I have a little time to update before Lost comes on, and I am glued to the TV. : ) So have been to the rink twice last week and twice this week and had a lesson today. We worked on the program, though not with the music. I think it is coming along really well. Mostly worked on little things today, like landing the split jump with my left arm forward so my flip-loop doesn�t get spinny, working on the footwork prior to the entrance to the sit spin, and the footwork exiting the sit spin and into the lutz. I think I am capable of being able to skate a strong clean program with just more and more practice. The big pieces are there, it�s just putting together the little touches. This program puts a spring in my step, I am really excited for Badger State! (BTW, someone ought to e-mail be a month from now to make sure I don�t miss the January 4th entry deadline! LOL)
Anyways, to highlight the last few weeks, I think I am having a breakthrough (if you can call it that) with backspins. I don�t know if I would say they�re good yet, but they are definitely improving and I�ll take that. I have been making an effort to drill them hard. I also had an �ah-ha� moment with the change foot spin today. My problem was that I was putting my left foot down on an inside edge, which doomed the whole spin. I finally was able to put my foot down on an outside edge today and keep it there�even though it involved me splattering across the ice a few times because I got too far onto my heel. But I felt it the �right� way, and I sure know how the wrong way feels, so at least I can strive for that feeling of doing it right. Like most things in skating, when I did it right, it felt so easy. I really want to get this spin, because it ends my program, and I don�t want to end the program with a slow wobbly spin. This music deserves better!!
What else�I worked on camel spins for a little bit today and had a few nice ones. I slipped off the toepick entering one spin and wiped out on my shoulder, which hurt a little bit. The next couple spins were tentative, but I ended with one decent one, so hopefully no damage (to my spin!) has been done. I had trouble with the lutz yesterday, but was able to fix it today with coach�s help. As I thought, I was bringing my arms forward to rotate before I was even picking, which made me pop the jumps. I just had to slow things down (mentally) and keep my arms from getting ahead of the rest of my body, and that did the trick. It really wasn�t my day for flip-loops, but I had a really good day jumping yesterday, so perhaps my muscles were just fatigued.
Speaking of fatigued, I have finally been able to get back to the gym on a regular basis. My daughter had a bad cold prior to Thanskgiving, so I wasn�t able to take her to the daycare at the gym, and thus wasn�t able to go myself. I used the rolling staircase Monday, which might be why my legs wouldn�t jump today. That thing is KILLER! If any of you readers are gym rats, I highly recommend it. It doesn�t look like much of a workout at all when you�re spectating, but it is a real ass-blaster! Especially if you take 2 steps at a time. I think I get the best workout from that thing over anything else at the gym. Today, I tried out the slide board, which I kinda liked. I really didn�t feel the burn in my legs like I think you�re supposed to, but I was a little breathless when I finished. The motions remind me of a speedskater skating.
Anyhow, hopefully more updates are to come. : ) Now, onto my favorite Wednesday night flick�.Lost�..
My program is finally finished, yippee! I have spent the last two lessons learning it, and it is awesome. Here�s how it goes:
RBI pivot, LBO pivot, FXO�s to spiral, loop jump, T-stop, tango stop, step kick, footwork down the ice, FXO�s to split-flip-loop combo, LFO3, cross foot, BXO, sit spin FXO, X-stroke, RFO3, BXO�s to lutz-toe combo, RBO3, LFI edge roll, 2 LFO power threes, LFO3, salchow (possibly may become a combo), LFO3, BXO, scratch-back scratch spin.
So it doesn�t seem like very much when I write it down, but it keeps me moving for 1:36! I really feel prepared for Badger State. Now that I have the program, I have 2.5 months to get the program solid. Unfortunately, I am only able to skate twice per week, so that�s not as much preparation as it could be. But I still feel like I�m in good shape so far. Badger State is in February, and there are a handful of basic skills competitions from then to August (when my rink�s basic skills comp takes place.) I figure by that time, I will hopefully be ready to test by PB and Bronze MIF and FS. That is the goal! Right now, the most challenging element is the stupid scratch-back scratch at the end of the program. I would LOVE to end the program with a plain scratch spin, but this is expected because I need a combo spin in the program. Well, not �need�, but to test, I will need a backspin. I guess it will just push me to learn it by February. (Groan). My split jump needs work, but if I start stretching more, it has the potential to be good. Plus, coach put a Mohawk as the entrance to the split jump, and I have always done them from a LFO3. So it still feels a little awkward to begin with. I am now landing my lutz pretty consistently, so I am not too worried about the lutz-toe combination. The split-flip-loop combo I can land, but it probably needs polishing.
I probably won�t have a lesson (nor skate) next weds, because I�m guessing the local schools are off and the rink will probably be a zoo. I should have time to skate Tuesday though, and my plan is to run through the program several times w/o music, and then DRILL the heck out of that change foot spin.
Fear not, I have not abandoned this website! I finally have a little time to update, and something to update about! Work has mellowed out a little and the fall open skate schedule at my rink is a little fatter. I have been making it to the rink twice a week for an hour each time. It's not as much ice as I'd like to have but it's better than nothing. I've also managed a lesson every other week or so. It does appear to be paying off! Yesterday I had a fantastic day jumping. All my singles were spot-on, including the lutz! This jump still isn't super consistant or big, but I can land it more often than not. I finally feel like I can do all of my singles through the lutz, rather than up to the lutz. I just need more practice to make this jump as strong as my flip jump. A few months back, coach gave me some tips on improving my toe loop, a jump that I have never liked. I practiced what she told me, first at a snails pace and now at a quicker speed, and I can finally say that the toe loop feels like a real jump to me. And get this...I even kinda like it! Yesterday I landed some waltz-toes and some flip-toes that felt good. I was so proud. I have never felt comfortable doing toe loops in any combination, but now that my technique has improved, I actually feel coordinated doing combinations rather than feeling like I am going 2 different directions at once.
Another big moment was that I landed several loop-loops and flip-loops that were actually good! Usually, I have a habit of dropping my left hip when I land the first jump, which puts me in a bad position to start the second jump. It also makes me wait too long before I do the second jump. It's hard to explain in words, but if you saw it you'd know what I mean. Anyways, I think I am finally dropping the bad habit, because the jumps I landed yesterday just seemed to "pop" one after the other, rather than drag like usual. I don't know how they looked, but they felt light and easy. In the past, having seen myself on video, my loop combinations looked very labored. They finally feel like they have improved. I only hope they look like they have improved as well!
Spins were not so hot yesterday, I am not sure why, but considering how good my jumps were, I guess I can handle that for now : )
I also went to the rink today and spend the lesson learning my new program. I have learned about half so far, it is going to be awesome if I can get it all together in time! Plus, I LOVE this music, so once I get the elements, I think I'll be able to put some feeling into it. I think my biggest goal for this program is to have some emotion in it so I don't look like a robot skating out there. Of course, nailing all of my jumps and spins would be a perk too! Either way, I am stoked to finally have a program. After nearly two years of saying I was going to do either Badger State or my rink's basic skills comp and NOT doing either, I finally have a program and I am finally doing it! Yippee! Now, only 2.5 months left to get the program ready for Badger State.