Real Figure Skater Moment #1

When I first started learning the loop jump, my coach started out by teaching me what she calls a walking loop. You do backwards crossovers into a regular loop entry, but instead of jumping, you pull up into a quick double three: back outside 3 turn-forward inside 3 turn and then check out. Recently, as I've watched some of the performances from Nationals, I've noticed that this is a common alternate entry sequence to the loop. I imagine it garners extra points under IJS. I particularly remember that Mirai Nagasu did it. Here it is in her short program at about the 1:10 mark:

Thursday, I was on a relatively empty public session with a skating friend, and we were playing around. I thought, you know, I can now do a loop jump. And I can do forward and backward three turns. Maybe I could do this entry into a single loop.

It worked SPECTACULARLY.  It was actually easier than from backwards crossovers, because it was more like doing the loop from a forward inside three. I was absolutely giddy. I had one of those, "I am a real figure skater!" moments. Look at me! Like Mirai! I know that adult pre-bronze doesn't use IJS, but it's still gotta count for something, right?

When I ran through my jumps for my coach this morning, I did the whole sequence that she choreographed as my loop entrance for my program, but included the walking loop. She apparently liked it because when I didn't include it in my first run-through she asked me why I left it out. So I guess it's now part of my choreography. Hooray! (I think)

In other news, I hit my flip every time in the program this morning, but I did wipe out on some back crossovers. I ended up on my belly, army crawling trying to get back up and continue the program. Also, my sit spin was pretty on. Though I did do a run through where I fell out of my sit spin and landed on my butt precisely on the last note of the song. If I don't skate my program successfully, it at least looks like I will die gloriously.

Coach says my waltz jump is a good 4 inches higher than it has been. I mentioned to her that I was considering doing bronze compulsory moves in this upcoming competition as well as the pre-bronze freeskate. But when she described what I'd have to do, it made me tired just listening to it! I still think I'll do it, though, just for the experience. Registration's due next weekend and competition's in 5 weeks!