Edges, FO8, BO8

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler 8:30 a.m. FS.  Ice was kinda beat up; 4 skaters.  

I had first lesson, so no warmup and I didn't scribe circles. 

Today's lesson:

• edges -- meh.  FO8 were kind of uncontrolled, the rest were more or less okay.
• FO8 -- eep.  So much bad posture and bad edges, so between that and the ice it's no wonder I couldn't make it around.  Yuck.  
• BO8 -- in contrast... the RBO was pretty nice!  LBO was a bit problematic on return to center and circle shape.

After my lesson, I skated another 15 minutes and then had to go to another appointment.

FO3s, Jumps, Spins

 My lesson with Holly on the 8:45 a.m. FS at Chandler.  Ice was pretty beat up; 4 skaters.  I warmed up with stroking, perimeter XOs, BXOs to BO edges, and circle-8.

Today's lesson:

• FO3s -- still working these.  Ugh.  It took a bit to get the LFO3 back.  RFO3, I'm still holding Holly's hand. Geez.
• Spins -- actually some good ones!
• Jumps -- a really nice waltz jump and then a bunch of salchows that were not so great.  Bleah.

Honestly, I really feel like I'm in maintenance mode on everything.  I should get some more ice time over Christmas break (last day of school for me is 3 weeks from today).

3s & B8s

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler 1:15 FS.  Beyootiful ice and just 4 skaters.  Today was special because Hannah skated with us! She's home from school for Thanksgiving.  It was great to see her!

I warmed up with edges and scribed circles.

Today's lesson:

• 3s -- about 20 minutes on these, mostly the LFO3.  They still stink.  Ugh.  I did fall twice, so at least I'm trying I guess (not bad falls). Grr.
• BO8 -- on my scribed circles.  Wow, these were really good!  Good flow and control.  I was stoked.
• BI8 -- these also were really good!  Small circles, but good flow for the most part.  

3s

 My figures lesson with Danette on the 1 p.m. FS at Chandler.  This was postponed from Monday.

I warmed up with edges and an FO8 -- I didn't scribe any circles as the ice was pretty beat up after the ASU skating team practice, and I didn't plan on using them anyway.

For this lesson I had told Danette I wanted to focus on FO3s, as I have been doing with Holly.  So we did -- mostly on the LFO3.  These seem a little harder to do well in patch blades -- I was getting really forward on the blade after the turn.  We did fix that eventually but they are still not good, especially the RFO3.  As with Holly, I had Danette hold my hand. Geez.

Patch Perseverance

 I skated the 1:15 FS at Chandler for patch practice today.  No lesson as Danette has a conflict today.

I warmed up with edges, then spent some quality time on FO8, FI8, BO8, and BI8.  The FO8.... is weak.  I'm not making it around the circle and I feel like I'm not on a good edge.  The others were pretty decent, even the BI8 (small circles, but good flow).

After that I spent some time on FO3s. Yuck.  I really need to work on these with Danette as they are really bad.  Similar to my efforts with Holly but it's entirely different in patch blades.  Eep.

Perseverance

Since I was off from school today I got to skate the Chandler Ice Cafe!  Ice was so beautiful!  6 skaters.

I ran through perimeter XOs, BXOs to BO edges and circle-8.   Wow, circle-8 was so much better on clean ice than yesterday on crappy ice!  Whee!

I worked a bunch on FO3s, almost all on the LFO3.  Alas for some reason I couldn't make myself hold that entry longer like I did yesterday with Holly.  Yesterday I had a nice rhythm of push, tuck the free foot in, rotate arms, the bend and snap the turn and hollllld the exit.  Today there was push and tuck, but then rotate arms and bend and snap were all together, and therefore rushed.  Ugh.  Granted, the turns weren't awful, and I was able to hold the exit okay, but they didn't have the control I want.  Grr.

I finished up with a really nice waltz jump and some salchows (last was nice).

Plugging Away

 My lesson with Holly on the Gilbert 8:45 a.m. FS.  Ice was a bit used.... but just me!

I warmed up with circle-8, perimeter XOs, and BXOs to BO edges.

For today's lesson we continued working through the FO3s.  LFO3s are looking pretty good.  RFO3 still some issues with keeping the free hip up & back after the turn; and I still can't do this turn without Holly at least touching my hand.  Silly, I know, but there it is.

We also briefly worked on putting the LFO3 in the context of the power-3s, so, LFO3 - glide - push to RBI & crossover.  This actually was relatively okay.

B8s

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler 1:15 FS.  Beautiful fresh ice, 4 skaters.  I just had time to scribe circles before my lesson.

Today's lesson:

• edges -- FO were not so good, so I did them again.  The rest were pretty good.
• BO8 -- mm.  Push is still lacking.  I'm currently trying to keep the free leg close and not be in 'landing position'; I can kind of do this on the LBO, but not on the RBO.  Urph. Everything works much better when I manage that as I'm not fighting rotation so much the last half of the circle.
• BI8 -- eep.  I was really struggling to stay upright over my skate on the RBI; I keep feeling like I'm collapsing into the circle and I struggle to stand upright and it's really hard.  The LBI is much easier.  I don't know why this is; Danette pointed out that I don't have this problem on the BI edges, which is really something to think about.

In general I feel like I'm somewhat maintaining my skills.  I really need more ice time!

FO3s & Jumps

 My lesson with Holly on the Gilbert 8:45 a.m. FS.  Ice was.... used, lol.  Private ice though!

I warmed up with stroking, some slaloms and then perimeter XOs and circle-8.  The circle-8 is not happening, at least not today.  Of course the ice was pretty crappy but that really shouldn't matter. Ugh.

Today's lesson:

• FO3s -- most of our time today.  We ran through the LFO3 and got them back to being good.  It took less time than our last lesson two weeks ago, so that's a positive.  Then a bunch of time on the RFO3.  The good news is that these are now really nice!  The bad news is that I still can't make myself do them unless Holly is at least touching my hand.  Silly, eh?  That's skating!  We're all mental...
• jumps -- just 5 minutes on these.  A couple of waltz jumps, a few salchows until I got a good one, and then some toe loops down the line.  Eeep.  I'm just not bringing my feet together :-(.

Edges & 8s

 My figures lesson on the Chandler 8:30 a.m. FS (schedule change for Danette, just this week).  No warmup, we just started off.

Today's lesson:

• edges -- FO were a bit wonky so we did them twice.  FIs were nice.  BO and BI both pretty good :-)
• FO8 -- eep.  I seem to not remember to hold that shoulder back on the RFO until the second circle, practically all the time.  Was not making it around the RFO circle at first but it got better.  LFO generally okay.
• FI8 -- generally pretty good.
• BO8 -- good flow, but circles were not well-formed and I was having issues finding my center.  Ugh.