This is the month of the pennant races...... so!

Home run:
Managed to get some power in my power threes back and not as tenative on doing them as before! Methinks Jazzpant's test has something to do with it. Jumps were back to their stable self and the backspin is still around.
Did 1 1/2 revs on a camel spin!


Strikeout:
Sitspin was off, then on, then off.. feel like I was 3-2 with 2 outs and bases loaded on that one!
Too much of a mix between little beginner freestlyers and kids doing doubles!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Home run: Jumps are solid, don't know why but running round 80%. New footwork is going well.

Strikeout: Making it through longer program is difficult 3.10 ain't easy.

Ball 3: Dances

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Who me? Couldn't be....
http://www.youtube.com/bouldersk8r

Home Run

-my coach taught me a catch-camel! they are sooooooo fun! i actually was able to do them by the end of the session! wooooooooo!!!!!!!!

-coach taught me layback... lol... ok...

-did the best sit spin ive ever done in front of my coach... low and fast

-today was a good spinning day

-get to move up to next competition level!

Strike Out

-jumps were off...

-somehow my back scratch was on an inside edge... coach couldnt even do it that way... haha

-hockey guys by the ton, those little stupid 10 yr. olds playing hockey tag... so it was hard to get stuff done

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~Dreams Can Come True~

home run:
sit/back sit is coming along, although I know it probably looks nothing like it should.

Lutz is progressing to the point it is becoming more comfortable, although the slight pause as I toepick in bothers me as I know it's a slight cheat. It should be an instant spring, not a 1/10 or 1/100 of a second pause.

I'm doing loop/loop again.

strike out/K/standing there like a house by the side of the road:
I can do the loop/loop in isolation, like if my coach asks me to just do it. But where it comes in my program, it's as if I never landing the combo ever in my life.

other than that, life's good!

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

Wang chung!

Strike Out:

• Loops??? What Loops???
• Back to working on Bronze moves!!! Was working on the forward progressives and back crossovers. Did swizzles around the circle (both forward and backwards, both directions...) which was scary to do with all these people at public session...

Home Run:

• Had a couple of good backspins.
• Had a few good camel attempts and at least one camel that went around at least 2 revs.
• Did managed to do faster and smoother power 3's on the LFO3's side better. Now to get it consistent and smooth out the RFO3's side...
• Had a talk with primary coach...who said that I had a tough panel of judges and thought I should have passed this time around. When I told him that secondary coach said "You are testing in Dec!!!" (Statement, not question) and I said "I am?", he jumped in and said "YES YOU ARE testing in Dec!!!" (Statement, not question!) WOW!!! I definitely had a lot of support from my coaches alright!!!

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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!!!

Home Run:

This week I'm playing on a guest field - I'm on a training in London, so taking an opportunity to enjoy mid-week skating whilst I can.

Queens rink in West End measured up quite well - it's a small patch, but quiet, not too busy and the ice is good.

I've been working on recently discovered spin technique, and also sit spin - I think I'm starting to get it, at least I get my free leg turned out and pointed 8 times out of 10, and it used to be a major chllenge.

Strike Out:

I want a nice backspin too and it's not there yet.

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My other car is a Zamboni

Home Run

I at least got to skate and landed all the jumps I usually can

Strikeout

-2sal is 2 footed at the best and I felt really tired tonight doing everything.
-My foot (plantar fasciitis) was strapped by physio today and I couldn't feel my edges on that foot properly, especially on spin entrances.
-The ice was really bad, like pushing through mud because of all the public skating as it is the school holidays.
-OK the worst part was having to listen to the same 3 pieces of music put on by the same coach over and over again. She did it to us last week too. How appropriate is it for a child to be skating to the "I'm a Barbie girl" song or the "If I was a rich girl" (Gwen Stefani I think) song anyway? We were all really fed up with it. Grrrrrrr!!! The children I'm talking about can barely skate anyway and shouldn't really be on these sessions but this particular coach seems to do what she wants without a thought for anyone else.
-Final grizzle (I promise i'll be alot happier next week! ) is that tonight was the only figure skating session scheduled for my rink for this whole week, something to do with being the school holidays.

Home Run: Coach sez it's a go to test pre-figures next month. The waltz 8 is a little wonky but with practice should be all set in the next two weeks. Just to make sure I have an edge on my figure eights, coach has me do them in my freestyle skates...If I get on and edge with no flats with those, it is a cinch with my patch skates....stay tuned..

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Keeping School Figures Alive!!

I take it these are baseball terms? And that a "home run" is a good thing and a "strikeout" a bad one?

Anyway, back on the ice this morning!

Home run: Husband was working on turning while lifting me, to try to avoid what happened on Sunday when he knew he wouldn't complete the turn so stood still with me in his arms as the finale (at least he didn't drop me in front of the judges, as happened in the summer!). That was quite fun, especially when he got some speed up! Aaaarrrrgggghhhh, scary! And we decided to work on our pushing and gliding, and got skating so fast it was way outside my comfort zone, although he bravely said it wasn't outside his, and he could do chassés that fast (yeah, right, I believe him, thousands wouldn't!).

He only skated for 20 minutes or so, but I stayed on until 10.15, and had fun catching up with those who had skated at the Nebelhorn trophy at the weekend and other friends. And skating, too. I was working on runs round the circle, and remembered what Jimmy Young had said in his masterclass about turning one's ribcage to face into the circle, not one's shoulders. Then later I was working on forward swing rolls, and was having my usual trouble with my shoulders, so decided to see what would happen if I turned my rib-cage instead. Bingo! Instant improvement! Much faster and easier.

Strikeout: Back cross-cuts still not happening. Back cross-rolls horrendously slow and clunky. And my sides hurt after all that ribcage-turning! And my friend reminded me to point my toes!

Plus our coaches are going to Scotland for the Championships there - typical, why couldn't they have gone last year when we were going, too???? This year, the Scottish Adults were separate, and back in August. Not that I particularly want my coach to put me on the ice, but I'd like him to see what the standard of adult skating is these days!

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

Home Run- All my doubles were done well, nice and light on my feet with plenty of hieght. Combinations were all good, including axel double loop, and Split/2flip/2toe (not had good combos for while!)
Over all pretty good jumping day!!

Strike Out- SPINS!!! No matter how hard I tried I wasn't getting anywhere! Done a few good parallel back sits but my legs started to feel so tired that they just started going weird!!
Also now Im back at uni I am not getting to skate as much, especially not during the day when I usually go and all the little ones are at school so usually only 2 or 3 of us on the ice!
Belle

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Keep Smiling!

Home Run:
Back crossrolls were good, technique-wise; now I need to work on getting a bit more speed & power on them. Back power pulls were also pretty good, although I need to pay attention to keeping the outside edge lobes even with the inside edge lobes. I tend to take spirals for granted, so I made sure that my coach checked them out today and they were mostly fine. The leg position and free leg height were great, but when I do a left forward spiral I apparently need to look at something in front of me, otherwise I'll go on an edge. I did about three of them that shifted to an outside edge when I was trying to skate on a flat. So my coach got in front of me on the fourth attempt to see what was going on exactly, and that's when I managed to stay on a flat. I also managed to do a pretty decent sit spin "cold", when my coach asked me to do it on the spot in order to demonstrate a point about crossrolls.

Strike Out:
Strike 1: Forward crossrolls -- UGH! Strike 2: Forward power pulls -- double UGH! I can't generate decent flow on either move. I'm nowhere near on pattern while doing the power pulls. And then my coach actually asked me if I wanted to try and test Silver moves next month when there's a test session at our rink. HA! Like that's going to happen Strike 3: I didn't get to the rink early enough to work on the mohawk or three turn sequences before my lesson.

Seventh Inning Stretch:
My coach gave me a neat exercise to do for spirals that can be done off-ice as well as on-ice. Going down the length of the rink, you start in a spiral, drop into a lunge, and then rise back up onto a spiral on the same leg, etc. You can also do spiral-shoot the duck-back up into a spiral-lunge-back up into a spiral, etc. It's a quad killer! But I'm sure it will be helpful in the long run.

Grand Slam!!!

Best. Session. Ever.

Well maybe not EVER but it's been a while since I had things click like they did today.

I did NOT lose my loop - in fact it's gotten better and now I'm able to do 5 loops in a combo AND a solid loop-loop from back XO's. Flippin SWEET.

Speaking of flips I did an AMAZING flip jump that had everyone in my general area in awe. My skate buddy said it was one of my best ones ever. I did a couple more really good ones but I had a couple two footed/cheated landings sprinkled throughout. Much better than Saturday or Thursday when I couldn't do them at all.

I was watching a woman work on backspins and something made me want to try - and I was actually able to not only do a backspin with like 4-5 good fast revolutions, but I was also able to check out of it. Man oh man oh man!!!!

I did a Biellmann spin today...like, a REAL one. I could stand to improve on my flexibility a little more to get the leg higher and spin slightly faster but it was GOOD. The kids at the rink were like "WHOA HOW DO YOU DO THAT???". What a self esteem booster.

My brackets are actually travelling across the ice at a good pace and in a relatively straight line...much better on the right foot than the left foot, but considering I never though I'd be able to do consecutive brackets like that only a couple of weeks ago this is amazing.

Scratch spins were good today too - nice and centered but not as fast as I'd like. Gotta work on squeezing in.

Sit spins have gotten many more revolutions and a LOT more speed. I need to work on pointing the toe a little bit and maybe start experimenting with upper body position.

Overall today was SO much fun - I can't believe I got the flip, loop, Biellmann and backspin in one day. Now I just need to KEEP them.

The axel is coming soon, I can taste it...

Strikeout:

Yesterday night the session was cut short two hours early - the rink security came and said there was an incident with a bus on the street just outside the rink - some sort of explosion. They handed out vouchers for a complimentary skating session and asked everyone to leave. People packed quikly and silently, made a few phone calls in case things are in the news already and families are watching, and headed home. On the way back I saw an emergency services vehicle pushing through a crowd of onlookers near Bayswater tube station, but overall it looked quiet - no police or ambulance, and buses were still running.....

Home run:

Were was nothing in the news today or yesterday, so I assume it was something minor and not related to The Thing that Everyone Fears (I now sound too much like J.K.R.). Certainly, no one was harmed and that's all that matters. And I got a "skate for free" voucher to use!

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My other car is a Zamboni

It may have been either a mechanical problem with the bus, or a false alarm (this happens, better safe than sorry!).

Husband had said he wasn't going to skate this morning, as it is the First Wednesday of the month, on which day we brave the unknown territory of North London and go to Alexandra Palace, but by this morning he'd changed his mind.

Home Run: We didn't do much serious work, this is not a week for heavy training, but we did work on variable-speed runs round the circle, which were quite fun. And we played with some moves to put in a new free dance, and also with our spin. Which didn't work very well, but the work he's put in on his solo spin does show.

In my lesson, I worked mostly on my Dance Moves, and on stepping from backwards to forwards (we don't call it a Mohawk here unless there's no push, and the one thing he wanted me to do was push!). At the end of the lesson, I was able to play some tracks from the CD from which we hope to cut next year's free dance - the trouble is, the track I really, really like might be too challenging for us, but I'm not too sure I want the "safe" option..... I'll cut both, and there's a third track I also like that might be a good compromise, we'll see, so I'll cut that, too, and then we can have some fun. No point in doing too much choreography before next year's rules are published, but we can play around and work out some steps to put in.

We are beginning to be able to do 3-bracket-3 together holding hands. Both directions! Not very well - rather scratchy - but a start!

Strikeout: "So push!" said the coach, when I was trying to do waltz 3s round the circle, but concentrating on the step to forwards. Er - yeah - but if I push, I can't do the wretched 3-turn!!!! So he had to change the exercise! I could do it with him, had he fancied doing waltz 3s wiht me, but he obviously didn't.

When I was working on back swing rolls, I had serious trouble controlling my free leg, but at least I now know what I was doing wrong! I was allowing it to swing wide, which was pulling me flat - but it's really hard to get it in the right place!

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

Home Run: The rink is open, finally! Got back on the ice after a summer off two days ago and had fun skating around. Did some edges, crossovers, and did some retarded little waltz jumps.

Strike Out: I am feeling more and more like I am wasting my time with this sport. A summer off, and while I stayed in shape, I pretty much lost all my edges, all my crossovers. I had a lesson today and it was a real waste of time. I'm sure the edges will come back, probably just in time for the rink to close next summer. Coach was helpful and great as always, but at this rate I feel like I'm wasting my money. It's an expensive sport to suck at.

My feet are also killing me; lots of pressure on my bunions and I didn't manage to skate more than my lesson because I could barely stand. Limped home. I'm getting the boots (relatively new) punched out; they fit when I bought them in March, I haven't gained any weight.

Blah.

This is my new mantra! I love it.

Don't give up; this was your first time back out & it will take a little while to get everything back--but it won't take a year! Give it a few more weeks & I'm sure you'll be feeling much better.

Strike Out: Don't you love how this is an on-again, off-again thing? While my spins are starting to return, my jumps are now very tentative....(I also do retarded waltz jumps and will upload and link a video when I figure out how!) I over-rotate on my toe-loop and don't spring up on any jump.

Home Run: Spirals....I can manage to get on the outside edge and make it curve. I did a large full-lap spiral! They are looking nice. Spins....yes, they enjoyed their summer vacation and have returned somewhat. I even pulled out of one because I went around so fast I got skeered! Back Inside Edges...did some where the lobes were rounded (not just squiggly), even though I hit a bump and almost fell but working on keeping free foot in front is hard....I'll take it anyway!

Hubby showed up at the rink yesterday to drop off video camera that I forgot, he later watched video footage; he had nothing but complements (of course, he's extrememely biased!) Private coach tonight...get to see what she says! I forgot to work on waltz 8's yesterday...

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

Strikeout: Why don't husbands wear their watches? Mine has just rung up to say that he didn't notice the time, and can't now get home before about 7.00 pm, so no way are we going to make the class tonight! We should make the social dancing, though - but what a pity!

Ah well, I'm a bit tired, so perhaps it's as well. But I did have quite a pleasant nap this afternoon.

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

Can't say this is a Home Run or a Strikeout, so...

Base Hit:
Started on my Pre-Bronze FS program for Skate SF. It's originally choreographed by primary coach, but I had secondary coach take a look at it and the first thing she said was "It needs to cover A LOT MORE ice surface!!!" So without changing the general footwork, she changed ALL the places where I do my jumps, spins and footwork.

Oh, wait 'til I show this to primary tomorrow... I'd be curious as to what he says about it. (I actually like the sense that I'm getting more ice coverage now.) The other thing I was thinking of tweaking for extra points is to change where I normally do toe loop and see if I could do a flip instead. But for now, I just want to get the general sense of the new placement of all my elements.

Other than that... don't remember much of this morning. I was sleep-skating again!!!

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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!!!

Sleep-skating LOL!! Where did you get this smiley?? Love it!!

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

http://degiorgi.math.hr/forum/images/smiles/ (Courtesy of TashaKat...)

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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!!!

Home Run:
Bronze moves are moving along and was practicing 5 step mohawk today when I hear this yelling of "EXTEND, EXTEND!" It was my coach yelling at me!
Did move on to have a good lesson with secondary coach where we worked on the moves test itself and....
My coaches are just as confused about the adult judging standard on the Adult Moves tests as the rest of us are!
With that said, if I can fit my moves into the smaller rink in the area, I amy be taking my Bronze moves test on November 11!

Strike out:
Too many little ones mixed with kids doing doubles on the session!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Home Run:
Willow Waltz, Ten Fox, Fourteenstep, and Foxtrot felt good. Apparently, the Willow even LOOKED good, so I'm happy. It's a very good thing that I took up dance, because...

Strikeout with bases loaded to end the 9th:
Ever since the Peach Classic, all of my jumps have gone off somewhere else. I'm not sure what I did to offend them. Double sal, axel, and even the lutz are just...well, presumably on vacation. Dunno when they'll be back. Hopefully soon, or else it will be me who will be taking a vacation.

At least I can usually still spin. Usually. Not today.

LOL - I get this too - even when my dance coach is teaching someone else and I'm practising (even in the far corner from where she is), all I hear is (in a *very* loud voice bellowing down the rink) "EXTEND! and EXTEND! and EXTEND!" She later said that it doesn't matter who's she's teaching - if she notices one of her students not doing what they should be she'll forcefully point it out. She's not wrong.

Home run:

"Exploding" bus mystery solved:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4310434.stm

Strikeout:

My loops are now belong to eigher of two types: the ones that land and the ones that rotate. Those that land are badly underrotated and thus the landing is rather tentative. The ones that have good take-off and rotation are always two-footed. Looks like I'll be working on a merger for a while.....

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My other car is a Zamboni