Perseverance

I skated the 5:30 p.m. FS at Chandler as usual.

I warmed up with some laps and perimeter crossovers, then spent some time doing back swizzles around the circle to work on my back edges at speed.  From there I went to BXOs and FXOs around the circle, then spins and finally some salchows.  I actually got a pretty good one, yay.

Spins & Jumps

My lesson with Holly on the 8:15 FS at Gilbert, as usual.  I had not skated FS for over two weeks so was quite rusty; I warmed up with stroking and crossovers.

Today's lesson:

• showcase light program -- we discussed plans for my new showcase light program.  It's going to be awesome.
• spins -- we started with the exercise, then from the windup.  I got some pretty good ones, actually.  Still need to keep the head up, bring the free leg in more completely/firmly, and be more consistent.
• waltz jump -- just a few.  Still need to check the landing better so I can hold the edge; and hold the head up.
• salchow -- still need to work on staying over the left side better and holding the BI edge a little longer.

FO8, FI8, BO8

My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler Ice Café.

I had a half-hour warmup -- scribed circles, did edges, FO8, FI8, and waltz-8.  I have been off the ice for 2 weeks and was feeling quite rusty. Yuck.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 -- we used the scribed circles at first.  My pushes need to be closer to the long axis.  We also worked a little on upper body position.
• FI8 -- scribed circles.  Not too bad, but need to keep straighter posture from the beginning and not be forward.
• layouts -- we laid out FO8 and FI8 in random spots.  Generally pretty good.
• BO8 -- we worked on keeping the skating shoulder back on the first part of the circle (R side) and then to do a better push (keep the free foot in front!) on the L side.  The R side is looking good, the L side needs more work.

We discussed the upcoming competition -- we decided I'll do FO8, FI8 and BO8 (eep).

BO Edge, 5-Step, Spins, Jumps

My lesson with Holly on the 8:15 FS at Gilbert.  Busy session (Cactus Classic starts tomorrow)!

I warmed up with perimeter XOs, BXOs to BO edges, 5-step mohawk and a couple of spins and jumps.

Today's lesson:

• BO edges -- more work on these on the circle, trying to get me to sit back and stand up straight. Between Holly and Danette I'm spending a lot of time on these.  Since some of the feedback from my test (geez, it was 3 years ago!) was that I didn't look comfortable on my back edges, I really need to fix this.
• 5-step mohawk -- we ran through these a couple of times. Still kind of rough which is vexing.
• spins -- we worked the exercise, then did some from windup.  About the same. Still need to stand up straighter and not look down.
• jumps -- a few waltz jumps - okay, but I need to check better as I don't feel I can hold that landing position well.  Salchows... one that was almost okay and a few that were not.  Toe loop -- still very much a toe waltz.  Ugh.

No lesson next week as I'm traveling.  Ugh.

Perseverance

I skated the 5:15 FS at Chandler as usual.  Somewhat busy since Cactus will be starting Thursday.  Ice was better than at lunchtime, yay.

I ran through the "odd" Bronze moves, then spent some more time on BO edge.  Then some time on spins, the exercise and from windup.  I got one that was nice.  Lastly a few quick jumps.  All in all not the best practice, I was a bit tired and out of sorts. Ugh.

BO8/BI8

My figures lesson with Danette on the 11:45 adult FS at Chandler.  Humidity is way high this week (monsoon season) and the ice was foggy and very bumpy :-(.  Pretty crappy, really.  7 skaters and 3 coaches.

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

Today's lesson:

• competition -- we had a brief discussion about the upcoming competition and what figures I might compete.
• BO8 -- some work on this to try to be more consistent on form, especially bringing free foot in front.  R side is not hard but L side is a real challenge. I think I was being sloppy (-er) there.
• BI8 -- form is actually better on these but more of a challenge in other ways.  Ugh.

We will make up our minds on what figures to do after my next lesson (which isn't 'til 7/25).

BO Edge & Spins

My lesson with Holly on the 8:15 FS at Gilbert.  Today was "80s Day" (I didn't get the memo!) and it was very fun to see everyone dressed up :-)

I warmed up with stroking, perimeter XOs, BXOs to BO edges and 5-step mohawk.  Then I spent some more time on 5-step around the circle.

Today's lesson:

• BO edge -- I was complaining that when I do the 5-step I'm dragging my toepick on the BO edge.  I seem to recall I got called on this when I tested.  So we worked on just holding a BO edge around the circle.  I tend to pitch forward a bit and that's a large part of the problem, as far as I can tell.  So we worked on it around the circle and then also doing the 5-step around the circle.
• spins -- just from the windup, just a few minutes.  I got one that was pretty nice, but in general I'm having trouble bringing my free leg in and bringing my arms in to my chest (they tend to go to low).  Urph.

Perseverance

I skated the 10:45 a.m. FS at Chandler since I had the day off.  There were about 10 of us, it was a fun session.

I spent about 25 minutes on Bronze Moves, with some extra time on FXOs, the RFO in the circle-8, and 5-step mohawk BO edge.

After that I warmed up jumps, and then ran my showcase dramatic program ("Years").  Yow!  Actually not that bad considering I had let it sit for 3.5 months.  I forgot the side toe hop, and I didn't do the bunny hop (I had warmed it up tho).  Other than that was not that bad, actually.

After that I did some spins. Nothing great.

Perseverance

I skated the 5:15 p.m. FS at Chandler as usual.  Nice session, just 6 skaters and 3 coaches.

As usual  I spent about 30 minutes on moves -- I ran all the Bronze Moves, then spent some time working on the BO edge in the 5-step mohawk; I was able to make it smoother when doing the 5-step around a hockey circle, not sure that will "stick" though.  Next I worked on FXOs some more to remind myself that I can do good ones if I try :-).

Next I worked on spins for 10 minutes, mostly working on the spin exercise and spins from the windup.  I got a couple that were about 2 revs but no really good ones.  Then a little time on the backspin exercise.  Eeep.  This is not getting much easier and I'm only getting around like half a rev, I think.  Yuck.

Last 5 minutes on jumps; a couple of okay waltz jumps, some salchows (one good one; fell on landing another, rest were meh) and some toe loops (bleah).