2012 Accomplishments, 2013 Hopes

It's hard not to look back and look forward at New Years. And of course, this year's skating is one thing I've reflected on quite a bit in my pondering. Here's a recap.

• A few days before New Years last year, I got the good news from my orthopedist that my broken ankle was finally healing.
• In January of 2012, I began physical therapy.
• On April 1st, I was allowed to return to the ice.  (I actually had my first skate on March 31st--I know, I'm a rebel.) I started skating once a week, starting with stroking, crossovers, swing rolls, mohawks, 3 turns and a little bit of ice dance.
• In May, I resumed lessons with my coach, working on pre-bronze moves, which I had been about to test when I got injured.
• In July, I switched to working on ice dance with a male coach, so that he could also partner me. My primary coach challenged me to pick up bronze moves for the August test session.
• In August, I tested and passed pre-bronze moves, bronze moves, and all three preliminary dances. I also started jumping again.
• In September, I started a spins class, because I decided I needed a new perspective on this element that's been particularly tough for me.
• In November, I actually began to spin.
• In December, I passed my pre-bronze free skate and I performed with the spins class in a rink holiday recital.

Somewhere, between August and December, I also started my sit spin, loop, flip and lutz, as well as silver moves. I put together a video summary of some of my best examples caught on tape this year and have included it at the bottom of this post.

As for 2013, I have some official goals, and some secret hopes. My official goals are more related to tests and competitions. I've gone over these with my coach(es):

• Skate in two local competitions (March and September) and give a good showing
• Test silver moves and pre-bronze dances in April (and pass!)
• Test bronze free skate, probably in the October - December time frame (and pass!)

And my hopes are element goals I have, things which I can't resolve to do, but can aim to work on.

• Start axel and double salchow (and land them--haha! But this is my number one hope.)
• 15 revolution scratch spin (double my current revs. I have no clue if that's realistic.)
• Bronze dances
• improve back spin and sit spin
• 3 revolutions on camel spin and maybe layback spin
• CCW outside spreadeagle

That ought to keep my busy. Here's to happy and healthy skating in 2013!

Spread Eagle

I am very close to getting an outside spread eagle.

I set one foot, bend my knees and set the other one, then slowly straighten my knees. By the end, I'm travelling in a straight line, very very slowly.

Spins coach saw me practicing it during a public session. "Now, do a waltz jump out of it!" she challenged me.

But... I'm going the wrong way! Clockwise, instead of counterclockwise. I'm nowhere close to an outside spread eagle going counter clockwise.

When I first returned to the ice after my broken ankle, I couldn't jump. I couldn't do a left shoot the duck. I couldn't do a lunge on either side, because my left leg wasn't strong enough to bend and stand back up and it was too painful to drag it on the ice behind me. I've gotten back to being able to do all those things, but every once in a while, I find some aspect of strength or flexibility I still haven't gotten back, and left foot leading spread eagles and bauers are one of those things.

Since I can more or less get into the position for a spread eagle with my right foot leading, I don't think it's that I can't get my left foot into the correct position. But when I try to lead with the left foot, I can't keep my body in the right position over my foot to place the right one on the ice. It seems to be a strength issue. I'll keep working on it, as I don't know another way to strengthen those muscles!

Now I also achieved the spread eagle position flat on my back after my first try at backwards power circles, but that's another story!

I'm Afraid It's Worse Than I'd Feared

Um, excuse me, skating school recital director.... Where is my supplementary tutu? I am not 12!

Practicing some new things

Unfortunately, my test on Saturday morning interfered with my weekly lesson, but I was able to get in some nice practice time. I only intended to skate one session, but I was enjoying myself so much I stayed for a second. This video shows some of the moves I've just started working on, like flip, sit spin, camel spin and falling leaf. Hopefully one day it'll make for some nice "before" footage.