The very last element in my program is a sit spin. I have rarely actually hit it at the end of my program. My first competition was one of the only times I had ever successfully executed it up to that point. In other run throughs, it went less well, as documented here, for example. Consequently, the actual end of my program is under-rehearsed, because it's not unusual for me to end up in a butt spin. Then I dizzily pull myself to my feet and strike a pose.
The original choreography was to finish the sit spin, then do a few back cross strokes and end in a back snowplow with dramatic arms. Two things have happened recently. I've actually managed to do a real sit spin during program run-throughs and the spins themselves are lasting much longer than they used to. A friend saw me do the original choreography the other day and she thought the cross strokes were me falling over after the spin. Then, in a run-through for Coach, I finished the spin with the end of the music, skipped the cross strokes and struck a pose. "I finished late," I told him. "No, you finished right on time," he replied. I decided at that point to cut the cross strokes.
So in a run-through for Coach today, I made a point of holding the spin so that I could end it right on the music. But this time, I held the spin even longer and rushed the ending of the spin to finish on the music. I wasn't used to standing up so quickly from the spin and after the pose, I fell over. "What happened? Why did you lose your balance in the pose?" he asked me.
"I spun too long."
"There is no such thing."
I tried to protest. "No. You cannot spin too long. There is no such thing." I'm going to accept the spirit of the correction rather than the letter of it. I don't think I should keep spinning long after the music ends (ha! as if it were possible!), but I guess I won't rush it either.
Practices of the end of my program are going much better. Here's the salchow through the end, without music.
In other news, my lutz has gotten worse. But more on that another time.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
After the Test
For about 12 hours, I was happily occupied with my success passing the silver moves test. And then I started wondering about what was next. Will I start on gold moves right away? With everything else I'm working on right now, I don't think I will. But that got me thinking, why did I start on silver moves when I did?
I had to think all the way back to August when I passed bronze moves. I took both my pre-bronze and bronze moves in the same test session. After I broke my ankle, I couldn't jump, so Coach started me on bronze moves alongside pre-bronze. All my lesson time was spent on those two moves tests. Before leaving the rink that test day, I said to my coach, "Yay! New moves!" because I knew we would get started on the next moves test right away.
At the time, I could not spin. At all. So pre-bronze free skate test was not even on the horizon. The only upcoming competition was only 2 weeks away with nothing else until March. And shall I repeat? I couldn't spin. It's hard to put together a program with no spins. I was also still only just getting back to jumping after my ankle injury. So we began silver moves.
This time is completely different. I'm registered for a competition taking place in less than a month, and I'm aiming at a September competition as well. I think my backspin is good enough to pass the bronze free skate, so I'm thinking about when I might take that test. I'm working all my single jumps up through lutz, and a few combinations. Sit spin, camel spin, scratch spin, change foot, backspin. I've got plenty of stuff on the horizon without adding gold moves into the mix.
When I set out to make skating goals for this year, I didn't want to test bronze free until the end of the year, so I could have the option of skating pre-bronze at the September competition. But I've made a lot more progress in freestyle than I expected. One of my skating friends has called me a sand-bagger on a couple of occasions. And well, I'm beginning to feel like maybe I am. I might like to have a slightly more consistent lutz before bronze, but I think it will get there if I actually start practicing it more. I know it's not required, but most skaters in my area have one in their bronze programs.
In other news, I'm falling in love with the camel spin. I caught one of my best on video the other day. I showed it to my sister and she said that I am no longer a remedial spinner. But then what can I use as the tagline for my blog?
I had to think all the way back to August when I passed bronze moves. I took both my pre-bronze and bronze moves in the same test session. After I broke my ankle, I couldn't jump, so Coach started me on bronze moves alongside pre-bronze. All my lesson time was spent on those two moves tests. Before leaving the rink that test day, I said to my coach, "Yay! New moves!" because I knew we would get started on the next moves test right away.
At the time, I could not spin. At all. So pre-bronze free skate test was not even on the horizon. The only upcoming competition was only 2 weeks away with nothing else until March. And shall I repeat? I couldn't spin. It's hard to put together a program with no spins. I was also still only just getting back to jumping after my ankle injury. So we began silver moves.
This time is completely different. I'm registered for a competition taking place in less than a month, and I'm aiming at a September competition as well. I think my backspin is good enough to pass the bronze free skate, so I'm thinking about when I might take that test. I'm working all my single jumps up through lutz, and a few combinations. Sit spin, camel spin, scratch spin, change foot, backspin. I've got plenty of stuff on the horizon without adding gold moves into the mix.
When I set out to make skating goals for this year, I didn't want to test bronze free until the end of the year, so I could have the option of skating pre-bronze at the September competition. But I've made a lot more progress in freestyle than I expected. One of my skating friends has called me a sand-bagger on a couple of occasions. And well, I'm beginning to feel like maybe I am. I might like to have a slightly more consistent lutz before bronze, but I think it will get there if I actually start practicing it more. I know it's not required, but most skaters in my area have one in their bronze programs.
In other news, I'm falling in love with the camel spin. I caught one of my best on video the other day. I showed it to my sister and she said that I am no longer a remedial spinner. But then what can I use as the tagline for my blog?
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Silver Relief
Today, my lucky numbers are 16.4, 16.5 and 16.6. Those were my passing scores on my silver moves test! A 16.2 is passing, so let me assure you, I am very pleased!
I didn't expect to feel so relieved but I was so happy and relaxed that I was halfway home from the rink before I realized that I'd never turned on the car stereo and had been singing to myself in the car. (I kept singing "Yellow Submarine" and I have no idea why--maybe because it poured today?)
But yes, I am relieved. Partly because it's nice to pass, and partly because it's a contrast to last time. A month ago, I went to the test and when it was over, I had to go back to work on the same test. It's so nice to actually have it over with this time!
Before I went out to test, Coach told me that he was thrilled with the panel. That didn't necessarily make me feel any better. What if I failed with an optimal panel? Afterwards, I could see what he meant by the scores I received. I definitely skated a better test than last time. My 3 turn edges were more consistent. I soared through my outside spirals and didn't come close to touching down on the inside ones. But it wasn't a perfect test. I wanted to cringe at how noisy my 8-step and back cross strokes were and I felt like I skidded a lot of my 3s. And the judges noticed, but they still passed me. Here's the comments, with some of my own (parenthetical) commentary added in.
Eight-step mohawk sequence:
2.7 - timing is good -or cadence- a bit heavy footed.
2.8 - Quickness, flow and strength nice. A bit noisy.
2.7 - nice rhythm. continuous flow. Steps were a little choppy, but overall ok.
(last time, more than one judge called it "rushy". No sign of that here.)
Fwd & bkwd free skating cross strokes:
2.8 - good deep edges - moves down the ice
2.7 - For: Ok-could use knees more. Back: Same as forward-use knees (this judge is an ice dancer)
2.8 - Good strength and flow. nice posture.
(hey! At least no one said anything about noisiness!)
FO-BI three-turns in the field:
2.8 - Turns clean. edge quality good. Well done.
2.8 - Nice 3s and edges. Nice and steady.
2.7 - Nice extension and control overall. edge quality on RFO side was good. LFO started strong, but as you increased your speed, the quality went down. (I find this comment very interesting and very observant. And, I got faster!)
FI-BO three-turns in the field:
2.6 - Rt inside 3s are scraped. Not clean edge to edge turn. All other turns okay. (I would have expected this comment about the LFI, not the RFI. Also, this was my only below passing mark on the WHOLE TEST!)
2.7 - OK. Right BO some loss of control at times.
2.7 - Overall ok. good extension. edge quality on both sides started strong, but weaker towards the end.
Consecutive outside & inside spirals:
2.7 - O: very good. I: transitions a bit wobbled but overall OK.
2.8 - Lovely spirals. Some loss of control on inside spirals after the spiral.
2.8 - FO - very nice. good control and extension. FI - off/on with balance, but did a good job trying to control the edge quality
(on my last test, nobody passed this move.)
Forward & backward power change of edge pulls:
2.8 - good
2.7 - OK. edges could be deeper (I think I could have done deeper if my edges had been sharper)
2.9 - good job - overall good flow and strength
(Imagine! Once upon a time, I considered these my weakest move on the test.)
16.4
16.5
16.6
And now, with a big sigh of relief, I'm off to skate another day!
I didn't expect to feel so relieved but I was so happy and relaxed that I was halfway home from the rink before I realized that I'd never turned on the car stereo and had been singing to myself in the car. (I kept singing "Yellow Submarine" and I have no idea why--maybe because it poured today?)
But yes, I am relieved. Partly because it's nice to pass, and partly because it's a contrast to last time. A month ago, I went to the test and when it was over, I had to go back to work on the same test. It's so nice to actually have it over with this time!
Before I went out to test, Coach told me that he was thrilled with the panel. That didn't necessarily make me feel any better. What if I failed with an optimal panel? Afterwards, I could see what he meant by the scores I received. I definitely skated a better test than last time. My 3 turn edges were more consistent. I soared through my outside spirals and didn't come close to touching down on the inside ones. But it wasn't a perfect test. I wanted to cringe at how noisy my 8-step and back cross strokes were and I felt like I skidded a lot of my 3s. And the judges noticed, but they still passed me. Here's the comments, with some of my own (parenthetical) commentary added in.
Eight-step mohawk sequence:
2.7 - timing is good -or cadence- a bit heavy footed.
2.8 - Quickness, flow and strength nice. A bit noisy.
2.7 - nice rhythm. continuous flow. Steps were a little choppy, but overall ok.
(last time, more than one judge called it "rushy". No sign of that here.)
Fwd & bkwd free skating cross strokes:
2.8 - good deep edges - moves down the ice
2.7 - For: Ok-could use knees more. Back: Same as forward-use knees (this judge is an ice dancer)
2.8 - Good strength and flow. nice posture.
(hey! At least no one said anything about noisiness!)
FO-BI three-turns in the field:
2.8 - Turns clean. edge quality good. Well done.
2.8 - Nice 3s and edges. Nice and steady.
2.7 - Nice extension and control overall. edge quality on RFO side was good. LFO started strong, but as you increased your speed, the quality went down. (I find this comment very interesting and very observant. And, I got faster!)
FI-BO three-turns in the field:
2.6 - Rt inside 3s are scraped. Not clean edge to edge turn. All other turns okay. (I would have expected this comment about the LFI, not the RFI. Also, this was my only below passing mark on the WHOLE TEST!)
2.7 - OK. Right BO some loss of control at times.
2.7 - Overall ok. good extension. edge quality on both sides started strong, but weaker towards the end.
Consecutive outside & inside spirals:
2.7 - O: very good. I: transitions a bit wobbled but overall OK.
2.8 - Lovely spirals. Some loss of control on inside spirals after the spiral.
2.8 - FO - very nice. good control and extension. FI - off/on with balance, but did a good job trying to control the edge quality
(on my last test, nobody passed this move.)
Forward & backward power change of edge pulls:
2.8 - good
2.7 - OK. edges could be deeper (I think I could have done deeper if my edges had been sharper)
2.9 - good job - overall good flow and strength
(Imagine! Once upon a time, I considered these my weakest move on the test.)
16.4
16.5
16.6
And now, with a big sigh of relief, I'm off to skate another day!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Ice Traveler
When I was learning the salchow jump, I scoured youtube for videos to try to understand how on earth I was supposed to take off from a back inside edge. In the process, I found a video of a girl doing a beautiful salchow (and double salchow) that really captured my interest. Not only was the jump breathtaking, but I couldn't believe how gorgeous the rink was where the clip was filmed. I wanted to know where it was, I wanted to know why more rinks weren't as pretty and I wanted to skate there some day. Through some clever sleuthing, I discovered the whereabouts of the rink and I was recently able to skate there!
I was so giddy when I arrived at the rink! I could hardly contain my excitement! I even took a picture of the ice while my freestyle payment was processing! The funny part was that to everyone else, it was just business as usual. I did ask the front desk attendant if there were any particular rules I should be aware of. She told me not to run over the old people. (It was an adult only session).
I had a nice long skate. Moves were not so great, and I had to be careful not to get run down by one phenomenal dance team. Jumps were pretty good. One lady clapped her hands a little at one of my lutzes, which was very kind, but it was nearly flutzed (it was on a flat). Spins also okay. I was the youngest person on the ice, and my skills probably fell near the bottom of the pack. It was pretty cool to see so many other adults passionate about skating, who had obviously been at it for some time, given the levels they had reached. One skater I talked to is aiming for Nationals next year, and I hope I get to see her there!
I had to take some video to capture the event. Loop-loop is getting much more consistent and I got two nice ones on video, so here it is for your viewing pleasure. Also, keep an eye out for my skate gear twin. I guess I got the dress code right!
I was so giddy when I arrived at the rink! I could hardly contain my excitement! I even took a picture of the ice while my freestyle payment was processing! The funny part was that to everyone else, it was just business as usual. I did ask the front desk attendant if there were any particular rules I should be aware of. She told me not to run over the old people. (It was an adult only session).
I had a nice long skate. Moves were not so great, and I had to be careful not to get run down by one phenomenal dance team. Jumps were pretty good. One lady clapped her hands a little at one of my lutzes, which was very kind, but it was nearly flutzed (it was on a flat). Spins also okay. I was the youngest person on the ice, and my skills probably fell near the bottom of the pack. It was pretty cool to see so many other adults passionate about skating, who had obviously been at it for some time, given the levels they had reached. One skater I talked to is aiming for Nationals next year, and I hope I get to see her there!
I had to take some video to capture the event. Loop-loop is getting much more consistent and I got two nice ones on video, so here it is for your viewing pleasure. Also, keep an eye out for my skate gear twin. I guess I got the dress code right!
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