FO8, FI8, BO8

My figures lesson with Danette on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Chandler.  I warmed up with edges and scribed circles.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 -- We worked these on my scribed circles and also laid them out.  My posture still needs work on these, and I'm still not reliably getting around the circle.  I just don't know what to think about that.  
• FI8 -- similar to FO8, worked on the scribed circles and a layout.  These are much better than FO8.
• BO8 -- we just worked these on the scribed circles.  I still need to work more on standing up straight, especially on the RBO.  My posture is so much better on the LBO than the RBO!  On the LBO I stand up fairly straight and have good control.  On the RBO I tend to break at the waist and the free leg comes out into a "landing position" that really doesn't look like a good position.  And of course I still need to look into the circle and keep the free leg in front.

Edges & Step Forward

My figures lesson with Danette on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Chandler.  Ice was not so great.

I warmed up with forward edges -- we started a little early.

Today's lesson:

• B edges -- just a couple minutes on these.  In general not to bad but I still need to be more consistent with good posture -- stand up straight but still bend the knee :-)
• step forward -- we worked on these since they're on the waltz-8 and always a problem.   Danette had me push to the BO edge for one lobe then step forward on the same circle (LBO was weird as I'm not used to pushing from a standing start on these).  I need to lean back into the circle more!  I need to work on these more.  Ugh.  RBO was a little better.  We also worked them on the boards -- skate on a back flat and step forward to FO.  Eeep.

Like so many things in my life right now, I feel like I am stuck because I am not getting enough ice time. Urph!

Footwork, Toe Loop, Spins

My lesson with Holly on the 8:15 a.m. FS at Gilbert.  I warmed up with stroking.  The ice was not so great.  Just me, Q and Addy.

Today's lesson:

• footwork -- we worked some more on the swing-roll/change of edge, and went on to doing serpentines down the line to work on the change of edge (FOI and FIO both).  Holly wants me to work on this more, with small lobes but a good push.
• toe loop -- we worked on these down the line, as we had before.  Trying to send the RFI out to the side (more curve) and cross the line before picking in.  I had a couple of good ones (still cheated though).
• spins -- just a few at the end.  Holly reminded me to lift that free side up.  Ugh.  No good ones for me today.

Footwork

My lesson with Holly on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Gilbert.  I warmed up with stroking.  I had not skated freestyle since Autumn Antics so it took me a while to warm up.

Today's lesson (after a competition debrief) was focused on the footwork in my dramatic program.  We touched on most of it and worked especially on the swing roll/change of edge and also the alternating FXOs.

Waltz-8

My figures lesson with Danette on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Chandler.  I warmed up with forward edges and then scribed circles.

Today's lesson:

• B edges -- just a couple of minutes on these since I had not done them in warmup.   BO were pretty nice.  BI was better than it has been -- better pushes.
• waltz-8 -- most of our time on these.  We started by working FO3s on the wall.  They are not consistent.  Ugh.  Then we went to my scribed circles and worked there.  Still need better control (better check) after the 3.  Danette had me work to be sure I'm not helicoptering my arms into the turn as it makes it much harder to control.  Also some work on the step forward.  Mostly the same issues -- on the L side I tend to be leaning forward on the RBO. The R side is better but I still need to turn another 40 degrees or so to stay on the circle.

All in all not too bad considering how long it's been since we worked on the waltz-8.

Edges & Transitions

My figures lesson with Danette on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Chandler.  Ice was not so great.

I warmed up with forward edges; we started a little early.

Today's lesson:

• B edges -- just a few minutes on these.  In general they were okay.
• step forward -- we worked a bit on the step forward from the waltz-8.  Danette had me do a BO edge for one lobe then step forward on the same circle.  The LBO was more challenging (also, I'm not used to pushing onto an LBO from standing start!).  I need to lean back into the circle more and my body doesn't want to!  Urph.  The RBO is somewhat better.  We also worked these on the boards a bit.

Posture

My figures lesson with Danette on the 7:30 a.m. FS at Chandler.  Okay ice.

I warmed up with edges and scribed circles.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 -- I am still not getting around on these.  We worked mostly on getting me to stand up straighter and improve flow.
• FI8  -- also working on posture.  These flow better and I do usually get around the circle okay.
• BO8 -- a good chunk of our time, working on improved posture, looking in to the circle and better control of the free leg.  Ugh!  We spent most of our time just on the LBO since it's a lot weaker.  I think we did make some good progress.

2019 Autumn Antics Showcase Light Skateoff

I was nominated to skate my "Jenny" program in the Autumn Antics Earnhardt-Hughes skateoff.  I was really pleased to be nominated (as Melissa pointed out, I was the only adult nominated).

I was running music through the end of the previous (Palos) skateoff, as I was skating 12th of 25 in the E-H skateoff.  So after the Palos skateoff I went and got my skates on and got ready (I stayed in my light program costume since I was nominated).

I went out to warmup -- the ice was pretty bad by this point. Yuck.  I was a bit tired by this point (I'd been at the rink for 11.5 hours at this point) but okay.

Finally it was my turn. I skated out and off I went! In general it went pretty well, except I once more biffed the salchow.  Urph! I felt like there's a 'salchow nazi' (like Seinfeld's 'soup nazi' -- 'no salchow for you!').  Frustrating.  It's all in my head, and it's worse on this program since I'm going faster.  I just need to practice this a lot more, going into it with a more realistic speed I guess.  Grr.

 Anyway other than that it went fine.  After I skated I hung out with everyone else since there's a 'victory lap' for the skaters so you have to stay in costume.  I got to watch some really great skating! It was fun.

All in all a very very long, but great day.  Yay!

2019 Autumn Antics Showcase Light Program

I skated my "Jenny" light entertainment program at this year's Autumn Antics.

I had a full day of setup and running music, as well as skating my "Days of Beauty" program earlier.  Also by this point, the cold in the rink was starting to get to me (it was really cold!).  I finished my music shift and then changed into my costume and got ready.  I got on the practice ice and once again had plenty of time to warm up.  I warmed up salchow, spins, and waltz jump and ran some program chunks.  I made an executive decision :-) that I was not going to do the bunny hop.  I just was not feeling up to it.

Finally it was time.. they called me out and out I went!  As at PCAS in March I made sure to flip my hair when I got to my position and sure enough I heard a chuckle from one of the judges... good!

Music started and off I went. Everything went really well! I even landed the salchow, which made me really happy.  I was really pleased with how this went.

I placed 2nd of 2.  However, I did get nominated for the Earnhardt-Hughes skateoff, so that really made my day!  I did not get a video of this skate, however.

2019 Autumn Antics Showcase Dramatic Program

I debuted my new "Days of Beauty" program at this year's Autumn Antics.

Coach Tammy was putting me on for this program.  I cut my timing a little close on getting on the practice ice as I had been running music (arrived at the rink at 6:30 a.m.).  Tammy asked me where my prop was... oops!  I had to run back to the locker room to get it :-).  I warmed up salchow and most parts of the footwork. It was only 11 a.m. and the practice ice was already pretty rough.. yuck.  As usual I had plenty of time to warmup.

I skated 3rd of 4.  I had turned my prop on beforehand, so when they called me out I skated out, placed my prop with the judges, and took my position...

In general it went okay.  I'm still having issues with the cross and hold (I just don't want to hold that crossed position!) but the opening footwork stuff went well.  Waltz jump was fine, and FXOs and back hockey glide were okay.  The spin was not so great but not a total failure.  I biffed the salchow though.  Grr.

The rest of it was fine, and I was skating faster than I had in practice so I had a little more time at the end, which was nice.

I placed 4th of 4.  I was happy with this as it's a new program.  I have the video and I'll post it soon.