LoveyDovey / TopsyTurvey Lessons & Practices 2/9-15

[Cinderella on Ice]

Wowie kazowie, it's a new week and it's time to fess up about your great (LoveyDovey) and not-so-great (TopsyTurvey) lessons and practices.

Now let's see some clean skating out there!

 

[Cinderella on Ice]

TopsyTurvey - even though I didn't dawdle this morning and got right out on the ice, the first part of my practice seemed lethargic. And I swear my lutz/loop just cruised off to Alaska! Nothing I did ... and I mean NOTHING ... could coax that baby back home. I could do the lutz. I could do the loop. I could do the flip loop. But the minute I'd try the lutz/loop, POOF!!! the whole jump disappeared.

LoveyDovey - but the rest of the practice just rocked! I cranked it up into a powerhouse sweatfest! My full program run-through still needs lots of work, but I made it through the whole thing with an acceptable performance, and what really was ramped WAY UP was my attitude. I was just SCHMOKIN' out there! I was the only one out there except for this coach who was getting ready to teach her 9 am adult class. I had put on 40 Licks by the Stones, and when Honky Tonk Woman came on, it coincided with my doing the whole first 1/2 of my program. I just let 'er rip, and the coach was just dazzled! Flying camel combo - BAM! Tigger footwork sequence - BAM! Finishing axel - BAM! Seriously, after the third time of doing it without any bobbles and all that energy and exuberance pouring out, she skated over and was all gushy about it. When I told her what I was trying to achieve, she said, "Well you are SO all over that!" It made me feel great. Now let's hope I can recreate it for my coach tomorrow during my lesson. And let's hope it doesn't go visit my lutz/loop!

 

[starshinexavier]

Lovey dovey: Had a really good practice in terms of working on what I'll be competing at Regionals. My coach had me working on doubles that I don't have consistant yet, and has asked me to put them into my freeskate. Ran through all 3:38 mins of my program completing both axels, both 2 sals (minor touch down on one), 2 rotated 2 loops, which I fell on, and a slightly underrotated 2 flip which I also fell on. Even with the falls, I'm happy with the determination I put into the profram, even feeling incredibly tired. I even did a double at the 3 minute mark. I'm home for reading week next week, so I'll be able to practice a lot more, and on a big rink with a jumping harness.

Topsy Turvy: I can't spin for the life of me. I can't seem to find the sweet spot of my blade on camel spins, which throws the rest of the spin off. My coach has tried to get me to enter the spin a different way, but when I do it the other way, I get no power in the spin at all. I have 3 1/2 weeks till Regionals, so hopefully I'll be in good shape then.

Happy Skating!

 

[icer]

Topsy Turvy: Nothing like learning new things to keep you humble. Really struggling with the coordination of the back spin and loop jump. I think I could start to do them if I didn't get so lost getting into them... but if my coach thinks I'm ready to be working on them, I AM! And every practice session they make a tiny little bit more sense.

Lovey Dovey: Speed and flow. I love skating. And the new battle with the back spin/loop somehow makes all the other stuff I've been working on feel so much easier and more natural to do.

 

[Cinderella on Ice]

Lovey Dovey Tuesday - Thank goodness! My Fairy Godmother (coach) waved her magic wand and ... ta da ... the elusive lutz/loop came roaring back. Turns out I was bringing my left shoulder back and opening out in the middle of the jump, aborting the lutz and leaving no chance whatsoever for the loop. Since I've been doing them increasingly better for a couple of months, it astounds me that one morning I can suddenly "forget" how they are done! All other jumps were VERY on today, so she decided to strap me in the harness (my first time ever in life!) to work on the 2sal. Gosh, that extra second in the air (and no fear of falling) probably becomes addictive, but I was fairly clutzy in trying to do jumps in an absolute straight line and I'm sure I looked like my dogs when you pick them up suddenly and all their limbs splay out! Still, it was great to finally feel what was wrong with my takeoff (not shifting the weight over the right side and not getting that left leg in towards my body).

The first couple I tried off-harness had definite improvement. She had me leave it there so I could "memorize" the feel. Then we did 2toes and I am just sooooo close to landing one! Aaargh. I keep thinking "if I could just do ONE more," but it doesn't quite come.

TopsyDovey - Wednesday's practice was a mixed bag. Since I had played racquetball for two hours Tuesday night, my legs were toasted from all that activity. I decided to lay low and work on spins (all combos with the back sit) and the flying camel combos, but not the flying sit. Then I worked on portions of the program, splitting it into two halves. It was not as light and enthusiastic as Monday, but I wasn't disappointed.

Friday will be very telling, as I'm taking a complete sports rest day today in order to have tons of energy to whip everything into shape.

STARSHINE - I'm with you, sweetie. I've got a couple of weeks to get my stuff together and take it on the road to compete at mids (and I'm in Mexico for two weeks before then). It scares me to death, whereas you have this arsenal of great skating up your sleeve and I just KNOW you will rely on your muscle memory to pull it together. Mine isn't there in the first place, so I hope some miracle occurs before I make a fool of myself. I'm rooting for you!

 

[Yazmeen]

Topsy, Flopsy: I was in California from Friday to Monday and made the huge mistake of going into work on Tuesday. Me and my bloody sense of honor. I lasted 5 hours where I was useless due to jet lag. I could have slept in, gone skating in the afternoon and NOT missed stretch class like I did!! Grrrr...

Luv it, luv it: Back on the ice with my coach for the first time in two weeks (she was away). We worked on power threes and pinwheels and back spirals. My outside threes were funky since she's changed my balance and improved my edging on other skills, but they seem to be coming back from vacation.

On Sunday, we make up a lesson with...FORWARD INSIDE 3's... I haven't even attempted a LFI3 since I got my new skates in Sept. 03. Its always been my nemesis, the one move that can put me into tears--its my weaker foot, opposite to the direction I jump and spin, and my brain just doesn't want to deal with it. My RFI3 is OK since I use it for toeloop, but it can stand improvement. We're going back to the beginning with both, starting at the boards. Tuck in good wishes for me on Sunday!!! (Heck, pray, even!!!!)

 

[dlkksk8fan]

LoveyDovey-Back on the ice this week after a week of being sick and doing no exercise.
Since my waltz jump has been corrected I am now sailing through the air very nicely with good spring. Toe Loops are very consistant with good height and nice landings. Scratch spins are becoming more centered

TopsyTurvey-My feet hurt way too much in my skates which makes some moves seem impossible. My camel spins are awful. I tend to fall into my inside edge which makes the spin impossible to hold

 

[icer]

Turvey: Got my skates sharpened (badly needed) and am still figuring out how to skate on the new edges. Everything feels different, and they are now very sensitive to every scratch in the ice. I fall out of everything and can't yet hold a confident edge. Back to the real basics until I figure them out and dull the blades a bit. In the long run, I'm sure they'll be great. Plan to put in some time this weekend on the crowded public sessions just skating around and finding my feet again.

 

[Yazmeen]

Turve that top: Getting back into the swing for synchro after two months away. Tomorrow's gonna be another "I can't put my arms down!!!!" day. PASS the Advil!!!

LUUUURVE IT: It wasn't that hard getting back to it. We worked on new passes and blocks skills, and coach showed us the REST of the program, with changes too to the shortened version. For the most part, I caught on. The only problem is there are only six of us now. Two ladies had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts for right now, and my hubby's schedule is just too hectic for him to continue, so we've lost our guy!!!! He's barely able to take his regular lesson right now. On the good side, we have one new lady with us. So far, so good!!

 

[dlkksk8fan]

Lovey/Dovey- SITSPINS- CENTERED and FAST! I am happy, happy, happpy

 

[Yazmeen]

dlk: Three cheers and and a tiger for you!!! Whoo hoo!!!!

 

[dlkksk8fan]

Thanks Yazmeen!

 

[Cinderella on Ice]

Lovey/Turvey - Skating is a funny thing. You know how I was all excited in advance of yesterday's practice, planning to just "wow" everybody and the camera with my improved form and elements, and running through my program in total so hubby could catch it on video. I started out practicing spins and they weren't quite "on" and felt all awkward, so I kept going at them and going at them. Sit/back sit/sit; camel/sit/back sit/back scratch; flying camel/back sit/sit; flying sit; and then I finally stopped in disgust and moved to jumps, and while all the singles felt big and fine, once I started the doubles it just went downhill from there. I tried them over and over, 2toe and 2sal, but with no success. I finally had to stop and do my Tigger footwork so I'd have it for posterity and then halfway through it I FORGOT it! So I had to start over, and when I did, they dragged the ole Zamboni out to make the ice so I was being "kicked off" and had run out of time and hadn't run through the program. I was feeling all down in the mouth and crappy about my skating and the upcoming competitions.

But last night hubby brought the portable DVD player to bed and "forced" me to watch the whole practice then and there, and except for the fact that the double jumps were tilted or under-rotated (or both), everything else was looking TONS better than it felt, especially the spins. I didn't realize how much faster I am spinning these days, and they appeared more centered than they were from the tracings on the ice, and since the judges won't be on cranes high above me, this is a good thing. The jumps were lovely and, yes, the doubles need work, but I already know that. Even the footwork looked better than I thought/felt, so I am not so discouraged today, though definitely sore because it turns out that I intensely skated for 2 whole hours and really didn't take any breaks because hubby was videotaping.

 

[Yazmeen]

Cinder: That was a great idea, to have hubby videotape you, and it definitely sounds like the positives far outweighed the negatives, good for you!

I'm absolutely EXHAUSTED. SEVEN hours on the ice over Sat. and Sun, most of it teaching and yes, skating full out with the beginners and advanced beginners. (Part of it was a birthday part for one of our skaters. His parents rented the time normally used for public skate and the group of us had the ice to ourselves. It was fun and I got my salchow-waltz combo back into shape after not practicing it much for a couple of months.) At my lesson, we faced down the demons of the LFI3. First, coach had me doing two foot turns and lightweight (couple of revs) two foot spins to the right (CW) to help me "embrace the direction" I don't like to go in. The spins felt so weird. Then it was on to trying the LFI3 at the wall with hand assist. Honestly, I was terrifed--this move absolutely nails me mentally--it just doesn't feel right. I lost my balance a couple of times and she kept gently pointing out that I won't fall, I just can put my other foot down. At the wall so far, its going well. I plan to do a lot of them there until the curves and the feel is more natural and then lighten my touch until I can finally let go. I know I can do this. I'm going to do this. I won't let this move defeat me!!!! (I am skater woman, hear me roar... )

 

[Cinderella on Ice]

WOW, what was that loud noise? Oh, it was just Yazmeen, roaring through her LFI3s. C'mon, girl, we know you can do it!