What skating goals, if any, have you set for the "off season?"
What will you do to achieve those goals?

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Because we don't have ice now and it's a long drive to the nearest rink, I won't be skating much until September.

Therefore I have to vote for "Chill out", with an occasional trip to skate (when possible) to maintain some semblance of skill.

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Bill Schneider

Prepare for a test = Im going to start preparing for my Gold Moves So I can be a gold level skater/competitor for the Fall of 2008

Refine basic skating techniques = I want to be faster on the ice with jump approaches

Learn a new maneuver = Frankly I am sick of my inside ena baur. I want to learn a spread eagle, get back my back hydroblading, and who knows what else (The competition for Silver next season will be TOUGH!!! - the talent from AN in the bronze level is NO JOKE - and of course this year's as well. Plus, as always, somebody will come out of nowhere)

Develop a new skating program = As many programs I have, I will be working on revamping a planned, undebut program

Chill out = There are alot of things to do for me to prepare for next season, but my history is I always get burned out very easily. So I will take the appropriate time to chill out in between training.

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Tim David's Website

Oh my! I am much more ambitious than I thought - LOL!

Refine basic skating techniques, learn a new turn or step, learn a new maneuver, develop a new skating program, attend lessons

Oh well, the joys of being a beginner - so much yet to learn! Having done my first Adult competition last month and passed my Pre-Introductory Interpretive, it's time to start putting together enough moves for Bronze Free Skate AND an Introductory Interpretive. (If that doesn't keep me off the street, nothing will! )

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

Don't forget: Set a goal, then think about what you'll do to achieve that goal.

For example:

GOAL: To pass Pre-Prel MITF and Freestyle tests this summer.

ACTIONS:
Keep taking MITF/FS lessons each week.
Take Ice Dance lessons each week. (Could be group or private)
Practice three times/week, doing MITF and FS runthroughs three times/session.
Add 30 minute off-ice warmup before practices.
(I like working in threes, LOL)

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Get comfy with my new boots!!!! I was going to go to the adult workshop here, but it's been cancelled.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Pass Silver MIF! (well, test them anyway...)

I'm on the fence about the Chesapeake Open (truthfully, I'm not sure I like competing, but it's my secondary club that is hosting it, and I do want to support it - I need to decide by next Sat) but I did sign up for my primary club's spring recital in 3 weeks, which will also provide a judge's critique. So my goal is to skate well and get positive feedback.

And maybe actually get my flip (clean, that is), lutz, and camel.

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Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

One goal only: To prepare for my AN debut in 2008!!!

Okay what does THAT consists of? 1) Keeping my loop and flip consistent and build up to it well enough to put it in a program. 2) Get a lutz and a camel also. 3) Look like I have EDGES in my footwork.

As for Silver Moves test... that's NEXT YEAR'S goals for me!!! I don't have a set timetable to work on them, though I am "playing around with them and occasionally have a lesson on them."

Chill Out? What's THAT!?!?!

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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!!!

I'm relatively new to skating (15 months on the ice) so I have a lot of goals.

• I want to test Silver Moves and Freestyle (this is the toughest goal for me right now)
• I want to land my axel-double loop combo cleanly (I keep falling on the double)
• I want to improve my flexibility
• I want a lower sit spin
• I want to improve my basic skating (flow, edges, transitions, speed)
• I want to lose 10 more pounds

I believe that these are all attainable goals. The biggest goal will be preparing to make a debut at adult nationals in 2008. I have a lot of gaps to fill in. And I think I'll improve the best by increasing my training from 5 days to 6 days a week between on/off ice.

BlackManSkating

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Proud to be one of the few black men out on the ice

Goals
Pass my Silver Moves Test
Finish Choreography for Silver Program
Land a Clean Double Toe and Double Lutz
Work on Double Axel and Rockers
Speed up back Camel

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Debbie,
Is the Chesapeake Open being held this year with the rink closing? I thought it was cancelled, but perhaps they moved the date.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Um, WOW? I have just under 10 months on the ice (although 13 months since I first put skates on for lessons) and am just now thinking about pre-bronze moves!

Good luck!

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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)

Goal: I am going to prepare for Pre-bronze moves in the field

Actions-
Learn 3-turn pattern. Really really work on waltz eights. Actually practice crossover pattern and perimeter stroking pattern, rather than just quickly skate through them.

Goal: I am going to try to make my jumps look like jumps

Actions- Start skating into jumps. With the exception of the loop, I have been working on them long enough to not have to do them from a standstill, get over the fear! Also, no practice ends without doing each jump 5 times! No matter how much I don't like loops!

Goal: I am going to improve my forward spin and my backspin

Actions: Keep doing them! No more gliding into forward spins, have to do them from T-position or crossovers. Really concentrate on crossing foot. Backspin- really practice, must cross that foot!

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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)

Thanks Jessi!!! I am still very nervous because I am still very green when it comes to competition and testing. I have been working very hard, so I hope I can pull this off. But I appreciate the encouragement. It's so easy to get frustrated because you are not where you want to be. Instead I'm going to try and focus on how much progress I've made. I've always been a jumper. Now I am trying to get the rest of my skating on the same level as my jumping. My coach is very tough on me.

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Proud to be one of the few black men out on the ice

Goals
Pass my Silver Moves Test
Finish Choreography for Silver Program
Land a Clean Double Toe and Double Lutz
Work on Double Axel and Rockers
Speed up back Camel

I voted for:

Take a new test: I'm taking Senior MIF and my 3rd Figure.

New Maneuver: I'm trying to get my 2flip consistant. I landed my very first one on 12.05.06! But haven't landed one since February (sigh).

Chill out: I may take a break from competing for a year or two. I've done it for 10 years straight, and I'm tired. Especially after being cochair of the last ANs! But Lake Placid is nice...

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Listen to my Figure Skating Podcast!

Rogue Element, Inc

Darn - I didn't see the multiple choice part so I checked "get back to basics" because I think that's so important.

Mostly I just want to get back to skating and skating at the level I was approaching before I fractured/torqued my right foot. Need to build strength and get some confidence back before I can even attend a dance session, much less start working with my dance-coach again (I told him he'd have to hold me up!), get to working on Bronze Moves (so close to wanting to test before the injury), Silver figures (yes, still so important to all skating IMHO) and just getting in shape again.

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Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

I want to test my Killian again....hopefully pass it this time!!

To do that, I need to work on simple edges, but VERY deep & VERY fast, and be able to hold the knee bend through that. I'm starting by putting on the music & just doing the 1st half, focusing on getting those edges truer & really bringing them around.

I also want to get started on my Starlight, since my goal for the year was to pass 2 dances!! Doesn't leave me much time to get that one pulled together--we'll see.

It's at The Gardens, same weekend.

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Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

Hi Allison,

I have a quick question since you mentioned testing figures. Are the figure diagrams posted anywhere on the USFS website? I've been searching for them on the site and nobody else can tell me where they are.

Thanks in advance for any help and thanks to you and the LOC. Adult nationals was great!

Frank

I just updated a post about these figures patterns. They're available as a PDF from the USFSA - just send an email request. I think CAS might have them online under "Files."

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Thanks so much for the link. I've been searching for something like this for a while. It's much appreciated.

I would like to take my novice moves this summer, finally.

I am also learning new stuff - like all of the contorted positions that you need for a level 4 spiral sequence (like lots of Gold skaters after AN). That, and how to change edges in spins, layover in camels, and twist my body body in unnatural ways in what passes for my sit spin. Oh, and how to count so that I hold the darn things for the required revolutions. This is going to take a LOT of work.

Double sal? Who needs one - it'll just get downgraded anyways. (Although I will still be pursuing that ever elusive fully rotated and clean one this summer.) Together with more speed, bigger jumps, and generally skating like Michelle Kwan. (Ya right)

Finally, we will be doing a new program in a more IJS friendly manner.

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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

I ticked almost everything!

[]Prepare for a test = one I didn't tick - I've done a bunch of tests and next lot are way off so a break from tests for now.
[x]Refine basic skating techniques = always ongoing.
[]Take up Figures
[x]Learn a new turn or step = I want to be able to do decent FO rockers and counters (any edge or direction - not fussy), rocker-choctaws, double inside rockers
[x]Learn a new maneuver = does getting that darn axel to recognisable levels count? Work on ina bauers, spreads, spirals and variations of
[x]Develop a new skating program = want to do an artistic programme this year. And I also need a free dance for BAC
[x]Master a new dance (or refine an old one) = well foxtrot and 14 step and need a lot of work for BAC
[x]Attend lessons/classes/seminars/camps = going to Oberstdorf again for 2 weeks to skate - can't wait!!!!!!!
[x]Chill out = always have to have fun!

I would like to test my bronze moves this fall. Because nerves are such a factor and the only way I beat those nerves in dance and freestyle was by competing and there really aren't many moves competitions around here, I think I may just blow the money and test them before I feel confident I can pass...just to get passed those nerves. We'll see how it goes and what test sessions are available...I would want to wait until there's a chance I could pass...but still at the point where I can tell myself "you have nothing to lose, this test is just for practice and so don't plan on passing"

I'm hoping that working on my moves will get me comfortable enough with mohawks to work on the swing and learn the fiesta. I'm waiting until they have a master's solo dance standard to test though. And if that doesn't go through, I'm still waiting till I'm 50 to test with a partner ...

My short term goals are to prepare for a competition in June where I've entered freestyle, spins, compulsary and jumps. And one of the jumps is a toe loop. That should be, um amusing.

j

Well. I have too much to work on! I really need to start heavily working on Novice moves. I passed Intermediate two years ago, I just never really paid much attention to Novice and now I want to. They're tough!! I'm going to work on some part of the test every session I skate.

Have to get new program for Gold, and test Gold free later this year. My two doubles are loop and sal, and both are fairly decent, just have to clean up the loop a bit. Axel needs serious attention but I think by the time I test Gold it will be better than it is. Putting together a REAL IJS program is going to be a challenge. My Silver was was somewhat geared towards IJS, but Gold of course has to be. I'll be doing the same things skater1964 is.
Stupid fan spiral.

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"