On Song:
- Getting sore after practices recently. Not sure if that means I'm learning more or haven't been skating enough as of late, but it does mean I'm building some strength so it's all good.
- Loop timing is coming along really nicely - I'm getting more height and it's fun.
- I almost feel like I could do a double loop sometimes but it's really scary to try and I think that's what's messing me up. I accidentally overrotated so much yesterday that even though I swung the free leg out to try to stop it I landed nearly forwards and had a spinny fall. I think I need to start working on toe loops and salchows more which are horrible in comparison because those should be easier to double. The axel is too weird for me to even think about trying without coaching.
- Been getting up really quickly from any falls - as soon as I slow enough to catch the ice with a blade I get back on my feet and try to keep going.

Off-key
- Had a "toepick!" moment while skating really fast - went flying forwards face first - witnesses would later tell me that I was parallel to the ice while a couple feet above it - then landed on my chest and slid about 30 feet before I managed to stop and get back up. But it didn't really hurt anything (note, always always keep your knees and elbows and wrists up and the fall will never be too bad) and I kept skating. Declined the request for a repeat from another adult skater though.
- I still have no power at home, and my regular rink is still dead too as far as I know. It's been nearly 100 hours now.

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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

It depends on which culture you're in... in the US, yes, it would be "in tune" but Mrs. Redboots started this and in Europe "on song" is the phrase used... kind of like on the east coast of the US, you stand "on line", but on the west coast you stand "in line". Isn't English a wonderfully flexible language, no matter where you're speaking it?

In tune/On song (depending on where you are! )

Thanks to SkatingForum's support and sage words (especially the one about keeping warm - thanks Mrs RB!), we survived the Xmas show and remained on our skates. I even had someone come up to me afterwards and claim that (a) she hadn't realised it was me out there, and (b) that we did something "impossible" (to wit, a counter turn in a supported teapot. That one cost me in particular a *lot* of falls, so it was nice that it was appreciated!)

We reviewed the video this afternoon and for first-timers who haven't been dancing 12 months yet, it wasn't really all that bad. Obviously, there were things which could be vastly improved (self - bend knees! stretch free leg! don't look down! stop shaking with nerves! DH - bend knees! don't toepick! get lower!), but overall we were reasonably pleased with how it went. So many thanks to our ever-patient coach, and to you guys!

Off-key

School holidays have started, so the ice has effectively ceased for a month or more.

On song: Had a great time teaching last night. The kids were really excited and ready to skate!

Off key: It was the last lesson of the set.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

flo - didn't know you taught. Good for you (and the kids)!

Off-Key:
I gave a private lesson last night to one of my favorite students. She was much less distracted this week because her Mom (not Dad) was the Parent in Attendance. Her mom gave her "what for" because the kid complains constantly about her skates not being tied properly. She must have them retied at least three times during the half-hour she's on the ice.

To add to her misery, she chose to wear those little tennis socks (no pompon) which made her skates too tight. She usually wears thin knee highs. So, she complained about foot cramps continuously.

I recommended she join my Saturday group class. They're her age and level, plus I've coaxed all the whining out of them. It would be really good for her to be with other kids and to feel challenged to keep up with a class.

On Song:
Wore my new skates, which felt a bit big. I ordered cotton laces, so hopefully that will help me tie them tighter. Still, my edges were more secure, crossovers were so much easier, and my beginner jumps were pretty good.

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On Song:
Went to the rink this morning for my own practice only, and did actually manage to work a bit more than usual, which was even noticed by one of my adult skater friends.

FO threes are getting sooo very close to being checked properly, and I've got the little half turn needed for the step forward to the next three on the FO alt three pattern.

I've been scared of FI threes forever, but today, all of a sudden, the LFI three just started to feel very secure, and some of that transferred over to the RFI three.

I'm now getting 3 to 4 revs on my one foot spin pretty much every time I try, and getting less dizzy too. Mind you, these are piddling, slow little spins from a F pivot, but it's a real advance for me.

Finally, the RFO three felt good enough for me to try the Prelim power three pattern on that side, and I was actully able to do it, including the step forward after a real (not abbreviated) BXO. I am still slowing myself down, but I'm thrilled that I can even do this move right now.

Off Key:
Nothing today, except that I need to push myself harder.

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(Actually, I don't get quite the same meaning from "on song" and "in tune".... quite.... not sure how to explain it, though).

Anyway, today was mostly on song. We had our couples' lesson, as usual on a Tuesday, and as we hadn't done any work together before it started, we had to start with our usual warm-up of forward skating in open Kilian "And I really want to see some lean". That was satisfactory, so it was runs round the circle, which weren't. At least, they were relatively okay in Kilian hold, but reverse Kilian was another story. Then we spent most of the rest of the lesson working on first chassés and then swing rolls in waltz hold, and then finished with a look at the Willow waltz.

After the lesson, Husband had a few minutes before his train, so we worked on skating backwards in Kilian, which is coming. At least we can move now - time was, we barely could. But I still find I'm not getting a really good push on to my RBO edge, and my LBO edge, although it has a reasonable push, is actually a LB flat.

After he'd gone, I worked on my dance moves, which are coming - I have my test papers and must send them in; husband has his, too, so either we'll fax them (safest, this time of year) or use one envelope. Don't know when the test will be - as late as possible, we hope. And I'm neither expecting nor expected to pass, but it would be horrible to let the deadline go by and not even try! You never know.... and they are improving.

I also ran through a solo Fiesta Tango (slow, but reasonable) and Willow Waltz (I got through it; at least, one pattern) before getting off.

Off Key: Runs round the circle in Reverse Kilian, especially clockwise. I find anti-clockwise more difficult, but in clockwise, it's really hard to get where I should be to enable Husband, who finds these hard, to do them. Finally we decided to remember to think "ribcage", not "shoulder", and that helped.

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

on song:
Started learning pre-bronze patterns in preparation for my switch to USFSA...zero tests down, four to go, AN 2008...

Has second interview for job that is literally a three minute drive from my rink (this doesn't count as a good skating practice but it will beget good skating practices)

off key: my back inside edges stink! also, I can barely do a T-stop, and I have some ugly spirals! I like my jumps this week though. Back to basics. Also lost my gloves.

Current ETA for power restoration from the power company is Friday, which will be a week and a day. Of course their previous ETA was today, and before that yesterday, so who knows really.

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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

Off Key:
Worked with coach on Bronze MIF intensely today. specifically the alternating back XO's to Back edges. and power 3's. 3 turns are so scratchy! and I am not getting enough power on the crossover into the next 3 turn, stepping too early on the axis, throwing the whole thing off!

On Song:
Well, at least 5 step mohawk is pretty decent.
I practiced loop and flip off -ice. I am beginning to sense some of the timing and rhythm going into the jump. Now, if I could just get the rotation and the spring off of the right foot...

Casey:
Wow! still no power yet??? Good thing you are skating to keep warm.

Jazzpants:
Thanks for the good cheers!

Off key: It's been an off-key sort of week in general. I'm supposed to be working on the APB Moves patterns with the intention of testing soon. Unfortunately, the LFI3 is just not getting any better. My coach had me starting to work on improving 3s some time back, and the other forward 3s (no back 3s yet) all showed significant improvement quickly. This one just doesn't get better, so we've spent most of the last couple of lessons analyzing tracings, resulting in having the blade remounted last Friday. That led to Monday's lesson being taken up by more tracing analysis. This apparently showed that the blade had been moved enough to make some outside edge moves difficult (where they weren't before) without allowing a clean inside edge in anything other than what feels like a very exaggerated position to me. I had a familiarization lesson with my new backup coach last night, so I decided to be dutiful and ask about this rather than play with dance patterns. That meant another lesson disappeared into the black hole of this problem--without getting in any of the other moves patterns and dance reduced to a five minute afterthought at the end of the lesson.
So, it looks like it's back to the skate technician for more work. Testing will have to be deferred for at least a month since the other patterns have had little or no attention (and are edge dependant anyway...) and dance keeps getting pushed out of lessons by moves problems. All of this also makes that intro to figures a little problematic as well...

On song: No comment.

Rob

December 19 ~ Tuesday
Needs tuning
Skated at Aviator Sports tonight. We were running late because of traffic so we arrived right at 6:53. I grabbed some pizza and red bull and chomped while putting on my skates. Since there was no warmup time so to me the ice was extra hard. Of course it took me a while to warmup. My friends of course were already to their double jumps. Well Angelo has a higher stake because of Nationals so there is less pressure for me. Anyways.... I botched my first few attempts at the flip and lutz... But when the zamboni was pulling in I managed to do a Flip, Flip/Loop, Lutz, Lutz/Loop back to back.

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Tim David's Website

Squeaks & Squawks! Only 12 weeks left to get this in shape for competition - YIKES! REALLY need to work on some high-speed turns (F/B, B/F) !!!!

Tuning Up Backwards is getting fast - need to get my deep backward edges to get the cross-overs. Also The rest of my skating is getting strong but I don't feel I can turn at that speed yet

Hitting The High Notes! Last half hour was empty ice so I started working with my choreography on full-ice and rearranged parts to get better speed and coverage. I think it is going to be a nice program - for a tottering old woman!

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

On Song: I went to another rink yesterday that has gone from a two-rink facility to a one-rink facility and I, for one, liked the changes!! It was more intimate somehow, and the ice was FABULOUS buttery, smooth, wonderful ice. I will go there again and maybe soon!!

Home rink was not so crowded today because they sold the public session ice to a group and so there were three of us (plus our coach) on the freestyle before that (sold) public and the ice was pretty good!! It's also pretty cool when an hour freestyle session ends up being three adult ladies doing figures for a half-hour and finishing up with Moves and Dance. Now THAT's my kind of session!!

Bronze Moves Update: The Forward and Back Perimeter STroking and BO Edge PAttern all feel pretty darn strong. And the 5-Step and Power 3s are getting more consistent BUT:

Off Key: Coach thinks those two moves need to be stronger NOW so I can skate them the way I'm skating them NOW on the test, if that makes sense. She said that she thought they would pass this way, but that I wouldn't feel good about presenting them before a panel if they were slow like this. She is right. I want them to be good, and feel good about doing them, because I know on test day I will be skating like an old, slow skater no matter what happens!

I'll give it two more days of practice before deciding... (sorry sk8pdx, you're younger than me!!)

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

Off key: I had a bad cramp in my left calf muscle when I got up this morning, and it was still very sore when I got to the rink; I was a bit concerned about skating on it, and massage wasn't helping, so I decided I'd put my boots on and see what I could do. Oddly, the second I stood up in my boots, the cramp vanished as if it had never been, and, touch wood, hasn't been seen since.

On song: Husband landed another flip - at the moment, they are landing about once in ten attempts, but this will obviously improve the more he works on them. This particular landing was very far from pretty, and had no glide at all, but it was a definite landing.

Together we worked on swing rolls and chassés in waltz hold, which are really flying now. Especially when we do the chassés in time to the Golden Waltz music, almost scary. And our swing rolls cover way more ice than they used. We also practised skating together backwards in Kilian; I'm still not getting on edges but we are flowing much better. So we attempted to upgrade that to chassés, but that was a failure. But doing a Mohawk, three edges, stepping to forwards, another three edges and another Mohawk seems to work, although Husband said that we needed to cross our feet, as in the Fiesta, before stepping forward, "as it is easier", which I thought missed the point rather.

Off key: My lesson was a bit disastrous; we spent most of the time working on cross-cuts, which were simply not working today. No matter what we did.... until after my lesson, when I did a whole lap of not-at-all-bad ones! Which I promptly told my coach, who was pleased.

Main problem is that I lurch forwards, and I find it very difficult to start with my weight far enough back. Really focussing on staying down in the knee during the last two crossovers across the rink helped enormously. Let's hope I can do that when it's wanted!

On song: But I did do one complete lap!

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

Isk8NYC - Thanks! I've been teaching for a bit. It's a blast.

Mrs R. Congrats to Mr. R on his flip, and you on your lap!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Off-Key -- back threes. Did I mention back threes? Any of them, take your pick; cruel, awful things. I wanted to keep doing them on the boards but nasty coach made me try them in the pattern.


On Song -- the first two pre-juvie patterns are progressing, but now it's time to start cleaning them up and that was a little painful (so sort of off key). For my last five minutes coach let me do freestyle instead of 5 step and spins were good. Coach complemented me on my power and my backspin.

Off-key:

I don't know whether I need to quit my coach or whether my coach is just not interested in coaching me. I have a regular slot but for several weeks now the ice has been cancelled we get bumped for hockey, this is fine as I get notice of this. But what I didn't know until lately is that my coach has been scheduling ice to replace this, and I didn't get invited. So I've been skating for three weeks now without a lesson, this is not that bad because hey I'm an adult and am pretty focused with my own notebook of things to do, but there's a couple of competitions coming up and I haven't done a program runthrough in front of my coach in more than a month.

I'm going to say that I think I know why, it's because I told the coach that I couldn't afford a coaching fee at these out of town competitions and was planning on going on my own. I've put myself on the ice before, five out of seven times last year because the coach was tied up with other competitions or coaching obligations, but I've never before been the one to say that it was not necessary to be there. I'd gotten used to not having a coach last year and have a good pre-competition plan. I guess I've offended the coach in some way about this but at least it would be nice to actually have a conversation and find out what's behind the cold shoulder.

On Song:

I'm having some success with the flip sequence and have redone the end of my program to now include it which is rather thrilling and I'm having a decent attempt in program about half the time. This is good. I'd like to have more flow out of it, I land and stop, but it's leaving the ground so I'm happy. I just want to show my coach!

On Song:
The freestyle elements keep coming back,slowly but surely.
Coach managed to squeeze my lesson in despite my being late today- more about that is posted below.

Off Key:
Traffic from work to the rink was nothing short of a nightmare. I usually leave work around 3:25-3:30 ish and can be at the rink by 3:45 or so. Today with TWO major accidents on the freeways in my area (apparently one was fatal), I didn't get to the rink until 5pm and ice ends at 5:50. The freeway exit I take to get to the rink was closed and I found this out, oh about a hour after driving to get there. Can't people just take their time and drive the freakin car?!
Needless to say. I was so rattled, that my sit spin refused to show up for lesson.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

P.S.

On Song I did a perfect RBI 3 turn at speed this morning. I didn't intend to - it was supposed to be a Mohawk. (The only 3 turn I am close to is the RFO3!) What are the chances I could do that again if I wanted to? LOL!

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

Oh, PUH-LeeZ, THAT is such a LAME excuse if I ever heard one!

...Buttery, hmmm.? Wow, I haven't been to *that* rink since July. I will need to go visit. You should come to my rink and practice your moves as if you are taking the test.-- Then let me know what you decide. besides, I could use a critique... (my primary tried to get another judge to do a critique, but he was too busy for the holidays to do it.) The test registration isn't due until the 30th.. Plenty of time!

Back from my holidays!

In my whole 5 years of skating, this break has been the longest I have ever gone without skating. I've had a week off here and there but never over 2 weeks. Prior to today, 21 December 2006, my last skate was Sunday 3 December 2006. I never wanted to have a break from skating and in any event I was a little scared I'd forget how to do it if I took too much time off.

On song

I got to skate! I'm so happy!

Managed an ok willow waltz and 14 step surprisingly. Steps were ok. On the 14 step I need to make sure the back inside edge after the Mohawk travels towards the barrier rather than just stepping down. But he was generally happy. Worked on presentation points which means my feet must be ok ish.

Did some field moves drills. Dance teacher decided to start off with we would try the level 10 back inside loop exercise. Since I can apparently do loops! Hmmm. Well I have one in my free dance but I don't think that means I can do them. I was ok with my right foot. I even got two comments of 'Good girl' which is amazing!

Dance teacher then showed me the three turn rocker drill which is about level 8. Back crossover, right back outside three, left forward outside rocker then back crossover left back inside three, right forward inside rocker I think. Of course I struggled on the forward outside rocker. I wasn't getting my shoulder back after the turn.

I love field moves drills and it was fun to try them even though they weren't anywhere near right. Something fun to practise.

Off key

Even the bad stuff was fun today as I was just happy to be on the ice! But it wasn't a great skate.

My skates felt a little odd and I was a little shaky at first but after 5mins I was fine. Of course everything wasn't as polished or balanced as I would have liked but I didn't feel too strange. I warmed up just doing forward skating and edges and then some three turns in a figure of 8. I was going to start on bronze field moves turns but thought that was a little adventurous for the first day back so I did the interbronze outside 3s and inside 3s instead.

Dances were ok step wise but generally I need to present more. Teacher told me it was all a bit 'dance club' today. So we worked on head movements and lifting the dances. I wish this came naturally to me.

I was doing something odd on the inside edges. Dance teacher doesn't like me doing swing rolls so I have to do the edges with the free foot held behind and then together and then push. It takes more control I think as I cheat a little with adjusting my body position when I do a swing roll - no chance of that on a held edge. He said I was bringing my feet together at the top of the circle and leaving them together (but on one foot on the edge still) for the rest of the edge and that looked strange. I have to make sure I start to bring the foot in later and make it a continuous movement.

Ran through my free dance which was interesting. Very very under rehearsed. I got a little stuck on my twizzle sequence and was rather wild on the step sequence. Spirals were flappy. Ran through my tango which was disastrous. Forgot which way I was supposed to pivot at the beginning and then spent the rest of the time trying to catch up with myself.

Skating tomorrow again. Can't wait.

Off-Key: haven't been skating since the show ended on Sunday...not for lack of wanting to but I've been bit by the flu bug and am laid up until better. Spent 2 days in bed, am up today but only in short spurts. This bites because I have a comp Jan 15 with 3 new jumps and footwork and now I might have to withdraw if I'm not ready....

On-Song: this time gives me the opportunity to edit and burn the show dvd...

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

On-Song:
Well, it actually took place last Saturday (16th) but I wasn't online all weekend, so I thought I would post it today: I passed my Silver FS by all 3 judges! So my Christmas this year won't be a "white" one, it is a "SILVER" one! LOL!

Normally I lurk, but have really enjoyed reading about other folks' progress weeks in the past. Great thread & keep up the tireless work, everyone!!!

Wishing you & your family the best during this Christmas & New Year's Season!

Kristin

Warmed up in my new skates, took my lesson in my old skates, then switched back to the newbies for a bit of extra practice. How many times can I change skates in an hour and a half? LOL

On song:
My MITF are much improved, my coach even remarked that she was surprised at the rapid progress.

I still say figures were easier than memorizing all of these positions and checks. (Definitely slower, with more time to correct mistakes!) Ah well, I consider it professional development for coaching.

Off-key:
The new boots are breaking in slowly, but surely. I even managed a few good back crossovers in them after my lesson.

Both pairs of skates need a good sharpening.

Hit a Bad Note:
I warmed up wearing my new skates and decided to not waste lesson time struggling to bend my knees/ankles. During the ice cut, I was switching back to my old skates when one of the other pros at the rink made a snippy comment about my taking off my new skates, then wanted to know why I even needed new skates, especially Klingbeil's. (Guess she didn't notice the lambswool pads I was putting on for my old skates.) I think she's just jealous!

B Sharp:
I broke a lace on my old beige skates, so I just changed both laces. Didn't feel like dying a pair of laces, so I put in white ones. Our Director laughed and said she did that for a few weeks last year - she called them her "bowling skates."

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