Fresh Snow or Old Slush (Practice Thread 1/22-28/2007) [Archive]

Isk8NYC

01-22-2007, 10:29 AM

Fresh Snow: Started working on music for my twins' programs. Did off-ice exercises yesterday. Focusing on hip strength this week to stop the "BI edge hip drop."

Old Slush: No lessons yesterday, although one student called to schedule at the last minute. Didn't feel like dealing with the public session for one lesson, so I took the day off and got ready for the week.

Flurries: Went to a rink I've never visited before yesterday. They have Sunday AM freestyles, so I'm going to try and work one into my skating schedule, even though it's a 45-minute drive.

<<Think good thoughts that I'll get out of here early and have time to skate before teaching tonight.>>

Flo - great title!

Scarlett

01-22-2007, 01:50 PM

Fresh snow-
Camel spins are starting to improve. You can actually see what I am attempting.

Old slush -
The condition of my driveway/walkway. I actually slipped on the ice on my way to rink. :roll:
Jumps were way off today. I bailed out of a waltz jump (yes a waltz jump) and decided that loops were not in my future today. Luckily my coach is away this week.

doubletoe

01-22-2007, 02:18 PM

Fresh Snow
- My Sunday session was less crowded yesterday, since half of the regulars were at Nationals instead of zooming past me or into me.
- Got more comfortable with the axel from the new entrance and landed the ones I tried in warmup yesterday.
- Finally started landing double salchows again, and I know exactly what I fixed to make it happen.:D
- Am making progress identifying the culprit on my flying camel (I need to keep that free hip closed and facing down instead of letting it open out--Open hips are great for spread eagles, but bad for spins!).

Slush
- Chickened out of the axel both times when it was time to actually do it in a program run-through. :roll:
- My double salchow landings were still showing that little cheat mark < which means they could get downgraded to singles and get additional points subtracted on the GOE (i.e., an almost clean double worth less than a single! Arrghh!):frus:
- Still managed to screw up my flying camel half the time. If only it were just ONE thing I did wrong on that spin. . . sigh. . .

Team Arthritis

01-22-2007, 02:38 PM

Fresh Snow
for the first time in 2 years (since my back fusion) I was able to do handstands in yoga class. Sorry, OT:roll:
Lyle

jazzpants

01-22-2007, 03:43 PM

Fresh Snow:
Sit spin was okay.

I did a backspin wall exercise that secondary coach had given me. Had ONE good back spin and I swear it felt like it was on a solid BO edge...

Old Slush:
Then the ice got too slushy and the backspin went to hell after that! :x :frus: (How did I *DO* that one good spin anyway!?!) :evil:

No clean loop landings. Had one scary but clean landing on the flip...the rest was rubbish!!!

Scratch spin was traveling. Camel was iffy. Back sit from a pivot still refuses to go on a BO edge. (I figured I was too tired and that I better hold off on working on back sit from a back pivot until I get my backspin fixed first before I even attempt another back sit.

Fresh Snow again:
I sorta tried to fake one (or at least start getting the feel of it) by trying to do a back sit going thru a FI3 entry. One of my fellow skater says "Not a bad attempt actually..." (I think I've at least managed a back squat spin... LOL!!! :P )

HOORAY LYLE!!! :bow:

REALLY OLD SLUSH:
Apparently my weekend rink gang are pretty much "going wherever their coach is...", so I think we're all gonna disband. One of the ice dancers (who's probably 67-68 years old but still ice dances like he's 30) says that if his coach retires after March then he will hang up his skates too.

Team Arthritis

01-22-2007, 04:09 PM

doubletoe

01-22-2007, 05:00 PM

:?:
Just curious, how far cheated is that on the 2sal?
:?:
any idea why the axels went away?
:?:
I'm just learning my front camel - Lillian suggested that I open my free hip, or maybe keep the hip closed but open from the knee down, is that right?
:?:

THanks for your detailed posts. Sorry for all the questions, I'll probably never get to your level but I can daydream and imagine:D
Lyle

Aww, thanks, Lyle. But never say never! I was skating my first competition in Bronze less than 4 years ago (at 38) and I didn't know if I'd ever land an axel in my lifetime back then!

Ah yes, the eternal question about why axels come and go. Same reason cats always want you to let them out when they're in and let them in when they're out, I suppose.:roll: Axels just mess with your head and there are so many things you can do wrong as you step out onto the takeoff edge (some of which are just mental, but others which are very specific, like forgetting to keep the right shoulder back). I was stepping out for the axel right out of an Ina Bauer-loop landing before and I just wasn't getting enough outflow on the loop landing to set me up well for the axel. So I took out the loop and am now doing it from an Ina Bauer-RFI3turn, which is a new entrance. But now I have TOO much speed and it's scary to take off on an axel with speed (unlike the lutz or flip, which need some speed). Forget to keep the right shoulder back as you step out, or hold back and fail to get the weight onto the front of the foot on the takeoff edge and . . .it's waxel time!

On the camel, play with it and do whatever helps you get into the spin and stay into the spin. The flying camel is done on a back outside edge, so opening the free hip too much puts me on too much of an outside edge and I end up doing big outside edge circles instead of spinning, so I need to keep the free hip facing down and just let the foot turn out a little. But on the forward camel spin, I think it should be fine to turn the hip out because you're on an inside edge. On an inside edge spin, the equivalent problem would be having the free leg falling to the inside, putting you on too much of an inside edge). But hip closed or open, what's important is that you have the free leg extended and trailing *behind* you on the entrance to the spin.

doubletoe

01-22-2007, 05:04 PM

Fresh Snow
for the first time in 2 years (since my back fusion) I was able to do handstands in yoga class. Sorry, OT:roll:
Lyle

Wow! If you can do THAT, then. . . Axel shmaxel! LOL!

TaBalie

01-22-2007, 05:46 PM

Fresh Snow:

Finally I am back on the ice! I have been off since January 4th in a walking cast for my right ankle.
I got new skates! They are grey suede with light blue laces (Klingbeil). They fit my feet wonderfully. My old Grafs will be a back up pair. I loved them, but they broke down pretty fast (18+mo).
http://nkmakeup.com/skates.jpg
Ice was really empty, so worked on full moves patterns to break in my boots

Old Slush:

Even though I have been in a walking cast since January 4th, my ankle isn't really better :frus: The pain isn't agonizing, just nagging. So, the doctor and physical therapist want me in the cast for another 3 weeks! I am in Sun Valley, Idaho only until the beginning of March, and it is skater's paradise! I get free ice since I did the club's website (http://www.sunvalleyfsc.com) (still a work in progress btw), love my coach, have lots of free time since I am just working freelance, and often only have to share the ice with 1 or 2 other people. I wanted to get the most skating possible out of my time here, but now it looks like I won't be able to. Arg.
Love my new skates, but they are still not 100% comfortable -- just that general stiffness that comes with new boots.

Scarlett

01-22-2007, 07:10 PM

TaBalie...I love the boots!

doubletoe

01-22-2007, 07:19 PM

jazzpants

01-22-2007, 07:29 PM

vesperholly

01-22-2007, 08:56 PM

Fresh snow:
Gah, I got my blades sharpened! Was quite scary until I skated around for a while. Landed a nice axel right in front of my coach. Coach: "I saw that! :) " Double sals were good today, I slowed down the takeoff a lot and that seems to help. I tried some double toes on a whim and they were so. much. better than ever before. What seemed to help was to wait for a long time on the BO edge and not rush the pick.

Old slush:
Double loops were terrible. I couldn't get my legs tight together. Rockers and choctaw pattern (!) was really shaky in MIF test runthrough. Let's just attribute that to two days off, shall we? And we still don't know who the judges are for my test next Tuesday.

STILL haven't choreographed program for Sectionals. At least I've picked music thanks to ISk8NYC!

Thin-Ice

01-23-2007, 04:33 AM

Fresh Snow:
[LIST]

I got new skates! They are grey suede with light blue laces (Klingbeil). They fit my feet wonderfully. My old Grafs will be a back up pair. I loved them, but they broke down pretty fast (18+mo).
http://nkmakeup.com/skates.jpg

Ohhhhhhhhh!!!! PRETTY Boots!!!

Thin-Ice

01-23-2007, 04:35 AM

Fresh Snow:
I did a backspin wall exercise that secondary coach had given me. Had ONE good back spin and I swear it felt like it was on a solid BO edge...

Details of "backspin wall exercise", please!!! :lol: I'm to the point where I feel like I may need another two years to get a consistent backspin.. and am willing to try just about anything to shorten that to an 18-month waiting/working period.

Thanks!

Mrs Redboots

01-23-2007, 08:45 AM

Beautiful boots, taBalie!

Old Slush: Back still a bit sore, bad enough to affect my skating. Was particularly having trouble with rear extension, and kept sticking my bum out. Meanwhile, Husband was sticking his bum out too, as he often does when skating backwards, so as you can imagine, our work in waltz hold didn't look too great! We ended up having to do several laps before our coach was satisfied!

Am watching the Europeans as I write, and forgot to turn them on and missed the Kerr's compulsory. grrr.

Fresh Snow: It actually was snowing on the way to the rink! Only a flurry, and it didn't lie (thank goodness!), but snow it was.

No good skating news - I am not skating well just now with this back. Did go up to "the stretch room", as it's called, and stretch out afterwards, and borrowed one of their gym balls for some exercises.

jazzpants

01-23-2007, 09:07 AM

Details of "backspin wall exercise", please!!! :lol: I'm to the point where I feel like I may need another two years to get a consistent backspin.. and am willing to try just about anything to shorten that to an 18-month waiting/working period.I'll let you know when I actually *get* it... right now it's not even working that well for me! :frus:

Team Arthritis

01-23-2007, 10:43 AM

jazzpants

01-23-2007, 11:28 AM

I've PM'ed it to you guys!!! ;) Don't have it quite yet though, I'll warn 'ya! Hope it works better than me as of now.

Fresh snow:
Well, I figured out that I can do the loop... if I was near the WALL!!! :twisted: Landed clean a few mini ones right in front of my secondary coach when I'm near the wall. Another coach also stood there and watch just to make sure that secondary coach wasn't dreaming about it. (The other coach then promptly takes his gloves and smacks me around...) :lol:

Old slush:
Now why oh why does she make me do guessing games when I'm barely awake and haven't had my coffee yet. http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/muede/a020.gif She made me describe what you do when you're "checking" a 3 turn. She was looking for a particular word -- which turns out to be "twist." As for coffee -- ran out and didn't have enough time to make another batch.

But getting away from the wall? http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/teufel/a025.gif Needless to say, except for my lessons, I am to do those mini-loops along the wall until it's drilled in my head and I can do them in my sleep. THEN she'll try it away from the wall again. (Yes, we're dealing with whatever head stuff is going on with the loop head on...)

More fresh snow:
Well, I have to keep at it, but my waltz jump has improved and the free leg is finally kicking thru! HALELUJAH!!!! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/musik/c065.gif

TaBalie

01-23-2007, 12:24 PM

Thanks everyone!

Jazzpants - Congrats on the loop progress!!! How close to the wall were you when working on the loop? My problem with the loop is that when on the back outside edge I delay, and delay, and delay, and delay, and delay jumping (ie. chickening out). Then my coach suggested I try it from a right forward inside 3-turn. At first I would do the 3-turn and immediately jump -- the loops were tiny, but they were there. Then gradually I started really checking the 3-turn, then jumping, and the jump got bigger, better. For some reason the 3-turn entrance really helped me get over the fear I had.

jazzpants

01-23-2007, 01:15 PM

Thanks everyone!

Jazzpants - Congrats on the loop progress!!! How close to the wall were you when working on the loop? Right at the wall, actually.

My problem with the loop is that when on the back outside edge I delay, and delay, and delay, and delay, and delay jumping (ie. chickening out). Then my coach suggested I try it from a right forward inside 3-turn. At first I would do the 3-turn and immediately jump -- the loops were tiny, but they were there. Then gradually I started really checking the 3-turn, then jumping, and the jump got bigger, better. For some reason the 3-turn entrance really helped me get over the fear I had.Well, my primary coach thinks that I delay too long going into it and I should just "stop thinking about it and just JUMP!!!"

My particular fear issue seems to be a combination of falling (which is weird b/c I've now fallen a few times on other things) and on leaning into the circle on the landing. Having the barrier there to break my fall helps me to get more lean into the circle when I land and I end up landing it clean. Secondary coach also notices that I reach for that wall to hold on to, which also helps the lean into the circle. So what she wants me to do for now is to build up muscle memory of when I land it right and "get used to the lean." She doesn't want me to do them away from the wall for now (except during my lesson with my primary coach, of course.) :P

e-skater

01-23-2007, 04:03 PM

Fresh Snow
- Got more comfortable with the axel from the new entrance and landed the ones I tried in warmup yesterday.
- Finally started landing double salchows again, and I know exactly what I fixed to make it happen.:D
- Am making progress identifying the culprit on my flying camel (I need to keep that free hip closed and facing down instead of letting it open out--Open hips are great for spread eagles, but bad for spins!).

I'm with Lyle! I doubt I'll make it to your level, but it's great reading, and great detail. Must start dreaming immediately! LOL!!!

Lyle....NAH! Your accomplishment is *definitely* "fresh snow"! And good for you.

Jazz.....good again on the loop work. You are gonna hit that one day really soon on open ice and the light bulb will come on and stay on. I just know it.

TaBalie.... love those very pretty and delicate looking boots. I would not dare put such a lovely pair on my feet. The very first day I stepped out on the ice in my first pair of custom boots I had a fall and got a big long slice down the side of one!

Fresh Snow:

---Started breaking in a new pair of boots Monday. While I did fall, at least I did not have a three inch slice in one of them, like the last time I skated in a brand new boot!

---Can now (...and "suddenly" it seems....) do some version of forward/back/forward/back/forward brackets, in a "straight" line, though I am aware of distinct edges when I do it, which means there must be the slightest of curve I guess? R side is kind of ok, L side is not so great, but I can eke it out.

---Landed two sal / toe loop / loop combos better than last week. One waltz / tap toe / flip.

---Making progress on the first of the Bronze level dances, the "Hickory Hoedown". Love that corny music and YEE-HAH beat. Am getting the drop three on the end pattern.

Old Slush:

---No "back" in the back camel....still. I just don't get it. I'm aiming for staying in the same circle as that created by the forward camel, yet every time I feel like I've done that, I look at the ice print --- :roll: and see a three turn, long edge, and the other camel attempt two feet away! It's not really a camel either. Sigh. Which makes it very hard to get to the third spin in the combo, a "tuck backspin".....:frus:

---My L knee did something on Friday. Some sort of tear or ...? I've hurt that knee so many times skiing it's pathetic. It may be coming back to bite me now that I'm pushing to lower my "sit" spin. I think that is what precipitated this, though it didn't show up until later. So being careful now on what I do while skating. Icing, compressing after activity, etc.

---Lutz attempts are actually improving, if even in nano-measurements. BUT there is about a six-inch flutz line still. Grrrr. Flip entry, LBI edge? Poor...it wanders....trying to fix that. Afraid of going for flip out of change edge spiral, LFO edge being last edge in spiral. I've only done it once, and it was really, really pathetically slow. I have balked EVERY other time I've tried! :giveup:

---After glancing at the "breaking in new boots" thread, I'm ashamed to admit that while my feet feel very comfy, for the most part, in my new pair (ankles are a bit pushy), the tongues are quite stiff and I can't bend. It was like that last time, too. But, once broken in, LOVE THEM! Right now is not fun, plus the blade actually has a rocker, and my old ones are fairly flat.

coskater64

01-23-2007, 05:15 PM

Fresh Snow: Saw coach again, she was at Synchro sectionals for the week. Did 3.40 program clean, of course I have no doubles at the moment but I have managed a flying sitting, actually it is more of a big hop but ... it's fast and centered and done out of an inside spread eagle. Program is very serene and lyrical a total departure for me, but jumps are nice sow and flip are best of jumps with lutz coming in 2nd. Spins are all fine, all things considered.

Slush: Can't do rbi quick rockers, rbo yes the others no, leg on layback must be in an exact spot or pain is ...bad. Still going back and forth between strength and flexibility once I get stronger then more flexible and have to rebuild strength, it is a vicious cycle and rather annoying...sigh:frus: what's the old saying...what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I need a tattoo ...8O

LilJen

01-23-2007, 06:18 PM

Congrats on the handstand, Lyle! I never was good at those but did win the *headstand* contest way back when in my gymnastics days. Now? Headstands hurt my head!!

For yesterday's session:

Fresh snow:

Can I repeat myself? I think I do all the time merely by saying, "hey, I actually got to go skating and got a good practice session in." It's not really so much that I go skating really infrequently; maybe it's just that it's such a struggle to fit it into my schedule (plus the 1.5 hrs of driving associated with each trip to the rink) along with everything else? Anyway, it felt good to be out there and work up a sweat! Did lots of work on 3s, oh yes, and ran through all 3 prelim dances with dance buddy.

Old slush (aka all snow in Western Washington! Didn't know there was any other kind of snow until I went to college in VT!)

Inside 3s: Yuck!!! Will hit on these in lesson tomorrow.

Not looking forward to Feb, when one sheet of ice will be dismantled, and later in the spring, when the Monday midday session will disappear until the fall. . . I love that uncrowded session!

Skittl1321

01-24-2007, 07:02 AM

Fresh Snow: I love love love my lessons. I feel so productive- although the day after I feel so sore. Yesterday we worked on power in jumps- which I need. I barely jump a cm. I have to cut music for a program to bring to my coach next week. He also gave me a boot stretcher- here's hoping. And I'm making progress on backward 3-turns, and figured out why I can't step out of crossovers into a scratchspin- I'd never learned a choctaw, and was doing something weird.

Oh- and half flip = fun! So does salchow-toe loop.

Old slush- why am I so incapable of being graceful or powerful during backward edges? How is it that I suddenly forget which way is forward or backward (for my feet) and which is left and right (for my hands) AND which way is inward or outward (for my head). It was a miserable mess.

Mrs Redboots

01-24-2007, 08:05 AM

Fresh Snow: Which is what we had, this morning! 2cm of it - more than enough to disrupt public transport!

Husband now "has" a 3-jump/loop jump combination and a salchow/loop. He still can't quite do a loop/loop, but reckons it will come. So do I, as he was pretty darn close. I forgot, at the time, that 3-jump/loop was axel prep - he'll be amused when I tell him! Anyway, I was well impressed and paid respect :bow:.

Together we did a Riverside Rhumba and Fiesta, but I was saving my back for my lesson and didn't want to do any more at that stage.

In my lesson, we worked mostly on dance moves and exercises associated with them. Coach was pleased with my back crossovers to landing position, focussing on bringing the free leg back and down ("And look at the speed you were going at!" But it wasn't scary at all, as it was the edge that got the speed, not me!). He was also pleased when he asked me to finish with a lap of back skating "focussing on speed, nothing else!"

Old Slush: Which is what there is now!

Back hurt rather badly after several laps of stuff focussing on extension behind, especially FO swing rolls. So we had to work with things that didn't need extension, like back crossovers. Which were not good.

Started my lesson with a test runthrough. :cry: :cry: :cry: Ah well, there's still nearly a month to go.

FallDownGoBoom

01-24-2007, 09:13 AM

Fresh snow: Finally, finally, finally got the hang of the LFI mohawk. It's on a curve, silly. Complete the curve with the RBI edge.

Fresh snow: Moved on to the waltz jump.

Old slush: Brain sometimes seems to believe waltz jump involves leaping from the heel. Bad brain. Naughty brain!

Snow meets slush: The one-year-old skates are looking ever so slightly beat-up, despite my careful maintenance. Nick here, scratch there. Areas of the white leather turning somewhat dull, almost gray. I'd like the skates to appear shiny-new forever ... but that would indicate I'm not taking any risks. Every boo-boo is a record that somewhere along the way, I took a deep breath and tried my best.

BatikatII

01-24-2007, 09:46 AM

fresh snow:

we had some this morning which I wasnt' so pleased about since I had to get daughter to rink for her lesson but perhaps it was inspirational since she landed all her jumps in lesson and test runthrough.

Had my lesson on moves with dance coach and was thrilled when she reckoned all was good enough to pass and some were better than some of the kids. Still have to be able to produce it under test conditions but at least I feel good that I am up to the requisite standard which I wasnt' really when I put the papers in but had to put them in a bit early as the moves are changing. If only I hadn't had a back injury and several months off skating I'd have been able to do them earlier. I have to keep reminding myself I don't need this test and pass or not the effort will pay off in the improvement in my general skating and the fact I can now do back 3's at speed in either direction - yay!

Slush: not much - except for falling on practicing the change of edge move. It was a daft fall. Coach has been saying to pass legs boot to boot on the change of edge and I did - except I had put over-boot tights on (which I dont' usually wear) and forgotten to do up the hooks and eyes under the foot. Well on changing edge and passing boot to boot the hooks on one (which had ridden up the side of the boot somewhat) caught on the tights on the other foot and I fell. Lesson learnt. When wearing over boot tights ALWAYS do up the hooks and eyes under the boot if you have them.:lol: At least it proves I was passing my feet close enough!

Rusty Blades

01-24-2007, 09:48 AM

Fresh Snow: After four days off the muscles were well rested but everything was starting to get rusty

Slush: Did a program run-through - need to add voice prompts until I get used to new choreography!

Fresh Snow: Worked a bit on transitions and moved the footwork sequence.

Slush: Took a stupid fall - started a 3-turn (beginning of a sequence of turns), caught sight of a coach out of the corner of my eye skating into my path, caught a toe pick and ended up in a heap. Those straight-down falls are ugly. The coach's comment "You don't get extra points for taking me out." (Drat! I thought I did! :roll: )

Got sore ribs on the right side now (to balance the smooshed ribs on the left last winter!)

Isk8NYC

01-24-2007, 09:55 AM

Old Slush:
***** threes on the line. If I point my toe, I don't lift my free hip. If I lift the free hip, it pulls out to the side. I'm just going to focus on mastering those BI edges in all sorts of positions until I've beaten this curse. Have a few on-ice exercises to do, along with some off-ice abdominal/hip stretches.

Fresh Snow:
Pre-Prel MITF patterns were okay; have to keep the BO/BI edge lobes the same size. It must have looked like a reverse Perspective drawing, with the biggest lobes at the end. LOL

Prel Spiral pattern was pretty good; have to master the transitions between the edges. (Legs, don't fail me now!)

Back outside threes are shaky, but correct, on both feet! Yayy! Only two more 3's to regain. Of course, they look like c**p, but it IS progress.

Snow Bank:
Waltz jumps are really fun on a circle. Jump, mohawk, jump...I'm dizzy!
Salchows - I'm still liking the bent-knee pass-through entry. I've decided that there's no one single "correct" method and you're never too old to learn new tricks!

Mrs Redboots

01-24-2007, 11:48 AM

If I point my toe, I don't lift my free hip. If I lift the free hip, it pulls out to the side. !
Join the club..... this is what I'm struggling with on my dance moves! One of the many things....

doubletoe

01-24-2007, 12:09 PM

Fresh Snow:
- I held all 3 positions for an extra revolution on my opening change-foot combination spin! My coach was proud of me, and so was I!
- I got a helpful tip from my coach on the flying camel takeoff and then managed to complete it in my program run-through (something that hadn't been happening lately)

Slush:
As a result of the longer opening spin, I was already behind my music within the first 20 seconds of the program. :roll: I stayed 2 seconds behind my music, then lost another two seconds later on, so I had to skip an element in order to finish on time.

Fresh Snow on top of Slush:
At least getting behind my music today made me realize I need to come up with a game plan for what I'm going to do if that happens in competition. I'll need to either skip a jump element or cut my last spin short, so I'd better figure out which option will do the least damage to my point total!

Isk8NYC

01-24-2007, 12:11 PM

Join the club..... this is what I'm struggling with on my dance moves! One of the many things....I'm frankly embarrassed - I know what to do, I used to do it, yet now I can't prove it to myself. Practice, practice, practice, right?

Laura H

01-24-2007, 01:30 PM

OK . . . got in a quick skate during my lunch break, so here goes . . .

Fresh snow . . .

well, let's see. I didn't hurt myself. :lol: That's always a plus. Not many other people on the ice, so plenty of room to skate and try out different things.

Old slush . . .

Now I had a good handle on the one footed spin entrance last time I skated . . . but lost it again . . . (has anyone seen it??) :lol: :frus:

Salchow . . . nope, not today!!! :giveup: My mind and/or body seems to think that the Salchow takeoff is NOT a good thing . . . I keep tensing up. I have a better idea now of what I need to do though . . . I'll keep trying.

Some of each . . .

DH took some video clips of me at my request - 1st I have ever had done (I usually go skating with my kids, and scared to let them loose with my camera!) And I was prepared for it to be scary, and it could have been a LOT worse . .. but I was really surprised at how tentative everything looked . . . I definitely need more BEND. (as our coach tells us . . . you have to go DOWN to jump UP!). Posture wasn't too bad at all though, so I guess we stick that under fresh snow. :lol: Waltz jumps OK, half flip OK, spin attempts . . . well, actually . . . kind of looked like a Salchow . . . how ironic!! :halo:

Tessa

01-24-2007, 03:04 PM

Fresh snow -- got to spend my entire lesson choreographing my program! It was really fun.

Slush -- I'm nowhere near ready to skate said program. It's going to be a lot of work.

TaBailie -- WAY CUTE BOOTS.

Clare

01-24-2007, 03:49 PM

Fresh Snow: Yes indeed and it was fun crunching through it on the way to the rink at 6.15 this morning :) Of course, by the time I returned to the rink this evening, it was all gone :(

Aside from the actual weather...back crossovers, while still far from smooth, are starting to feel better. At least I seem to have finally killed the fear for good which is what I struggled with for so, so long.

Old Slush: FI3s- the feet won't do what they should because the brain, shoulders, arms and hips have no idea what the heck they are all doing :frus:

Clare

e-skater

01-24-2007, 04:40 PM

Mrs. Redboots, I hope your back is feeling better.....take care. I tell ya, dance is *not* for wimps, is it?

Fresh snow:

Had lesson in *old* boots so I could bend and skate.

Did power pulls full length of ice on one leg at a time only......forward and back. And the three turn patterns from Silver moves.

Was able to do the entire "Hickory Hoedown" in time to the music. My coach slowed down the tempo initially, thinking I couldn't do it. SURPRISE! When she played it at normal temp, I DID do it!

Old Slush:

Sigh. Only one total hour (from Monday and today) in new boots. Can't bend yet. Not used to rocker yet. My old blades are flat, and it feels weird.

Knee is still hurt. No jumps during lesson today, no spins such as sit or camel where I drive harder with L knee. That hurts too much. It's the hard push onto the L foot with a strong knee bend which creates the problems.

Three turn patterns. Yes I did them, but the downside is there are so many corrections I can't even keep them straight! Not to mention the dreaded drop three turn in the HH done at speed, rather than creeping along (which is the only way I can do it correctly right now).

Bill_S

01-24-2007, 06:17 PM

Fresh Snow: Made it to the rink this morning in spite of fresh snow. Had the whole place to myself from 6-7 am. after which two other skaters showed.

Skated another 1-1/2 hours this evening and spins, while not perfect, were very good for me. I started clowning around with unusual positions for arms and legs. I abandoned one position about part way through when I realized it must have looked like a dog before a fire hydrant.

Old Slush: Yes, after 7 years of skating, I finally did it. I was running a little late to the session, and launched myself onto the ice - with my skate guards still on. Had a good laugh over that. Had to... everyone else did.

phoenix

01-24-2007, 07:36 PM

Fresh Snow: I have been neglecting running patterns of the Killian, esp. w/ music, but have been working hard on elements (mainly choctaws), and also working a lot on the Rhumba. So today I put the Killian music on, and did 2 patterns. Easily. With edges. On time. And a nice wide, controlled step into both choctaws. And thought it was fun.

I stopped, went over & turned the music off, & kind of wandered around the rink in a daze thinking, "What the H*ll was that?! Where did that come from?!" I actually didn't do any more patterns, afraid that it wouldn't happen again! I skate like that in my test, I may actually pass this thing! Dang.

The rest of the time I worked on my waltz, mostly on the straightline footwork, which is showing some signs of life. Very fun!

No slush for me today!!!!

Rusty Blades

01-24-2007, 07:54 PM

.... and launched myself onto the ice - with my skate guards still on. Had a good laugh over that. Had to... everyone else did.

I am trying to stifle all the smartass comments! I haven't tried skating wit my guards on (yet) and can't afford to tempt fate - my ribs are still sore as he!! from this morning's fall. :cry:

Bill_S

01-24-2007, 08:09 PM

I haven't tried skating wit my guards on (yet)

I've seen it happen a number of times. My coach even did it once entering the ice.

The result is always the same. You're in a pile on the ice. Not graceful.

My first thought was "what happened to my edges?" as my feet started to go out from under me. Then the realization hit just before I hit the ice.

I just remained prone on the ice as I pried the skate guards off afterwards. I thought that would be smarter than trying to stand up to get them off ;)

Skate@Delaware

01-24-2007, 09:11 PM

Old Slush: I'm sooo tired because I went to the gym today and really did a hard workout (why do I do that on days I skate?). So I really wasn't motivated to skate well. Which was evident...my spins are still B-R-O-K-E-N!!!! I only managed one that stayed centered for about 3-4 revolutions, then went crazy (me and the spin).

People were zinging all over tonight and too many times I had to bail out...I really hate that. One coach and his student kept cutting me off (I'd go find a new place and then they showed up right behind me :x ).

Fresh Snow: Broke my routine down into bits and hacked it...it's ok. I will work on it more during Saturday's session-I hear it is a less-crowded time.

Got to demonstrate ISI Dance Level 3 steps (whatever it's called) for another coach...it's way cool! Last week it was the 1/2 toe-walley!

AND...worked on the loop and landed 2 that were ALMOST one-footed!!!!! My toe barely tapped down!!! I am soooooo close!!!! It's time for some off-ice work on this and kick it up some more!

And I want to work on the lutz (I'm skipping the flip because it has a 3-turn).

Salchows were decent but could have been better but did some really nice waltz jumps without scratching at all!! And got some nice airtime on them.

But I'm very tired! Time for a snack, then time to hit the hay!!

tidesong

01-24-2007, 10:05 PM

Fresh snow:
Finally skating again since rink is finally open

Old slush:
Not the best session I've had... ice felt harder and hurt a bit more on falls, only landed one good axel and one good double salchow....

Isk8NYC

01-24-2007, 11:50 PM

Old Slush:
Too many foolish children (my own, btw) to try any good spins.
Several rather crummy backspins, but I forced them into back scratches anyway.

Fresh Snow:
Jumps are better; still screwing up the flip and loop landings.
Stroking and crossovers are really coming on like gangbusters. Thank goodness!

Isk8NYC

01-25-2007, 12:49 AM

And I want to work on the lutz (I'm skipping the flip because it has a 3-turn).I dunno - you're going out of the usual order of things. Have you tried the Flip from a mohawk entrance?

kateskate

01-25-2007, 05:58 AM

Didn't skate today as coach called last night and I was actually thankful for the extra sleep having worked late all week. So this is for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday

Fresh Snow
Field moves don't scare me at all anymore. Even when I did the test back in Nov (and failed) I was a little frightened of some of them. Now I feel I can attack them and I know what I need to do. RBO double 3s felt surprisingly smooth. Must remember not to drop my shoulders. Choctaws are better when I remember to look down the rink and not at my feet. FI double 3s have less noise.

Jumps felt nice. Even lutz. Weird errant left arm thingy has definitely been banished and its all back to normal.

Sit change foot sit felt good and I even managed to keep my arms on one knee and out so it matches my forward sit. I never liked it when I had one on knee and one out for the forward sit and both out for the back sit. Looks unmatched.

Pretty much finished my programme. Working out the jump combos for NJS was tough - kept ending up with 3 loops somehow. But we've managed it. I could have one more combo but it would have to be a lutz-cherry or lutz-half loop-salchow and I think I would be better of with a plain lutz for now.

Compulsories were ok. Did a lot on dance hold and focusing on me skating with my teacher rather than against him.

Old Slush
All sessions have been very busy - as a result of Dancing on Ice I think. It was very difficult to find a space to practise anything.

Axels weren't great. They weren't very thuddy but they didn't feel like they went up enough and I certainly didn't drive them through enough.

14 step Mohawk is still a little outside to flat rather than outside to outside.

BI double 3s need the most work field moves wise

Free dance - need to not go on automatic when practising this. I need to try and finish each move and think about what I am doing and make the most of it all. Was all a bit flat.

Toe steps that have been added to my free programme and they are evil

Scarlett

01-25-2007, 07:22 AM

S@D- I am also working on my lutz even though I have a really, really inconsistent loop and no flip to speak of. It is actually helping because I tend to overrotate my 3 turn entry into the flip and my lutz is straighter in the air though I still can't land it.

Fresh snow-Had a breakthrough on both my sit spin and the awful pre-bronze 3 turn pattern. Am not sure if it will last until coach returns.

Old slush-
Woke up with my throat on fire and my back threatening a coup so I'm off the ice for a time.

flo

01-25-2007, 09:06 AM

Scarlett,
Don't worry - work on both. I had the lutz before the flip.

skatingdoris

01-25-2007, 09:25 AM

aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggghhh hhhhhhhhhh

My coach started me working towards my axel this week8O , I can't believe it I thought it would be ages before he would mention it given the general appallingness of my flip, you should have seen my face, I had to get off the ice after my lesson for ten minutes I was so overwhelmed :lol:

Silly, I know its not a big deal to a lot of people but learning an axel has been my holy grail since I started skating, the big milestone so to speak.

He had me doing a waltz jump take off with one revolution in the air, landing forward on two feet. Felt really weird at first but after a few goes I got the hang of it and was having such fun!!! Need to work on driving the leg up and keeping my shoulders properly aligned.

So only a million years till I actually land one now then:D

Mrs Redboots

01-25-2007, 10:29 AM

So only a million years till I actually land one now then:D
Good luck to you!

Husband is determined to have an axel before he is 60 - 4 years to go!

Amandaskategirl

01-25-2007, 01:59 PM

Fresh snow

– I passed my inter-bronze field moves test on Monday! Yay!
– I learnt the level 5 field moves – Choctaws, double back outside threes, back change of edges and one foot slaloms. I feel like they are doable moves.
– Axels, I mean my attempts at axels, are feeling better. I know what I need to do – quicker spin, more up, tighter position.
– My coach has been demanding more speed on the flip-loop combo lately and I finally did some very fast ones without chickening out.

Old slush
- spins! I have a tendency to continually rock on and off the toe pick when spinning. Especially with the camel but this happens even with a regular upright.
- In general I feel that my skating is quite awkward – particularly forward runs and just various transitions.
- Change foot walleys and regular walleys are hard!!

Team Arthritis

01-25-2007, 02:16 PM

way to go Manda!

Slush: feeling especially stupid -> I sprained my neck in HipHop class:roll: But I did finally get the head snaps:P
wait, does this imply that my heads too fat?? http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/froehlich/k005.gif
Lyle

Summerkid710

01-25-2007, 02:45 PM

Fresh Snow: I haven't actually passed Novice Moves but coach wanted to start on Junior Power Circles. They actually went pretty well.

Slush: Coach also still wants me to work on the axel. It's always been a problem since I was a teenager and I feel like it's two steps foward, one step back. I've been trying to fix old bad habits and it's almost like having to relearn it completely.

Skate@Delaware

01-25-2007, 05:17 PM

I dunno - you're going out of the usual order of things. Have you tried the Flip from a mohawk entrance?
I might mention it to her; we might do the salchow from a mohawk (but then again, why ruin a good thing?) We did hit the flip a few months ago but skipped it; my 1/2 lutz is good and she did mention going ahead. We have skipped around a bit (I'm a difficult learner).

We touched on the flip because it helped me to learn the loop. I almost have the loop (but not my backspin). Isn't that funny?

jazzpants

01-25-2007, 05:33 PM

wait, does this imply that my heads too fat?? http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/froehlich/k005.gif
LyleIt's PHAT! Not FAT!!! Check it!!! 8-)

Fresh Snow:

Do some interesting footwork drill. Sorta like power 3's except instead of 3's I'm doing FI mohawks. And of course, I should be haulin' @$$ across the ice at the same time and my feet better be FAST!!! At times sloppy but it cleaned up pretty quickly thru the course of the lesson.
One foot spin - check
Sit spin - check
Camel - improving... but still working on it!
Sit to back sit - some progress. Primary coach had more fun seeing that I'm falling on the ice trying for them than actually trying to get the back sit, though. I started getting a couple of good attempts towards the end of the session too!!! There's hope for me yet on the back sit! :D
Fellow skater who just came back from a foot injury and was raving about my progress since the last time she saw me skate... PRICELESS!!! 8-)Old slush:
Nothing really! I'm learning all new things so I don't expect to be a perfectionist today on anything.

kateskate

01-25-2007, 05:39 PM

Fresh snow

– I passed my inter-bronze field moves test on Monday! Yay!

WELL DONE!!!!!!! :D :D

Rob Dean

01-25-2007, 08:59 PM

Fresh Snow: Managed two lessons with my back-up coach while primary is away at Nationals this week, with some progress on the Fiesta Tango (finally), some serious polishing work on the Swing Dance, and a little further work on the Willow Waltz. Not a bad week at all, and I hope the primary will be pleased. :)

Old Slush: Let's just not talk about the pre-bronze moves test schedule...

I've tried skating in blade guards, too...didn't work very well. My excuse wasn't running late (though it seems like a good one) but trying to take a camera on the ice, so that photography was taking more brain capacity than skating...Skating is not very forgiving about distractions. (Hence, when things are bothering me I like to skate, as it compels me to clear my mind of those distractions.)

Rob

newskaker5

01-25-2007, 11:54 PM

Skate@Delaware - Congrats on the lutz! You mentioned learning the loop w/o the backspin? Is that not the norm? haha ..I must be doing a lot out of order too - since my coach hasnt even touched on the backspin yet I can do the loop and loop-loop combos.

Is learning jumps "out of order" unusual? I did that too - learned the waltz, toe loop, toe wally, flip, and then the salchow (which I cant do at all:roll: )

With the lutz what is the most common way to get into one?

singerskates

01-26-2007, 01:48 AM

Fresh Snow: Yup with are recent snow fall and dropping temperatures, came my new blades. Can finally skate backwards again without hearing the toe picks hit the ice! Yeah! :D Starting to get the hook back in my spin entries. Even got my camel spin to hook and do one and half revs. Haven't been able to hook the camel and get it going for a year and half (OK since just before getting injured with my hernated discs).

Problem with my one footed jump landings. I can't hear them anymore because of my new blades and now I'm not sure if I landed my jumps. :lol: This is also because I'm not making the toe pick annoying dragging sound anymore or forcing myself to land on the middle or back of my blade to not hit the toe pick on the old blades. Soft quiet landings are back. :bow:

Officially started working on the flip with my current coach today. My only problem with my flip now is that I have to get myself to keep my freeleg infront of my skating leg while in the air and until I've landed the jump. It's getting close to a clean jump and I'm able to tack on a toe loop but not yet a loop jump. One time, I jumped so high for my flip and gave it so much power than I did 1 and 1/2 revs. I really need to only have one rev. My coach showed me why it happened. I was too slow to get my right hip towards my left leg, so I got the extra half rev. I didn't even pull my arms up and in to do it either. Hmm, me thinks when the time comes for doubles, it will come easier than the singles.

Unofficially last week I was working on my lutz jump with the bad blades and was surprised to find out that I can get the full rotation of the lutz. Now I just have to get my coach to work on it with me. I have a feeling that it will happen next Thursday (only see my tech coach once a week for a lesson)

Old Slush: The old blades are now discarded at the proshop to show people not to go to places other than the proshop for sharpening. I had a former coach of mine who use to be a world competitor sharpen my blades a few times. He wrecked them putting a bad notch in them which caused me to fall forwards as soon as I would hit a backwards edge if I didn't try to skate on the heel of the blade when going backwards. This caused me to have very scratching backwards skating and not be able to hook my spins properly.

Emberchyld

01-26-2007, 06:23 AM

Fresh Snow: Had a lesson with my sometimes coach yesterday-- I'm never bored in his lessons, and although I leave with my head spinning and so much to work on that I can barely think, I remember why I fell in love with skating. No "real" jumping (just side hops and mazurkas now and again), and lots of edge work and crossovers and 3 turns over and over and over again, and I don't mind at all (now, in LTS, I'm usually bored by the middle of class... but I think that has something to do with the instructor being overloaded with students!)

I need to get a notebook!

And for once, the "do it well in front of the coach, suck when it comes to practicing on my own" didn't happen... which meant that I got some fantastic corrections, and hopefully my practices will go better.

Oh, and my legs are getting sooooooo strong! It's even helping with my extensions and jumps in ballet... I even feel the difference in plies. Had I known this years ago, I wouldn't have run in terror whenever people suggested I strap on a pair of skates!

Old slush: How I felt most of the past week. Some sort of virus kept me off of the ice-- I wasn't sick enough to take off from work, etc, but I felt waves of nausea every time I moved.

It's bad enough that half of my falls are when I'm standing still on the ice... I don't need to add a dizzy me to it!:lol:

Rusty Blades

01-26-2007, 09:57 AM

Sparkling White Snow: The rink was deserted this morning - with a big competition tomorrow I presume all the young hot-shots are on a day off - so I had two hours of "private ice"!

Did a short warm-up and launched right into program run-throughs. Found I was getting through the first half of my program WAY ahead of the music so I made some minor changes to the choreography - more ice coverage is always good! Did a few complete run-throughs and then toned it down and practiced my turns sequence and backward edges to some of my musical favorites. (Did I mention I LOVR "private ice"? :roll: )

When coach arrived, we went through the first half of the program a couple of times and the whole program once before the old legs started to give out. Coach likes the program, I like the program, and everything has come together nicely.

I was also asked if I would like to participate in a carnival in March. After thinking about it for awhile, I said I would - that'd I do "granny on ice" - an old lady with a walker that just happens to find herself on the wrong side of the boards during an ice show. This is gonna be FUN!

Old Slush: Can't think of any. My ribs are still sore from Wednesday's fall - that'll have to do.

fmh

01-26-2007, 11:08 AM

Fresh snow: Beautiful double axel (I guess I should say I was in the harness :P) but my coach swears she wasnt pulling..... My single axels were pretty good today too.

Slush: Welll you probably know how you get when you're out of the harness and you feel like your legs weigh a ton...yeah so thats how the rest of my day went along with mu back going into spasms too :cry: I'll live.

e-skater

01-26-2007, 03:38 PM

Fresh Snow!

I finally got in, and stayed in, my new boots for two hours today (with time for relacing here and there, tightening, etc.). It was better today. There was plenty of "old slush" too, but SHRUG! I was thrilled I got some good, solid time in those new boots! Getting used to having a rocker again.......:)

coskater64

01-26-2007, 07:21 PM

Actually skated 4 days this week and am in no more pain than normal. Managed an hour of dance yesterday in my dances skates, they were a smidge dusty, took a while to get European back on time, like 15 tries..but finally.

Had 2 lessons today, practiced program discovered no jump warm up is necessary, just spins and footwork, choctaws are better still look like it hurts to do them but,...it does hurt, so why hide it. Had first dance lesson not bad, I have actually been doing the tango correctly...who knew? I like the silver tango even though it will be different practicing with a partner, r fox is good, forgot about how much power you need to do it with good depth and flow.

See the doctor Monday, and he will tell me when I can do my bigger jumps, managed 175 lbs leg press double leg, and 88 lbs on each leg single. Getting close to goal of 200 double and 100 single leg presses. 8O

jazzpants

01-26-2007, 07:45 PM

See the doctor Monday, and he will tell me when I can do my bigger jumps, managed 175 lbs leg press double leg, and 88 lbs on each leg single. Getting close to goal of 200 double and 100 single leg presses. 8OWOW!!! That's about where I am now!!! 8O 8O 8O How many sets do you do and how many reps in each set??? (I obviously need to kick up the weight, but how many reps is the question...)

e-skater: Ahhhh!!! The joys of breaking in new boots and blades!!! Still has that "new boot" smell too, I'll bet!!! :D :P (AND... you'll be a lot happier with your jumps too! I promise you that. When I finally get new boots again, I'll humor secondary coach again and change over to Coronation Aces. After all, she was right about my mutant feet and ankles needed custom skates. ;) :lol: )

Congrats to BatikatII and AmandaSkateGirl on both of them passing their tests!!! WOO HOO!!! :bow:

vesperholly

01-27-2007, 03:35 AM

Fresh snow: I picked and cut music for my freestyle program.
Old slush: I can't find a dress I like for the life of me.

Fresh snow: Program choreography moving along, basic moves laid out.
Old slush: Can no longer do one foot sal-flip combination and will have to replace with less cool combination.

Fresh snow: Mailed Sectionals entry form.
Old slush: Included 3-figure check with entry form.

Fresh snow: Landed one axel in practice.
Old slush: Fell on 8 other attempts at axel.

Fresh snow: Runthrough of Junior moves test went well today.
Old slush: Of course, I didn't do the first two moves (power circles).

Fresh snow: Judges for moves test on Tuesday are good ones.
Old slush: Junior moves test on Tuesday.

8O

Terri C

01-27-2007, 01:06 PM

Fresh Snow:
It was sooo good to be back on the ice- never mind the "No Jumps" limitation given to me by PT. Secondary Coach and I worked on eight step mohawk- she actually counted it out for me to get quicker and on pattern (8O ), and power pulls. The funny thing is, the best forward power pulls I have are on the right leg, the one with the ligament strain! We also worked on backscratch and sit spins.
After lesson, I did my program without the jumps and now I've set a new goal for myself- to do all three spins cleanly in program. The rest of the session I worked on the footwork and transitions. I only skated a hour, so as not to put my right ankle/heel/leg through too much agony.

Slush:
Nothing really. I was too happy skating again!

slusher

01-27-2007, 06:15 PM

Fresh snow: Mailed Sectionals entry form.
Old slush: Included 3-figure check with entry form.

8O

ouch!

I haven't posted in the lesson thread for a long time mainly because my coach was away at nationals and local competitions and some other stuff and still isn't back but today I had time with Dance Guy so here it goes:

Fresh Snow:

The European. A simple dance made out of forward outside three turns and edges. Sounds easy. (cough cough). Well today I got a compliment on timing from the coach, this has been my bugaboo and I actually have a "knee" and "some rhythm"

Old Slush: (love it, that's me!)

It wasn't quite ready yet for Mr. Picky to actually assume the full dance position and partner the entire thing, but we did do the RFO 3 into the LFO 3's around the end. I can't get in position well enough to get into the RFO after the end, and he bailed out.

Pretty Snowflakes:

At the rate of improvement, I could possibly think about testing this at the end of the season.

(I'll just skip any description of freeskate practice afterwards, that would be a case of yellow snow)

coskater64

01-27-2007, 07:14 PM

Jazzpants I started of with doing 10 reps and lower weights and depending on how I feel I move up to 20, 30...40 and 50 once I can do 50 of a weight I go up to the next weight do 10 of those and 40 of the lighter weight and so on. I have a little sheet I use to keep track.

When I feel worse I will go down to the lower weight and do 50 of those instead of the higher weight, at least that way I get toned better, obviously I am not that toned but I am working on it, I have been doing this since late November.

Good luck, it does help!:lol:

2loop2loop

01-28-2007, 12:29 PM

WOW!!! That's about where I am now!!! 8O 8O 8O How many sets do you do and how many reps in each set??? (I obviously need to kick up the weight, but how many reps is the question...)

Hmm, am I the only one getting slightly concerned that I have not the least idea of how much I can leg press and how many times, or even exactly what a leg press is? :)

John

LilJen

01-28-2007, 12:54 PM

Well, way behind on reports, but oh well. Practiced on M/W/Sat and had a lesson Wednesday. Good good good.

Fresh snow: Coach is getting nitpicky with prebronze moves, which is a good thing--means I'm getting close on stuff. Amazing what a change it made for the BO edges to do it "pretty." Balanced out one wonky side and got my free leg to do more than "just hang there" (her words). We worked for about 15 min on inside 3s, which desperately needed it. Figured out I'm going in too straight/not much of an inside edge. Presto! We're on our way to being controlled and consistent. Coach said let's shoot for the May test date.

Old slush: I was kind of hoping for the March test date--I really think i could do this--but oh well. It's not as though I'm ready to do pre-bronze FS stuff anyhow. Somehow I am chicken about the half-flip--I do the entry but don't really go for getting up in the air. I'm going to do some one-leg presses & lifts at the gym, since I think that's one thing that's hindering me. I know I'm strong with both legs but off the one leg is just feeling shaky at the moment.