I've been stalking all day hoping to hear the results. I don't know if I can wait until tomorrow!

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Guys, I don't know anymore.
All week everyone, quite a few of you and my coaches have told me not to think and just do. Unfortunately, that theory does not work for me.
I was fine until the warmup. Then I get out there and cannot feel my legs at all- it was freezing in the rink. Warmup was okay, not great but okay. I was the first to skate.

I don't have my notes with me, but I'll post what I can remember...
Jumps:
Need more work, had a "wobble" on the salchow, third jump (loop) not recognizable, not enough height on combination.

Spins:
Sitspin not low enough, 2 1/2 revs on backscratch, forward scratch travelled.
Primary coach commented to me that the judges want me to have a sitspin like the girl that pass Intermediate free!

Connecting Steps:
Now this is interesting. Two judges commented that yes, there was connecting steps, with one of them commenting that yes I do need to get into the knees more. Third judge makes no comment except that I was scratchy.

So now back to the drawing board.
For those that think I'm not trying,( you know who you are) well today was proof that I am.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Oh bummer! We were all really hoping this one would be it. Congrats on trying again- that really takes guts to keep going out there.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

(((HUG!))) I'm sorry it didn't go as we had all hoped for you today.
What did your coach say about your skating? Did he think you skated like you normally do in practice, or were the mistakes just nerve-related? If they seemed to be just nerve-related (and/or cold-related; the symptoms are very similar!), then hopefully you'll be able to figure out how to work around that next time.
If these are mistakes you tend to make in practice, the good news is that you still have several more chances to get it perfect. Also, you got very specific feedback so you can set specific goals for your next test and have your coach monitor you to make sure you're getting enough turns on the backspin, enough height on the jumps, etc.
Progress is progress, no matter what, and regardless of today's outcome, I AM PROUD OF YOU!

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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

It was a combination of nerve related ( the struggle for toeloop and salchow) and everyday stuff (loop and sitspin).
What I'm upset with is that I had been skating 90-95% clean programs up to this week when everything went out the door.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Terri, I know you worked very hard to get here. And I know you tried hard, too. Here's a big hug for you, as well as the drink of your choice! (or two, or three!) Think of the progress you've made to get to this point. That, in itself, speaks volumes. I have faith that you will go back, try again, and you will be all the better for having tested today. I was pulling for you.

It sounds like you've got specific feedback to work with. You and your coach can fill in the places where you need more revs, deeper edges, or whatever. Maybe your coach has some strategies for dealing with nerves, too. Especially if you felt nerves contributed majorly to how you performed. Also, getting your coach's feedback on how she thought you skated is important, too.

With all you've had going on, your nightmare job hours, your injuries.... I think it takes a lot to put ourselves out there. I'm so proud of you for testing today.

Terri,

I'm so sorry that things didn't work out today as we had hoped. I agree with what has been said so far whole-heartedly. You put yourself out there and you showed progress. That is already a big deal and you should be proud of yourself just for that. I also think that it's important to realize that this test session served the purpose of giving you the opportunity of skating your test program in front of judges in the actual test setting. That is very valuable experience. The next time you'll take this test, you'll know which elements are likely to be affected by nerves or the cold and you'll know how to cope with the situation more effectively. Keep your chin up, Terri. You'll get it next time.

Take care,

Frank

You know, it's really ironic, but that seems to happen a lot! I've found that when I have awful practices in the week leading up to my competition or test, I somehow get all the mistakes out and do really well when it counts. Then, for the first time, I had the exact opposite experience at AN this year. I was nailing everything in my program run-through the day before (something that had never happened before!) and also in my official practice ice on the morning of my qualifying round competition. I had a great 6-minute warmup, too. Then, full of confidence, I took the ice. . . and completely messed up my opening combination spin, one of the most valuable elements in my program! I continued on to skate one of the worst program run-throughs ever! I think a lot of it was nerves and my own high expectations, but I think some of it was that I was doing everything so well that I didn't know what to focus on. I'm normally focused on remembering all the little things I need to fix as each element comes up in my program, LOL!.

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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

Terri,

I am sorry to hear things didn't go as planned. Just wanted to let you know that I/we are proud of you for trying. It's hard right now because all you want is a batch of daiquiris but this experience wil only make you a stronger skater in the end.

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Happily defying the laws of physics when I skate...and not in a good way

If I could meet ole Axel Paulsen, I would kick him in the teeth

President and Founding member of the I hate Toe-Loops Club

Still a member, but trying to get out of the Pre-bronze peanut gallery.

Visit my skating journal

Well that sucks.

I just want to say that I think you are great that you can even do a sitspin. I've been doing pre-bronze for years and I still can only do a 1 foot spin from a pivot entry. That you can even get out there and do a bronze program is really amazing and gets my respect. I don't even want to know what's behind someone suggesting you aren't trying --you wouldn't have gotten as far as you are now without hard work.

I took the Dutch Waltz, a dance that 5 year olds pass on the first try four times before I passsed it.

I understand the nerves...it just took doing several tests and competitions before I could conquer them.

Maybe you could do a critique - that's practice in front of a judge, feedback from a judge, but no pressure of the test.

You'll pass it. But I'd do something fun for awhile.

j

Terri, I'm sorry. I know you've worked very hard getting ready for this test. I admire you for having the courage to try. Your skating continues to improve and one day you will conquer your nerves and show those judges that you really can do it.

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"May the wind be at your back and the sun upon your face and may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars."

Terri,

You will get it next time! I was similar to you in not passing the freeskate a couple of times before MIF were in place, then having to try MIF something like 4 times, and then having to do the FS twice more to pass. Spins are my nemesis and this test has three of them! Keep up the hard work!

(((Terri)))

Just curious. Have you taken all of your tests at the same club? Maybe next time you should try for a change of scenery. Maybe there's too much baggage, so to speak, at your test sessions.

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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

From Get Motivated: Daily Psych-ups by Farley and Curry, April 9 entry:

"If you train hard, you'll not only be hard, you'll be hard to beat." - Herschel Walker

We've all been fed the "hard work pays off" line. It's usually recited to us by a coach or instructor right when we're about to throw in the towel. Sometimes while running on a cold and blustery morning we challenge ourselves by saying "Faster, farther, faster, farther"; while our exhausted legs and frozen hands say "You've got to be kidding." While serving tennis ball after tennis ball from a seemingly bottomless basket, our minds say "Concentrate, focus." Our aching shoulder says, "Enough already."

Sometimes it seems as if all of our hard work does not, in fact, pay off. What it does is make us sore, tired, and downright sick of working out. These are the times we have to remember the adage, or at least Herschel Walker's spin on it.

While days and days of workouts may not seem to be yielding the results we had hoped for, and the goals we are aiming for are seeming more and more out of reach, we have to feel confident that there will be a breakthrough, and that it's just around the next corner, or over the next hill, or in the next practice.

== Hard work does pay off. It may not be today, and it may not be tomorrow, but it will happen, so I need to feel confident and keep up my workout schedule. ==

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Whatever!

rats... I know how hard you have tried and know the struggle it takes to get there. You day will come and the champagne will flow.

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Champagne in 2005, 2008, 2009 - who's next out of the pre-bronze club...?

Wang chung!

Gee, I'm sorry Terri. I had hoped to sign in to good news. Hugs comin' your way.

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So sorry to hear it. Been there, done that, and isn't it maddening!!!!

Do you compete at all? If not, it might be worth doing one or two competitions to help you get used to skating in front of judges, and help the nerves not ruin things for you. Also, there are techniques you can learn to help you conquer your nerves and make them work for you, not against you.

You'll get there one day, I just know it!

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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!

(((Terri C)))

We've already talked early via IM. I agree that a change of scenery (i.e. another club) and maybe getting a critique of your program done about two months before you plan on testing might be a good idea. That way you get confirmation from a judge that you're ready (or in my case for the last Bronze Moves test, it confirmed that I was almost ready and that I just had these things to work on for the test to pass.) I recommend going for the "really tough" judges...I specifically aim for him b/c I know if I pass him I can pass anyone!!! (Of course, I find out at the Bronze Moves test that I passed him but not another person who I have yet to meet 'til the test session. )

I also recommend investing in a cheapo video camera (or even something like a CyberShot camera with video capability, which only cost about $150 at any old drug store) that you can hook up to your BRAND NEW computer. Then you can see what you're doing and figure out where you need to be and how you're gonna get there. Trust me, the videos of me are still not pretty, but...they have improved my skating.

We're all proud of you for going out there to try this again... regardless of the outcome!!! It's a very nasty demon to beat...but you are getting better... (I'm willing to bet a margarita that you've improved your overall score over the last time you took this time!!!) You just need new strategy to have more of an advantage to finally slay this dragon. You know you have it in you to do it... so try again!!! Besides, I am going to Lake Placid and I hope that you will be there along with me for the ride too!

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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!!!

Now to answer questions:
Mrs. Redboots, yes I do compete, but took this year off because of a combination of factors (crazy work schedule, injuries, crazy well balanced program requirements for Pre Bronze) and really then decided that it was time to work on moving up to Bronze.
As for my club, while I'm the only adult skater member there, they are very supportive. The kids cheered for me when I took the ice for my test just as loudly as they did for the Senior lady who skated and passed. My primary coach's first words after I got off the ice were "are you okay?" Several of the skating parents asked the same afterward as did my secondary coach when I met her and other skating moms for a farewell dinner for another skating parent who is moving next month.

What I think my issue is....
When I first started taking tests, I had some very negative experiences with judges, from getting yelled at to not getting the required elements on the test (there was some confusion on judge's part on the jump requirements).
A few years later there were the multiple tries on the Bronze free.
Therefore there is I think, a mental block on getting this test passed.
I'll be taking this week off from the ice and will start back with a fresh brain hopefully on Memorial Day.

ETA: My tests scores were in the 4.6-4.7 range with 5.0 as the passing score.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Aw, so sorry to hear about that Terri. I hope you will pass the next time you try!

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August 22, back on the ice!

Hi Terri--

I'm so sorry to hear things did not work out as we had all hoped. But don't think of this as a test that didn't pass... think of that test as the dress rehearsal/practice-in-front of judges for your upcoming Bronze FS test that DOES pass.

You went out there and gave it your best shot. And especially after all that you've been through the past few months, that makes you a winner in my book.

And I agree with the other posters, maybe your brain just needs to have a clean slate to take the Bronze FS test.. and you could consider taking it at some other rink or club? At any rate, enjoy your (voluntary) week off the ice. And I'm sure you'll come back refreshed and ready to tackle the specific issues the judges pointed out on Friday. One of my rinkmates is taking her Gold Moves for the 6th time next week.. she took it last month and received pretty much 17.6s and 17.7s from the judges. Her first reaction was to burst into tears, then she got the giggles and said "At least I've improved since November, when they all gave me 17.3s. I wonder if my moves just need more time?" (She knew she needed more work on specific issues.. and the judging sheets told her exactly which ones.) She has been working on this test for about 3 years... and as soon as she stopped crying and laughing, she filled out test sheets and wrote the check for this month's test.

Big hugs and we know you'll pass!

Thin-Ice


By the way, unless the Intermediate skater who has a preliminary-type sit-spin, I can't imagine any judges expecting that of you on a Bronze FS test.

((((((((Terri))))))))))))) So sorry to hear this. It must be very discouraging. Nothing more to add in the way of suggestions--I hope you are able to throw off the disappointment and continue enjoying to skate in spite of the setback.

Oh no, so sorry!!!! It does really sound like a change of venue might do you good - stepping on the ice for that test there must bring in tension from the other tests. You will get it next time!

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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)

I think I need to clarify something here...
The previous times I took this test 5 years ago, my current club didn't exist, but the rink did, under old ownership. I skated on the exact same surface that I skated on when I passed Bronze moves in December.
It's the test itself I'm having a mental block on, the rink has nothing to do with it. What I have done is order the book "The Inner Champion." Quite a few of you may have seen Choleen this year at AN!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Toss away that Pre-Bronze for life card - you will pass this test! How are your spins? I thought that the spins were the hardest part of the Bronze test (and of the Silver Test). If you really work on those darn spins so they feel secure then the judges won't care if the salchow wobbles a little. It sounds like your scores were pretty close. Get back to work on those elements and come out with confidence next time. Also, try to skate with power and speed (the judges love that). You will be stiff and nervous on the test, but everyone is. Don't worry, you are almost there.