Buns O' Steel

Today's lesson was on the 8:15 FS as usual. It being spring break, it was much more crowded than usual (12 skaters vs. usual 2 or 3) -- a far cry from yesterday's skate!

Today's lesson:

• LFI3 -- still plugging away at these. My hard work is starting to pay off though; the entrance edge is longe and the turn a bit less scrapy, and I'm settling into the LBO exit a bit better and more quickly. I'm happy with my progress. I'm thinking we'll keep plugging on them a couple more weeks and then probably just work on the APB 3-turn pattern.
  
• BO3 -- ha! I thought I was readier to work on these than I actually am. Sheesh. I really, really need to work on that upper body and free-foot in front stuff, because I will never get these until then. Bleah. We worked on them out on the ice and also at the boards. Strangely enough the LBO3 seems like it will be easier than RBO3. These are going to need a LOT more work, because it's just not happening right now. My free foot keeps trying to sneak in front, and Sonya says I really need to get more twist to make the turn happen.
  
• Half flip -- Sonya was really pleased with these! I'm getting a bit of "jump" to it and it's much better than it was. Sonya's main feedback was on the landing/push-out, that I need to have better posture and especially to get the free leg back and extended. I was having problems until Sonya told me to think about squeezing my butt and holding my head up high -- thus the title of this post :-). The Buns o' Steel posture really helps a lot. I joked to Sonya that wow, every once in a while she really *does* know what she's talking about! :-) I'm really happy with my progress on these, but I'll keep working on them for a while since they are nowhere near as comfy as my waltz jump.
  
• Salchow -- eep. Sonya's main correction was that I need to get the free leg firmly extended and back after the 3-turn, then simultaneously bend the skating knee while bringing the free leg out and around. Sheesh. Some progress on these, though, but not really a jump yet. I think we'll try to hit these harder in the next few weeks.

Skate update: I just got off the phone with the pro shop; there was a delay in Riedell's shipping dept. due to a new system. My skates should be in today or tomorrow. I should be able to go in Saturday a.m. to try them on, if all goes well.