Incredible/Impossible Lessons & Practices 7/7-7/13

[Lanechka]

Re: Incredible/Impossible Lessons & Practices 7/7-7/13

Incredible: Not much but I did some spirals (normal, back, and one catchfoot) and a bunch of little girls were like OOOH AAAHHH. I landed a loop, and I di dsome toes an dflips and they were all two-footed. Sorry for the typos, this keyboard here at Mom's house is horrid.

Impossible: This rink I went to is DESPICABLE! The ice was horrible, the rink was WARM (one could skate in a bikini it was that warm). I could barely do back crossovers the ice was so cut up! Needless to say, not going there anymore... Mom said she'd drive me to this other rink. Everything is so far away from here, but it's rather nice... in an annoying kind of way.

 

[Glacierskater]

Re: Incredible/Impossible Lessons & Practices 7/7-7/13

Friday, July 11, 2003

Oiy! I will just get right to it. I was doing a flip today and lost my edge on the check out and landed on my back and
!SMACKED! the back of my head on the ice. After the stars subsided, along with a split second urge to cry, I gathered myself from the ice. I was going to attempt another against the wishes og my coach until she said my name - first and last- very sternly in a mother tone. I had never head her say that, so I went to the penalty box to rest a moment. I took 3 Aleve, did 3 more flips. I was a but gunshy at first, but it made me really mad that I had done that. I worked on the loop, but it was unremarkable. My moved in the field were weak, and I learned the dance step for FS4. Less than elegant.

On the bright side...I stayed and skated a public session today, and a sceduled group skate came to sakte. They were second and third graders. Somehow, I had gotten the attention of about 10 different kids, and they wanted my attention the entire time. I don't have kids, and I really like kids, so it was great. I talked to them, helped them skate, picked many up from the ice, and made some new friends. I also had hockey practice today. It may be taboo to talk about it here, but it was the only decent skating that I did today. Then I skated another public session. I did not skate great today, but I did much of it. I was on the ice for 8 1/2 hours. That should account for some good exercise. In the infamous words of Scarleet O'Hara...tomorrow is another day...one that shall find me skating my heart out.

CINDERELLA: It sounds like your skating is living up to your namesake. I am proud of you and so wish that I could see you skate for inspiration. As it is, I will keep in mind your progress to keep me going. Oh, and if you feel nervous when people leave the ice to let you skate...give them a show and show them how much you love it. I'll report on my progress tomorrow. Would it look too sill to wear my hockey helmet? Head it still pounding...

BTW...I got set up for lessons with the dance coach. Looking forward to that!

LANIE: What is a catchfoot spiral? Just curious because I have never heard of it.

 

[Cinderella On Ice]

Re: Incredible/Impossible Lessons & Practices 7/7-7/13

LANIE - Eaka Freaka, there is nothing worse than really horrible ice. I won't even skate on ice like that any more, because I'm certain it will be the death of me. I know you had no choice. Hope the other rink you find is much better. I have not yet been able to do a catch foot spiral, which is why I am working on both my flexibility and my balance. Mine looks like I'm trying to rip my leg off or something.

GLACIERSKATER - Eight and a half hours??!!?? EIGHT AND A HALF HOURS??? My goodness, I'd be in my grave. It was all I could do today to survive 2 hours of practice, and tonight I can feel it in my legs from when I did the 7 minutes of "power stroking" to improve endurance. So my hat's off to you.

You gest about the hockey helmet, but there is a woman who skates in the beginner class who wears a helmet, wrist guards, knee and shin pads, elbow pads -- you name it, she's got it on. I don't know how I feel about quite so much stuff. On the one hand, whatever it takes, more power to you. On the other hand, I'm not sure if it doesn't get in the way of developing the trust you need to relax and skate well.

Hope your noggin' isn't throbbin' tonight. Tomorrow will be a better day. Oh, and thanks for the kind words. Once I get my program to be halfway decent, I'll post an online video somewhere that you can watch.

 

[Lanechka]

Re: Incredible/Impossible Lessons & Practices 7/7-7/13

OWW! Glacierskater, I'm glad you're okay... that sounds awful. And 8 hrs? My marathon skating day was a few months ago, I clocked in at about five hours. I just didn't want to leave.

My catchfoot spiral is nice, I like it. It's a la Angela Nikodinov, no letmylegtouchmybody a la Sasha but it's like that when I do it off ice (especially sitting down when I stretch, haha). Here's a picture of a catchfoot from Sasha C's 2000 US Nationals SP (now she does the catchfoot change edge, aka slide spiral): www.sashafans.com/media/g...henap2.jpg

 

[Glacierskater]

Re: Incredible/Impossible Lessons & Practices 7/7-7/13

Good morning!

LANIE:
Thanks for the photo of the catch foot spiral. That is something that I will strive for. It is graceful, I think. I am not sure what I will look like I am trying to do when attempting...maybe some off ice conditioning for that one.

CINDERLLA:
I would LOVE and on line video of your skating! How exciting. I cannot bear to watch myself on video. I almost quit skating the first time that I saw myself. I looked like I was creeping along the ice. I have been told by many fellow skaters that it takes some getting used to see yourself skate. I think I shall wait a bit longer before asking my other half to come video. By, those days will come.

Okay kids, I am off to practice. Oh, and I wanted to clarify...not 8 1/2 hours at once. The first part was morning practice for about 3 hours, then public skate for 2 which was 5 hours in the morning. Then I came back in the afternoon and did hockey then public session, which was another 3 hours. So, I did have a break. But still it was lots of skating, and an overall good day. Noggin is sore...where's my crash helmet...

 

[Cinderella On Ice]

Re: Incredible/Impossible Lessons & Practices 7/7-7/13

GLACIERSKATE - Still, 8-1/2 hours is a loooong time to skate in one day. But I agree with you, having a break in between does make a difference. Last night I felt I could have gone back to the rink and skated some more (ahhh, if only there were ice time ...). It also depends on what you're doing (well, for me it does). I could probably skate moves and spirals and flowy things for a long time. Once I start doing jumps and stuff, there is a limit to what my muscles will take. I should count them up sometime, but I figure that probably 30-50 jumps in a day and I would be done for that day and possibly even the next! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT="">

In terms of the video, try to get yourself to "accept" it as soon as possible because it is the BEST way to help yourself improve. The first two times hubby videotaped, I could hardly skate from the paralizing embarrassment and fear. But once I relaxed, he was coming about 2-3 practices out of every 4-5, and it is amazing to see the improvement. I watch them several times and will take notes on what I think needs to be better, and then I use those notes at the rink so I know what to work on. I also make sure to give as much or MORE time in my head as to what I think I'm doing well. That way I reinforce the good things and don't get too depressed.

The first couple that I watched, I was sort of horrified at my terrible leg extensions, lack of turning the toe out, shakiness and (most of all) how big my butt was. But then I saw what the other women on the tape looked like (mostly worse) and realized that the video probably presents you in the worst light, and if that was my worst, then woo hoo for me in person!

Oh, and if you DO get hubby to videotape, make sure you let the other skaters know that they should NOT give you any special treatment, duck when they're in front of the camera, etc. It should be very unobtrusive and you're not going for a Peggy Fleming special on TV, so they shouldn't feel you are somehow "monopolizing" the skate session. I found that when I did that, everyone relaxed and no one resents hubby being there in any way.

 

[starshinexavier]

Re: Incredible/Impossible Lessons & Practices 7/7-7/13

Just popping in to say that I've completed 2 of the 3 days of the coaching course. It's very tiring, but I'm learning a lot. The course conductor is an ex-coach from my club, and she's a fantastic coach, so that's a real bonus. I'm with a very diverse group of future coaches as well, ranging from test skaters, to synchro skaters, to competitive singles skaters, to adult skaters, to competitive ice dancers. I will have a full update after I complete the course, with information on what was discussed, etc. Catch y'all later.

Happy Skating!

P.S. My ice hiatus is over!!!!

 

[sk8er1964]

Ouch

Glacierskater - hats off to you for surviving your fall so well. I did that on an axel about 6 months ago and it sent me to urgent care! I was ok, but it did scare me (although it did teach me to use my abdomin muscles instead of my back muscles to stabilize my jumps). Hope all is ok for you.

Also, 8 1/2 hours is one day???? Whew. I did one hour of freestyle today, plus two hours of open skate with my hockey son and his new skates, and I had to take a nap when I got home! :lol:

Cinderella - if I don't get a chance to post again, good luck on your tests. I know you'll do fine because you must join me in Lake Placid!

I really enjoy reading the posts of everyone here, by the way.

Nothing new for me. The axel left, but then came back. The double toes and double sals are nowhere near. Muscles hurt from falling. Intermediate MIF's are still improving. So, good and bad, as usual.

Hope you all have a wonderful skating time!!!

 

[Glacierskater]

Re: Ouch

I updated my progress on the next week post.