Electricity:

• I'm on vacation in sunny 'Vegas!
• My foot has stopped hurting...is it finally getting better?

Power Outage:

• I got food poisining, so most of vacation has been spent in bed/in bathroom
• I just heard on the news about the suspected terrorists. Am a bad flyer as it is, now I dread the thought of flying back to the UK even more...
• After my dance lesson before vacation, I overheard my ice dance coach and a couple of others making some really nasty comments about my skating. I don't care what people say behind my back, or if they laugh with me to my face, but this really got to me: it doesn't bother me so much that they think I'm a crappy skater, it's the fact they obviously thought I was deaf/stupid and couldn't hear them!

S xxx

Oh, I'm so sorry. Maybe that's why your foot feels better, though (silver lining) since you've been resting. Feel better.[/quote]
Good luck. Go to the carrier's or MSNBC's website -- you have to check makeup, drinks, a ton of things. Check them or toss them. What a hassle. Safe journey home.
You need to tell the ice dance coach to HIS/HER face that you overheard that and that you were terribly insulted. Be clear about dropping him/her and taking lessons from another coach. How unprofessional: you had just been on lesson and paid him/her money and he/she badmouths you? I'm sure you're doing fine for a newbie, they're the ones with the weakness and lack of sportsmanship.

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Totally second that--If there are ANY other options for other coaching, I'd fire their a## in a heartbeat. Coaches are there to support us, nuture us, and guide us along. The ONLY thing a coach could justifiably complain about a student is if they don't work hard or ever practice. Mentioning faults or weaknesses in skating technique or whatever is one thing.....laughing/joking about your skating is absolutely unacceptable. I'm so sorry you overheard that, I would be devestated if I heard my coach doing something like that.

As I said in my post on the 'skirt thread' (but will repeat here) that is TOTALLY unprofessional of him/her. I pay my coach to tell me what I'm doing wrong and to work with me to improve my skating. I've only been skating for 3 and half months and if he ever laughed at me I think that would be the end of me having him as my coach. However, he is endlessly encouraging, endlessly patient and endlessly supportive. Even when I do something stupid and end up laughing at myself he will say how it is all part of the learning curve and that everyone, including him, has been there and done it.

And the last bit is so true. Every single one of us begins by looking like Bambi on ice when we first start skating. It is unforgiveable for coaches to take cheap shots at new students, or discuss their skating abilities in a negative way with fellow skaters. Any chance you could get a new coach?

Electricity:
- I'm starting to get over the double toeloop mental block, landing another two this morning (but not until after I'd singled or aborted about 20! I need to watch it if I don't want my shin splints to get worse).
- Got through 2 program run-throughs this morning, with just a couple minutes break in between. Good for stamina building, at least.
- Completed the flying camel-back sit nicely in my second program run-through, as well as my opening combination spin.
- My change edge spiral is starting to KICK A@@!

Power Outage:
Skipped the axel in both of my program run-throughs. On the first one, my edge was curling too much as I stepped out for it (arrghh, need to fix that consistently?!), and on the second one, I was set up just fine but my legs were tired and just said no.

Electricity:
* During my private lesson I was tested for ISI. Apparently they do not send in the "report cards" from the LTS program as I had to start by testing all the basic skills including forward strokes..giggle. I guess that is great because I flew through the first couple tests. Ended in FS 2. Not too shabby for eight months so I was pleased. There were a few things in the next level that I was not familiar with so coach said we will work on those and test again in about a month for the next level.

*Getting more revolutions on spins and better consistency. Though I still am hit and miss on one footed out of a cross over I can usually get one or two revolutions and 3-5 from a stand still on one foot and tons on a two foot. This is a minor miracle for me! Since I consistently do the same mistake over and over which is dropping my right shoulder when I pick up my foot, I should be able to address it eventually.

*All edges are now strong after a few minutes warm up. Inside 3-turns in edges are easy for me while outside more difficult in doing the semi circle pattern. My coach says it should be opposite. I joked with her that should and is...really are two different things.

*Have been working on getting my waltz jump and half flip bigger since I am getting more comfortable with them. Noted some improvement there.

Power Outage: Took my niece skating several times. She thought I was awesome when she saw me in comparison on a public session. She watched my private lesson during a freestyle session and after watching with the others on the ice doing amazing things she said..."Gosh, you kinda suck at this"...eeeek...there goes my super aunt identity!

*During my group lesson Saturday, the instructor had us doing moves. I was totally confused and told her I needed the remedial version. giggle again. She then asserted that she did not know what it was about Saturday classes...but her students were more retarded on Saturday mornings....Did I mention she lacked social judgment? lol.

*I skate for free during public sessions as LTS students get that benefit at my rink. Instead I went and paid for another rink last night as there are typically so few people on the public ice there. I arrived to find a snotty skater doing her "thing" that seemed insistent on skating anywhere I went! Was she demonstrating that she is a better skater...What was her deal? I wanted to ask but just assumed she was in need of a little attention or something. There were only about 10 people on the ice but 8 were teens in need of professional help. They were throwing quarters on the ice to use as pucks. I asked them several times to cease with the tiny obstacles but it afforded opportunity for a display of teen attitude and disrespect for the "old lady." Did not get everything that I wanted to get done during that session.

At least I get to skate again today!

did you have to do the ISI version of back crossovers? I found those so hard to do....picking UP the foot then placing it OVER the skating foot???? I almost fell over!!! I cant remember which level it was on when I tested. Thank goodness I don't have to do them (yet) buy my coach thought they were a good exercise for me
I would have chased down those quarters and put them in my own pocket....that would have ended it really quick!!! What could they have said??? NOTHING!!! Yup, I'm evil

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

Power Cut: The ice was terrible, worse than it's been for ages. Of course, after half an hour it had been skated into submission, but it really wasn't much fun trying to warm up. And the sound system had been switched off up "in the office", so such music as there was, until one of the duty managers went up, was only as loud as the coach's CD players could manage, which isn't very!

Electricity: ad a good lesson, though. Coach2, like me, is turnout-challenged, so she quite understood that I couldn't put my feet down as open as I need to, so her suggestion was to think of putting my little toe down first. That worked quite beautifully, and I actually managed to do my back cross-cuts on edges! She said they had improved from last time she'd seen them, as had my cross-rolls, which was very pleasing.

In my practice, I also did a bit of work on the end of the Fiesta. Find I still tend to widestep even when on my own, although not as badly as I do with the Husband; still not quite sure why.

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

And just to really get on them, I would have bought a NIIIIICE refreshing cold drink with those quarters they threw on the ice right in front of them!!! (I love being just as as S@D!!!)

Electricity:

• Did split runthru of program for the first time in six months. Glad to be visiting the program again.
• Landed one loop and about another 2 flips.

Power outage:

• Realizing that I'm slow in spots where I'm supposed to be fast and getting out of one of the spins smooth and fast enough to do this. I may need to speed up my spins and or work on the transition a bit more!
• Landed one loop and about another 2 flips... out of about 5 tries for each jump!!!
• Took a splat tripping over a hole that some skater left and didn't fill in!!!

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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 would have bought the drink that Jazzpants suggested AFTER going to the front desk and speaking with the manager on duty!! Or better yet, saved the quarters for locker use at my pool during the week!

Went to a public session today (*yes you read that right Terri went to a public session*) figuring that it's such a nice day, no one would be skating at a ice rink in mid August.
Had the ice to myself for 20 minutes, (and the rink management let me on 4 minutes early-woo hoo!) where I took advantage and did moves patterns. Took a splat on power back crossovers when starting the second side of the rink, got distracted by the lights/sound of the rink "jukebox" and had a "Click of Death"
After that, there were 4 of us on the ice, then more people came.
Was able to do some spins, but that was really it. It wasn't elbow to elbow crowded, but crowded enough where sneaking in jumps was not a option.
I was a bit concerned over there being no rink guard after a lady fell and hit her head. While she seemed okay, it could have been worse. Then again, I would probably not have been able to practice spins if there were a rink guard

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Electricity

Spending 3 hrs on edges on Sunday paid off! I did a good willow waltz on Thurs. Coach was pleased. We joked that it only took me 6 months but now thankfully finally I have 2 inside edges before the mohawk - rather than flats. Free dance was a lot better too. He even said good spin! Woohoo

Did some good (ok not good but better) axels. I took my camera to the rink and filmed them. Not as good as I want but better than before. Grrr. Also filmed me doing the willow waltz as I've never seen it. Wasn't as bad as I thought. May put it on youtube as a friend wants to see it.....

Had fun trying new spins. Did sit-change-sit-change sit and the cross toe back cross toe but keeping my arms up during the change. Looks cool but the backspin is FAST that way and scary.

Hit every sit change sit - yay!

Crossroll was better in the Fiesta tango. Still not quite right but much better.

Was asked to help the sweetest little girl with her 3 jump. She was 10 and has been skating since January but only having lessons for 3/4 months. She taught herself up to about Skate UK level 8 by herself from watching others. Amazing. She was really good - she listened and did everything asked. She is my dance coach's pupil. She had a 7 year old sister who was adorable and kept hugging him. So cute. I love helping the kids. And its really exciting when they get something. She did a really good three jump. I got really excited and she ran off the ice to tell her mum as she was happy.

Power outage

Had my blades sharpened so couldn't stop quickly or spin (I can never spin the first session after getting my blades done). Managed to fall on my knee on my twizzle sequence. And was told I looked lost on my double back inside threes as I kind of hold my arms out in a 'where am i' fashion. Also was doing weid claw things with my hand apparently.

I get very dizzy doing double back outside 3s on my right foot. More dizzy than from spinning. I can't skate afterwards - I feel really wobbly. I don't really know why. Its odd. But not good - I'll have to get over it otherwise I'll never beable to do the test!

Skate@Delaware: Yes, the testing had cross overs on it. I was initially taught by doing the full pick up the foot and place but no longer do it that way. It is a good exercise though for technique in getting a good cross. I have good skill on back cross overs. I think that is because it was my only more skilled than the other kiddos when I was growing up so it came back to me quickly. My coach says that I do mine with such power that I look like someone who has a better skill set...giggle. Since she is a non nurturing soul...I eat up the fact that she says my right over left is "smoking"! lol.

Too funny on the pocketing or spending quarters. Oh if I just would have thought quicker! lol. But they were pseudo hockey influenced and probably would have broke my neck chasing the quarters around...giggle.

Just back from the rink....had a few really good half flips with height! That was after about 20 smaller ones...now my back hurts..giggle. I think it is not a good idea to do a major step aerobics class then immediately go to the rink to practice even my little half jumps...eeeek...

Electricity: I felt pretty good about today. Spins are getting better. My back sit is actually improving, so I was able to do camel-sit-change-sit a few times without too many problems.

I tried the axel off the harness for the first time!! I was kinda scared for a few minutes, but I just stood, breathed, and went for it. The first one wasn't even an axel, LOL. But at least I jumped. The second one I did the jump, but I leaned back on the take-off so I was leaning and fell on the landing, but at least I did the whole jump and got the rotation. I didn't try any more after that cause it kinda hurt my knee, LOL. My biggest thing though was getting passed the mind block of being off the harness. I wanted to do the jump on my own because it helps me get passed blocks faster. Now I feel a LOT more confident in it.

Power Outage: Flying camels aren't improving too much, I keep whiping around too much, and end up falling. There's so much to think about when doing them......

My knee's a little sore, but it'll get better after icing it for a while..... Otherwise, today wasn't too bad!

Electricity:
I taught myself to do a 1 foot spin when my coach was away. She says its great and she doesn't need to fix it much. She decided I can start learning to do a sit spin.

Power outage:
My knee has been playing up again (stupid torn cartilage). I can't do a normal entrance into my spins due to the torque on my stupid knee so I'm doing them from a spread eagle. My spins disappeared on Saturday, very scratchy and travelled far just when I decided to practice sit spins. They kind of came back today but still very scratchy, stupid toe pick. Adult competition is coming up in October but my stupid knee will not cooperate with me and I may not be able to compete at all. I feel like I'm going backwards, things I was able to do have disappeared cause I can't practice them all the time, as I'm on restricted skating hours until my knee gets better.

Or even better, put it towards the rink locker! (For me, since I skate at two (at least!!!) different rinks, the idea of renting a rink locker on a monthly basis is not very financially sound.)

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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!!!

You are NOT evil.. I was thinking the same thing... I prefer to think we're PRACTICIAL -- after all, someone has to pay for our skating.. why not some ill-mannered kids who don't know the value of money?

As a beginner, I haven't been brave enough to post in this thread yet but I thought it was about time I started airing my minor achievements/total disasters

Electricity;

-Have today off work so took a chance on a daytime public session (1st time I've tried it since schools finished) and was glad I did . Lovely fresh ice, just me and 2 children hanging on to the barriers for the first 20 mins and only a handful of people after that.

-I am finally seeing a definite improvement in my forward crossovers and am feeling confident enough with them now to pick up speed so am happy with that

Outage;

-It was seriously cold at the rink this morning- I wished I'd taken gloves even though I only ever worn them once or twice before. I'll consider it a lesson learned and make sure there is always a pair in my bag.

-My backwards skating seems to have gone to hell, my weight seems to have shifted towards the front of my blade because I am hitting my toepick constantly- something I've never had trouble with before . I have my first private lesson on Thurs, straight after my group class and I will be begging for help with this!

Clare

Clare: so glad you posted your achievements. Remember, everyone started as a beginner. I am excited for you as you start with private lessons. I do both group and private too. The private lesson has so much improved my abilities and allowed me to advance more quickly. I am sure that will be your experience as well. Good luck with that!

Thanks! So many people have told me the same thing so I'm really looking forward to getting started

Clare

My skating this week consisted of about an hour total while waiting for students. LOL But, I've got my car back, so now I can start cutting out for a long/late lunch and get some skating of my own in!

Electricity:

HEY! Figureskates - I can still do patch. I did serpentine, paragraph threes. Amazed myself. On a general session yet! LOL

Freestyle: I love my sit spins. It's the only consistently great thing I can still do without much practice.

I managed a camel, mostly to intimidate the punks that kept skating through the middle. (Given the SIZE of my skates alone, that should keep them away)

MITF: Other than learning the three turn patterns, I'm good to go with the Pre-Bronze and Bronze patterns. Now to get a coach.

Power Outage:

I'm back to struggling with my whole jumps. My knee still hurts when I land too many, so I've been making every one count. But, my split jump's getting better.

I wish we had rink guards with backbones - I actually took a cell phone away from one of them and told him to go pick up a kid that had fallen. (I should have said "He won't call you back!" and hung up, right S@D?)

Of course, rink guards with backbones wouldn't have let me do camels ...

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GO FOR IT!!!!!
(my rink's guards are wussy too....must be contagious; only when you threaten to go to the manager do they finally do something. I act like a rink guard at time and actually have people asking if I work there....I say "no, but I live here" they can't figure that one out!)

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