Salchow & Spins

My lesson with Holly on the 8:15 FS at Gilbert.  I warmed up with stroking and crossovers, then did some waltz jumps, spins and salchows.

Today's lesson:

• salchow -- after my issues with this jump at the competition, we spent some time on them.  They were still pretty wonky but I eventually managed a good one.  Holly said I really should just try two of them in the warmup -- if it's still not working just move on.
• spins -- working on improving the entry and the actual spin.  I did a better job of keeping my head and arms up, but they are still overall quite stinky.

We didn't run my programs today, but we will next week. 

Plugging Along

I had my figures lesson with Lynne on the 8:15 FS at Gilbert this morning.  Ice was pretty beaten up, but just 2 skaters and 2 coaches.

I warmed up with edges and FO8, FI8, then scribed circles.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 -- just a little time on this.  Not bad, although I had a bad push on the 2nd RFO.  Yuck.
• waltz-8 -- as usual, the bulk of our time.  My 3s were better today!  Actually most things were better, including my return to center.  Yay!
• 3s to center -- just 5 minutes.  My flow after the 3 was better, especially on the LFO3.  Still a long way from making it back to center though.

Perseverance

I skated the 5:30 p.m. FS at Chandler for practice, as usual.  About 9 skaters and 5 coaches.

I ran through the Bronze Moves just for warmup and review, then worked on jumps.   Salchows were problematic at first but I eventually got a good one.  Waltz-toe was much the same.  I did eventually get myself to "pause" between the jumps to get a better setup and so I did a couple that were not so bad.

2018 MidWinter Warmup Free Skate

I debuted my new "Exorcist" free skate today at the MidWinter Warmup.

After skating my showcase program I had almost 2.5 hours to kill so I watched some great skating and tried to stay warm in the freezing rink (I went outside in the sunshine periodically), and also ate a snack.

Finally it was time to put on my costume and skates.  I really love my costume for this program! It's really awesome and I have gloves which is nice so my hands don't get so cold :-).  I skated an exhibition, and warmed up with 2 Bronze men and a Gold man.

When it was time for the warmup, they called us out and I warmed up my jumps.  I did my Salchow and it was really awful.  I can't really describe what the problem was; I landed 2-footed and never really took off, and I felt like I wasn't over my skate on the entry.  Ugh.  So I tried a couple more and the last one was only marginally better than the first.  I decided that I needed to move on and not spent any more time, so from there I warmed up my waltz-toe combination (not so great) and spiral (for some reason I was nervous and my leg was shaking).  I also ran some of the footwork and that was relatively okay.

I was skating first, so I came off the ice at the one-minute warning, got some water and tried to relax a little.  Finally it was time to go... I skated out and took my position, and the music started.

The beginning was great!  I did a really nice job with the pivot, and then the rest into the BXOs was good.  I think I only did 4 crossovers instead of the 5 I'm supposed to do but I was moving relatively fast and into the toe loop, which was okay.  Footwork was okay into the spin, which was not so great (as usual).  From there I did my crossovers into the Salchow... and the Sal just did not happen. I'm not exactly sure what happened but it was not good.  I didn't fall, I just didn't really do the jump.  Yuck.

Anyway I managed to keep moving into the footwork and the spiral, which was all okay.  From there I went into the waltz-toe; the waltz jump went okay but I rushed and didn't really prep the toe loop so I fell.  Yuck!  I've not fallen in a program in a while.

I got up (not as fast as I would have liked) and went into the final spin and pose and ended mostly on time.  Took my bow and exited the ice.

It's just as well it was an exhibition!  I am not upset that I fell -- the waltz-toe is hard for me and I had low expectations.  I'm not happy with the Salchow though -- I don't remember that happening before.  Urph.

Sectionals is 2 weeks from Friday!  Ack.  

2018 MidWinter Warmup Showcase Dramatic Program

I skated my "Years" Showcase Dramatic program at MidWinter Warmup today.

Melissa, Lora and I got to the rink at about 7:45 a.m.  Melissa's first event was at 8:45 and mine was next at 9:05, so after checking in we had plenty of time to chill out.  Literally, because the rink was FREEZING.  So I tried to spend as much time in the lobby as possible.  Finally it was time to get my skates on and check in.  I was skating with one other skater, a woman from San Diego -- I was skating 2nd.  We had some chit chat while the previous event finished up, then out we went for our warmup.

I was feeling pretty good after my ice time the previous day so I just did some laps, the warmed up my waltz jump and toe loop, then ran the bunny hop->lunge->toe loop sequence and it was okay.  Ran through some of the other footwork and some other stuff and then they called us off the ice.

While my competitor was skating I tried to just focus on what I was about to do and relax.  Finally they called me out and out I went, took my place and off I went...

It went really well!  I felt like I was skating relatively fast.  Spins were not so great (as always) but other than a little shakiness on the lunge it was really pretty good.  I finished maybe a second early so just held my pose; then went and bowed and got off the ice.

In the end I got straight 2nd place ordinals.  Oh well!  I'm sure my competitor could actually spin, for one thing.  I need to fix that if I want to get anywhere.  I'm really happy with my skate.

Thanks to John Hurd Productions for the video!

MidWinter Practice

Melissa, Lora and I arrived in Artesia mid-afternoon and immediately went to the East-West Ice Palace for some time on the afternoon public session.  There was an adults-only freestyle that we just missed by an hour or so, but that's the way it goes. 

The ice was really bad and it was pretty crowded so I only skated for half an hour or so.  I did waltz, toe-loop, salchow, and even a couple of waltz-toe combos.  I also did some spins and worked a bit on some footwork sections.  All in all despite the conditions I got some good work done and I'm feeling reasonably prepared for tomorrow.

FO8, FI8, Waltz-8

I skated the Chandler Ice Café for my figures lesson with Lynne as usual.  I had some schedule issues so I only skated for 45 minutes and got on the ice later than usual (and lesson was later).

I warmed up with edges and scribed circles.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 -- not bad.  I actually had good control on the very first edge.
• FI8 -- nice.
• waltz-8 -- actually a bit better on the step forward.   Still need to count, and to bend the knee on the BO edge better. Also I had an issue on the LBO that I was anticipating the step forward too much, and cutting into the circle.  After fixing that we worked on the 3s since they are still kinda stinky.  I think I'm trying too hard on these, and Lynne says I need to keep my hips more square going into the turn.  I'm turning the body into the circle but the hips need to stay square, then release.

All in all not bad.

Program Review

My lesson with Holly on the 9:15 FS at Gilbert.  I did a 5 minute warmup, then ran my dramatic program -- it was mostly okay.  Then I worked on chunks of the free skate.  Nice ice today and just 2 skaters!  I wore my new free skate costume.  It seems to be fine, and it looks great.

For our lesson we ran the free skate, it was mostly okay.  Rough, but all the elements are there.  Then we worked a bit on the waltz-toe combo and ran through some of the footwork stuff, then ran it again.  Then we worked on the waltz-toe more.  The key seems to be to not rush, and just to take some time after the waltz jump to set up the toe loop.  I did a really nice one, actually.

Finally we ran it one more time, which was pretty okay; and then a couple of small corrections on the salchow.

All in all I'm feeling okay about the free skate.  It doesn't look polished, but I will have some more time with it before sectionals so I guess that will be okay.

Perseverance

I skated the Ice Café for freestyle practice today.  I was supposed to skate this morning but I overslept :-(.  As it was I only skated a half hour today because I managed to whack my left 4th toe on something and it really hurt. Fortunately I think it will be fine but not the best circumstances.

I did a 5 minute warmup and ran the dramatic program.  It was going really well, until I fell on the landing for the toe loop. Argh!  And it took me too long to get up :-( so I was a bit late finishing.

After that I worked on elements from the free skate, then ran it with music.  A little better than yesterday but still finishing a little late.

Perseverance

I skated the 5:30 p.m. FS at Chandler for practice, as usual.  Good ice, about 6 skaters.

I did a 5 minute warmup, then ran the dramatic program.  Ended a little late, all the elements were there though the toe loop was a bit wonky.

Next I worked on elements from the free skate, especially practicing the beginning and the later footwork section, and the waltz-toe combo.  Then I ran the program.  It was not bad! I finished a bit late but again, the elements were there and I stayed vertical :-).  My first spin was really good!

After that I spent more time on the waltz-toe combo and working some sequences from the program.  All in all a good skate.

Program Review

I skated the 8:15 FS at Gilbert for my lesson with Holly.  I warmed up with perimeter XOs and stroking.

Today's lesson:

• jumps -- we warmed up waltz jump, toe loop, salchow and waltz-toe combo.  Salchow was being a bit wonky, and the waltz-toe is a hot mess.
• program runthroughs -- we ran the free skate 3 times.  The good news is that I am at least doing all the elements.  The bad news is my footwork sections are kinda wonky right now, both of them.   I think I mostly just need more time on them.  It's not going to look particularly polished for MidWinter, but then I expected that.

I had final costume fitting last night.  It looks really terrific!  I'm really happy with it.  It just needs some stoning and it will be done, I will pick it up Sunday.

Waltz-8 & BO8

I skated the Chandler Ice Café for my figures lesson with Lynne today, as usual.  Nice ice and it was all to myself for the first 30 min or so!

I warmed up with edges, FO8 and FI8, and scribed circles. I was definitely a bit rusty from having been off last week but things came together.

Today's lesson:

• waltz-8 -- about 25 minutes on these, still trying to fix the step forward.  I seem to have a hard time remembering all the different things I need to fix at the same time... in particular today I was having a hard time stepping close to the circle, then, when I improved that a bit, I was leaning out of the circle on the FO edge which made it hard to return to center. Yuck.  Someday I will get these, but today was not that day.
• BO8 -- just 5 minutes on these. Considering how rusty I was they were not that bad, actually. My first RBO was a little small (cut into the circle on the return) but I made it around.

I need more practice time!

Perseverance

I skated the 5:30 p.m. FS at Chandler, as usual.  Life has been interfering with my skating lately, and the timing couldn't be worse! :-( . Nice session, only 5 skaters.

I warmed up with Bronze Moves, then worked on jumps a little.  Next I ran the new free skate.  I got the elements in though it was pretty rough, and I finished late.  Next I ran the showcase program and that was a hot mess - had a brain fart about halfway through and forgot what came next and was slow to recover.  Oh well, that's what I get for not doing it for like 3 weeks!