Misty: Got picked for the skating clinic with Todd Eldredge in Philly on the 15th! Any others going?

WAY TO GO, GIRL!!!!!!

Pictures.... you've got to get pictures.

Practiced last night for the first time in 1-1/2 weeks.

MISTY and MELLOW: I forgot how to stand up on skates, then remembered to bend my knees, finally got my balance somewhat back, and was doing mohawk sequences before an hour was up. It's always a little scary when you haven't skated for a while. Takes time to warm old muscles up.

Jerked my upper body while practicing 3-turns and tweaked my already sore shoulder again. I'm back to the ortho on the 17th.

This is my month for doctors:
6th - dentist
10th - general checkup
16th - dermatologist
17th - orthopaedist

They're either going to cure me or kill me.

Me too. Surprised the living daylights out of me. And I don't do FS. I just entered as a lark.

Misty: Back to the European Waltz today.... coach liked my LFO3s in a circle that he had me do. The RFO3s in a circle were plonky. ... Then we did EW to the music and the 1st time we did it it was pretty good (considering I hadn't skated it w/ coach in almost a month). It felt more waltzy than usual.

Coach spent some time talking about the importance of controlling the free leg (other than for looks and style) with reference to using it as a "rudder" of sorts plus the importance of "leaning out of the circle" when on the FO edges in the dance, then gradually adjusting weight as I rise on the knee for the turn so that on the BI, the weight is inside the circle. I think I'm explaining it right. I practiced it at the boards to get the feel of what he was talking about and it felt "right" ... more "right" than how I was skating the dance before.

Mellow:
Lousy ice. Real Lousy ice with too many kids on it. One of our surfaces is down for maintenance, plus one of the other rinks in town is closed for it's annual maintenance. So we had tons of kids on the FS session today.

And... I fell on the LBO-RBO sequence in the EW after the first RFO3. I was trying to keep my hips under me and got my weight too far back on the blades and down I went. Almost took my coach down with me. But scrambled back up and we finished the dance sequence, then did one more.

--jsl

Had second lesson with K. now that I am back after 9 months - and had her for a full 45 minutes! True to her word, we covered 3 areas instead of going over what we did last week. Plan is to do 3 weeks with "new" material, then on 4th week, review everything. I really like this new format!

Last night we worked on back alternating crossovers focusing on holding each stroke, extension, and not letting my fanny pooch out. I'm still trying to 'sit-back' (made a very major blade/radius change last year.)

Then we went to power 3's; not quite as successful but by turning my head, extending my free leg back to the axis, it got better.

And finally onto inside 3-turns. As I told her, it takes courage, down-up-down, and thinking about my hips; first is courage! I always get a dry throat when I get ready to push off. I have so much trouble not falling to the inside and I hate it! The 3rd attempt was a perfect inside 3 and the look on K's face was pure amazement. I broke up laughing and said I guesss I needed the 9 months off to which she said "you have a much different attitude now!" And I do...

I was so hyper when I got home from such a fast moving, successful, fun, focused lesson, that I did 2 loads of laundry, and other household duties, and it was hard to calm myself down for bedtime. I am really amazed that so much has come back, not perfect, but not totally gone either. Whew! I think I am skating for the joy of it again and it feels good!

Misty:
Ater my lesson with my primary coach today, it looks like I will not be taking the Pre- Bronze moves next month like I was wishing for. Reasons are actually pretty logical; from the next test session being on the heels of regionals (coaches have students doing both non- qualifying and qualifying) and the fact that I still cannot do any alternating FO3's without putting the foot down!
The ice is totally carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey by the time I skate in the afternoon!
Today I had a Clueless Child get in the way every time I went for something.

Mellow: Solid forward and backscratch spins during lesson today! Still need to work on stretching free leg on sit!
I know this really should be in the Misty , but I FELL TWICE TODAY! One of my biggest criticisms I get from my coaches is that I don't fall enough! Two falls in a session, three for the week- they'd probably be dancing if they knew!

Misty
Fifteen year old daughter almost ready to test Juv FS has decided to "take a break". I was hoping she would pass this before we move and she had to start with a new coach. It also would have given her coaching career a boost at a new rink. I'm laying low and hoping she will come back soon. Meanwhile, hubby and I have upped our lessons to 30 min each from 15 so as to hold a place for her when she returns.

Sooo, had first lesson today since early July. I decided that I had to face the FI consecutive three pattern at last. Did it beautifully with just a touch to coach's hand for each turn. Too scared to do it alone. This is the fear bred from last year's broken wrist on a BI edge pattern. I did manage to do a few on my own after the lesson. If I ever want to test either standard track or adult, I will need this pattern.

Mellow
For the first time I did the complete Juv cross stroke pattern! Coach exclaimed "beautiful" on the F ones, and gave me a back slalom exercise to relax me on the B cross strokes. Also have made progress on FO consecutive three pattern. Still put foot down before reaching line, but now I can do them with free leg extended or tucked in close, and the turn itself is looking and feeling very good. I just need to tame the BI edge.

Gary Sorry to hear you tweaked that shoulder again. I hate those heavy duty doctor schedules! Please do not remind me that a trip to the Dentist is due

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You lucky dog!!! Now THERE's someone I would love to get skating pointers from... (especially since he skates CW like me!!!) *sigh* (I shouldn't complain. I had Brian Boitano, Linda Leaver and Kathy Casey as my group coaches for 3 days back in July.)

Cheers,
jazzpants

I'll be sure to bring a camera. It should be a fun day. I have always loved watching Todd skate. He's so elegant, even if it's a simple three turn.

How do you do forward alternating outside 3's? Is it really just doing a forward left outside then stepping onto the right and doing the right forward outside 3 or is there something else? We don't do many MIF's in class so I haven't been introducted to this yet.

It is that simple, except of course, learning to do them right is not so simple. First, they must be done on an axis, usually one of the lines going across the rink. Four to six lobes are required. The lobes should be shaped evenly, meaning the FO edges and BI edges should be the same size and shape. The three turns should be at the peaks of the lobes. For the adult pre-Bronze pattern, they have just decided to allow the skater to put down the free leg after the turn and do a crossover back to the line. For the pre-Preliminary move, the free leg after the turn must not touch the ice until the step forward. The turns may be done with the free leg held close to the skating foot, or extended.

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I am so slow, I have done these. I actually did them on a straight line (my coach(es) were cracking up because I do everything the hard way). I didn't put the foot down but as a result sometimes my 3 turn was a little funky and not perfect. I really enjoyed them but I am quite certain my lobes were pretty shallow and wouldn't pass inspection. I 'll keep working on them though so hopefully by this time next year (if I ever get the scratch spin) I can test pre-bronze.

We use to do the alternating threes in edge class a while back. We called them "frog threes" because that's what your legs looked like as you ended one three and put your foot down into the next.
Mellow: went to the lunchtime skate and had a good practice. Double sals and camel-jump camels went well. It's been a while!

I've also heard them called Bauer 3s because the transition between 3s puts you in an Ina Bauer position...turnout is not my strong point (I have none), so the step is tough...I made it through the Prelim test with careful turns (if you wait to turn until the top of the circle, it's easier) and knee bend.

Mysterious element...clean 3 turns. It seems that 3 turns just keep getting harder as you improve...for me at least, they never get easy. I could do the (Juvenile) forward double 3s just fine...smooth, clean turns, but somehow my (Intermediate) back double 3s are scrapy again. Why? It's the same turns, just in reverse order...why does my body not understand this?????

Had a lesson today on basics and well, basically I am a sloppy skater . I also have a hip dropping problem...no matter what I am doing, I drop a hip...despite coach saying during the entrance and the actual turn...lift your hip, lift your hip, lift your hip. I would think it was simply my body refusing to obey directions, but on being told to push towards the barrier for the 3 in the Intermediate slide chasse pattern, I pushed so towards the barrier that I ran into it before actually turning the 3. Hmm :?

On a happier note, my ankle is mostly better and my coach is back from a (long) vacation. So I had my first freestyle lesson in forever today. Surprisingly, things were pretty good. Not great, but 2sal and axel were pretty good...steady enough that I think I will go for the one foot landings again within the week!

Kim

Is misty or mellow good or bad? I'm confused.
In any case, could only skate twice this week, most of my jumps were pretty off. My axels were getting themselves landed but in terrible condition. My double salchow has better rotation but I just couldn't get height this week. The wonderful thing is my lutz!!! My coach told me to lean on the left outside edge before take off and it really works to get me on the correct take off edge!!! Its so wonderful!!! After flutzing for ages I finally get to feel the lutz feeling I can even do the lutz out of footwork now!!!
The other thing was the scratch spin, the last time my coach told me to bring my free leg in higher but that didn't register somehow, so we worked on it during lesson and now my spins are more centred! and faster too!
And for my layback spin, with the help of a friend I realized that if I thought of it as a upright spin, my entry is a lot better and I centre the spin better and thus get a better layback spin... Its all in the mind ya!
My flying camel is still not flying but at least my spinning in the back camel position is better. I LOVE flying spins and jump spins and whatever they are so fun!!!

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Tidesong

Rachel, well done on the loop once you get that 'feeling' you'll wonder what on earth the problem was!

I'm not looking forward to relearning to jump AT ALL .... especially the Lutz which had gone off a bit anyway due to lack of attention I'm convinced that I'll be back to square one on that .... and it was soooo beautiful for a while!

You WILL feel achey if you've been off for a month. seeing my arm the other day I was shocked at how quickly your muscles waste! Take your time getting your fitness and your strength back and you'll be fine in a few weeks time

L x

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The best whisper is a click

Not much to report: Still waiting for my new boots and blades, and still feeling every flaw in my old ones!!! :?

Worked on waltz and half flip in lesson this week--we're kind of staying away from field moves until the new skates come in (no use busting my hump on technique on those at this point in too big, broken down skates). Got arms better with both--she even had me trying half flip from stroking --ooh, the first few attempts at that were hysterical, but its coming.

Just "played" today at the last summer Saturday at Wintersport. Sigh--I will miss these Saturday morning skates, its such a great rink but Mercer (semi-outdoor) will start up in about a month, which is good. I've experimented with not lacing the last hook on my right boot to get more knee bend- sort of "Klingbeil prep" since those boots will be cut lower. It DEFINITELY helps my crossover, especially the ROE with the LF cross. Can't do it with the left boot, though, foot completely slips. AAUUUGH--I can't wait to get my new boots and blades!!!!

Lynne: Keep up that healing, girlfriend!!!

Mel: Take it easy and FEEL BETTER!!!

Hugs to all,

Beth

Misty: It's been a horrible summer for skating mostly due to a total lack of motivation on my part, and another back injury for my daughter who has been off the ice for 4 weeks.

Mellow: Things may be turning around....daughter seems to be ready to skate again, although regionals are out of the picture. I was intent on doing something new today....anything! I eeked out a camel/sit - twice! Very happy that I could accomplish something. Even better, my coach taught my dance partner the Fiesta Tango, and we did it for the first time together today. Coach says it wasn't bad....and I take that as a high compliment. She then taught us the 14-step seperately...we have yet to put that one together, as it will certainly take some work to get that pattern larger and do a decent LFO mohawk with any degree of control But I actually left the ice happy, and that hasn't happened in a long time

Misty: That end pattern on the Fiesta Tango almost killed me last week...as I hit the tail of my blade and went flying landing on my back...was sore for days!

Misty:

• First time skating in over a week, and when I first stepped on the ice, I felt so unstable. Since it was also a totally different rink, the ice also felt harder. Aaaaaah...luckily as the session passed, I got my skating legs underneath me again.
• Spins were so-so. Had two good backspins, two good sitspins (though I can't rise up to finish the spin - having issues with weight transfer..), and two good forward scratch spins. Camel spin has totally gone, but like I had it in the first place..
• Flip. Ewwwwwwww...must get the feel of this again.
• Salchow. See above..
• Waltz jump. Sometimes I'll get it, and sometimes....
• Lutz. Wahhhhhhhh....

Mellow

• Loop is still somewhat there. Yay..
• For some reason, I was having a good toe-loop day. Strange...

Anita