did the B cross strokes with coach watching my back. Got nice comments on them, and no corrections. Why can I do a Juv move so well, but cannot pass Prelim????

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because the prelim moves are stupid.
sorry. i hate those moves. i can do all the moves for the tests through intermediate, and i still hate the prelim 3 turns and spirals most. pre-juv 3's, no problem, juv and intermediate double 3s, love em. but i hate the preliminary ones. i can do them, but they piss me off lol

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Youtube Videos

Pass: My coach and I started on my prejuv test program. I'm testing it at the end of June!

Retry: Footwork sucks. In general, and in particular. There's a reason I hate moves, and it's strongly connected to why I hate footwork. Also, there are several "bangs" in the music my coach picked from the ones she had cut (I don't really need my "own" music for a test...) that I can not manage to hit on time.

Pass: I'm well on my way to testing through prejuv and ISI FS6! Hopefully, My coach won't make me do juv moves, but we'll just have to see...

Retry
I am so tired ! Had Friday off, went skating that night to an evening session I don't usually go to. So tired today, though I again went skating this morning, and worked hard again, followed by another 2 hours with Aussie Skate tests, as I'm training to be a judge.

My program is not where I need it to be. The competition is a week from today.
Just once, I'd like to have my program completely finalised at least 2 weeks out from the comp and spend the last 2 weeks polishing it.
The 1st half choreographed, and the 2nd half, well, I know what elements I'm doing & basically where, but not exactly how I am getting to each of them.

On Firday I completely remade my competition dress, and ended up hating it as much as the first time. What made me think I'd like it better 2nd time around? Now I start again. Plus I rather foolishly offered to make a dress for another skater. So I know what I'll be doing with any 'free' time this week.

Just so tired and not feeling like any of it is going as well as I want it to be at this stage.

Pass
Most of my elements are still working, which they aren't usually at this stage. Coach says change sit needs to be lower especially the back sit. Lutz is kicking, was doing lutz/loops today and backspins are unusually good at the moment.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

Pass or Retry? I don't know .....

I started skating in January of 2006 and have been skating 12 months of the year ever since. I said I would "hang up my skates" and take a break after my first Adult Championships in March 2007 - didn't happen. Then I was supposed to take a break after the Championships this year (April 2008) and before summer School in July - didn't happen either (... yea, I know I am addicted!) Now I just found out our morning ice has been extended from the end of May until the end of June (... you know what I am thinking )

Coach says NO, take a month off .... but ..... but .... but ....

(Will she or won't she?)

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

If you really must, try a week off. I'm not sure what the point of a month off is, if you're not feeling tired/bored/whatever of skating.... I'd do the opposite - if ice was hard to find for a month I'd call it a month off. But if ice is available???? No way.

ITA! Don't you know there are poor skaters across the country who want to practice but can't because they don't even have any ice? (Hopefully, this argument will work better than "Think of all the starving children in Africa," which is what my mom used to tell me when I didn't finish my dinner. )

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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

pass most of my doubles were good today
retry double flips were really bad!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1hT6KJsCHw - from today's practice

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RIGHT! Therefore it would be immoral to let this ice go to waste, especially since it will be nearly deserted! (Makes sense to me!)

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

Count me as another who says not more than a week! As an adult, I've found some skills just disappear in a month. Sometimes two weeks off have been good for me, other times not. I don't chance more than a week now, unless I have absolutely no choice.

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Pass
Jumps were decent today. Did a few good double sal double loop combos. We were messing around, trying to do 2sal+2loop+2toe+1/2half loop+2flip. It was hard lol.

Sit spins were good. I couldn't do too many of my spins bc my left hip flexor is still messed up, which makes forward camels (and L spirals) hurt and after my leg problem flares up (about 10 mins into the session) I can't do forward sits or back camels. But the ones I did do were good!

Off-ice was really good. We worked on star-star-butterflies, and I was the only one who could do the timing for the butterfly. We started by using a bench, then as soon as the bench was taken away, no one could do them anymore. My coach said that mine should be really pretty on the ice.

Retry
I'm exhausted. I think the weeks of living on caffeine, provigil (prescription medication to help with chronic daytime sleepiness), adrenaline and 4 hours of sleep has finally caught up with me. Now that exams are done I am totally wiped. I mean, I had to pause halfway up the stairs because I was tired. So this weekend will be dedicated to sleep.

2loops were a little wonky today. I think bc my hip was sore I was just having a hard time getting my leg out to land. The jumps were nice and big and the rotation was good, I just kept sitting down on the landings.

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Youtube Videos

ROFLOL

Taught better than I skated today, but had a good time goofing around a bit with my students.

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The story of my life .

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Pass: Coach2 was pleased with most of our free dance.

Retry: She wants me to take the bracket out. I have worked on it too much for that... yes I know it doesn't always work, but.....

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

Pass:
Finally, a skate that left me in a good mood! I'd been waiting for one all month

Did a runthrough of the test - everything's fine except my CW back crossovers...but I should be able to sort them once I remember to keep my weight in the right place. Got the paperwork too, so I just need to fill it in, send it off, and we're good to go .

NISA membership came this week...that put me in a good mood too, I felt very official

And I started learning a step sequence . I love step sequences, I always think they're amazing to watch.

Rusty Blades: ONE WEEK!!! NO MORE, NO LESS!!! (I personally didn't really take a break but only b/c I like the ice so much! However, I didn't push myself too much...)

Okay, I should post my lesson notes with primary coach from Thursday...

Today is spin day!!!

Pass:
Okay, I should be able to sit lower, but the one I did with my primary coach was low enough and it easily spun 4-5 revs. in position. He said "Ummm... I'll take that!!!" (Then he said that was a really good sit spin!!!)

Well, what d'ya know??!?! I did managed to eek out some sorry ### slow but legit baby BI3's on both feet today!!! If I keep at it and keep it, the next step is to put it to the half circle test and if that passes, I'll put it on the Silver/preJuv Moves pattern!

RETRY:
Sad part of the BI3's... it was AFTER lesson that I attempted these!!! *sigh*

The Schaffer push on the back cross-stroke is still NON-EXISTENT!!!

Camel STILL sucks.... though the last one was probably my best attempt and wasn't too bad.

Scratch spin: Can't seemed to close the gap between my legs when I pull down...

Can't seem to do the transition from sit spin to back sit spin well. Spun around a 1/2 rev and went straight to the inside edge and stops spinning!

Am trying to do this fun spin where I'm doing a one foot spin with the leg out and I'm supposed to fold the leg over and hold the foot with my hand. (Any name for this spin? Is it a catch foot???)

And with this thread closing... I'll end my post by wishing Terri C good luck on her Bronze FS test on Wed. Good luck vibes should be sent to her around 12:00-12:15pm EDT (9:00-9:15 PDT)!!!

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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!!!

Pass: Had one of my best skates ever on saturday! Everything was spot on, especially the reconstructed axels and all the spins. I was feeling my blades under me really well. Went skating again today and my legs wouldn't let me do anything, although I managed quite a few good axels. I splatted a lot, but only because the jump was so big and I was too tired to handle the landing.

Retry: OK, so I'm talking to this cute girl after the session on saturday wishing her good luck with her show skate and telling her how good she looks. She leaves and I go into the bathroom and look in a mirror. There is a long streak of lugee all over my chin. I want to die.

Pass: I got to skate! I drove to Columbus to do a morning freestyle session at Chiller North. I arrived for the opening at 9 a.m. and it was very empty (Mother's day may have played a part). By the end of the 2.5 hour session, I had almost everything back.

Still Passing: Mustered a nice combo spin (for me), starting with a back scratch, to a forward sit, then back to a back scratch. Back spins are my nemisis, but I managed at least 3 or 4 revs with both these. What a blast!

Retry: It took the first hour to feel at home on the ice again, and I managed a face plant within the first 5 minutes just doing footwork warm-ups.

Retry: Got off the ice after 2.5 hours, and didn't realize how disheveled I had become. After I settled up with the front desk, chatted with some people in the lobby while I unlaced, I finally took a look in the mirror in the men's room and saw hair that was soaking wet with sweat in patches, and sticking out every direction.

I probably looked deranged.

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Bill Schneider

Maybe compromise with you coach. Skate less times per week for June. Instead of 5 times a week, skate 2 or 3 times per week. If you're already just skating 3 times a week, go down to once a week. This way you don't end up loosing the skills you already have and your body stays in shap. Your body will also thank you for giving it a sort of rest.

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"It's not age that determines but the heart." "Skating is not just a sport for the young but it's a passion for the soul of the young at heart." Brigitte Laskowski

I am a nomadic adult skater who is a member of Windsor FSC (Skate Windsor) WOS SC again since Sept. 1st, 2008.

http://eastcastlemusic.tripod.com

Singerskates Sports Music Editing

According to most sports psychologists, participating only once a week is worse than not participating at all.

That was definitely true for me as a kid. I had been skating 2-3 times a week (at ISI FS1 level). Then the rink near me closed, and I was down to skating once a week at a far-away rink. Rather than improving, I was getting worse as time went on, and I started to really hate skating. That was the end of skating for me (until 22 years later when I rediscovered how great it is!).

Not necessarially. There were about 2 yrs when I was in college where I only skated once a week for an hour because it was the only time I could make it to with all the other conflicts in my schedule (and I couldn't afford to skate). All I did was stroking, turns, and went through patterns on MIF tests I had already passed (I'd pick a few each week), worked a bit on the test I was on, and I'd skate through dances at or above my level to help remember the patterns for when I started lessons again. But my goal really was only to stay on the ice even if only an hour a week so when I had time to skate more and take lessons again, I wouldn't have to go through getting back into it.

Trying to learn to skate or improve significantly off of once a week? Now that is certainly hard.

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

Rusty - ITA with the others - don't take too much time off. You risk not coming back (get busy with other things, can't get back in the groove of getting up early etc). Plus I'm an older skater too, and I know that if I even take a week off, it takes 2-3 weeks to get everything back to the level it was before the break. I lose conditioning and the "feel" for the ice so fast its scary.