Preface: I haven't skated since July or August, with all of the family members being ill. But, my twins had a skating party yesterday at the rink I usually teach at, so I went along just to get some exercise and get rid of some stress.

Rockets: My footwork was actually decent and I didn't really fall. (I did sit down in a sit spin, but that was really laziness.) My kids were AWESOME!! The 14-year old impressed all of her sisters' friends. The twins were like rockets themselves, zooming around with little hops and spins and turns! Nothing complicated, but they really enjoyed themselves and skated beautifully.

Damp Squibs: The ice was terrible -- the ice near the wall was at least an inch lower than the rest of the surface. I kept losing my balance for no apparent reason. Well, it could also be the evil misadjusted blades. My jumps were awful and my spins were so-so. Not good. Need to go back to lessons.

Isk8NYC

PS-I'm guessing that a "Squib" is a rocket that didn't work right, is that correct? We call them "Duds" here in NYC. It's also a Harry Potter word, meaning a magic-born person who can't do magic. Very appropriate on JK Rowling's behalf.

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Well, a squib is a type of firework here, and a "damp squib" is a term for something that falls rather flat, as in the fact that a damp squib would not go off.

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

Thanks -- I suppose it helps that I did learn to 'skate' at a kid, like almost all Canadian kids. I'm nowhere near test-ready, but I figured if the partner's available, then I might as well take advantage of it. My goal is to test the Fiesta, Swing and Willow by the end of March. Realistically, unless there are quantum leaps made on my 3-turns, the Willow will have to wait. I'd also like to test the Prelim Skills by the end of the year, but I think that one may be a long-shot too. I guess only time will tell!

Must be neat to skate with your husband like that...

That's my problem too. First the coach cringed at my mohawk, then it was the step forwards at the end of the backwards section, now the cringing is all about extension on the chasses. So, Saturday morning practice was all about backwards chassees on a circle, PUSH, lift, PUSH, now if I can remember that along with everythinge else, I'll do OK. When I tested Canasta tango, I got marked down for chasse extension so I know that it's not one of my better moves, so no surprise that it was the hot issue in my last lesson.

Me too. It's not going to be the RFO 3 in the Willow, it will be holding that mohawk for 3 beats after the turn.

That does sound evil! But thanks (Mrs Redboots for posting, dbny for the exercise)--I'll have to try it. I'm working on trying to improve my cross rolls--trying to get more push and flow on the backwards ones and, in the forwards ones, trying to bring my free leg around without bending it in the most unattractive way as it leaves the ice.

Squibs--
Learned the falling leaf jump on Saturday (I learned it as part of the waltz-falling leaf-toe loop combo/sequence from USFSA FS5). It feels really fun to do--now I have to figure out how to get more height instead of just scooting low to the ice.

Had *one* camel spin where I finally felt the hook. The rest were, as usual, too much on the BI edge, with too much of my weight inside the circle.

Was fooling around with BO3s and found I could do FI double threes and BO double threes (though weak and with small lobes). I think I'll have to ask to work on these in lesson so I don't teach myself bad habits!

Damp squibs--
Still working on getting my loop fully rotated.
Worked on BI3s. On the right, I'm having trouble after the turn--I usually lose a lot of momentum. On the left, I'm having trouble actually turning. My upper body gets ready for the turn, I'm bending my knee before the turn, but instead of turning, I sort of go around in a very small BI circle, like a baby baby loop.

The push on the F cross strokes is actually pretty much pigeon toed and therefore unattractive. The trick it to extricate the pushing foot and get the toe pointed out and the leg extended as quickly as possible and in a fluid manner. A lot of knee bend to deepen the edge and give yourself more time on each stroke helps.

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Add me to the roster of Willow Waltzers - not to test, but to compete at the Mountain Cup and the World Championships next year. In this country, it is 2-3 levels higher than the Fiesta and the Swing Dance, probably, we think, because the levels were set by people who trained under our old system, which included none of those dances, and who therefore find the Foxtrot and British Waltz much, much easier! Skaters disagree, but what can you do?

I do so agree about that Mohawk, it's far worse than the RFO 3, which is fine if, and only if, your partner is in the right place!!!!! Guess whose partner has a habit of suddenly not being???!!! But holding that Mohawk is just
not possible!
As for forward cross-rolls, I passed these some years ago, but have been made to work on them ever since ("I want them a great deal better than they were when you tested them!"). Secret is seriously deep knee-bend. You know how when you do forward runs/crossovers properly your outside-edge foot leans right over on the blade so that the side of your boot nearly touches the ice just before you lift it off? That's the feeling you should be aiming for on F cross-rolls, and which will enable you to maintain power and flow and not lose "oomph" before you cross for the next one. And when you get that feeling, your coach will tell you you need to bend your knees still more, and you'll lose the rhythm again.... been there done that....

Back crossovers, for me, are still in the making, and I've been told I must work them at the barrier until next lesson - I may do laps, but must work them at the barrier first to remind myself of the motion. They are coming, though. I have to work FO Mohawks at the barrier, too. Sigh....

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