No diamonds here. I don't know if I should even bother adding to the thread.
I haven't been able to skate this week, and won't be going skating tomorrow. My foot is much better from last week (the test is tonight at ballet- but I think I should be good to go) so I should be able to go skating, but I have been running a fever all week and am busy with work, I can't justify going skating and coming in late.

But group lessons start next week and I'm thrilled!


Congrats to the poster above on your engagement! I still call my husband my boyfriend and we've been married over a year. I never called him a fiancee... it just seemed silly (we were engaged for over a year just didn't want to call him that).

Oh and I guess I have a non-skating diamond. My sister had a baby yesterday, so I'm a first time Aunt. She lives in a different state, but I get to go visit in 2 weeks... wonder if there's a rink nearby

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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)

Check out www.arenamaps.com and see if there is one where she lives (or close by).

Congrats!

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

Well, my ankles are definitely hating me at the moment. I had an extremely productive time at the rink, but I had to cut it short because of the pain from my boots rubbing my ankles. I definitely need bunga pads or something like that - I don’t want to use thick socks again and I don’t think trouser socks will cut it. So my left ankle is raw and bloody, the right is just a little raw. Nothing some neosporin and a band-aid can’t fix.

Aside from that the lesson was great! I warmed up with some stroking and Beth was again yelling at me for not getting over my edges. Arrrgh. It seems like it’s such a silly/easy thing to get but yet somehow I’m completely incapable of doing it. I do notice that when I look at my reflection in the boards my stroking gets better but if I’m left to my own devices it’s total garbage. Grrr.

We went into waltz jumps straight away. I really learned a lot about the waltz jump in the lesson as well as afterwards when an experienced skater came over and assisted me through the jump. By the end of the session I actually felt like I made progress with the jump for once. Here’s to hoping that what I learned sticks - I’m getting sick of having a crappy waltz jump. How on Earth will I ever do an axel if the waltz jump barely leaves the ice?

We moved on to salchows and I was having trouble with my 3 turn exit. After some work we got it to do what it needed to, but the jump wasn’t travelling out much so I was assigned homework for it.

On to spins - I did a decent scratch spin and Beth couldn’t say much other than watch the first position, which I ended up getting a tip for later from another skater who danced. We moved on to backspins and she fixed two little things - the entry needed to curve more and the hip needed to be more open and viola! Instant backspin. Granted it was slow, and sloppy, and travelled but it was a place to start. On these blades/boots I can actually feel the sweet spot quite easily so I was pleased.

Again I was complimented on my proficency with my new boots and blades. In fact the guy that mounted them for me said he can tell I’m skating better only after a handful of hours logged in. I just need to address the rubbing issues and let the boots soften up a little more and I should be good!

diamonds
Wow, what a positive 2 hour practice for me today. I bought some orthodics for my skates and I can tell a *world* of difference. I feel so much more steady and secure in my new skates. I finally got my backwards swizzles today! Granted, they're not completely consistant yet, but I did manage to swizzle my way across the rink a few times quite steadily. Also, my 2-foot turns came back in full force today with the quietest of turns. I was even doing them with some speed, too! My 1/2 swizzles (which were never that good) started to come together today. They're not the strongest in the world, but I'm starting to get the feel for them. I also managed a couple of one-foot glides today. I didn't get to work on them as much as I'd intended because the rink of chock full of kids from private Christian schools (when, typically, the noon period is virtually deserted as I'd expected). I couldn't help but laugh when, after I my first successful 1 foot glide, these 3 little boys just stood there with their mouths open. They thought it was the coolest thing and kept asking me how I did it. I thought it was funny because there were other freestyle skaters there doing *way* cooler things, but they loved mine because it was like a ninja. And I think I finally have the beginnings of a backwards wiggle! It ain't the smoothest of wiggles (and my toe picks kept grinding as I did them), but I did get the right backwards motion going. I'm realizing that my key problem is that I'm trying *too* hard -- I'm trying to force the skates to move with too heavy a touch when I should simply let them glide softly and then guide them in the proper directions with simply body movements. I also met several other skaters today who introduced themselves to me and chatted with me at various times. What fun today!

pebbles
Because of all the kids (and runamuck teenagers) at the rink, I probably spent more time dodging other people than I did actually practicing. It seemed like every time I set myself up with the preparation to one-foot-glide, someone rugrat would dive right in front of me and I'd have to abort. After a strong 2-hour session for me, I was getting ready to make the 45 minute drive home -- just as all the kids were leaving and the rink was emptying out. Oh, well.

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"finger painting?"

Pebbles:
horrible patch session really busy full of LTS kids who can barely stand up on skates , ice was in awful condition felt like skating on concrete top it all off with blades that wouldn't cut butter (must ring sharpener ) = not a totally productive 2 hours with a few exceptions..

Diamonds
he he, i did a back spin soo happy, two revolutions and a decent exit. however only managed it once so probably a fluke
did a few good toe loops with a bit more height and better take off than usual.

will take my skates to be sharpened, looking foward to having edges again

I'm pretty much in the same boat. My waltz jumps are low and I've been really concentrating on bending and jumping UP... The salchows are getting better-coach has had me hold the 3-turn (in and out parts) for 2-3 counts before jumping. It's really hard to hold it checked like that but makes for a nice jump when I can.

Hope your ankles get better! (have you tried makeup sponges as padding?)

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

My waltz jumps aren't low per se, in fact some times they get really good height, but they just don't extend OUT because I'm too chicken to extend the free leg all the way through. So I'm basically jumping in place lol. A guy at the rink helped me get past the fear of swinging through today (I was afraif of falling backwards), so now it's a matter of the strength to get a really good swing. I can do a great off ice waltz jump - great split, extension, height - but on the ice I clam up. Now that I feel more secure with my entrance edge and take off the jump is a lot less scary. It's funny that I'm so, well I WAS so terrified of a little half revolution jump.

With the salchow my coach had me do the same thing today, but the exit on the 3 kept scratching so I really needed to pull the upper body back. Again though, the jump goes up but not out. Sigh.

I actually used makeup sponges in my skates before the last ones I had because I had problems with rubbing. I'm going to go back to that for sure - cheap and very cushioney. Do you use medical tape to keep them in place? Bandaids would tend to rub off I'd think...thoughts?

diamond necklace: landing my double sal and toe consistently. Got in a couple of double loop attempts today, and landed them about half the time, double footing alot.

pebble in my shoe: went to a public today, b/c a friend called and said it wasnt busy. o it wasn't busy. But for like 5 hours they didnt resurface the ice once, not once.

still can't get my axel back, I'm underrotating a half turn and when I do rotate I two foot it. Fell on one attempt and have a huge lump bruise under my kneee, the size of a tomato.

took off my skate to find that my blister was bleeding, thats what i get for skating every day on spring break.

yea, i got home not in a good mood.

A Diamond: My coach found me 2 hours of ice time for Saturday so I get one more shot at RFXO before spring skating school! And I made myself a butt pad - backward skating here we come!

Pebbles: Ignore the lumps in my tights!!!

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

Skittl1321- Congrats on being and auntie!!! I have two neices and a nephew and I spoil them so much!

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Keep Smiling!

I don't normally post in these threads but I've had a good week, so here I am.

Diamonds: I finally seem to have exorcised my double toe demons. For years I have absolutely hated this jump and been afraid of it, despite having no problems with the other doubles and everyone saying that it should be easy for me. Over the past few months I have forced myself to work on it and in the past week something has clicked in my brain and it suddenly seems so easy. I'm kicking myself that it took so long! I also managed to land some 2sal-2toe combinations - the first time I've been able to put a double toe as the second half of a combination. Double loops on the end have never been a problem but I've always been too chicken to go for the 2toe.

I've also done some work on the entry to my 2sal which has made it much bigger than before so I have been working on some triples and making good progress. I've done a number now where I have made the rotations and actually felt the landing foot underneath me but been unable to hold it, in my experience bad triple attempts are just a blur until you fall, so I think being able to find the landing foot is good progress. I just need to hold it now and I might get this jump (not bad for someone pushing 27!).

Pebble: Mountain Cup is looming and I haven't even begun my programme. Better get crackin'.

John

Well done, John - I shall look forward to seeing it!

At least you have an Interp, assuming you'll base it on what you did at the Broadgate thing!

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

Yes, just with half the time and 10 times as much ice

John

Sunshine:
The makeup pads are usually inserted under socks or stockings. If you wear tights, you can use medical tape to stick them down and it doesn't leave too much sticky residue-they may shift though.

My coach tells me to go out-your jump needs to go up and you need more speed. It's a matter of moving out of my comfort zone..... For the salchow, to hold the exit of the 3, I've found that really getting down in the knee (like a jump landing position) helps bunches, then you are in better position to spring up. Same for the waltz before it's jumped-down in the knee and then go up. Once I started doing this-my jumps started covering ice.

Someone at the rink recommended I spend time doing off-ice jumps. I'll take his advice because I need all the help I can get!!!

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

More pebbles: I have a horrible cold, and have to miss skating today.
The way things are going I will probably have to miss tomorrow's session as well. I hate missing a minute of skating.

I suppose the diamond is that it might give a niggling hamstring strain a chance to heal.
And the chance to regain some perspective.
Sometimes I forget I am 46, fat, unfit, and have only been skating maybe 6 months after a 20 year break. I put too much pressure on myself to get it right straight away. Need to remember I do this because I love it.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

Pebble: I was a bit tired tonight AND trying out my new contacts. My eyes were sort of dry until I hit the rink. Out on the ice they were fine. Jumps were weird because of the contacts. Might take some time to get used to them while skating-kept trying to push up glasses that weren't there

Diamond: Spins were GREAT!!!! Did some that were FAST!!! And CENTERED!!! And, in class, got some more tips that helped* and ALMOST had the sit-spin!!! And CAMEL**!!! WOO-HOO!!!

*go low, like a lunge, leave the free leg behind then when the spin flips (3-turn ish) the free leg comes around...when that happens, flip the heel over so the toe points out. All this helps to bring the free leg in closer to the spinning leg-it worked!!

**enter like a scratch, but arms make a swimming motion then assumes a spiral position-I'm to look at the left arm; when it hooks, rise up on the spinning leg. At least this time I didn't pitch forward as much and my free leg actually was in the right position.

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

Poor you! I sympathise, after this week. Still, I'm feeling well enough now that I shall at least try to skate tomorrow, and because of other commitments later in the morning, it'll only be an hour, anyway.

Been there, done that, but it really does help! And as you found, ones spins improve instantly and dramatically! At least, most people's do - mine, of course, didn't!

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

Annabel:
My group coach skates in contacts and also says that for some reason, the rink air keeps them from drying out too much. She also said because I don't have the distortion from frames, that my jumps will take a bit of practice to get where they were.

And having allergies kicking in doesn't help. Had to take them out this morning, put in allergy drops, clean the contacts and plop them back in---much better!

Then I had a thought-if my contacts mess me up one day and I have to skate with my glasses, I'm in trouble because they are bifocals!!!! Yikes! So, I'm keeping my old glasses in my skate bag "just in case" of problems. Sheesh!

Ok, back to sewing (costumes for Wizard on Ice)........and no chocolate in the house (helps me sew) !

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

Diamond: Finally got back on the ice! I picked up 2 hours of casual ice to stretch my legs before Spring Skating School (Monday). Considering I hadn't skated in a week, it didn't go too bad.

Pebble: I must be coming down with something. By the last half hour I was a "space cadet" (light headed). Had a nap and plan a lazy day tomorrow so hope to be back on my game for Monday.

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

ALL PEBBLES!

I hurt my knee last Sunday, and the pain didn't stop after a day, so I decided not to skate (or run up or down stairs, etc.) untill it stopped hurting. Then I went to my group lesson (just to watch!) and skated (because I'm dumb).

So I told myself no skating until my knee is pain free for two days. This is the first day. I'm going nuts. Is it possible to be addicted to skating? I guess there are worse things...

Actually, one diamond. My new skates will be here soon, and I'll be able to skate in them!

Hi, my name is Dianne and I am a skat-a-holic.



I told my coach I was going into withdrawl last week (hadn't skated in 5 days) - she found me casual ice for today - she understands!

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

pebble in my shoe: went out on the ice today and it was soo soft, i felt like i never really did warm up. it was like the management forgot to turn on the cooling system. I took off my jacket before I even started warming up. Tried a couple of spins, and i was literally drilling myself in to the ice. whne they resurfaced it, it took 25min to fully harden. so yea, didn't exactly get much spinning practice in. It was hard to do even things like 3 turns...the second i leaned in to the edge the blade was like digging in to the ice and i couldn't get out of it. horrible...even hockey ice is better.

diamond: i got some really pretty fuzzy white gloves, love em. yep, thats about it.

wow... about time I wrote in this!

Diamonds: not much really....

• My forward crossovers still suck but are sort of there
• My backward crossovers didnt disappear which was nice, but they still arent great.
• My mohawks and my 3-turns are lovely
• My teacher reckons my turn out is very good (probably helps that Ive danced since I was 3yo)
• I was playing around with extending into a 3-turn and bringing the free leg forward and ended up doing a spin!!! of course my husband wasnt watching and I couldnt properly replicate it again

Pebbles:

• Landed on my problem knee again (left one) JUST as it was starting to heal fully...
• Im getting frustrated because Im not doing things consistently enough for my liking
• There are too many people in my class... and we are contained to a small area, so forward crossovers, where all I want to do is push and extend, I cant because I'll either run into someone or kick someone!
• The ice is SHIT, you can see the sand AND the pipes down one end... and someone accidently stuck their blade through the ice again... luckily this time they missed the pipe.... I just wish someone would make a new rink NOW, or at least fix this one up!!!

Oh and it was very funny today... I have a friend who is scared of falling, and when she does she usually lands on her hand/wrist... so I practised falling with her today!! One other girl didnt believe me when I said I was practising falling... until she witnessed us doing it!! it was good fun

Hubby skated today, and helped out a few of my mates which was good... after he helped me with my backward crossovers We had one of the older ladies come up and ask if she could join in on the lesson!!

It was a good session, but my skating could be better.

ETA: I forgot one last thing... After the session a bunch of my skating friends followed me up to the carpeted stretching area and I ended up taking an impromptu class in basic stretches to help with flexibility and turn out. I was very good and made them do it softly, and I am in no means a qualified teacher, but they wanted someone to show them some basic stuff, so I did None of them have ever done dance or major sports, so I did know a bit more than them about stretching.. I think they got a good experience out of it which is good

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-Erinna-
aka cassarilda

My Progress Report!
"Did I mention there is only ONE rink in Melbourne?!"
"If you're not flying, you're obviously not trying!!!" - courtsey of the guy who helped me up off the ice after my last spectacular and sore fall

Diamonds
My daughter and my cousin both competed in their first ever competition yesterday. My daughter came first, and my cousin came 2nd in their respective levels. Both were thrilled and had such a great time.

Pebbles
I didn't go skating today because my daughter had a bad accident while playing and cut the end of her toe off, right from the top of her toenail around. Luckily we went straight to the A&E ward at the closest hospital and they were able to re-attach it and said blood flow seemed okay and it should heal nicely on it's own. However, it means that she can't skate and, at the start of school holidays, I wonder what that means for me!!??

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AW1
mum to Miss Lil (6yrs old)
mum to be to #2 due in March 08

Back on the ice today, probably shouldn't have been as it looks like I may be heading for bronchitis. Cleaned my sinuses out a treat though.

Diamond: I tried putting a think cork heel lift under my insoles to change my centre of balance. I am sure my old Altamura boots had higher heels than my Grafs, thought it might help. It immediately made a big difference to finding my spinning point on my blade.
Pebble: still couldn't actually centre my spins.

Diamond: tried loops from crossovers instead of an inside 3, worked better.

Pebble: still can't work out why I cannot do flips! I fall every time. Under rotated, picking to the side, I don't know. Used to be my favourite jump once upon a time.

Diamond: great to be on the ice again. Sure I only missed one session, but that is one session too many for me.

Pebble: nasty fall. I was only doing a simple one-foot spin, but my blade stopped dead, and that was it. Fell heavily on my left buttock, right where the leg bone meets the pelvis and it really hurt !!! Still hobbling several hours later.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am