Spring Ahead:

OMG!! The ice was actually DECENT today!! For the first 45mins anyway someone has obviously had enough and has spent some time flooding it... it doesnt go up as much at the edges anymore, even though it does feel like gravel, but I tend to stay away from that section so its ok

BUT!!! I managed some back crossovers in the group... yAY!!! Couldnt do too many because I have a larger step than the younger kids in my group, so I had to keep stopping so I didnt bash into them! BUT I crossed over!!! YAY!!!

Forward crossovers werent too bad.. they arent smooth glides... they are steps, BUT Im stepping over, so its a start.

Im getting more power in my stroking YAY!

3-turns and mohawks, no probs still... my forward twizzle (just 1 ) is ok..

Ive noticed I have trouble putting weight onto one of my feet/sides so I need to work on that.. its affecting everything.

Spins... Ive stopped clenching my toes by focussing on lifting my toes UP and pushing with the ball of my foot when I spin.. I think I made it to 3 or 4 spins today on one foot!! yay again! And I actually felt centred which is a first!

ummm I was taught another two control patterns by a lady there... one based on 3-turns, the other is another mohawk one... which is good because I started grumbling that I needed something new to practise

My backward stroking is actually zig zagging across the ice, which is good.. probably not on the correct edge but *shrug* at least Ive got the movement.

Fall Behind (not much really... ):
I experienced "THE CLICK OF DEATH!!" it was on a backward crossover in the public, and I fell on my ###... and it hurts.. but Im fine!

Class... I should have skated yesterday because he taught the class things like cross rolls and backwards etc etc... I was there taking photos, hence why I know... today was just the normal stuff (if he wasnt there I could still run through everything he teaches us)... kinda annoying.. but I suppose it cements the basics in my head

There were two little kids today who were crossing through the centre and one was almost hit twice by a flying blade as someone went into a spin and didnt see her... she was a the perfect height too that it would have hit her in the head.... She just wasnt paying attention... I pulled her aside and explained to her not to do it and why,... she nodded, then went off and did it again... I think one of the coaches grabbed her though, because the next time I saw her she was skating with her mother (who I dont think wanted to get on the ice at all)...

The other kid was looking over his shoulder, pushed off forwards still looking away and again almost went into this girls blade (she was already in the spin... stoopid boy ).

SO.. that was todays... all in all, not bad! my legs are sore, which is good, and it always happens after I do crossovers, so at least I know I was working.

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-Erinna-
aka cassarilda

My Progress Report!
"Did I mention there is only ONE rink in Melbourne?!"
"If you're not flying, you're obviously not trying!!!" - courtsey of the guy who helped me up off the ice after my last spectacular and sore fall

spring ahead:
got some pretty good flying sit spins in lesson... these things seem to improve all the time during the off season and promptly disappear when competitions start rolling around... i wonder why

fall back:
the ice was flooded wet, and scratchy in the places it was drier... I was trying to do double toe loops in lesson around these other kids having lessons on crossovers... I kept worrying I'd hit them and kept having to give up attempts when they skated too far out from the intended circle. It was madness but with 4 coaches squeezing into 1/3 of a rink 1/2 the olympic size... theres only so much you can do.

I was working on flying sits and then we went on to flying camels, and due to those taking up more space... I kept nearly crashing into people so much my coach gave up and said ok lets work on jumps instead... lol... first time this has ever happened actually, I hope hope hope the hockey people stop for their summer break sooner, I'm about to go mad.

The guy i pass my skates to for sharpening was going on in the same vein everytime he sees me about my inconsistent jumps and bad posture... I know these things... I'm trying hard to practise them but when the ice is bad and crowded and theres no space to do things in the little time I have on the ice, I'm satisfied with the minimal improvements I made, then someone comes along and asks why I'm not hitting them 100% it just makes me feel so disillusioned and unaccomplished. I'm trying hard here to let myself enjoy this sport the way I like it and trying not to think about all the bad stuff like the lack of ice and lack of good ice and lack of ice TIME at all and I get happy even when I land one more jump today than last week, regardless of percentages of landing. I'm just so holding out for some kind investors and a new rink. And yeah being reminded of all the things that are bad in skating just isnt a happy idea. sigh.

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~
Tidesong

Spring Ahead:
Someone commented to me today how much I'm improving in all of my skating. I was chuffed As I was at Synchro today I was focusing on all sorts of stuff but the coach was pleased with my progress which I was pleased with.
Fall Back:
Was trying to do 3 turns and for the life of me I cannot get them. I don't know what it is. On my left foot when doing it I seem to create a heap of snow, which I don't think is supposed to happen. On my right foot this doesn't happen. What I kind of don't get is when/how to turn and it just goes all wrong

Also got a phone call today while I was at skating to say that my uncle had been found dead in his car - he had gone out early in the morning and not returned home by this afternoon and was found where he'd gone this morning. Sad considering he was only 66 and had no real evident medical problems (except arthritis). So that kind of put a dampner on the rest of my session.

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AW1
mum to Miss Lil (6yrs old)
mum to be to #2 due in March 08

Spring ahead: Well, well, well, Mr "You-have-to-admit-I'm-a-better-skater-than-you" was having a really bad skate day!!!! Makes a change. Fell twice in his programme, and missed his salchow, and double-footed his loop! Of course, the fact that he hasn't had his blades sharpened for at least six months and very probably longer doesn't help, either. But that will be rectified on Wednesday, since our coach is going to the sharpener then. I want mine done, although the right one doesn't really need it. The left one does, though. Hope that will last until after the Mountain Cup, and maybe even Bracknell.

I had a good practice - I am definitely getting a semi-reliable LFI/LBO double 3, and I might even put it in my artistic if it is still working on Wednesday, it makes more sense. Didn't run through the complete programme, only that bit - it's a bit too crowded on a Sunday to risk a back spiral straight down the middle.

The Husband and I worked on Canadian Cha-cha and Swing Dance to the American music, and I was interested to note that when the proper Swing Dance music came on, we had improved no end! Maybe doing it half-speed does have its advantages. We also did a Dutch Waltz when that music came on, and at least one Fiesta, and, of course, our free dance. Which went really well. The first run-through we missed the lift, because I mistimed the thing, but the second time we got it, only he only did one rotation. All the same, it was tidier than usual, and the step sequence went better, as did the ending.

Fall Back: My spin has gone totally walkabout! And I'm not the only one. Husband has a Pathetic Parallel (which is actually a lot better than his Sad Sit), but can't come out of it properly, but several of us were complaining this morning that we couldn't spin - I think there must be a spin-eating monster out there.....

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

Come on Annabel are you sure you didnt just run a coin over them for him, tee hee.

I Still cant do it, I keep trying but I'm terrified of it.

Oh that monster, he visits my rink on a regular basis and he just loves me, but you can keep him if you like?

spring ahead: YES! My instructor finally taught me how to do spins!

fall back: so far I can only do 2 rotations.

Which is about as many as I can ever do - and at least 1.50 revolutions more than I was managing today! sigh....

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

can you do a one foot spin or two foot?

Leda:
I must tell you---stick it out and don't give up! When I first started learning to spin, I did find that 2-foot spins were really easy (I had done them in my youth way back). However, when we started learning 1-foot spins....

There was one time I went to the rink and was the only person there for the whole session (really a waste of good ice on such an un-talented skater). I spent the whole time doing (or trying) 1-foots! By the time the session ended, the whole surface was covered in spin curliques!!!! All from me!!!

My coach at the time saw me...just shook her head and went about her business.

That was 2 years ago and I still remember how hard I tried!

So, keep trying and work at it. Be sure to ask us question about spinning because we have all been there!

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

crossovers.

bahhumbug

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"finger painting?"

Fall back:

• Went to weekend rink to find a very broken Zamboni. (Flat tire!!!) Ice was CRAP this afternoon!
• Landed no loop jumps!
• Did one try of the backspin and felt a slight pull and twisting feeling on my lower back. Decided to stay away from the backspin for today.
• Worked on prelim spirals... see above note about lower back!

Spring ahead:

• It's not crappy enough that I couldn't skate on it and there aren't as many skaters this afternoon I managed to get thru my moves.
• I think I'm starting to get that RFO3's side now. And I did the LFO3's side just to make sure that I still have that side, so my power 3's should be better by the next lesson.
• Back crossovers are stronger! We'll see how much stronger though.
• I'm still working on making FI mohawk so tidy you'll need a microscope to find flaws. Right now, it's tidier, but you can still see the lump of dust under the rug. (Meaning that the FI mohawk isn't as quiet as I would like, though I am bringing the foot in...)
• Landed all other jumps up to and including the flip. Decided to call it a day after flips b/c I had to meet a friend for tea afterwards. (I just don't get why I can do the flip but not the loop! But hey! I'll take the flip!!! ) The lutz is not too far behind now too. I just have to get the feel of reaching back further and picking on a consisent basis and I should have it. I hope to get my moves out of the way to see if my hunch is right.
• Did some spins and they were okay.
• I feel very confident with my Bronze Moves today. I hope to get this beast out soon enough. Of course, I'm strongly thinking of finding a local judge to look at my moves unofficially to confirm.
• Worked on prelim alt 3's.... getting there.

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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!!!

One foot. Back when I was learning, two-foot spins weren't taught. Actually, I wasn't taught to spin until much later in my skating career, as when I first began to learn, I was very firmly told that Adults Danced, they did not Jump or Spin! Thankfully that is no longer true (it never actually was, although the majority of adult skaters danced back then).

Mind you, my so-called change-foot spin is apt to be 2 revolutions on one foot, one on 2 feet and one on my right foot.... but it's coming, slowly.

Some people do find toe jumps easier than edge jumps, end of. Did you find the cherry flip - sorry, toe loop - easier than the salchow?

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

Unless you are me....I find the salchow easier than the loop (which I don't have yet) and the toe-loop (only because I'm 3-turn-challenged at any speed above a crawl)...but I can do a mean toe-walley!

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

Initially when I was learning them, yes. But right now, my salchow is about the same as the toe loop/cherry flip in crappiness!!! (Well, with the sal slightly ahead on technique...)

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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!!!

Hooray, I hit the one-footed, rotated axels again today! Six of them! My right shin below the knee is so bruised from falling on it again and again. At least my coach got to see it, makes it all worth it.

Video if anyone's interested:
Axel 1
Axel 2

wow! one footed spin! thats realy good! =O

well I am only doing two-foot spins but I can still use your advice for it! Thanks! I just went skating yesterday and all I did was practice my spin. I didn't get more rotations but I sure didn't as dizzy as I used to!

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