Wheee! I don't think I've ever started this thread before! Title is in "honour" of all the rainy weather we've been having here.

Blue Skies: Went to a really dead public session this morning, and one of the skaters asked if I was an ice dancer because I had such deep edges. Loved the compliment! (I'm primarily a synchro skater, but I have my gold dances). Practiced the freeskate elements I learned last week. My spin is getting lots of fast rotation, and doesn't travel too horribly. Sal and toe-loop were much improved by the end of the session, after I finally got my arms under control!

Storm Clouds: Still breaking in the new skates. Some things are fine, but back three turns are a struggle. It's frustrating to not be able to do the things well that I was really nailing at the end of April. I'm sure they will come back, but I'm getting impatient!

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

Blue Skies: Ordered new custom Klingbeils on Saturday and they're due in before the end of the month!

Paso was Okay today. Cross-rolls better... I made a minor solo break-through. When I really concentrate on pressing through the heels on both the current skating foot and the "to be" skating foot, things are MUCH MUCH easier.

Storm Clouds Had my blades sharpened Saturday...they needed it but a side effect today was that I nearly fell doing Paso today with coach. Got slightly off kilter coming out of the restart and nearly fell backwards. Managed to recover during the back chasses and slip steps but the back breakout wasn't the prettiest in the world. Then on the ending, had trouble doing the skid stop with as much SKID as I had last week. But the sharpening definitely needed to be done... I was probably a week or 2 past due and the rink where Pro-Am is held usually has fairly hard ice.

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

Blue Skies: I changed my summer work schedule because I have the morning free sessions through August 19 (school--and regular schedules--start the next week) I'm now skating on the 6:30 am session. I'd forgotten how much I love skating in the mornings before work. Not only that, I was the only one for the first 20 minutes, and only two more (and my coach) skated the session.

I worked on all the pre-bronze moves, including that new 3turn thing. I have it mostly figured out, although I am doing it 2-footed until I gain all my strength, balance, and security back. Most of them went as well as can be expected for being off ice so long--as well as any hard moves on the left outside edge being rather uncomfortable still. My coach said I look better still than she expects, and am progressing fairly quickly back to where I was before the break.

Storm Clouds: I don't think I'm progressing fast enough! As much as I dread spinning again, I'm looking forward to it, because it means that maybe I can jump again! I'll also be glad to just get back to where I was before. It's frustrating, knowing I used to be able to do these skills.

Today was all storm clouds!!
Got off work (yup, I'm no longer working a 4 day 10 hour workweek) and traffic on the freeway was murder, as a thunderstorm had just rolled through. What is usually a 15-20 minute drive from work to the rink took ONE HOUR!!1
As a result, I only got to skate a hour!

More storm clouds:
My right pinky toe is starting to hurt again- no backscratches for me today and it just simply hurt like hell to skate. Looks like I'm headed back to the podiatrist, as I plan to call tomorrow and get a appointment to get another injection! UGH!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Terri: Sorry to hear about the toe.

I guess everyone's heading over to Germany or not skating much, eh?

Blue Skies:

• Worked on RFI3's 'til the cows come home all weekend. I'm now trying to get into it at full speed. It's now much better. Same with the RFI mohawks too!
• I worked on my Bronze Moves throughout the session. All of them, including the forward power 3's, is steady as she goes, thankfully!
• Backspins are decent enough that my friends like them. Now to get them so my coaches will like them too!
• Forward spins are steady as she goes...

Storm Clouds:

• Primary coach not skating this evening. He's busy packing for Germany! (You guys going to Germany, treat him well, okay?)
• RFI3's and RFI mohawks may be much better, but I doubt they'll be ready to show off tomorrow in front of the secondary coach and she'll think that I didn't "take any risks." (Oh, yes, I SURE did...but these things, to do them right, takes time to build.) Maybe in a couple of weeks I might be able to eeek out an attempt at it... (Hey! IT's better than two weeks ago. I couldn't even do the RFI3's two weeks ago!!!)
• Not getting the $%@& Chinese spirals high enough to look decent. GRRRRR!
• Sit spins. Decided to bail after I attempted a sit spin and ended up slipped under and went spinning on my butt instead. (Break dancing, anyone?)

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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!!!

Yep, on my way to Germany in a few hours! Skated this morning, had some time with my coach who was now full of helpful advice. Felt pretty good!

Boy, skates weigh a lot and take up a lot of room in your luggage!

Happy skating everyone,
Pat

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August 22, back on the ice!

When I travel, I always ball up my socks and other small items and cram them in my shoes and skates. (And I put the soft soakers in my skates too.)

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Ask me about becoming a bone marrow donor.
http://www.marrow.org
http://www.nmdp.org

As of 10:00 Thursday morning the toe issue will be resolved for the time being!
Despite the pain and pressure, I did have a good lesson with secondary coach today! Did the ENTIRE power three pattern and did not bail on stepping onto the RFO edge from back crossovers, that I often like to do!

Spins were awesome today, sans backscratch that was too painful to do. Did a fast, centered scratch spin, and just as fast and lower that usual sit and got two revs on the camel!!!

Will not skate until Thursday afternoon, when the foot will be better!

__________________
Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Blue Skys: Actually rotated a few flips today. This is a miracle.......considering I've been flip-less for nearly 2 years now. To think, this used to be my best jump. I also centered every single scratch spin. Who knew I could do that? It's ALWAYS been my worst spin, so I generally avoid it like the plague (give me a backspin any day of the week).

Storm Clouds: I'm in a skating funk of sorts. The past year has been mostly discouraging, and it's somewhat sucked the joy out of skating. Quitting keeps coming to mind.

Wow - flips! I know that's been one of your hopes.

We've got to figure out a way to cure this.

PS - ITA on the backspin.

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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've been on and off on flips for a while. Lately it's been off... well, unless you count a "brief" toe tap as a landing... Both coaches are totally cursing at me b/c "I should have OWNED that jump!!!" *sigh*

I'm still trying to center my scratch spin... heck sometimes I'm still having trouble crossing the leg over... Still keep going!!! And one of my major nemesis IS the backspin! Hate doing them... but now I can sorta do them now.

I TOTALLY understand at times that the feeling that you're not progressing may sap the joy out of skating... but this is usually when you are working out the major kinks in your skating. If you stay with it long enough, I'll bet that in the end, you'll end up becoming a WAAAY better skater than you'll ever imagined in the end. So if I were you, I'd stick it out to find out what you may get at the end of all the frustration but STILL stuck it out. Might be mighty interesting, 'ya know...

__________________
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!!!

Blue Skies:

-- Forward quick cross-rolls much better today. The "lead from the heel" break-through I made the other day stayed and coach #2 liked that I was attacking them from the start. She showed me a neat exercise she uses to help with the "lead from the heel" but I didn't want to try it now with Pro-Am so close.

-- Nice Quiet Back cross-rolls... hadn't touched them for almost a month but she had me do them and I had some of the best flow I've had in ages on back cross-rolls plus no scratchy toe-picky noises. Coach #2 got me to get even a bit further back on the blade and that really helped.

--Starlight Waltz... In lesson with coach #1 we did 2 patterns to the music almost at the start, and I did all the waltz 3's (3 of them in the 2 patterns counting the intro-3 the closest to being on time ever. Which made me very very happy.

Storm Clouds: While working on the transition into the "pull through" of the Starlight I fell on my butt. No big deal (there's LOTS of padding there) but as I fell, somehow I bent my right pinky finger backwards against my coach's hand or his side and it's a bit sore now and wanting to not stay comfortably against the rink finger. Not bad enough to really go to the doctor about (and I'm left handed so it's not like it will interfere with writing etc.) So if it still bothers me later today I may tape the 2 fingers together for a day or so.

Moral of the story... Having the weight too far back on the blade and not bending the ankles/knees AND not letting go of coach on a fall ALL at the same time is not healthy to one's anatomy.

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

Michigan,
I know how you feel. I get pretty slumpy at times. I know I don't want to totally quit, but I neeed something new and fun. I don't want to keep entering the same local events at silver (done it, won it) but I'm not all that interested in gold. Although I've never had much interest in competing in fs, I do love pairs and interpretive. What I'm trying to do is create some new interpretive programs while on the side waiting for the elusive pairs partner to pop up. I've also really enjoyed teaching and choreographing programs.
You have really done an amazing amount of work to get back to where you are now. Try to think about what you really enjoy and focus on that. You've had a successful skating career and now need to figure out what direction you want to take it in next.

Blue Skies: Landed my loop on the second try! I figured that jump was going to be a big hurdle to get over, since it sucked pretty bad back in CanFigureSkate. It wasn't beautiful, but I left the ice, went all the way around in the air, and landed on one foot facing the right direction. Waltz, sal, and toe-loop all improved. I'm particularly proud of the toe-loop progress, because that jump used to feel really awkward when I was younger. Also made some progress on the back spin. And the new skates still feel awesome!

Storm Clouds: Forward one-foot spin. It's traveling a LOT, and I can't get my free leg into the right position. Has lots of speed, but I imagine it looks hideous.

__________________
~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

Blue Skies:

• The evil RFI3 I had trouble with is getting better. I hope that I'll get even faster speed going into it soon too... (I could do it with some speed today...)
• Secondary coach notices that I'm skating a lot faster when I warm up. I don't have to use as many strokes as I used to, yet I'm moving A LOT faster!!! And since I don't stroke as much, I don't burn as much energy!!! WHAT a CONCEPT!!!! (And yes, she did comment on that too!!!)

Storm Clouds:

• What we had today in the Bay Area!!! It was light rain but it was raining... No one knows how to drive around here when a rain storm comes thru... even when it's a light drizzle!!! (My half hour commute became more like 50 minutes!!!)
• Evil secondary coach gave me an ending to my program... unfortunately to practice it, requires kneepads!!!

__________________
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 know the feeling! I swear, the other day I did really actually manage to do some, you know, _real_ flips, the kind where you don't cheat it and make it more like a salchow....but now they're all gone

Now I feel dumb because I ever said I could do them and now can't prove it. Maybe if I can get the blasted loop the'll come back...

I guess I shouldn't worry too much, I surely wasn't doing them well anyways, and to quote a friend of mine, "It is better not to do something than to do it poorly".

__________________
Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

Too bad. You're not allowed to quit. The rest of us here rely on news of your progress as encouragement to keep going ourselves! So there!

__________________
Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

Last lesson/practice before Pro-Am...

Paso worked well today. We were pretty pleased with how I skated it. (Still far from test quality, but definitely better than last year.) So I reckon that the Paso falls in the Blue Skies side of things.

Starlight.... well, Starlight was less star-Bright today. Actually 99% of the dance was about like normal. I did the quick drop 3's on time to the music and did a reasonable job on most of the 2nd side. Then we got to the "pull-through" and went flailing through the "how to get to my coach's left thumb" and got off-kilter. Recovered somewhat but not enough and almost totally face-planted on the waltz-3 at the end of the dance. Somehow pulled out or turned or some such without falling or otherwise injuring any bodyparts, not sure how, though. A definite Storm Cloud.

Tango... only did intros/exits on Tango to finalize the timing of the "in-place" intro, since I have a different Tango intro than coach's other skaters.

__________________
American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

Blue Skies
I had a lesson yesterday and today and both went very well. In total I ran through my programme four times and each time went completely error-free and my coach said it looked very good.

I've regained my confidence after having a bad skate on a busy patch last week due to the kids off on half-term. I couldn't land my lutz-loop to save my life then but it's back and strong this week.

I received a lovely compliment from David Clements, a top coach from another rink who was coaching one of his skaters at our rink today. He told me what beautiful music I skate to and that it was lovely to hear someone skate to "proper skating music" as he put it. He then told my coach that it really suited me!

Storm Clouds
Nothing really this week.

Nicki

That is so nice! What music was it, by the way??

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

Blue skies:
My foot was taken care of this morning. Actually, my podiatrist suggested that I get a callous scraper from the drugstore and use it when the callous builds up. I then asked him if it was safe for me to get pedicures and he told me yes! So that's better than a shot!
Had a good lesson today. Spins were really good. Ran through my freeskate program, since the Peach announcement is now out and it's time to get it back in motion. It wasn't bad, but I fell on the end pose and my footwork was slow!

Storm clouds:
Power threes on lesson! Kept bailing out on the starting pattern!
Also, one of the rink employees was hell bent on power washing the floor during freestyle- very noisy!

__________________
Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Flo,

Thanks! I'm hoping to do some dance this summer (if I can figure out a way to adjust my work schedule and fit a lesson in) to see if there is life after freestyle. I haven't figured out my niche in interp yet, but comedy is not it. Synchronized swimming is starting to sound appealing. I'm in trouble!

Sk8er1964,

We need another skate and Applebees afternoon.

I guess that solves that!

REALLY BLUE SKIES- i landed both my loop and flip consistently all week and my camel spin is getting better

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~Dreams Can Come True~

Blue skies:

1. I can stop! I can stop! Yay! Flattening the hollow a little bit really helped with stops and edges. I had never realized how sticky my blades had been. I even felt faster, but that could have been from a combination of the new sharpening, fresh ice, and flatter hollow. I didn't even notice a different in the deepness of my edges, which was niiiice. Maybe this is the right hollow for me after all.
2. I'm getting a private lesson next week! Yay!
3. Spirals don't suck! Yay! It's funny cause I hate practicing them, but they definitely weren't as bad as I remembered them. I could definitely hold them for a long time, which was good, but the forward inside ones are still ick. Now I'll have to try them at speed....
4. Finally got a few good sit spins, after some bungled attempts that had me really frustrated. Got a few good scratch spins too, but my consistency could always be better...
5. FO3's more controlled at speed yay!
6. Backsit somewhat stable.

Storm clouds:

1. CW forward crossovers still feel unnatural. Le sigh.
2. I'm jumping my BI3s. When I didn't jump them, I would underrotate them instead and fall on my butt. Booooooo.
3. Wasn't flipping the entrance of the backspin enough and my foot was trailing behind a bit. Sigh...

__________________
"The ice is finer when the zombie goes over it!" - said by an excited 5-year-old at the rink

"The life you've led is in fact not the totality of what is possible for you." - John Partridge of Wheaton College (and a Matrix philosopher )