extended vacation: single loop is very nice.... now to get back my double. New skates are breaking in very very nicely (I bought Teri Super Deluxe and Phantoms a couple of months ago, replacing an awful combination of bad obsolete boot and MK One Stars (and briefly, Cor Aces which I didn't really like).

back to school: I have *forgotten* how to do salchows and toe loops. Need to pull out my skating books for a refresher and some dryland practice. Next step is to get a coach who can accommodate my crazy schedule (work, etc blah). Goal is to pass a couple of tests eventually.

I skated through my teens and then stopped when I went to uni... have been off the ice for almost 7 years but am hoping to get my skills back.

^if your coach isn't showing up and isn't giving you notice I would complain to the skating director, and if necessary the PSA.

Extended Vacation

Same ol, same ol....worked on a bunch of jumps tonight. I've been getting very few corrections on my basic jumps, waltz, salchow and toe loop. My flip is good, but I could be a little smoother on the exit - and watch that stupid right shoulder. My coach worked with me on some loops - he's giving me specific things to think about in the air and I've realized that I just need to attack it - if I chicken out or hestiate, the jump fails. Similar to the flip, I could use smoother exits. Think about the toe, think about the toe....

I did a darn near perfect sit spin for my coach today. I did a scratch spin so fast my glasses flew off of my face and halfway across the ice. Seriously. I need contacts if I'm going to be spinning that fast.

Back to School

Heh, I've only worked on the lutz a handful of times and my coach said I'm ready to make it a regularly practiced item - it's not very good...I'm not getting the same pop I am on the flip, something funky with my picking foot. He also says I'm on TOO deep of an outside edge going into it for a beginner. Meh.

Camel spins.... My coach says I need "better blade control". Yeah, no kidding. When I asked how I get that he didn't have an answer other than "practice". As a response I made a very crass gesture.

Scratch spins - they're fast, but I can have better timing on them. I'm pushing my leg down, THEN pushing my arms up and it's slowing me down - which isn't such a bad thing because my glasses can't take much more of a beating - but my coach told me I'm approaching a blur spin...if I could get my timing right, and be a little more explosive in my entry. Stupid timing.

Study Up!

I'm wondering how long I'll be working on these elements. A big part of skating is the thrill of progression, but I want to make sure I'm doing things right. At the rate I'm going my camel spin will take years to learn. The sit spin came so naturally, it sucks that the camel spin is so, well, bad. Now that I've "mastered" the lower jumps, I wonder how long I'll be working on the flip, loop and lutz. I might bring up the subject of testing with my coach just so I have something to work towards...but I hate being pressured in something that is purely recreational for me. I dunno...just thinking "out loud". I can't wait for my group lesson on Saturday - our old coach is back and he kicks our butts in MIF.

Only managed to skate for an hour today, of which only ten minutes was with the Husband, who had to get off to work early. So by the time we had made a nonsense of the Golden Skaters Waltz twice, we only had time for a quick, and not very good, run-through of the Riverside Rhumba, and then a couple of goes at our spin.

At least we ought to be able to practice tomorrow, and to attend the dance club at the rink where Sunday's competition is! Actually, we have to practice tomorrow, as we need to pick up our skates from the rink!

In my private practice, my back cross-cuts were suffering from my having fallen on them on Wednesday, and more "speed bumps" today, so I did them across the rink instead, which helped. Back cross-rolls coming-along-nicely, I think, but I didn't like the tracings very much - those were edges? I don't think so! Walked through the Dutch Waltz, I thought rather well, and the Canasta Tango, I thought rather badly - still can't decide whether to have a last fling at the Level 3-and-under solo dances in November before (hopefully) testing level 4 this winter. Probably will, just because.....

Coach back tomorrow - we don't have a lesson, but I hope he or his wife will spare us 30 seconds to say whether our new free leg position in the spin will be okay.... I think it will be, but I'd like one of them to have a very quick look.

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

Back on club ice last night which was good. But I forgot that the first half-hour is Moves Only during the main season. I hate moves so I usually do figures then, but I'd taken my patch boots out for the summer (the sessions were too busy for patch) and left them at home. So Coach ran me through Pre Juv moves (HATE HATE HATE the power threes!) and then we played around with ISI Figures for ten minutes. I can probably pass Figures 1 and 2 without much trouble but 3 is going to kill me because of the threes. Still, it's something to work on until I find out what the figures will be for next year's Mountain Cup.

On to freestyle - spins were decent. I actually got a camel-sit-change-sit that changed and sat! Jumps were iffier - some good some bad and I'm still toe-tapping the free foot on the flip, which is irksome. Maybe I can only land flips cleanly in France? Interp program run-through was good. I amanged not to strange myself with the prop string. And I think I may have eeked out another degree of rotation in my axel attempts.

BLUR SPIN - - -

Either you need a "geek leash" or must skate without glasses or go for contacts! I'm contemplating the same thing, although I've not lost glasses yet (don't spin that fast). My eyes are 'transitioning' from young-40 to older-40 so I have to wait until they settle a bit.......and will probably skate this fall without glasses (hopefully not run into anyone).

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

"Approaching a blur spin" - I don't know if that means I have a ways to go and he was stroking my ego, but I know I do spin pretty fast in general these days and I guess if my glasses are flying off that's a good sign - they never used to do that. I'm ordering contacts as we speak - I used to have them but I just got used to wearing glasses but between the glasses continually fogging over and flying off of my face, I need to make a sacrifice

I think we're bringing the video camera to the Labor Day skate on Monday so I'll be able to see just what he's talking about.

"Geek Leash" for geek spin preventions...

Extended Vacation:
The crux of being an adult skater... I had to do afternoon FS today b/c a meeting that was scheduled for Wed got switched to the next day...right in the middle of my scheduled lesson. GRRRR!!! I hate afternoon FS b/c it's PACKED with skaters!!! Somehow I managed to do my Bronze MIF anyway.

I do an easy FI3-BO3 double 3's yesterday. Ironic that I couldn't do BO3 by itself initially... Primary coach is confused that I thought it was disturbing that I couldn't do a BO3 thru a simple BO edge glide but can do it thru a double 3... I think primary coach is smoking somethin'

Further reason to believe this... when asked if I should bother filling out my test application form to test Oct 1st., he says "Oh, yes!!! Most definitely!! You're skating much better" (This is AFTER probably one of my not so great lessons too!!!) I even asked him "Well, good enough to pass though..." He said "My skating is much better and I should give it a try." Okaaaaay....

Back to School:
Well, that I managed to get skating in my schedule today... it was an extremely busy Thursday. Next week should be much better... I hope...

__________________
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 will have to get with Casey and have the video posted! Wanna see it!! Glad someone is spinning! I wish I could get contacts but I gotta wait till my vision settles a bit....are you getting colored contacts?

Jazzpants: we will be hitting the back 3's this fall, and I'm sure that's what I will be doing-fall! Let us know when you test!!

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

REALLY SIT (meaning back straight and knees bend) on that edge! Trust me! It was the only way I could get them. It's not that hard. If I could do it (and remember I'm the lost cause of Bronze Moves ) anyone can do them with practice and proper training!

Okay, I'm definitely gonna jinx myself now, but... I'm taking the test Oct 1st (THIS YEAR), unless the test chair feels there's too many people in the test session (which I doubt since the kids will then be preparing for regionals and NOT testing.) We'll see how far I'm off now from passing now... (Last year this time it was .3 to .5...NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!)

FrankR: You wanna lend me your moves coach for a month if I don't pass this time around??? I could sure use a MITF expert!!! We'll see how far I'll drive his patience!

__________________
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 what you mean! I've fallen on every kind of 3 turn that I'm able to do! An eventual goal that I have is to be able to do all of the 1-foot and 2-foot turns at full speed. Lol, that probably means there are a bunch of spills in my future!

And Skate@Delaware, remember the mohawk that was freaking me out on my transition from forward crossovers to backward crossovers? Well it's now reappeared in the program I'm learning, plus there's a choctaw that is also freaking me out!

__________________
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http://www.marrow.org
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Casey is awesome - but I have my own website and hosting so I'll post the info when I have it - my boyfriend refuses to let me post raw footage, he insists on making a production out of it ....definitely adds comedic value!

Back outside 3's aren't bad once you do that very first one. Now back INSIDE 3's...well...

If you're ever in a figure skating show, perhaps your boyfriend could be the videographer (if the sponsoring club wants). If he likes tinkering w/footage and such, he'd probably love it!!

__________________
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http://www.marrow.org
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Sunshinepointe, you can get the so-called "geek leashes" (lovely name - the trade name is Croakies) either on-line or in a good sports shop. Well worth the money, in my experience.

Had an awful skate this morning, typical, as competition tomorrow. My right contact lens stung and stung, don't know what the problem is, and even now my eye is still sore. Hope it's not red & bloodshot tomorrow; I may have to skate blind.

Coach is back from holiday, but agreed that we'd profit more from dance club down at the rink where we're going to compete than from a lesson from him on home ice. He did look at our spin, and agreed that the new free leg position is better - I prefer it, as it keeps me more upright, and anything that does that.... But, of course, we couldn't do it for ages, and we only really wanted 30 seconds of his time!

I just hope we skate better tomorrow...... sheesh, we could hardly have skated worse today!

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

Dont worry Annabel, my coach always says a bad run up usually leads to a good performance, and she's right, It think it instils in your mind what to particularly concentrate on.

Best of luck to both of you.

Cheers
Grace

I've heard that too. As they say in show business....BREAK A LEG, ANNABEL!!!

Doh, senior moment-forgot about your website (and I've been there too!) Yes, I've heard the horror stories about the back-3's.....but I'm ready to face them anyway.....I've been through other horrors (I've got a teenage daughter).

Oh, those danged choctaws!! I'm sure we will be doing choctaws this fall too! I started doing mohawks at a speed slightly faster than crawl over the summer, but not much faster on my forward 3's, although they are smoother.

Everyone: I really appreciate the advice on the back 3's! I've been very impatiently waiting for my rink to re-open (I missed the flooding and painting) and haven't skated in the last month; and I've also been waiting for the results of a medical test (awful how they make you wait forever for these dang things) that they had me repeat 3 times so right now I'm stressed and not a happy camper and got no skating (not even host rink is open this weekend!!!! ) just a lot of sitting around and waiting.......until Tuesday (took 1/2 day at work). Sorry to vent.
PS-did you know that when you changed your signature line, it changes all your previous posts to the new one? I just noticed that....cool!

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

Extended Vacation

Whew, group was quite the workout. I've somehow mastered this crazy outside mohawk step sequence my group coach has us do, but man, it was rough. I also have trouble doing clockwise consecutive mohawks - counter clockwise isn't "as" bad, at least I can kinda get that. I also got complimented on my stroking.

Did some great spirals at the end of public - I had people staring and asking me how I get my leg so high

More good sit spins today. My salchows are nice and open and controlled, as were toe loops and waltz jumps.

Back to School

Took a funky fall working on crossrolls in group - a friend of mine who doesn't really do them very well was doing hers opposite me and she kept almost running into me - one time I tried to take a VERY deep edge to get away from her and I just slipped off of my blade and down I went. They just resurfaced the ice so I slid about 10 feet on my tummy. It was actually kind of fun. Then another group coach down the other end of the rink yelled "DONI ARE YOU OKAY?!?!?!" so EVERYONE stopped to look. Thanks for drawing attention to my fall which really wasn't that bad to begin with.

I jinxed myself with all this fast spinning talk - my scratch spin was slower than death today. My one foot spins were great - but as soon as I went into a scratch position I kept "losing it". Ah well. I did it once, I can do it again. I need my coach to "fix" me once again.

Under no circumstances should I be allowed to do a lower body workout the night before skating for four hours. ESPECIALLY when I know my group coach will DRILL the crap out of crossovers with stupid "lift/cross" pattern on the free leg. My butt is killing me

I had a couple of okay camel spins today - not my best, but not my worst. I just keep getting in a couple of revolutions and then rocking on the toe. Stupid blade control.

Loops and flips were good up until the landings. I'm doing something on both jumps that's causing me to land on my heel instead of my toe - even when I thought about pointing my toe I still was on the heel. Can't figure out what it is. But at least I have the loop take off back.

I'm thinking of starting to test USFSA - I don't know if I should do adult or regular track though. I'm not going to compete, but working on specific elements might help me improve. Also, right now I'm taking a 30 minute group which works on basic moves and stroking, and a 30 minute private where we work on mostly jumps and spins. If I test USFSA should I pick up a moves in the field lesson with my coach? I'm kind of tight on cash as it is, would 15 minutes be enough? Should I not bother and just stick to the 30 minute private and work on things as they come up? And lastly, where can I get a list of requirements for pre-preliminary and pre-bronze moves and freestyle tests. Do I need to get a rule book or are they somewhere online. Okay, enough questions time to hit the shower!

Mrs Redboots - did you perhaps get an ice chip in your eye? From personal experience (!), I can certify that they will irritate beyond all measure, especially when you consider that they melt pretty quickly...
it might have something to do with the fact that rink ice is generally disgustingly filthy so goodness knows what's just melted in your eye.

Mrs Redboots, I hope your eye is feeling better! My boss recently had to duck out of a meeting because her lens suddenly started bothering her. When she came back, her eye was still red and watering for the rest of the meeting.


Extended Vacation--
LFO power threes and 5-step mohawk on both sides. (I much prefer the other 3 Bronze Moves, which mainly require pushing, rather than being able to also TURN, lol.) Also the LFI/RBO choctaw in my program just stinks!

Back to School--
I'm finally beginning to get the proper feel of the toe loop (from a true BO takeoff with no "checkmark" on the ice indicating that my foot turned forward first). When I do it right, I almost feel like I'm pulling myself back toward the picking foot.

Ran into starskate6.0 and a friend of his at the rink I go to on Saturdays

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Congrats! That's how it should feel. On all the pick jumps, your non-picking foot should slide towards the picking foot as you pick in and drive the non-picking knee up. (Wow, that was a mouthful!)

__________________
~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

Yup--my coach refers to it as "sqeezeage" and I understood in my head that this was necessary to transfer the weight over to the picking foot, but it took until today for me to really feel it.

__________________
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No, it was sore before ever I got it to the rink, in my bathroom back home! Could hardly see.... and then yesterday, when I put my lenses in, absolutely no problem whatsoever, you'd never think there'd ever been a problem!

The competition was fun - sadly, we ended up 5th out of 5 in the compulsory dances and 2nd out of 2 in the free dance! BUT one judge had us 2nd in the 2nd compulsory dance (I thought he was quite right, myself, but then I would, wouldn't I!), and for the first time in recorded history in this country we scored 2.0 or better from every judge every time! And it wasn't as if they weren't awarding 1. somethings, either - one supremely good skater was given 1.0 from one judge for her timing & expression on the Argentine Tango, and nobody knows why. And there were plenty of other 1. somethings being awarded.

I didn't expect to finish other than 2nd in the free dance - we have rather less difficulty in our dance than Other Woman and her Husband do, and they are 2-3 points ahead of us from every judge. But we were very close indeed to them on the first compulsory dance, and one judge had us ahead of them on the 2nd, so overall, I'm not disappointed.

Just tired!

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

Congratulations and I'm glad you enjoyed the competition. Re the marking - I'm assuming that the competition was marked under the old ordinals system? If so then marks of 1.x were pretty harsh...ouch!

Also, good to hear your eye got better - now what on earth was wrong with it? (Always helpful to know so it can be avoided next time...)