Badabing..CRASH! You need a snare drumroll for these funnies!

I thought the same thing but I didn't want to say it out loud.

What I learned as a "Tango Stop" is a t-stop with the stopping foot in front, using the outside edge of the blade. Never learned it when I skated, so I've been working on it for a while now. I can only do it on one side. (Right foot stopping.)

__________________

Never heard either of those terms. Must be a regional difference thing.

__________________

Hee!! I took ballet and knew what "cabriole" meant but for some reason I thought of a VW Rabbit Cabriolet. . . Fahrvergnuegen, everyone!!

Daylight: First real skate out since the hardware removal surgery 11/6. YAY!!! 10 days ago I did make it to synchro practice and wasn't terribly comfortable (although it didn't matter much because (1) several people were gone so we just marked the program while trying to figure out where the missing people would go and (2) we pretty much skate forward only). Today felt a lot better, after I got over the initial "dang my feet hurt because I haven't worn these boots in ages" feeling. Just your basic stroking, edges, a few stupid attempts at my pathetic 2-foot spins. . .

Darkness: 3-turns, mohawks, pretty much anything that requires me to torque the leg is just scary. I mean, I can do them but I'm afraid of them. Also, dd's last day of school for 2 weeks is tomorrow, so I can't ensure I'll actually get a lesson (or any practicing) in until mid-January. I am feeling like I have so much catching up to do--trying to tell myself it's okay, I'll get there, but am feeling like I might never get there.

__________________
"Go wash an elephant if you wanna do something big." -Baby Gramps

Daylight:

Skated at lunch today...and had a moves lesson with coach. Things were really good. Still working on getting the back double-3s a bit faster and I need to wait a bit between the turns, but they were pretty good. Brackets need to get a little bit more consistent, and finally my power circles need to consistently exit on opposite sides of the rink...other than that, things are going well! And those are quite small things to fix. Coach thinks that I might be ready to test in January rather than February! Woo hoo!! I get bored quickly and easily, so if I pass, that means a welcome change in the skills I get to work on

The ice was EMPTY, and when I got on at noon, the ice was clean! I got to do some jumps and a couple of spins...not too many, but I did land some lutzes at least I didn't psych myself out today...

Gave coach her Christmas gift, which was a hit

I'm heading to my mom's house in Milwaukee, WI on Sunday...I should be able to get some ice time in while I'm there, and will be able to surprise some people I haven't seen in about 8-9 years But I also hope I will be able to get in some good practice time while I'm there...although, I'll be there that week between Christmas and New Years, so, kids will be out of school and the cheap ice will be super crowded...plus, I won't have a car unless I borrow my mom's, which, given my current bad luck when it comes to accidents, may not be a good idea...

Darkness:

I looked at the calendar wrong for the rink on campus...thought there was ice tonight when there wasn't Which means that since I returned my rental car (to save some $$$), I didn't get to go tonight..oh well, I'll go tomorrow! There is ice until 7pm tomorrow, and I can take the bus out to the rink...

Because students are gone for the semester, the heat has been turned off in the building...however...energy management seems to forget that people still live here! Had to argue with them today to turn on the auxiliary heat...I'm the only staff member who has to deal with that

Daylight:
I had a forty minute lesson with my coach today on empty ice. And I landed two clean loop jumps!

Darkness:
I'm still struggling to put the "power" into my power 3 pattern, and holding on to the back inside edges on my consecutive outside 3-turn pattern (Preliminary MIF).

Wow I suddenly get the Dutch expression "capriolen uithalen", (to make caprioles, which means to do stunts/crazy things)

Been indulging in the Christmas spirit, have we????

As for me:

Daylight: Good practice today - we don't often make it on a Friday, due to Husband's habit of saying "Do you really want to skate this morning?" while I am still warmly wrapped in duvet and sleep.... but we made it this morning.

Biggest success was runs round the circle in waltz hold with him going backwards. You really do have to do proper runs (progressives) rather than crossovers!!! Good training....

Darkness: Still struggling with anti-clockwise in Reverse Kilian hold. Agreed to get Coach2 to look at this on Sunday - clockwise is fine, but no matter what I do, I couldn't face into the circle and it felt as though Husband was pulling me back, even when he wasn't....

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

Daylight: Reeeeally didn't want to skate today but forced myself to go, since I won't have any ice at all next week. Skated pretty well, strong axels and axel-loops - always a barometer - and did a fantastic camel-layback that had a zillion revs (felt like) and was centered on a spot the size of a dinner plate. Should've taken a photo.

I got bored so I did Blues choctaw exercises and then some figure loops. Figures are so intriguing that I may have to drag my butt to skating tomorrow instead of doing laundry. The early afternoon session is usually really dead, so I'm hoping to bring my scribe and do some figures.

Darkness: Why is my double sal so ... bad?! My layback is STILL travelling like crazy. I've really got to get my spins under control if I want to move up to Championship Gold next year without a double.

It's beginning to look like there may be some nature ice skating this year after all.

Gloomy: As it turned out yesterday's lousy skate was probably the result of coming down with a cold - I didn't even make it through the day at work.

Daylight: Got lots of sleep and was back at the rink this morning. Tried out my pretty new Freeskate dress on the ice - got lots of Oohs and Ahs and a few pictures. It moves fine though I will have to watch the fuller skirt

Darkness: Then changed to my practice clothes and found out things were working only slightly better than yesterday Suggested a change of music for the Interpretive program - listened to it on the rink sounds system with coach - she approves but warns that it will make the program more demanding!

Neither: I thought I was going to be off the ice now until December 27 but Head Coach is hinting very strongly that she expects to see me Monday

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

Daylight-
Back on the ice after being out sick with a nasty cold.

Darkness-
I cannot seem to grasp the sit spin. What is it with this spin? I cannot spin with my free leg turned out no matter what I do.

Daylight or darkness (not quite sure)-
Figured out why my jumps have been so wonky - from coach: "Are you trying to land them?" Apparently I land with my arms already reaching for the ice preparing to break the fall. Stopped doing it and my loop and lutz reappeared. Still looking for the flip.

__________________
Happily defying the laws of physics when I skate...and not in a good way

If I could meet ole Axel Paulsen, I would kick him in the teeth

President and Founding member of the I hate Toe-Loops Club

Still a member, but trying to get out of the Pre-bronze peanut gallery.

Visit my skating journal

Daylight- found the GOOD axel this week- the one that's high and easy and actually looks like an axel.
-combo spin has been very strong, and I've been able to hold the positions for a long time
-spiral is much better
-flip/ toe is really high and strong
-INT MIF are feeling really strong
Darkness- I lost my Flying Camel! And, I can't center my laybacks any more! What's going on?
-I've been sick, so getting through the program has been tough
-Oink, Oink, too many cookies!!!!!

Daylight: My program and my MITF were really on point today. And I am proud to say that I have a very consistent and clean axel. No over rotation today. I finally have it locked in my mind and I can do clean combinations with it now. Axel-loop combination is getting more controlled and is cleaner than it's ever been. The double sal was working for me today too. I really don't like salchows so I'm glad to see my double sal return after being gone for so long. Now if only I could get my double lutz to show up again.

Darkness: Had a nasty fall today. I fell on one of my knees. I was too close to the boards to fall on my side. This happened while I was warming up. I think my left blade is a little loose and it caused me to fall. It's probably from all of those double lutz attempts. I didn't feel any pain while I was skating but man my knee hurts now. It's just a soreness though. No sharp pain or anything. Still no luck with the double toe or double lutz. My double loop was underrotated and my camel spin is taking a Christmas break too. They were slow and I was barely getting 4 revs. I couldn't find my center. Even my back sit was off. Ohh well. There's always Monday after I see my blade sharpener.


BlackManSkating

__________________
Proud to be one of the few black men out on the ice

Goals
Pass my Silver Moves Test
Finish Choreography for Silver Program
Land a Clean Double Toe and Double Lutz
Work on Double Axel and Rockers
Speed up back Camel

[QUOTE=Sk8ingQueen;347990]Daylight:
I had a forty minute lesson with my coach today on empty ice. And I landed two clean loop jumps.

Daylight: I went skating 3x this week, 2x with empty ice!! It is amazing what happens to MIF when you can concentrate and not be forced to avoid obstacles. It was a-mazing! I just started some of the preliminary MIF yesterday and today might be my only practice time till my next lesson. It was definitely rough but right now most of the moves are brand new to me.

Darkness: On the spiral pattern, I am very afriad of crashing into the walls. Towards the end of the session, I got a little too daring with catch foot spirals and took a face plant. I'll be a little bruised tomorrow, but what can you do. It was one of those falls that I knew I was going down, but there was nothing that was going to stop it from occuring.

__________________
~Always Dream!~

Check my progress at www.freewebs.com/sk8tegirl06

Er.... actually I think I may have possibly recognized one US senior lady... thats all.... either I don't recognize people or they were all in the other rink at the other end from where the tables are.

__________________
~
Tidesong

Daylight:
Got to skate tonight for about an hour...did my program 3 times! No one was on the ice

Darkness:
There are some awkward places in my program...I need to figure those out....I also need to work on the twizzles...

Daylight:
Did some good scratch/back scratch spins.

Daylight:
Moves were good today Still working on the brackets and making sure I'm on an edge and not on a flat...I'm going to have to do some major work on them...

Darkness:
No lesson next week because I will be gone for the holidays but, I will be skating in Milwaukee and I'll see some folks I haven't seen in 8-9 years...maybe one of the coaches there will take a look at either my moves or my program...

Took my niece and twins skating, just for fun. My Darling Niece (DN) is two years younger than my twins, so I always pass on the better pair of skates when they've outgrown them. She did really well for a beginner, but told me "I've gone around two times. I'm ready to stop now." So, we did some spins and jumps to keep her entertained for a little longer. The ice was pretty chopped up - they cut it right after we took our skates off.

Daylight:
Did several centered back- and forward-scratch spins on this rutty ice.
Power 3's were good, all things considered.
Jumping on my newly-adjusted blades is a pleasure again! Yay!

Darkness:
Kept catching my blade in ruts when doing alternating threes, oh well.

__________________

When I was at Ice House last October, I skated on some sessions with John Zimmerman and Kyoko Ina who were practising their routine for a Christmas show. It was really fun to watch them (though I really should be skating myself huh!?).

__________________
~~~~~
Blog: http://chowskates.blogspot.com

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/chowskates
~~~~~

Wow, yesterday's skating went bad. Halfway the lesson I went home. I thought I was going to faint.

I passed on skating Wednesday night because of son's bronchitis (which is MUCH better, thanks to rest, antibiotics, and forced liquids).

Had dress rehearsal last night for the show....TONS of waiting around, 2 lap warmup....we (my group-Maids in the opening party scene) had a problem with our bit-we are squished and had a problem with the spiral. It is on my bad leg (lifting that leg HURTS) AND if everyone spirals (partner spirals mind you) we are at risk for taking out some very little kids. So, I made the call to have the first person in line NOT spiral, just steer. Worked out MUCH better.

Managed a nice spin, stopping on time and a decent toe loop, although not where we were supposed to be (my partner and I). The little kids keep changing where they end up for the "party" so we keep moving....at this rate we will be jumping and spinning in the audience by Sunday night!!! Oh well.

My next number is at the end and it turned out fairly nice, but we have to report earlier today for a reskate and pictures. Our dresses are BEAUTIFUL!!!! I will put up pictures as soon as I get them-it is a great show and the costumes are splendid this year.

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

Daylight:
I still have my nice strong backspin, so I guess the blade was the problem!
Toe loops, even in combination, were easy.
(I'm very proud of both my girls: today one of them did a waltz-toe combination and the other managed her first Half-Lutz!)

Darkness:
Forward spins were weak, and I just felt blah. Didn't get enough sleep, I guess, plus I stayed up a bit late.

__________________

Can't blame you! They are really nice people, too! I went upstairs to the balcony, where you can look down at all 3 rinks at the same time. Watching Miki Ando's and Daisuke Takahashi's lessons was an amazing experience! (Daisuke was just learning his latest mind-blowing footwork sequence.)

__________________
"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

For such a nice dress rehearsal, first performance was fair...actually the show was fantastic. I forgot my spin (I will note that there is ALWAYS an element that I tend to forget in the first show) and I fell on my toe-loop.

Not sure what happened there....I jump ccw and fell on my right hip....right on the bone so whether I slipped, was pitched sideways, blinded by the spotlight and lost my reference to the ice, not square, etc. not sure. After the show I did some and they were good.

We do get practice ice this morning, you bet some toe-loops and spins are gonna be on my list!!!

Our synchro number was great!!! Lots of applause on our weave (which had been literally "hit or miss" before because if the timing isn't right you either miss the other groups or there is a collision).

Last show today (yay) and my family is coming, especially daughter who is home on leave from the Navy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (haven't seen her yet, except to peek in on her while she was sleeping as they arrived sometime in the night and they had orders to let me sleep).

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

Daylight: Spent a long time working round a hockey circle with Husband, just doing runs in various holds, both clockwise and anti-clockwise. And we tried to do back crossovers holding hands in our lesson, which is never a very good idea, but we tried!

Darkness: Our last lesson for a week! Although Husband is not taking any extra time off over Christmas, so we may well skate before the weekend.

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

Daylight
Done with Skate UK! Other than a step sequence, which couldn't be done in the last three minutes of a lesson.
Drags were good - and SPIRALS!! I spen most of the public session going round in circles, alternating spirals and drags because they felt to good. I'd never done a spiral before today...I was quite proud of myself .
Started on waltz jumps...they were alright. Could easliy have been much worse .

Darkness
Last lesson till the 11th January