Program

My lesson with JJ on the 8:15 FS at Gilbert.

Today we worked on reviving the rest of the program.   I ran through the first part that I already know (I was a little behind) and then we worked on the rest.  After the waltz jump it's:

• side toe hop (ugh, we didn't work on this today)
• RFI mohawk
• R foot push
• Moonwalk L-R-L-R
• Step forward to lunge w/arms (down, then front/back)
• RFI mohawk/cross
• Step forwrad
• LFI mohawk/cross
• Brush back
• Step forward into spin
• Exit, push, FXO
• R foot lunge-3
• Get up, R foot power push
• BXO x 2
• Step forward
• Salchow
• Step forward
• RFI pivot
• LBI pivot
• Final pose

After that we worked on the salchow.  Ugh.  I did one that was actually kind of okay but couldn't repeat it. Grrr.

Midwinter is 2 weeks away so I have to work on my light program next week though I won't have a lot of time.  Sectionals is 6 weeks (?) away so we have a lot of work to do on this free skate.  Ugh.

Preliminary Test

My figures lesson with Lynne on the Chandler Ice Cafe.

I warmed up with edges and scribed my circles and then we started.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 - not bad.
• FI8 - nice.
• waltz-8 - We spent the rest of our 20 minutes on these.  The main issues now seem to be... on the L side I'm not holding the exit of the 3 long enough, so the RBO is too long.  On the R side my 3 exit and LBO are better but I am doing a poor job of stepping forward on the circle.   I did manage one that was decent but only that one.  The issue in particular, I think, is still getting myself to stand up straight and then be able to turn my blade under me for the step forward.  Yuck.

After my lesson (it's only 20 minutes) I spent most of the rest of my time on the waltz-8.  I realized that if I attempt to hold the 3 exit longer (on the L side, anyway) that I do have problems curving into the circle.  On the other hand my RBO is then a reasonable length and the step forward is easier.  Bleah.

Perseverance

I skated the 7:30 a.m. FS at Gilbert today.

I spent about 30 minutes or so on Bronze moves, then the rest of the time working on running the first part of my free skate.  The first time not so good but I was (almost) on time the second time.  Yay!

5-Step Mohawk & Program

My lesson with JJ on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Gilbert. I warmed up with the Bronze moves.

Today's lesson:

• 5-step mohawk -- JJ saw me doing these as he came on the ice so of course he wanted to look at them a little.  They are getting better.  JJ suggested I should work to keep my weight back on the blade on the 2nd step so that I would not be up on the toe so much on the 3rd step. It did help a bit. Hopefully I can remember to do that all the time!  These are actually a lot better thought I still don't like the actual mohawk very much.
• program -- we spent most of the session working on the free skate.   We got about a third of the way through.  On the one hand it's pretty cringe-inducing to have to watch the video from last year's PCAS.  On the other hand though it felt a lot easier than I think it did last year. I credit all the work on Bronze moves! We added an arm movement going into the RFI spiral.  I need to get JJ to video that as incentive to do a more convincing spiral.  I also need to practice it!

Preliminary Test & BO8

My lesson with Lynne on the Chandler Ice Cafe.

I just had time to scribe circles before we started.  We skipped warmup and went right along.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 - I had some control issues (hey, no warmup) but managed okay.
• FI8 - actually, quite nice.  I was happy :-)
• waltz-8 -- A little better than it's been.  After the first run-through we ran them again.  Mostly the same issues I've been dealing with but slightly better.
• BO8 - whoa!  I had not done these in a while and it showed.  After the first couple it did get better though.  I really need to work on presence of mind so that I consistently do the things I know I need to do for these -- like, bend the knees A LOT on the initial push, and keep that darn free foot in front for the first 1/3 or so of the circle.

After my lesson I worked on serpentines and 3s to center for the rest of my skate.

Spins

My spins lesson with Lynne on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Chandler.

Before my lesson I ran the Bronze moves test and then worked some more on power-3s.

Today's lesson:

• standing start-- started off a bit rough but then gradually improved until I managed several that were pretty good (3 revs).  Pretty much the same issues as usual.
• windup -- again, a rough start but by the end I managed to get a couple that were pretty decent.

After my lesson I worked on jumps a bit (waltz, sal, toe).  Sal and toe are pretty awful.

Power-3s

My lesson with JJ on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Gilbert.  During my warmup I worked on running through the Bronze moves test but it was a little crowded and I didn't make it all the way through.

For today's lesson we continued working on power-3s.  First JJ had me run the L side, then we worked on the R side.  We worked on improving the BXO and then pushing forward from it; getting a better knee bend in the BXO and then just stepping forward.  We made some progress I think. There's still a lot to do on these, though.

Preliminary Test

My figures lesson with Lynne on the Chandler Ice Café.

I warmed up with edges and then scribed my circles and we started my lesson.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 -- actually pretty good.  The LFO was a little weak once but in general it was pretty good. Good flow, good tracing, reasonably good body position.
• FI8 -- pretty good.
• waltz-8 -- we spent the remainder of the lesson on these.  The 3s were okay (RFO3 was a little flat going in).  The LBO was not bad.  RBO was weak but not too bad.  Step forward was relatively okay (still not passable, but not as bad as it's been.).  

After our lesson I worked on serpentines, 3s to center, and then a little more waltz-8.

In general  I was really pleased, considering I had not skated patch in about a month.  I didn't really lose any ground and I actually have some hope about the waltz-8.

Spins & Power-3s

My lesson with Lynne on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Chandler.  This session was just me and Jaclyn (and Tammi) so nice and quiet.  Today's lesson was make-up for the lesson I missed 1/2 when I was sick.

Before my lesson I had a half an hour to work on Bronze moves.   Not much changed from Monday :-) but the 5-step was maybe a little better.  I ran the test once, then went back and did 5-step, power-3s and the BXOs to BO edges again.

I told Lynne that I wanted to work on power-3s and also spins.  Today's lesson:

• power-3s -- we just worked the RFO3.  These are improved, definitely.  Lynne had me working on being to forward on the 3, but standing more upright (I tend to kind of "dive" into them).  We actually had a little success with this and it helped me delay the 3 a little, so yay.  There were some that were rather better and others that were about the same -- a bit inconsistent.
• spins -- we just worked on the standing start.  After Monday's really good lesson I had high hopes but alas, most of them today were pretty crappy :-(.  I kept rushing.  It's all mental.  Oh well.

Spins

My spins lesson with Lynne on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Chandler.

Before my lesson I had a half-hour to work on Bronze moves.  About the same as yesterday :-).  I worked a bit on doing better FXOs and when I ran them I did get a better "good side" FXO with some actual underpush.  The other side was about the same.  Power-3s were maybe slightly better.  I'm still working on trying to hold the FO edge a little longer before the turn.

Today's lesson:

• standing start -- these started off pretty rough but improved quickly.  I managed several pretty decent 3-rev spins.
• windup -- again a bit of a rough start but these turned out pretty well, I did about 3 3-rev spins in a row.  They aren't centered but they are a good start!

After my lesson I had just a few minutes so I worked a bit on waltz jump and salchow.

Skating With TFSC

I was down in Tucson to skate for TFSC's club ice at TCC.  I spent the whole time working on moves -- I ran the Bronze test, then worked on perimeter XOs, BXOs to BO edges, 5-step mohawk, and of course the majority of the time on power-3s.  I think I made a little progress.  I really don't see these being ready to test at the end of the month though.