Sunday Night Skate

Valley has a special late-night session all this week (it's spring break here) so I went tonight. I hadn't skated in over a week, and it showed. I skated for about 1.5 hours.

The session was pretty dead, especially the last half hour when I had it to myself, so I took advantage and worked on stuff I don't often get to work -- back XOs, back edges, perimeter stroking CW. All in all it was a good skate. I did my 10 waltz jumps (actually, I did more) and 5 Salchows. The waltz jump is getting much more relaxed and free. I did 3 in a row at one point!

All in all a good solid skate. I was pretty whupped by the end, though, and I worked up a pretty good sweat.

Saturday Morning Skate

Valley has a Sat. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. session for a little while (in between hockey seasons, I guess) so I went. It was not crowded at all! The session started a little late as Steve, the Zamboni guy, had to re-do the ice and was running late. It was worth the wait though!

I spent a lot of time on crossovers and 3s and Russian stroking. I seem to have a lot of problems doing more than one rink-length of RS before something gets off. Anna had told me I need to practice doing two laps of them and I'm still trying to work up to it. I worked the bad side crossovers; they are slowly improving. A key there seems to be, again, to not rush the tempo and really work for good extension.

I've noticed on my crossovers that it seems like my FO edge (especially on the bad side, that would be the RFO) is just not really secure enough. I tried working them around the (invisible) center circle and wow do they stink!

I also did some waltz jumps, probably about 10. A highlight was doing 3 in a row! Although after the 3rd one I was really close to the wall and had to run into it and stop with my hands beginner-style :-). Oh well!

Goal for this week is to have a lesson with a different coach. I'll post when I have something set up.

Going Clubbing

Not really! I couldn't resist a funny title... I went to the Carousel FSC session last night to try to meet up with some coaches. I am not yet a member of the club so I didn't skate, of course. The club ice is Thursdays 6:15 - 7:15 p.m. There were a fair number of people there. The session is structured as a half-hour group lesson and half-hour freeskate. The lessons seem to be divided up by levels with 6 coaches present.

I saw Lucy there, and she introduced me to a couple of other coaches that I'd seen at various sessions, Jill and Leone. Later I introduced myself to a 4th coach, Michelle, who coaches along with her sister Susy. Michelle said that Susy would probably be a better match than she so she gave me Susy's phone number. Apparently Susy already has a number of adult students.

I also met the lone adult skater present, Sharon. Her son is also a skater, he's an ice dancer and is apparently quite talented. Sharon said there are about 5 adults who show up to the club session at various times.

So of the 5 coaches available at Valley I've met 4 and apparently can choose from 4. If I don't find one I like I still have the option of trekking over to Shiny Rink and finding a coach there -- Sharon says there are a number of coaches there (which I'd believe). I'd rather not make the trek but maybe that's what I'll have to do.

I was planning on skating this morning but I was sooooo tired I slept late. I really am having problems getting morning skating in, I never get enough sleep.

HBD Dana!

And a big Happy Birthday to Dana, who's turning the big 2-0 today! Congratz!

HBD Rebecca!

If someone from Tucson reads this, please wish Rebecca E. a happy birthday if you see her!

Trial Lesson With Lucy

This morning I had my trial lesson with Lucy on the 8 a.m. freestyle at Valley. We had the ice all to ourselves! It was heavenly, really, just heavenly. I had a good half-hour warmup before our lesson and felt pretty good.

We spent a few minutes talking about my background, her background, her schedule etc., then went in to looking at forward stroking. I was reasonably happy with my CCW stroking, CW less so. Lucy pauses after each element and asks for my analysis, and then would add her own. I liked that as it both reinforces my own self-coaching ability and lets her know that I do know some of what I'm doing.

After stroking we looked at FXOs, waltz jump, BXOs, spin entrance, mohawks, edges and FO3s. Lucy gave me some feedback on all of them, mostly stuff I've heard before except for a couple of tidbits that, of course, I can't call to mind right now. She was very positive and knowledgeable and I enjoyed her attitude.

I had one fall, nothing major, just one of those silly falls where you wind up sliding 5 or 6 feet on the ice and laughing. It's good to fall in a trial lesson, I think -- it lets the coach know you can fall and be okay. For adults I suspect that's important.

I told Lucy that I would be in touch with her, I need to have trial lessons with some of the other coaches at the rink. Still need to make it to the Thursday night club session to meet some folks from the club here and try to line up some other coaches.

After my lesson I skated until the end of the session at 9:30, a full 1.5 hours of skating. I was whupped! But I felt terrific, what a great skate. It felt so good to have a lesson again, some direction, after 3 months without.

Perseverance

I attended the public session today at Valley. It's annoying that I've not gotten to skate all week but it couldn't be helped.

The session wasn't too crowded to start with but it filled up as time went on. I got to meet Lucy, one of the coaches at Valley; I've scheduled a trial lesson with her for Friday morning.

I worked a lot on 3s and crossovers. My FI3s are getting to be a bit more... lyrical? Lilting? They aren't any more controlled but they are feeling better at least. I'm still trying to get the darn alt-3 pattern; I'm getting closer but still a ways to go. Just one fall today, coming out of an LFI3.

Skating With Celebs

I just finished watching the finale of "Skating With Celebrities". It was a lot of fun to watch, and hopefully will bring a new appreciation to the audience of the beauty and difficulty of figure skating.

My girlfriend and I both remarked that Kristy and Lloyd, the winners, seemed to skate really well together and have a good bond. On Googling them, it turns out they are having an affair. Interesting..