Strong and Sure? or... Weak and Wimpy! Feb. 12-18 [Archive]

Mrs Redboots

02-11-2007, 06:13 AM

Definitely very weak and wimpy this morning!

We only skated for an hour, and I'm so tired now I just don't quite know what to do with myself - I'm fine as long as I don't move, but even getting up to post some letters (okay, Wedding Invitations!!!!! Gotta get that in somewhere!) exhausted me.

However, it wasn't all doom and gloom.

Strong and sure: The ice was fantastic. Sunday ice is sometimes rather iffy, but not today. The rink had been cleaned when we arrived, and the lights were on in the loos (this hasn't always happened on a Sunday morning - it is often being done while we skate).

My edges were way better than usual, even on my dance moves! Because we didn't dare try to skate fast, we focussed on our edges more than usual, and I think this paid off.

Husband and I did three of our four dances together, but somehow nobody put any Swing Dance music on, nor even a Foxtrot we could have done the Swing Dance to, so didn't do that one.

And my Willow Mohawk was very, very nearly in time! Yay.... even though we forgot all we'd been told about looking towards the barrier, etc.

techskater

02-11-2007, 08:14 AM

Strong and sure: Had a good run through of my FS program this morning at 6am with the coach watching! :) Not perfect, but right where it needs to be with a week left to DBNAI and 5 weeks to Mids! 8O Interp program was decent as well. I am starting to understand what she means when my coach yells to "slow down" the movements and it's starting to work. I knew this interp would be hard and a big step out of my comfort zone this year. It's paying off in my FS program a bit too, because I am relaxed more and taking my time on my elements more.

Weak and wimpy: Double loop in the program wasn't even close to landed this morning (rushed the take off and severely 2 footed it). Something to clean up once DBNAI is over (decision was made this morning to only do a single there next weekend). Coach was trying to talk training partner and I to do our FS programs again, but I talked her out of it!! I didn't want to ruin my mental state. :roll:

taijiya

02-11-2007, 05:51 PM

Weak and Wimpy: The first part of my lesson, when I was stumbling all over myself on my 3-turns and basically whining and moaning that I was never going to get the stupid things right, my shoulders wouldn't cooperate, I couldn't feel my edges, etc.

Strong and Sure: The second part of my lesson, after I shut up, summoned up some confidence (egged on by my coach holding my hand the first couple of times through), and managed not only to do my FO 3-turns on both feet, but also my entire mohawk sequence. Several times, even. My coach was so happy she squealed and hugged me. I think maybe I squealed, too. :D

Lesson learned: the body is more cooperative when the brain is cooperating, too!

~~taijiya

Emberchyld

02-11-2007, 07:14 PM

Strong and Sure:

Learned scratch spin and a pseudo-half-loop jump today-- although both were ehhhhh, they were fun. I must have looked like a NUT when I was practicing both, but they were incredible to learn. I can't wait to really FLY!

Crossovers and the mohawk (f xo, f xo, mohawk, cross behind, back xo) pattern that my coach showed me were definitely stong and sure-- it helps that they didn't zamboni the ice during public skate, so the only thing that I could do was to practice this on the hockey circles!

What was really nice is that twice, when I was feeling really ambivalent about my skating, people skated up to me and complimented me-- first an adult, "Hey, you're really good!" and then a little girl from LTS, "You're a really good skater!". It's a nice little reality check as to how far I've come since clinging the walls last year, and nice to remember that whenever I feel like I'm not advancing much, most of the muggles (as Mrs. Redboots says!) think otherwise.

Weak and Wimpy:

Inside 3 turn (CCW? The one on the left leg)-- I can't even get myself near started on it!

Pain in my inner hip has been making everything so miserable that I couldn't skate all last week, and it hurt to skate this weekend. Add to that a messed-up wrist, and I was so cautious most of the time that I was skating (even wore 2 wrist braces on my left wrist!) that I don't think I gave my all. I'm seeing my ortho tommorrow, so hopefully he'll be able to figure out what's going on.

TimDavidSkate

02-11-2007, 08:47 PM

Whimpers: :halo:
Warinanco Park ~ Roselle, NJ

1:00 to 1:50 Started slowly with edges and stroking. I didnt want my foot to get cramped up and numb. I carried no extraordinary expectations. I just wanted to skate and do what I can do at that session. I learned how to relax and not get too upset with the crowd and how to adapt within my own space. (And still manage to not collide with anybody) I got to the flip and a couple of combinations. The only times I bailed out is when I kinda have to rush into the open space to do the jump and so my timing and my position changes. (Same goes with the direction I approach the jump) I try to make it "now or never" kind of situation but to be honest, I just cant pull it off, especially if my timing and direction is different. I knew that the lutz was an impossible jump to do at that time due to the traffic, so I decided to do it on the next session.

3:30 to 4:30 Felt awesome stroking around the ice. No cramps, no numbness today!!! Yesss!!! I got to the flip then I decided I needed more duct tape around my right skate. So after wrapping it 5 more times (in total of 15 wraps around my boots), I proceeded with the lutz. Got a few good ones in. The rushed ones, 50/50. Due to traffic, I had to sometimes bail the flow of the landing so I wont knock the other skater and not to ram myself into the wall. Did one good backscratch, then I wasnt able to do it again. (weird) Flying camel- all over the place!!! I couldnt spin, my fly was too much once again and almost had me splatting down the ice. So my body told me to quit the flying spin attempts. "Not today" The crowd got larger, so I had to put an end into the jumping and spinning. I just stroked around and enjoyed the atmosphere of my birth-rink.

xofivebyfive

02-11-2007, 09:29 PM

Today's my birthday! I had a good skate today. All my spins were nice, and I even managed a couple backspins with 6+ revs! I tried my jumps for the first time in a month and they were all really solid, excluding the loop, but that one is the one that really bothers my tendonitis so I wasn't expecting much. I finally understood the toeloop and it looks really pretty now. And my flip is getting way more height since I've been doing it off ice for a month while I wasn't allowed to do it on the ice. SO, I'm very happy with how I did today.

mikawendy

02-11-2007, 10:57 PM

Happy birthday, xofivebyfive!!! :D

Sonic

02-12-2007, 07:47 AM

Isk8NYC

02-12-2007, 08:26 AM

Happy Birthday, xofivebyfive

A white-haired grandfather (in Jackson Softecs - very cute!) stopped me to complain about a little pack of wilding hockey boys. I felt bad - I teach at the rink, but I'm not in charge of the public session. I asked the skate guards to have the kids slow down before the guy complained and their reply was: (I'm not kidding about this) "They're too fast for us to 'catch' them." My mouth fell open! So, I did the "adult thing" and made eye contact with the gangleader and gestured for him to come to me, and of course he did! I gave him and his little crew a lecture, then I dismissed them and ripped the guards!
"You're in charge! You don't chase - if he doesn't come when you call him, stop the music and the session.
You're the adult - kick him off the ice if he gives you lip."

After this, I had some free time to skate on the public session.

Strong and Sure:
Edges are solid, threes on the line are better, not great.
Camel spins were on when this one little girl watched me - I told her she was my good-luck charm and gave her a spin lesson as a reward.
Scratch spins were great. Sit spins were very strong and "different" somehow.
A demo of tiny little toe loops drew applause from a few people - my student did a nice jump, too. She's taking off right, but only turning halfway. She'll get it, I know.
Waltz jumps were fine with deep edges.
Too crowded to really jump, but as the session was being cleared, I nailed a half-lutz and a half-flip, along with a split jump.

Weak and Wimpy:
Back spins are on vacation for a bit.
Couldn't manage a camel-sit today.
LxR crossovers hurt my knee still, but they are getting better.

PS - The hockey boys' reply to "slow down" was that everyone else was going too slow and getting in their way, so they had to zigzag around them. I told them to find another session that was more their speed.

jazzpants

02-12-2007, 12:04 PM

Happy Birthday, xofivebyfiveWhat she said... hope it was a good one!!!

http://www.cosgan.de/images/kao/musik/a020.gif

I gave him and his little crew a lecture, then I dismissed them and ripped the guards!
"You're in charge! You don't chase - if he doesn't come when you call him, stop the music and the session.
You're the adult - kick him off the ice if he gives you lip."

After this, I had some free time to skate on the public session. WOO HOO!!! Yeah, I wish I could do that. I have one that is more interested in practicing her (yes, her!) hockey moves than making sure the kids stay out of the figure skaters way in the middle. :evil:

You go ISk8NYC!!! :bow: :bow: :bow:

PS - The hockey boys' reply to "slow down" was that everyone else was going too slow and getting in their way, so they had to zigzag around them. I told them to find another session that was more their speed.

Strong and Sure:

Then you don't want me in your public session when I'm warming up then!!! I can be fast, especially after I am just warmed up!!! :lol: Of course, there was another figure skater that was MUCH faster than me still. (She was working on her double sal or flip. I couldn't tell whether she picked or not. Darn skating dad blocked me...:roll: ) The Wayne Gretsky-wannabes had that look of "Ummmm....I have hockey skates on!!! How come you're faster than me???" :?? look (Too bad all the gals cared about were my purple boots!!! :lol: )
I did a couple of waltz jumps and toe loops at faster speed. Can't say much about my toe loop technique but the waltz jumps are kicked thru at least.
Sit spin good.
Forward spins okay, (could use less travelling when I cross the foot...)
Camel is okay. Still needs work on the spiral position and staying in position as I'm spinning but I do start off spinning.
Did some edge work. FO3 and FI3's - okay, not great! LBO3 was wimpy but at least I could do them. RBO3 - I finally got ONE!!! YAAAAY!!! FO brackets were wimpy but I can do them.Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy!!!

My loops and flips! :frus:
Backspin was iffy during the session b/c I wasn't on the correct edge and sucked towards the end of the session, b/c I didn't have enough energy to push on the blade to keep spinning and my entrance was kinda sloppy.
BI brackets... ummm... maybe I should work on BI3's first...and more work on the wall too! :roll:

Isk8NYC

02-12-2007, 12:14 PM

Then you don't want me in your public session when I'm warming up then!!! I can be fast, especially after I am just warmed up!!! :lol: You're always welcome -- you know that, silly! I skate fast, too, but they really were deliberately going through the thick of the "slowbies" and using them as an obstacle course. The grandfather was (allegedly) complaining to the rink OWNER today, with whom he's on a first-name basis. At least I'll get a good report! LOL

Honestly, I dominate the middle with my students on this session so I really don't care what goes on outside as long as they're out of my way. (One of the boys did cut through the middle and bump my student. Once. He got picked up/put out by me and he didn't come back again.) The grandfather was very persuasive and I didn't want the guards to get canned over it - this rink dismisses guards easily.

Should start an "assertive training" course for some guards and a "customer service" one for the other ones.
Too bad all the gals cared about were my purple boots!!! :lol: And why not? They're cool and they help you skate better! Anyway, you live in California - funky colored boots are a requirement, aren't they? LOL

doubletoe

02-12-2007, 01:28 PM

Strong and Sure
- Yay! Yesterday I repeated my full split (although only with the left leg in front) and this time I actually got photographic evidence just to make sure I wasn't dreaming, LOL! http://ca.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/compadultsk8s/photos/view/1eee?b=14
- I seem to have isolated the problem and the fix for my axel, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can implement it consistently, even in my program!
- Spiral sequence is finally where it needs to be, I think.

Weak and Wimpy
- I am still suffering from a pulled right hamstring, which is not only preventing me from getting a split with the right leg in front, but it's also hurting me on my camel-sit and preventing me from getting a high enough spiral on the right leg. And stretching it is soooo excruciating. . . but necessary. Sigh. . .
My flying camel is an absolute atrocity right now! :frus:
- Whenever I land the double sal clean and backwards on the toepick, my blade just sticks in the ice and I collapse forward instead of gliding out. :(
- Didn't land the axel in my program yesterday, even though I had supposedly just figured out how to fix it. :roll:

jazzpants

02-12-2007, 01:37 PM

You're always welcome -- you know that, silly! I skate fast, too, but they really were deliberately going through the thick of the "slowbies" and using them as an obstacle course. The grandfather was (allegedly) complaining to the rink OWNER today, with whom he's on a first-name basis. At least I'll get a good report! LOLOh, dear... Yeah, the ice guards aren't doing their jobs!!!

Should start an "assertive training" course for some guards and a "customer service" one for the other ones. And I think ALL the rinks should have that too, but you know... (but some rinks are better about this than other. My home rink for instance is great for it, but even with that the rink STILL gets too crowded on the weekends. My weekend rinks, OTOH, are really bad about it, but I still manage to get in my practice anyway. It's on the days where I know is really bad that I don't bother showing up.

And why not? They're cool and they help you skate better! Anyway, you live in California - funky colored boots are a requirement, aren't they? LOLWell, I'd like to think the orthotics and the custom molds to my feet in the boots also help too! :lol: :P

Funky colored boots are a requirement in California!?!?! LOL!!! I don't know about that. I once drove up to Santa Rosa, CA to skate at the Snoopy Rink during a FS session. Needless to say, my purple boots got a LOT of raves from the coaches there, including Skippy (Baxter) too.

Doubletoe: I am JEALOUS!!! :mrgreen: Gorgeous split!!! :bow: (Hope your right hamstring recovers though. :cry: )

Bill_S

02-12-2007, 02:44 PM

Sure and Strong: Had to get someone to the Port Columbus airport at 3 pm Friday afternoon and I took my skates with me. I planned to attend a 4-5:20 public session at the Dispatch Ice Haus downtown. I showed up 1/2 hour early, and the lone employee told me I could start early. :lol:
Did full-ice moves until a modest crowd eventually showed up. Compared to our ccccold 20-degree F rink at home, this place is an oasis.

Weak and Wimpy: Had to pick up same person from the airport on Sunday evening, so I packed the skates once again and headed to an OSU Ice Rink public skate. I've never seen so many people in one rink! You couldn't fall if you wanted to, but if you did, you'd have squashed several very small muggles. There were lessons being done on center ice by about 5 students and two coaches. I don't know how they could do anything at all. I just went round and round till it was over. Exercise, but not much. At least I didn't have to change clothes afterwards.

This morning back at my cold rink, all spins are gone again. Sigh. The cold rink temperature took away my enthusiasm too, so I just went through motions for the two hour session.

Better days will come.

e-skater

02-12-2007, 05:05 PM

- Yay! Yesterday I repeated my full split (although only with the left leg in front) and this time I actually got photographic evidence just to make sure I wasn't dreaming, LOL!

- I am still suffering from a pulled right hamstring, which is not only preventing me from getting a split with the right leg in front, but it's also hurting me on my camel-sit and preventing me from getting a high enough spiral on the right leg.

I did a couple of waltz jumps and toe loops at faster speed. Can't say much about my toe loop technique but the waltz jumps are kicked thru at least.

Did some edge work. FO3 and FI3's - okay, not great! LBO3 was wimpy but at least I could do them. RBO3 - I finally got ONE!!! YAAAAY!!! FO brackets were wimpy but I can do them

Doubletoe, "evidence" is always nice, but I believed you the first time! LOL!AWESOME split! :bow:

Jazz, good job my dear! Great work on those three and brackets, not to mention entering jumps faster. :) The loop and flip will come......

As for me, well I fell AGAIN on forward power pulls today, and on a flip jump. All in all, since last Friday, things have been "wimpy".......:twisted:

doubletoe

02-12-2007, 05:49 PM

Doubletoe, "evidence" is always nice, but I believed you the first time! LOL!AWESOME split! :bow:

As for me, well I fell AGAIN on forward power pulls today, and on a flip jump. All in all, since last Friday, things have been "wimpy".......:twisted:

I admit it, I'm just trying to extend my "happy dance period" on this little achievement, so I'm using the new "proof" as an excuse to celebrate all over again, LOL! (I still can't believe it took me over 30 years to achieve, though!).

That is a little odd about your power pulls and flip. Are you getting enough rest?

doubletoe

02-12-2007, 05:52 PM

Funky colored boots are a requirement in California!?!?! LOL!!! I don't know about that. I once drove up to Santa Rosa, CA to skate at the Snoopy Rink during a FS session. Needless to say, my purple boots got a LOT of raves from the coaches there, including Skippy (Baxter) too.

Jazzy, you MUST show me your famous purple skates when you come down here for Sectionals! Do you think you'll ever be able to skate a program where you can actually keep them uncovered? (Ooh, how about an interp program to "Heard it throught the Grapevine?" :D LOL!)

Terri C

02-12-2007, 07:07 PM

Strong and Sure....
My spins, especially the sit are getting stronger and more secure.

Weak and Wimpy:
Was a little sore today where my ligament strain is, so jumps were a no-no.
Will I ever get better? :frus:
New work schedule is out. With the exception of the last week of February. first of March, I'm back to 10 hour work day hell again. Will I ever get back on a regular training schedule, so I can pass my Bronze free and go to AN next year? :cry: :cry: :cry:

icedancer2

02-12-2007, 07:15 PM

Weak and Wimpy: Well, my foot is definitely broken (and very swollen I might add) - went to the Orthopod today and he wants it immobilized for at least 3 weeks (more like 6 I think) -- was very cautious about telling me I could or could not drive (noncomittal is the word I was looking for) but I think I can't drive until I feel confident about putting my foot on the brake pedal in heavy traffic (slamming is more the word for it).

So obviously no skating -- boo hoo -- my coach was shocked, since she was getting me ready to take that darn Bronze MITF test -- why does this sort of thing always happen??? So discouraging!!

Also very difficult to work as I am a house-call veterinarian and without driving there are no calls and therefore no income. Super bummer. Of course, not spending any money on skating helps on that score, but can't really call that Strong and sure... that's for sure.

doubletoe

02-12-2007, 08:16 PM

Isk8NYC

02-12-2007, 08:29 PM

Well, my foot is definitely broken (and very swollen I might add)

Also very difficult to work as I am a house-call veterinarian and without driving there are no calls and therefore no income.I'm so sorry to hear that your foot's broken. I know they don't cast broken toes - do they cast broken feet?
Do you have personal disability insurance or might your Vet association offer a policy that you could call on?
The Unemployment office of your state might be another source, but I'm not sure since you're self-employed.

Here's hoping you have an uneventful recovery.

doubletoe: Congrats on the split. I'm jealous. :mrgreen:

Weak and Wimpy:
Actually, nothing tonight, but I didn't really exert myself too much.

Strong and Sure:
Crossovers, open choctaw sequence (showing off), upright spin, lunge into backspin (showing off) and three turns.

Strange and Unusual:
Bunny hop-lunge...repeat was necessary. LOL
Ballet Jump and Baby Mazurka (from a standstill)

icedancer2

02-12-2007, 08:58 PM

Here is the link where I talked about the injury. (http://www.skatingforums.com/showpost.php?p=308650&postcount=63)

I went to the orthopod today and he said that I need to keep it immobilized for a while. He said he could cast it, or if I could be trusted I could wear a walking boot, but I am not to put weight on it and should use crutches (at least one crutch) for a while. I even have to wear the boot at night, or I can switch to the smaller splint that they made for me at the Urgent Care clinic I went to over the weekend.

Need to see him in 3 weeks for a recheck and I am guessing I will be off the ice for three more weeks after that.

I put it in the practice thread because this is where the skaters meet to talk, basically, I didn't think it warrented it's own, separate thread...

Thin-Ice

02-13-2007, 02:59 AM

Sonic

02-13-2007, 03:41 AM

Weak and Wimpy

My sit spin is a bit off, though I think this is partly down to blades needing a sharpen. Though for some reason I can still just about hold edges on blunt blades, spins are always the first things to go.

Strong and Sure

Thanks to a helpful thread on this forum, I now have something that resembles a proper flip as opposed the the pathetic UHT I had up until now. Camel spins are quite strong. Laybacks are coming on.

S xxx

phoenix

02-13-2007, 08:21 AM

icedancer2--- Maybe your regular (loyal) clients would come to you for a few weeks while you can't drive? If you explain the circumstances, they might be willing to help you out.

Sorry to hear about your foot. :cry:

e-skater

02-13-2007, 08:38 AM

I admit it, I'm just trying to extend my "happy dance period" on this little achievement, so I'm using the new "proof" as an excuse to celebrate all over again, LOL! (I still can't believe it took me over 30 years to achieve, though!).

That is a little odd about your power pulls and flip. Are you getting enough rest?

Plenty of rest. It's unusual when I don't. Though I do fall on the flip from time to time anyway, trying to "get it" and/or trying to improve what little bit I have of it (LOL!), these falls were due I think entirely to the "no bend" factor in my new boots re the power pulls, and to popping up on the flip then not having confidence in feeling that rocker when I landed....instead I landed on it and went "wow!" and fell! It's ok, every time I skate, things get a bit better. Plus, with your split as inspiration......:twisted:

Mrs Redboots

02-13-2007, 10:09 AM

Icedancer2, my commiserations. Please heal fast!

Weak and wimpy:

Ice was ghastly, as Zamboni had broken down. We skated badly. Dance moves pants - they always are on bad ice.

Strong and Sure:

My swing dance Mohawk was (for me) really good, even beginning to look like an open mohawk! And in time! In fact, coach spent a lot of time working on the two edges after the Mohawk, as they are still a bit iffy.

Back cross-rolls were actually less pants than I have just said - I even gained a bit of speed on them, which was well scary! The cross-cuts weren't really working though - I didn't get my heels turned enough towards the opposite barrier, so they were a bit flat and ucky.

kateskate

02-13-2007, 11:45 AM

Strong and Sure
Dance - steps for compulsories and free dance are generally ok thankfully
Had my blades sharpened so my edges felt nice and controlled
Singles and usual spins felt good
I seem to have got a reasonably consistent "axel" (inverted commas since people still ask me if I'm trying to do an axel - I want them to know it is an axel and until then, it goes in inverted commas) - its still not very big or long and I don't cross my feet and my arms aren't that neat but it was to backwards on one foot without a thud! Yay!
Field moves are still there - BI double 3s are better - was thinking about deep ankle bend (thanks to doubletoe) - and it helped. :D Test is on Wednesday 21st! Yikes!!! 8O
Good programme run through and no falling on silly things like loops this time!

Weak and Wimpy
I started prerotating my axel yesterday! 8O Am a little concerned so may leave it for a day or two so that nasty habit can vanish
I need to present and lift EVERYTHING dance wise. It is still too flat. :frus: :frus:
R to L choctaws have a slightly wobbly edge sometimes
Double mohawk step needs to flow more
I was lacking rhythm on the FO and FI double 3s and lacking extension on the BO and BI double threes.
Test is next WEDNESDAY! Panic!

Isk8NYC

02-13-2007, 11:49 AM

I seem to have got a reasonably consistent "axel" (inverted commas since people still ask me if I'm trying to do an axel - I want them to know it is an axel and until then, it goes in inverted commas) - its still not very big or long and I don't cross my feet and my arms aren't that neat but it was to backwards on one foot without a thud! Yay!You're good-natured about it though. LOL

kateskate

02-13-2007, 11:54 AM

You're good-natured about it though. LOL

Lol! Axels will be the death of me. It is now amusing! :)

doubletoe

02-13-2007, 12:32 PM

Strong and Sure
I seem to have got a reasonably consistent "axel" (inverted commas since people still ask me if I'm trying to do an axel - I want them to know it is an axel and until then, it goes in inverted commas) - its still not very big or long and I don't cross my feet and my arms aren't that neat but it was to backwards on one foot without a thud! Yay!
Field moves are still there - BI double 3s are better - was thinking about deep ankle bend (thanks to doubletoe) - and it helped. :D Test is on Wednesday 21st! Yikes!!! 8O

Go Kateskate! Go Kateskate! :D:bow:

doubletoe

02-13-2007, 12:34 PM

Plenty of rest. It's unusual when I don't. Though I do fall on the flip from time to time anyway, trying to "get it" and/or trying to improve what little bit I have of it (LOL!), these falls were due I think entirely to the "no bend" factor in my new boots re the power pulls, and to popping up on the flip then not having confidence in feeling that rocker when I landed....instead I landed on it and went "wow!" and fell! It's ok, every time I skate, things get a bit better.

Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about your new boots! It's hard to get a deep enough bend to get the knees over the toes with stiff new boots (I'm still not lacing the top hook and I've had mine for over a year, LOL!).

jazzpants

02-13-2007, 01:08 PM

Well, today's lesson was mostly on the loop. (I did a couple of waltz jumps and secondary coach is very happy now that it's kicking thru!) But the lesson started out REALLY weak and wimpy b/c for the life of me I couldn't figure out what I'm doing near the wall that I'm not doing away from the wall...

But bit by bit... I've first aimed for just hopping out of the left foot, then it was landing on left foot but getting stuck and finally the last 2 or 3 of them I landed them clean, "strong and sure" away from the wall. (Well, more a feet away from the wall, but not close enough for me to have that much of a safety of the wall...)

I wish I could say it's just one magic thing that I'm doing at the wall that I'm not doing. But the reality is... there were MANY, MANY problems with that loop! I was rushing the entrance, my starting arm position was all wrong, I wasn't allowing myself to curve longer and deeper into the BO edge b/c I was rushing myself. I wasn't checking my landing. The list goes on...

Of course, this whole thing could all be a fluke... which is why I'm coming back to take a makeup lesson tomorrow morning (b/c coach was sick last week.) She wants to keep at this thing to make sure it's consistently landed CLEAN and away from the wall.

Today is a VERY, VERY good day for me, nevertheless!!! :mrgreen: :bow: :bow: :bow:

doubletoe

02-13-2007, 01:52 PM

the last 2 or 3 of them I landed them clean, "strong and sure" away from the wall. (Well, more a feet away from the wall, but not close enough for me to have that much of a safety of the wall...)
Today is a VERY, VERY good day for me, nevertheless!!! :mrgreen: :bow: :bow: :bow:

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!:bow: :bow: Just wait, by next season it's going to be your strongest jump!

e-skater

02-13-2007, 03:22 PM

Well, today's lesson was mostly on the loop.

But bit by bit... I've first aimed for just hopping out of the left foot, then it was landing on left foot but getting stuck and finally the last 2 or 3 of them I landed them clean, "strong and sure" away from the wall.

Of course, this whole thing could all be a fluke...

Today is a VERY, VERY good day for me, nevertheless!!! :mrgreen: :bow: :bow: :bow:

JAZZ! GOOD JOB ON THE LOOP! And, no, it is NOT a fluke. This is huge progress. Congrats. I knew you'd come through that frustration with a break through, and you did. :)

Skate@Delaware

02-13-2007, 03:58 PM

Way to go, Jazz! Yeah, this is going to be your best jump!!!!

Strong: My routine...kicked it around quite a bit in chunks. I'm glad the season is almost over, though as I'm getting a bit tired of it. It's a bit old (at least the music is, 2 years running :roll: ). Managed a very nice centered spin (one is good!).

Weak: um, the loop!!! Did the backspin-hops and while I can manage 1-2 revs on the backspin (mostly) and sometimes can do a 1-2 backspins-hop-1-2 backspins combo....landing this daggone jump on my right foot ONLY is getting me really ticked off!!!!

I get good height and rotation (all the way) but as I've said in the loop thread, insecurity and the half-loop habit keeps this left leg touching down first.

Spins here suck, I'm sure it's 50% ice quality and 50% me. The ice at Bowie was sooooo nice!!!! Our ice is so darn hard! I had my skates sharpened (7/16") at Bowie and today was the first time on them since and i felt like I could not get an edge...our ice used to be softer but we are slowly going hockey...more and more....

kismet_78

02-13-2007, 04:36 PM

Hi everyone,

longtime lurker here and feeling brave :) . Mind if I join in?

Strong:managed an axel sequence for the first time in about a year, as the axels have been extremely dodgy for ages. Did not dare repeat it :) . Flying camels are improving, though the jump is still a bit wild.

Wimpy: Where to start... forward camels, since the new skate sharpening, are out the window. Struggling with the opening step sequence in my program - it's a forward inside three turn, change of edge, back inside double three - and I keep losing my balance on the change of edge and putting the foot down. I think my arms are all wrong and I end up twisted in really awkward positions. Really hoping my coach can fix it on Monday, as there's nothing like falling over in the opening seconds of your program :)

On a fun note, a friend tried to teach me the foxtrot yesterday. I'm really uncoordinated, and have a tendency to trip over my own feet all the time and twice as often if someone is watching, so dance has always seemed impossible to me. However, I had a great time! Seriously thinking of starting to learn properly. If only there were more hours in the day...

Happy skating!

dbny

02-13-2007, 04:53 PM

(((((Icedancer2)))))

After I jumped through all the hoops, I was finally able to see doubletoe's totally awsome split!

Jazzpants - WTG on the loops!

For me, it's all been Wimpy this week, as I didn't get myself out and onto the ice yesterday or today either (except to give a lesson this afternoon). Was just too tired. Tomorrow morning I'm going, weather or no weather!

Skate@Delaware

02-13-2007, 05:12 PM

I realize I've been SLACKING!!! I have some catching up to do if I want splits by the time I'm 50!!! (hey, I just turned 45 and I'm not there and here's DoubleToe getting hers!!!)
Congrats!!! I know how hard it's been-what a workout!

And Jazz; from one coast to the other....keep working on those loops!!! I know you are ahead of me on them...but we are so darn close on them! I know when you get it I will hear that whoop!!!

DBNY: you will love this-there were 2 guys in hockey skates...one did a knee-skid across the ice so I said (being the smart-alec I am) "next time you can do it better and give out a yell" because I thought he was showing off...he said "I fell" :cry: Oooops!!! I did apologize...I said I didn't want him to think the figure skaters were picking on the hockey skaters!!! They were nice guys tho-couldn't skate very well. We showed them how to do 2-foot spins...they thought that was cool.

doubletoe

02-13-2007, 06:17 PM

Kismet, thanks for posting, and congratulations on your axel sequence!! What is the sequence?

DBNY and Skate@Delaware, thanks for the kudos. GRIN :D (Skate@D, I think you'll find that persistence and a high pain tolerance really pay off, ROFL!)

Skate@Delaware

02-13-2007, 06:27 PM

(Skate@D, I think you'll find that persistence and a high pain tolerance really pay off, ROFL!)
Hey, I have that already....I'm married with 2 kids!!!

doubletoe

02-13-2007, 08:27 PM

Hey, I have that already....I'm married with 2 kids!!!

I'm going to assume you were referring to the 2 kids portion of that? LOL!

Laura H

02-13-2007, 10:44 PM

I went skating during lunch yesterday and had group lesson today . . .

STRONG & SOLID: I had a glorious half-rink to myself on Monday! Only one other skater in the rink - also practicing jumps and spins - so she took one side and I took the other. My main focus was the toe loop and salchow, and spinning (one foot from crossover entrance) . . . felt like I got some good practice in on all. Spins are starting to feel gooood . . . very cool feeling! The makeup group lesson today was quite interesting as it was "bring your buddy" day - not that this affected the jump & spin group - but we mostly worked on spinning due to lack of available ice space. For the last 15 minutes the kids were participating in some games led by the instructors and the other adult skater and I (with the instructor's permission) made a beeline to the coned off area - tots were on one end leaving plenty of room for us to practice. Toe loop is starting to feel really solid and consistent (and natural!!) . . . and the salchow . . . well, I'm leaving the ground, it's definitely a jump . . . and a one-footed landing . . . what happens in between - not sure of the quality :halo: (but I have the general idea now! fine tuning to follow!!!!).

weak & wimpy: still scared of the backspin . . . gotta get over that and start working on that regularly - at some point I am going to NEED a backspin :giveup: . Meanwhile, DS is really getting very nice & solid with his change foot spin - I'm so proud of him!!

singerskates

02-13-2007, 11:11 PM

Weak: The use of the public adult ice. There were kids 5 and younger on our adult public ice today with chairs. How is one suppose to practice anything. It took until 15 minutes before the end of our adult session before the kids left with their parents who were on the Parent and Tot session before the adult session to leave. The first forward catch the free foot behind spin was centered and fine (7 revs once the free foot was held), but then right after that this kid wouldn't leave me alone and kept getting too close to me while I tried to spin. I didn't want to see the kid get cut up. So after the 5 attempt to try to spin again, I gave up trying to do my own spins. I then tried to get the kid to learn a two foot spin to occupy her and get her away from me. Didn't work. Instead she kept on sticking to me like glue.

Strong and Sure: With only days left before competing at WOS Boston Pizza, I choreographed another section of my freeskate and now only have 40 seconds left to get done with no jumps left and only one spin window left. I suppose I will add a split jump or something and then some edge work and/or another spiral into the final spin. Anyway, because I'm doing a spiral sequence, I don't get to do a footwork sequence at the Adult Bronze level. Bad news is that WOS Boston Pizza is this Friday. Oh, well, in 2004 at the first ever Adult Canadains I won a bronze medal for what is now the equivilent to Adult Bronze FS even though, I didn't have anything done of my freeskate 5 days prior flying out to compete. This time I at least had half of my program figured out ahead of time.

Mrs Redboots

02-14-2007, 06:02 AM

Strong and sure: The ice was better today. Coach said he'd never seen my back cross-rolls so good! I don't think he thinks they're passable, though... Oh well, the judge might just think differently. Back cross-cuts improving, but I'm out of time!

Played with the 14-step at the end of my lesson, I can do it with the coach!

Weak and wimpy: My back crossovers were dire! Coach says I might fail my test on them alone. I said "But they aren't testing my back crossovers", but he explained that it's the first impression they get of me. Mind you, husband's were worse when he tested Level 3, and he still passed....

When dancing the Willow with the Husband, I found I couldn't get the step to forwards at all. I don't know if Husband is in the wrong place or I am, but I went to push and there was nowhere to push because he was there! Plus my knees were too straight so it wouldn't have been much of a push anyway, but it would have been more of a push if he hadn't been going in a totally different direction! Oh well, we can look at that if we get a couples' lesson next week.

Jazzpants, congratulations on the loop! Kismet_78, welcome!

Isk8NYC

02-14-2007, 07:41 AM

Jazz - Congrats on the loop! It'll get consistent very soon, you watch!
Kismet - Welcome! Glad you de-lurked and joined us.

Weak and Wimpy:
Freezing Rain = No Lesson Today.
(Might go by the rink to see if anyone's on the Freestyle.)

Strong and Sure:
Half Lutzes - either way. LOL (I never tried one CW before this season)
Edges on the Line - on the mark, in control.
3turns on the Line - Not half-bad, not half-good either, but not half-bad!
Camels - Managed to do 6 out of 8 right.

Skittl1321

02-14-2007, 08:38 AM

Weak and Wimpy Didn't skate Sunday because I was volunteering at the Iowa games. Went to work Tuesday- solely because I couldn't justify skating if I didn't go to work. Well, because of the snow- my lesson (and my classes) were cancelled. I probably still could have gone to the rink, but I couldn't get anyone on the phone to tell me if the rink was open! And with the bad weather, I wasn't going to drive there if they were closed.

URGH.

Tiggerwoos

02-14-2007, 09:24 AM

Strong and Sure

Sit spin gradually coming back to me. Managed a few revolutions in it and am sure its getting lower again....... Shame about the travelling though. Cross-toe spin occasionally getting really centred.

Week and Wimpy

Felt very intimidated by the skaters who don't regularly frequent the morning patches and it was full of teenage girls learning doubles, (due to them all being off school this week) so I felt a bit clumsy today, compared to it normally being adult skaters. Ended up backing out of trying my loop jump and flip which I relearned (or started to) the day before and stuck to practicing 3 jumps, cherry's and salchows.

Rusty Blades

02-14-2007, 10:28 AM

Weak & Wimpy: Woke up just before 4 a.m., made coffee, checked my email - email from coach last night to the effect "get a good rest - we have lots to cover tomorrow" - oh shit - maybe I should just go back to bed!

Wasn't really "on my game" today, a bit rubber-legged, but we found a way to dress up the 2-foot squat/glide in my program, add some animation here and there, and do a program run-through.

Ok, I really blew it - WAY off the music right from the start and bailed half way through. I know I shouldn't bail but I didn't want to blow all my strength on a screwed-up run-through.

We putzed around for awhile and I suggested another run-through before she left.

Strong & Sure: (Yea, right! How about "Not quite so wimpy"??)

Second run-through wasn't prefect, a little bobble here and there, but it didn't fall apart, I kept to the music and one of the other coaches gave me a round of applause at the end! :mrgreen: WOOHOO! I need LOTS more run-throughs before competition, but it's coming nicely.

dbny

02-14-2007, 11:36 AM

For me, it's all been Wimpy this week, as I didn't get myself out and onto the ice yesterday or today either (except to give a lesson this afternoon). Was just too tired. Tomorrow morning I'm going, weather or no weather!

And it's Wimpy once again! Got up on time and saw that outside temp was 28' F, so I went to window to see what it looked like. The light snow cover is no problem, but the wind is howling and there is driving sleet. I had told my 10 AM student's mom that I would call her from the rink at 9 to advise on conditions, but I knew right away that they weren't going out in this stuff, so I called and confirmed the cancel. Now I'm just waiting for the cancelation call of the 4 PM after-school program. I can't believe they would send first graders out in this weather, but if they do, I'll have to be there.

jazzpants

02-14-2007, 12:32 PM

And it's Wimpy once again! Got up on time and saw that outside temp was 28' F, THAT is C-C-C-C-COLD!!!! http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/verschiedene/r020.gif (Enjoy the snow though... http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/verschiedene/r050.gif )

Strong and Sure:

Fixing my spin entry and my scratch spin is better. When I actually do them right, the spin is DEAD centered and EASY!!! :bow:
Good thing my secondary coach pushed me to come in this morning!!! I landed A SLEW of loops at the beginning of the lesson clean and with flow!!! And hooray for my FS session adult skaters support!!! :bow: They all saw it and were quite happy for me that I'm finally beating this beast of a jump!!! If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up from it! :mrgreen:Weak and wimpy:
Well, minor ones... I had a little bit of trouble landing them and gliding out towards the end of the lesson, but I was still landing them on the landing foot first. The last two jumps were cleanly landed though. :bow: Still a lot of "muscle memory" work to do on the loop. She had advised me "except for my lesson with primary coach, do NOT work on the flip! I need to do more muscle memory stuff on you." She did say that once she's done her stuff on my loop that I'll get my flip VERY quickly!!! I believe her, knowing the general mechanics of the jump...

Funny but true note:

Secondary coach said what attributed to me finally landing it...

The backspin wall drill I've been doing. Still don't have it yet, but it wasn't the intended purposes.
Muscle memory... doing a SLEW of them at the wall to get used to landing the jump clean.
And the last one... her getting on my @$$ on me about getting landing them clean!!! :twisted: :P :lol:I would like to think that her minor corrections on holding the entrance edge longer, checking my landing and kicking back strong behind me helped too... but she probably won't admit to that!!! :halo: :lol: :P

Rusty Blades

02-14-2007, 01:35 PM

... outside temp was 28' F

Minus 28F?

We have just come out of a cold snap (2 weeks below -22F with a few nights to -49F) so I KNEW you just forgot the minus sign. 8-)

jazzpants

02-14-2007, 01:52 PM

Minus 28F?

We have just come out of a cold snap (2 weeks below -22F with a few nights to -49F) so I KNEW you just forgot the minus sign. 8-)
No, she is in New York and she definitely intended "plus" 28F (and that was the HIGH in New York (http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/USNY0996.html) too!!! 8O

But -22F!?!?!? 8O Geez, you're cold up there in Canada!!! http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/verschiedene/r020.gif

Skittl1321

02-14-2007, 02:02 PM

Minus 28F?

We have just come out of a cold snap (2 weeks below -22F with a few nights to -49F) so I KNEW you just forgot the minus sign. 8-)

For those of us not in the great white north, the plus signs are still cold too! (Although today it got ALL the way up to 12 and I headed out to work in just a sweater with no jacket- it wasn't until I got there that I realized even though it was "warm" I should still have a jacket on.)

dbny

02-14-2007, 03:06 PM

No, she is in New York and she definitely intended "plus" 28F (and that was the HIGH in New York (http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/USNY0996.html) too!!! 8O

But -22F!?!?!? 8O Geez, you're cold up there in Canada!!! http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/verschiedene/r020.gif

Jazz is quite right. It wasn't the temp that put me off, it was the high winds and driving sleet. Still, don't know how I'd approach outdoor skating at -22 F.

phoenix

02-14-2007, 03:41 PM

At this point, +28 would feel like a heat wave! I'm in Wisconsin & we've been in a deep freeze for the past couple of weeks. Not like what you guys get in Canada, but bad enough. For about 2 weeks, we didn't get above 0 degrees (F) all day, & down in the minus 20's at night.

e-skater

02-14-2007, 06:55 PM

First of all, JAZZ! WAY TO GO WITH THE LOOPS! That's such good news! You go!!!!!!! :) :bow: I had a feeling you were going to get even more breakthroughs --- and you DID!!! JOY!!!!

Strong and Sure

Everyone here is probably so sick and tired of hearing my BMWng about my new boots, and the rocker on my blade. The combination has me running to "get things back".

Back outside threes, both L and R, are BACK!
Salchow and loop, and waltz / loop are BACK!
Camel is BACK! 4.5 revolutions on three in a row. We are trying for 5 - 7.
Straight-line brackets.....I've managed to keep what I had (though I would in no way say these are any good yet)
Landed my first bona fide flip in new boots today.
Got a "real" outside mohawk (as in 8-step mohawk)
Backspin is almost all the way back.

WEAK and WIMPY

Back camel. WHAT back camel, though felt like I made progress toward the "right idea" (my coach's favorite phrase.....) today during lesson

Back inside threes.

Subsequent flip attempts after lesson........much drilling at boards to do (coach told me 15 at boards are better than repeated attempts, making all the errors she's pointed out, on open ice!).

Twizzles are STILL MIA....still! To think I was doing forward doubles. Now I can barely, barely eke out anything. And it's quite poor at this point.

Next week is another week, and I hope to keep gaining ground each day I skate in my new boots. Just hanging in there.

Skate@Delaware

02-15-2007, 07:00 PM

Strong & Sure: I just want to post about my daughter's skating session last night-she had a great one and successfully did a front-to-back sit-spin!!!!! then they worked on several other spin variations, even a broken-leg and I'm told it was beautiful!

this is about the girl who used to travel sooooo much!!!! I'm very pleased, just wish I could have seen it (I bailed on skating last night because I was so tired, so I took a bath and went to bed super-early).

Weak & Wimpy: the shape of my wallet...she told me she entered 4 events for our Basic Skills comp......so it will cost about $100 total. Which isn't bad but still-4 events! And she wants a new dress but I told her "no" she can wear her new one (only worn once at Bowie) and borrow any of mine. Sheesh! Kids!!!!

Dianne: Sometimes you should run through your program if it starts poorly...just in case something happens with your music or your timing is off....that way you won't have a "freak out" factor to contend with as much!!! Skate every run through as if you are competing it!

Scarlett

02-15-2007, 07:34 PM

Jazzpants- Congratulations on the loop breakthrough.

Strong and Sure-
Managed to get to the rink for the first time since the ice/snow mess.
Moves went great. Even the ones that I typically totally choke up on were nice.

Weak and Wimpy-
Spins did suck today. I'm blaming it on the fact that I was running late for my lesson and did not have any coffee in my system.

jazzpants

02-15-2007, 09:00 PM

Weak and Wimpy:

Camel spins! Just didn't have enough energy to pull up as is... (Am trying to catch up on sleep and well, I'm not caught up. Was trying very hard NOT to yawn during my lesson and upset my primary coach... :P )
Back sit: Not there....
Spirals... still needs work.
8 step mohawks... RBO mohawks are actually a bit better than the LBO mohawks (as in "what LBO mohawks? They're choctaws!!!"), even though the LBO mohawks is the faster side.
BO3's... barely there on LBO3's side, not even there on RBO3's side.
Back power 3's - barely there... until he realizes that there were NOT on any of the Adult Moves tests. :lol: :P (I was actually surprised that I could sorta do them...)Strong and sure:
Waltz jump to Salchow is pretty secure, though primary coach thought they could be better, of course! :roll: :lol:

After the second salchow, I told him that I've been very tired as of late. He goes why? I said I've been working on something this week and he goes what? So I said "I'll show 'ya... and I hope I actually get it..." And yes, I did show him my newly acquired loop!!! He was 8O. But just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, he made me do a few more... 2 with hoppy landings and 2 more clean with a glide out, but all landed on the left (my landing) foot.

He then asked "Since when did YOU start landing loops anyway?" So I told him what I told you guys here... and then he asked "And what does that have to do with the salchow?" I said "Ummm.. I haven't been sleeping much and I'm really tired..." :oops: He, of course, thought I was http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/images/smilies/violin1.gifabout it (Translation: I know... how could you go and have enough energy to land a few clean loops but not a salchow that you've been doing like forever... ;) ) and said "Just for that, you're gonna do a salchow-toeloop-loop combination!!!" :twisted: (Of course, that's called "pushing your luck"... no, I didn't land that one...I tried to stay clean but had to step out...) :roll:

I went back and did two more loops and landed it clean. :mrgreen:

Primary coach is being cautious about my landing it clean this week. Rightfully so, since there was a period where I landed clean loops for 3 weeks before losing it to a nasty fall from skidding off the BO edge on a loop attempt. Groin pull for 3 weeks... and I never got the loop back 'til now. He's waiting to see if the clean loops this time is "for keeps."

dbny

02-15-2007, 09:23 PM

8 step mohawks... RBO mohawks are actually a bit better than the LBO mohawks (as in "what LBO mohawks? They're choctaws!!!"), even though the LBO mohawks is the faster side.

BIG Congrats on landing that loop over and over and over again. You own it now!

I think you mean RFO and LFO mohawks in the 8-step, right? You'll get them.

Strong & Sure:
I finally made it to the rink this AM. Mostly because I had to give a 10 lesson. Didn't get a lot done, but managed a spin or two and played around a little with B progressives just for fun. A former adult student of mine who was there (and who can now do nicely checked F threes and is doing BO threes) told me I'm a beautiful skater. I sure don't feel that way, but it was very nice to hear.

Weak & Wimpy:
Got started late and traffic + weather conditions turned a 10 minute trip into 30 minutes, so I didn't have any time for myself before the lesson. Didn't push myself at all except with the spins. Just too tired to risk it.

Laura H

02-15-2007, 10:34 PM

I won't be skating again til my lesson on Saturday, but DS had a private today that I enjoyed vicariously :twisted: . . . his routine is coming along great except for that darned change foot spin . . . he can NAIL it when he practices it by itself, but in the actual program . . .with the music . . . he just rushes right into it . . . :frus: and falls out of it . . . I'm trying not to bite my nails too much, I'm SURE he and his coach will work it out!! His footwork looks much much better/cleaner (ISI FS3 dance step sequence) and they also added in a short "mohawk cross mohawk" pattern as a transition that looks pretty darn cool.

And . . . if I understand his coach correctly - there is only 1 other skater entered in Solo FS3 . . . I'm not telling DS that though!! :halo:

As a reward for working hard during his lesson, his coach let him finish up his lesson with . . . his flip. FOR FUN. must be nice. :roll:

Tiggerwoos

02-16-2007, 03:19 AM

Weak and wimpy

Haven't been able to skate for 2 days as came down with gastic flu the day before yesterday. Really missing it, so sticking to watching Youtube skating vids and this forum instead!:)

aussieskater

02-16-2007, 04:42 AM

Strong and sure

Today I managed to get alternating USTs with travel (for the uninitiated, that's "unidentified spinny thing", closely related to UHTs :P ). Was told by coach that a myopic TC would possibly call my UST a BI twizzle, and judge would immediately hammer it with a minus 3 GOE ;) , but hey, I got it on both feet, got off the toepick and onto an edge, then did a series of them up and down the rink, and did not die. (Just as an aside, same coach jokingly told DH that he should think "your backspin" when trying to do back twizzles, as his backspin is known to travel... :D )

To add the cherry on top, DH managed such a beautiful LFI double twizzle that a TC would have no difficulty in calling it as such. Then repeated it, to prove it was not a fluke.

Weak and wimpy

Well, it's about the forward twizzles I can't do at all. For all you who can do these things, what is the difference between forward and backward, such that the backward ones are so much easier??

Mrs Redboots

02-16-2007, 06:28 AM

Strong and sure: Back cross rolls (most of the time). The occasional length of back cross-cuts. Not invariably. Oh well, nothing I can do about it, it seems to be totally outwith my control!

Good workout with husband, and actually managed to keep a decent posture with him skating backwards in waltz hold - he will stick his bum out, which makes it very hard!

Did full off-ice workout when I got home. My arms hurt....

Weak and wimpy: Most of these ruddy cross-cuts. Back crossovers awful. Ended up bailing out of Fiesta with Husband as had had enough - we are still not 100% fit after our colds.

DallasSkater

02-16-2007, 08:06 AM

Strong and Sure: Yesterday while I was practicing and then taking my lesson on freestyle, a young man joined the ice. I could see from the moment he entered that his skills were extremely advanced and within moments of warming up watched him land a triple axel ...he then did several quad jumps...egads...the sound of the landing beside me and the sight was just breath taking. When my coach came, she explained that he is a French world champion and preparing his world program. He is all of 20 years old. Apparently, he did some of his training with one of our coaches and is here for a couple weeks working with that coach. We had to really watch to get to the board sides as he did program run throughs as his speed and abilities were quite intimidating! It was too cute that when he missed a jump or popped out of some..he would cuss loudly in French! giggle.

After my Moves in Field lesson started, I was just so impressed as I watched him purposefully move out of my way of the weensy pre bronze MIF pattern to not interrupt my flow. So many at the rinks that do have more advanced skills (none that compare slightly to his) seem so entitled to not dare be interrupted but do not share the same courtesies regardless if my music is on or if I am working a pattern even after they have observed me repeatedly yielding for them. I could not help but notice the difference. He only further impressed me. ( I thought I might like to meet his mother...what manners!)

Weak and wimpy: Spins are traveling big time again. Have not worked hard enough on my backward 3 turns or back spin for my lesson tonight. Will try to concentrate that in my afternoon practice. I have my freestyle lesson this afternoon too. Seems that I need another ice day added but just don't know where to pull from. Work continues to interfere with my life! I am now skating at least 4 days a week but think I need 5? giggle.

techskater

02-16-2007, 09:16 AM

Dallas-
That's one of the nice things when you skate with REALLY high level skaters. For some reason, it's the skaters around the starting Axel/beginning double jump levels that act like they own it all and again when they get their first triples if they are "around that age".
Those that have "made it", so to speak, are usually the most courteous of the bunch and easily yield to those less skilled as long as they get uninterrupted program run throughs. It's less inconvenient for them than for lower level skaters and they have the skills to do so.

Is your Frenchman by chance Brian Joubert? If so, he has a to-die-for sit spin, too.

kateskate

02-16-2007, 09:28 AM

Strong and Sure
Field moves felt generally ok. I had a few hitches today but it was not as bad as yesterday. I know what I need to do so I just have to go and do it on Wednesday!
14 step felt strong and CCW back runs are better.
RFO3 on willow is greatly improved with the new shoulder alignment

Weak and Wimpy
Thursday field moves run through was dire - hopefully that is my bad rehearsal out of the way
No lesson this morning as dance teacher failed to show yet again :(
CW back runs still don't feel right. I don't feel over my skates correctly.

Rusty Blades

02-16-2007, 09:45 AM

Whimpy!!! With a horribly busy day at work yesterday and not nearly enough sleep I was REALLY groggy and weak this morning - actually woke up feeling nauseous (NO, don't even say it - that's not possible!) - but time ticks on so I had to crack my own whip for practice.

When Coach arrived, we did a program run-through and took a break to chat and sip coffee. I said I had been asked to skate my program at another rink but had declined, saying I didn't feel it was "polished" enough. When my coach was ready to leave, I did another run-through.

Strong & Sure: Well, it doesn't feel that way to me but coach seemed really happy with the program and said it looks "well polished" and I shouldn't hesitate to skate it elsewhere and in front of people - the more the better. 8O Ok, I guess it's time to work up the nerve to "go public"! :oops:

coskater64

02-16-2007, 10:19 AM

Weak & Wimpy: After a 4 hour board meeting for the club I came home around 10 pm with winds in excess of 60+ mph making the newly fallen snow qualify for "blizzard conditions" on the drive home. I am so sick of this weather supposedly we will hit 50+ degrees but we are predicted to 100+mph gusts.

Strong and Sure: Oh, I'm skating fine, I just wanted to complain about the weather.:twisted: :twisted:

jazzpants

02-16-2007, 11:35 AM

I think you mean RFO and LFO mohawks in the 8-step, right? You'll get them.Ummm...yeah! :oops: (I'll go change it in my original post now... It's what I get for skating pretty much every day thru Thursday and fall asleep at the end of a work day...) 8O :roll:

A former adult student of mine who was there (and who can now do nicely checked F threes and is doing BO threes) told me I'm a beautiful skater. I sure don't feel that way, but it was very nice to hear.I should film you one day when you're doing your "coaching FI mohawks" so you could see how you have good basic form and nice flow... :twisted: :lol:

Got started late and traffic + weather conditions turned a 10 minute trip into 30 minutes, so I didn't have any time for myself before the lesson. Didn't push myself at all except with the spins. Just too tired to risk it.Geez, that weather better ease up a bit there. As much as anyone likes snow... enough of it already!!! :giveup:

Isk8NYC

02-16-2007, 11:47 AM

Taught groups last night - we split them into Show skaters and non-Show skaters, so some of the kids miss their classmates. :cry: I had an all-new (to me) group of Show students and they were thrilled to get a different teacher.

Strong and Sure:
Crossovers any way. I taught "underpushing" on the back crossovers and the kids were amazed at how much speed you can build up with such little motion.

Edges were great. Spins were great.

Demonstrated and taught inside mohawks on a hockey circle.
Worked great at keeping their arms checked and focusing on that step motion.

Weak and Wimpy:
Didn't have a reason to do anything higher than a bunny hop. Still, I did a few one-foot bunnies, just for fun.

dbny

02-16-2007, 11:51 AM

I should film you one day when you're doing your "coaching FI mohawks" so you could see how you have good basic form and nice flow... :twisted: :lol:

Aaak! They are really not what they should be and I still struggle with them, although they do tend to come through when I'm teaching. I might let you video my F cross strokes though ;).

Wimpy:
Woke up with a pressure type pain behind my left eye and a crick in my neck. I gave it an hour and a hot shower before canceling my lesson today. Even reading the paper was painful. I have a lot to do anyway and really shouldn't be going to the rink. I'm leaving for Boulder on Tues, and just realized that Mon is a holiday and I have to go to the bank and the PO, which means today.

Debbie S

02-16-2007, 11:59 AM

When my coach came, she explained that he is a French world champion and preparing his world program. He is all of 20 years old. Was this Brian Joubert?
http://www.scratchspin.com/2006/worlds06/06011296.jpg

Or Stephane Lambiel?
http://www.scratchspin.com/2006/worlds06/06010348.jpg

Lambiel is actually Swiss, but he probably speaks French. Interesting that he (or Joubert) is working with a coach in Dallas. I find it amazing to watch the speed of elite skaters up close and in person. And as techskater pointed out, they usually have no problem moving out of anyone's way, although I always move to the boards when I am on the ice with one and they are doing their program, b/c I don't want to get in their way and they move so fast, anywhere on the ice could be "in their way" in about 3 seconds. :)

Emberchyld

02-16-2007, 12:28 PM

Strong and Sure:
Actually made it to freestyle this morning for the first time in two weeks. I missed it!

Can do 2-footed and 1-footed spins in both directions now-- my strong direction-- CW and the direction that I jump-- CCW. See weak and wimpy for the rest on spins, tho.

Despite the fact that I never get to practice them (because public sessions are ALWAYS CCW, even when I request that we switch direction! argh!), CW crossover, mohawk, step behind, back crossover, repeat felt so solid today, esp compared to the CCW ones.

Weak and Wimpy: Despite the fact that I know I can spin in both directions, I was unable to spin at all today :??. It might be the extra few pounds I put on this week throwing me off or something that I can;t figure out. Painful, because I really need to practice the scratch spin!

Half loop thing-y. Trying to wrap my brain around jumping off of the toepick that's behind me is proving tougher than I thought. And when I do, I rattle myself so much that I land towards the back of my blades!

And finally, my balance was off the entire session, as if I were about ready to pitch over my toepicks at any second. I've been slipping those insteat heat packs into the toe section of my skates for the past few sessions because of the intense cold-- could that be enough to throw me off?

Amandaskategirl

02-16-2007, 01:40 PM

Strong and sure
- As the schools have been on holiday this week I have been doing a skating course every morning at my rink. A lot of the exercises which I was told to do were challenging and the jumps way above my level but I kept an open mind and gave everything a go.
- Off ice I nearly landed a double cherry
- I played around a lot with FO double and triple three turns. I have never learnt these properly but they didn’t feel too scary. I am sure that I am doing them very badly but I am pleased with myself for being able to get around the turns at all.
- Three jumps felt quite nice.

Weak and wimpy
- I didn’t do many spins this week but the ones which I did do were terrible as usual. I fell over doing the sit-sit, wobbled on and off the toe pick doing camels and didn’t even begin to fly on the flying camel.
- On my attempts at all of the double jumps I failed to get the quickness and ‘spin’ which is needed. My coach said that technically I am fine but then I jump and just don’t do anything. This is often translated into my coach thinking that I am not trying. I know it is silly but I am still scared of falling over. By the time I try and pull in, I have already landed. I just don’t know HOW to move my arms and legs any faster. I have also been skating with kids as young as 8 who can land doubles – they make rotating look so easy!

phoenix

02-16-2007, 02:11 PM

Strong & Sure:
AN program is getting better! I got all the way through it a few times yesterday, through w/ some touch downs & faking my way through little sections. I keep imaging the supportive audience everyone always talks about at AN. Please be nice!! :)

Weak & Wimpy:
So bad in lesson today, can't even talk about it.

SpaMama

02-16-2007, 04:48 PM

Is your Frenchman by chance Brian Joubert? If so, he has a to-die-for sit spin, too.

Nope - the French skater in question is Yannick Ponsero, he was about 11th at Europeans this year. He is quite amazing! I am tempted to take DD out of school early to watch him train, as he is getting off the ice at 330, right when we get there each day. Looks like he has been getting some major shopping done in the mall attached to our rink though!!!

SK8RX

02-16-2007, 05:05 PM

Is Yannick working with Allen Schramm?

DallasSkater

02-16-2007, 05:42 PM

Sk8Rx: Yes, Yannick Ponsero is working with Allen while he is here. Allen used to train skaters in France and is his former coach. The story is that something was happening to Yannick's home rink for a few weeks so he came to work with Allen in the meantime. Today I had my freestyle lesson and again Yannick was working with Allen at the same time. Not a good day for the lad...quite a few misses in his 4 1/2 minute programme. OMG, when he falls from one of his jumps it is huge! No crash pads! (could bounce a quarter off his butt though). He was fine..but you would have been taking me to the hospital after the first one.

Too funny but I did a few run throughs on my programme with my coach. Yannick stood at the boards and watched me...I felt it was burning a hole in me...and proceeded to miss every jump combo one after an other! Coach asked if I were feeling ok...lol. Second time went better but I am very distracted by where he is on the ice. HE IS 20! I am a total perv! giggle.

Allen gets to transition from Yannick to me...I have my lesson with Allen in a about 2 hours...I bet that is a hard transition!

jskater49

02-16-2007, 06:51 PM

Ooh ooh I want to play

Dance lesson today

Strong and sure

Impressed coach with my speed in dutch waltz, she says I have command of the dance, got the timing. My extensions were really good

Weak and wimpy

Edges could be better. One thing I do well that she says she can't get her higher level skaters to do is move my lower body apart from my shoulders for swing rolls- but I over do it so I'm checking to the point of interfering with the lean of the edge.

Strong and sure - in the cha cha I tucked that leg behind real well, slid it down my leg and then...

Weak and wimpy - chickened out and put it behind so that it's much more dangerous than the right way

Not so much weak and wimpy as stupid - Forgot my skates, had to drive home and missed ten minutes of my lesson (my daughter and I share an hour lesson so I took the second half hour)

Strong and sure - bought the last half hour of ice to make up for lost time, hardly anyone on and just made up moves to the radio rock playing and got cheers from the other coaches.

j

Bill_S

02-16-2007, 07:32 PM

Weak and Wimpy: Skated half-heartedly in the cold Monday morning 6 am session. Work took it all out of me by Monday afternoon, so I didn't do the evening session.

My Wednesday morning ice was cancelled due to the ice storm. I decided that Friday afternoon I'd sneak out of work a bit early and finally get some time to skate.

WRONG!!!

I got to the rink and found that a hockey tournament runs all Friday and throughout the weekend, with no ice for lessons or public skating. Drove home and sulked.

No "Strong and Sure" for me this week.

doubletoe

02-16-2007, 09:19 PM

Too funny but I did a few run throughs on my programme with my coach. Yannick stood at the boards and watched me...I felt it was burning a hole in me...and proceeded to miss every jump combo one after an other! Coach asked if I were feeling ok...lol. Second time went better but I am very distracted by where he is on the ice. HE IS 20! I am a total perv! giggle.

Allen gets to transition from Yannick to me...I have my lesson with Allen in a about 2 hours...I bet that is a hard transition!

That is so cute, LOL! My coach has recently reunited with his long-time student and former U.S. Silver Medalist Trifun Zivanovic, who now skates for Serbia. He is taking him to Worlds later this month, so I'll be out a coach for about 10 days between Sectionals and Nationals, but it's for a good cause. I actually wish Trifun would practice on the same session as I do. After seeing him do a triple axel, I always tell myself if he can land a triple, the least I can do is land a measly single. It tends to work, LOL!

Rusty Blades

02-17-2007, 06:16 PM

Weak & Wimpy! I intended to skate today but I was too pooped, so I did something else that has a big effect on my skating - REST! Probably skate tomorrow (since I have figured out how to skate and watch the Four Continents broadcast to!)

Skittl1321

02-17-2007, 06:48 PM

Weak and Wimpy! I had a make up lesson on Friday at 6:30 pm. The session starts at 6:30 so I had no warm up. This was a complete mistake. At the end I apologized to my coach for wasting his time. I was terrible- normally before lessons I teach for 2 hours and then skate an hour. This is necessary for me to have ice legs.

I'm making excuses but my legs were in terrible condition from the stress of the weak. Trying to do edges my legs and foot were spasming and visably shaking. My coach, nicely, took the opportunity to correct my upper body- but I could not concentrate at all on upper body when I could barely stand up straight. I asked to not do back edges, as precision work was a complete waste of time.

My one foot spin was good, and we started more work on the cross leg spin. My utter lack of flexibility and complete lack of strength made the fan kick very difficult. Off ice training is going to be essential.

Then we worked on height of waltz jumps from a stand still. It's hard to jump without first a glide!

What a waste of time!
(Although it was fun to watch my coach try to convince my husband to come dance with me! "She pays for the time, not the person, so you're welcome to follow along any lesson, and then we'll work on the two of you together- you're a perfect height!" Husband said no way!

Emberchyld

02-17-2007, 10:33 PM

Strong and Sure: Just got back from a public session where I tested out my newly sharpened blades-- what a difference! I don't think I've ever had such a great skate. (Sharpener said that my blades were incredibly dull, the baldes themselves were loose, the edges uneven, and he made the hollow a bit shallower-- whew!). Since the ice was too crowded for much else, I worked on stroking and crossovers, mohawks, 3-turns, and spins. Edges and crossovers were amazing. The spins felt sooo good, and thanks to actually having an edge, I knew when I was too far back on the blade. Even stopping wasn't that bad after the first tentative snowplow stop and the first necessary hockey stop! Suffice it to say that I'm going to make sure that I don't ever let the blades get that dull again.

Also, they finally skated CW on the public session, and I got a chance to cut loose. I'm definitely a CW skater and miss being able to practice both directions consistently.

Weak and Wimpy: Getting that foot aaaa-round on the scratch spin. I usually end up, for some reason, whacking my leg with my blade instead and going into a high 1-foot spin instead (like the foot is in retire'). It's so wierd and I don't know why I keep doing it.

I had a little girl with a death wish who seemed intent on skating towards me no matter what I was doing. Had to bail painfully out of the set up for a waltz jump, and nearly fell on a few spins. I have no idea what could possibly have been going through her mind :roll:

Isk8NYC

02-18-2007, 07:53 AM

I had a little girl with a death wish who seemed intent on skating towards me no matter what I was doing. Had to bail painfully out of the set up for a waltz jump, and nearly fell on a few spins. I have no idea what could possibly have been going through her mind :roll:They're not thinking about danger - they want a closer look! LOL You would have been within your rights to ask her to watch spins from the cones or the wall because you can't see her when you spin.

Weak and Wimpy:
Kept crossing others' patterns while practicing MITF on the lines.
That resulted in many sets of five or seven circles instead of an even 4 or 6.
No time/ice for spins or jumps yesterday.

Strong and Sure:
Except for LxR crossovers, everything *seems* solid and I'm pointing my toe.
Just need to break my bad "donkey foot" habits on the LxR ones.

DallasSkater

02-18-2007, 08:08 AM

doubletoe: Cool that your coach has a world champion. But ouch what a critical time for you to be without your coach. I have no doubt that you will do well anyway!

Emberchyld

02-18-2007, 09:50 AM

They're not thinking about danger - they want a closer look! LOL You would have been within your rights to ask her to watch spins from the cones or the wall because you can't see her when you spin.

Unfortunately, my weekend rink doesn't cone off the center circle and, as my sister's boyfriend observed when he came for a "Visiting" skate, "Wow, don't these people believe in the sanctity of the inner circle?" There'd be more chance that the girl or her parents would go complain to the guards and then I'd be kicked out of the center... :cry:

It was a tiny bit of an ego boost that there were a ton of little girls trying to imitate me in the center last night (quite a few dizzy-looking girls!), but most at least kept their distance! Maybe I should have taken a page from your book, Isk8NYC, and taught her how to do a 2-footed spin so that she'd be more preoccupied with herself than with me!

(At one point, when she careened off-balance towards me, I had to bite my tongue to keep from asking "Do you have a death wish?!?!?", and bailed again.)

icedancer2

02-18-2007, 11:02 AM

doubletoe: Cool that your coach has a world champion. But ouch what a critical time for you to be without your coach. I have no doubt that you will do well anyway!

It is cool, but he is not a World Champion, but a World's competitor. And a very good skater with a great coach, I might add.

It's all in the details.:)

Derek

02-18-2007, 11:24 AM

Unfortunately, my weekend rink doesn't cone off the center circle ...

Same here at my local rink. Even the stewards wander erratically through the centre, even when I have been using the circle to practice elements, mind you, I guess that is the downside of public ice ...

Weak and weedy:
Just about everything today, since I am full of a nasty cold (aren't all colds nasty?) No energy, and the fine tuning just isn't there. I dare not even think about practising spins.

Strong and sure:
Completed Learn to Skate UK 10 and comfortable with all the elements. Have re-enrolled just for fun, whilst I wait for a gap with my preferred coach (being fully booked talks for itself)
Meanwhile, I have been volunteering assistance with the LTS lower grades, it gets me noticed by the coaches and other staff anyway.

My first post ... and as you may have noticed from my spelling, I am from the UK ...

doubletoe

02-18-2007, 12:16 PM

doubletoe: Cool that your coach has a world champion. But ouch what a critical time for you to be without your coach. I have no doubt that you will do well anyway!

True, not exactly a world champion (24th at worlds last year, if I remember correctly), but triple axels are always inspiring, LOL! Fortunately, my coach isn't leaving for Worlds until after Sectionals is over, and he'll be back in time to help with my last minute axel and flying camel emergencies during the week before AN (thank goodness!). :)

And now, in regards to yesterday's competition, where PattyP and I were the lone Gold Ladies (and Patty managed to keep her butt off the ice, which is more than I can say for me, LOL!)

Weak and Wimpy
The first minute of my program was a disaster, since I had missed my 5 minute warmup (I hadn't been aware of the slight schedule change that had my group taking the ice 6 minutes earlier than originally scheduled). I messed up on my opening camel combo spin, fell on my double salchow, then botched my flying camel, putting me 0 for 3 on my first three elements. :roll: Thank goodness I managed to get my feet under me after that because I was really beginning to feel sorry for the audience!

Strong and Sure
After failing to land even one axel in my warmup earlier in the day, I miraculously landed it in my competition! That gives me a desperately needed boost of confidence, since that jump has been a real head trip for me lately.
The last minute and a half of my program was basically clean, with the only major bobble being a wobbly back inside spiral.
Since I got my program videotaped, it provided me with some valuable technical feedback that should help me to avoid making the same mistakes next time, whether I'm warmed up or not. :)

mikawendy

02-18-2007, 02:15 PM

True, not exactly a world champion (24th at worlds last year, if I remember correctly), but triple axels are always inspiring, LOL! Fortunately, my coach isn't leaving for Worlds until after Sectionals is over, and he'll be back in time to help with my last minute axel and flying camel emergencies during the week before AN (thank goodness!). :)

I've always liked Trifun's skating, though I haven't seen him skate much. There was a guy who skated in Bronze Men at this year's Halloween Classic that reminded me and my coach of Trifun a bit...

DallasSkater

02-18-2007, 03:52 PM

Oh ok...well anyone competing in the world events is a champion to me! <grin>

Doubletoe: How did I miss you were competing yesterday? I am so impressed that you pulled it together after missing the first three elements. Congrats on landing the axel when it really counted! I hope when (notice not if) I miss the first few elements of a program I will have your presence and grace to turn it around. My coach makes me continue no matter how bad my program is from the start to practice for that very occasion. .

Derek: Welcome! Smart to wait for your preferred coach. Sure makes a big difference in the overall experience. Hope to see lots of posts from you! I love following everyone's progress!

Derek

02-18-2007, 04:22 PM

Thanks for the welcome Dallas ...

I noticed this board has a good content of mature skaters (in age AND ability) so feel comfortable here. As to my abilities, well I have completed the LTS UK programme as already explained. Currently I am trying to work beyond my comfort zone, picking various elements to stretch myself. The passport will just be some formal recognition of that really, the coach will do what coaches do, make me better I hope. Not easy, since I am now in my sixth decade ... hope that is enough for now :)

Skate@Delaware

02-18-2007, 06:19 PM

Strong & Sure: I'm sure that I'm so tired of my program!!!! I feel that strong about it <g>....ok, joking aside, I told my coach I could not face working on it because I was getting tired of it (really, after almost 2 years, my ears hurt from the tune).

So, we worked on the.....loop (again)....which was

Weak & Wimpy: but it's getting there. She had me do the edge thing...where you do an inside edge, then 3-turn-backspin. I feel dumb because I can't do them. Then we were back to the backspin-hops which I can do. Then we did the loop....which is soooo close. Then she said "loop then do a backspin" so I did but it didn't really work until the 2nd time!!! I LANDED A LOOP ON ONE FOOT! this is becoming a once-a-week trend! Of course, I could not do it again...after 5-6 more tries, we moved on to sit-spins, which were also weak and wimpy. She said something about my behind not being low enough....yup! But my overall positioning is a bit better.

Coach's comments: She said that my skating has improved dramatically since last year!!!!!!

doubletoe

02-19-2007, 08:11 PM

Yay, Skate@Delaware!! It may be once a week now, but soon it will be 50% of the time, then 75%, then. . . 95%. Way to go! :)

Mikawendy, it's nice to see that there are a few people who remember Trifun. The one thing I must say about him is that he is the NICEST, most humble person, and it was one of the highlights of my life to go to Torino last year to wave his new country's flag and give him his own little cheering section. And I am beyond thrilled that he has reunited with my coach, who coached him from age 7 all the way up to his U.S. Silver medal in 1999. I adore both of them!

DallasSkater, thanks for the positive take on my competition, LOL! I didn't make a big deal about it since I just considered it a "warmup competition" for Sectionals. I seriously hate competing, but I never regret it when I do it because I always take away a valuable lesson that serves me when it matters, KWIM? :)

Skate@Delaware

02-19-2007, 09:20 PM

Doubletoe: I figure, if I learn ANYTHING from each competition, then my coach earned her money and I learned another lesson. I go through a mental picture of my skating and make a list of what could have been better...then I work on it for the next one (along with everything else ;) ). It's good you have such a positive attitude to prepare you for sectionals!

At my last competition, one of the girls from my rink had a good skate, but did not come in first (I'm not talking about my daughter, but another girl). She was very upset and her behaviour showed it, to the point of being un-sportsmanlike. She would not receive her medal when her name was called. This earned her a discussion with the coach.

I guess that's the difference between adults and children (hopefully!).

mikawendy

02-19-2007, 11:05 PM

Skate@Delaware, yippee about the loop!!!! That's great!

Thanks for the ride to class on Saturday, flo! It was actually nice to have to run onto the ice and just skate with no warmup because it's good preparation for if something doesn't go as planned at a test or a competition. However, that BO3 combination was a doozy for me!! 8O

jazzpants

02-19-2007, 11:42 PM

CONGRATS TO SKATE@DELAWARE for landing that loop on one foot!!! WOO HOO!!!

Okay, I'll have to give my sob story about the loop here and then my happy ending story on the other lesson/practice thread.

Strong and Sure:

Sit and one foot spin okay.
Waltz, and salchow okay. Toe loop is fine, which probably means I'm doing them wrong again.Weak and Wimpy:

Well, the loop went from shaky but still week landings to landing and falling on my BUTT!!! (This fall secondary coach would have been proud of...) I ended up going back to the wall just so I can make sure that I keep up with my wall drill and when I realize that I started back on my bad habit of landing on two feet again, I called it the day on the loop! I don't want to reinforce bad habit. :cry:
Per secondary coach's orders, no FLIPS were practiced today!!!
Camel was also wimpy too.
When I was dodging one kid, another came and fell right in front of me and I didn't have time to stay. It was looking to be a repeat of that nasty fall where I ended up gashing my knee... but for some reason, this fall seemed slower... and I had just enough time to get myself from falling on my knee again to falling on my butt!!! 8O 8O 8O (If primary coach saw this, he would have been proud!!!) :bow: :bow: :bow:
Due to my bad day, I just decide that I'll just practice edges and 3turns and just to take it easy...