Perimeter XOs & FO3s

 My lesson with Holly on the 9:15 FS at Gilbert.  Ice was decent and I had it all to myself!  I had the usual brief warmup -- stroking, circle-8 (actually pretty good) and then a lap of perimeter XOs.

Today's lesson:

• perimeter XOs -- Holly wanted to spend more time on these.  Mostly we focused on improving the fidelity to the pattern.  These are actually a lot better.
• LFO3s -- we worked on these on the crease and also in the power-3 pattern.  Urph.  Getting me to do them in a controlled manner in the power-3 pattern is a struggle.  And, getting me to do the subsequent FO3 is also a struggle.  Geez.

Thank goodness, I'm almost done with school for the semester, so I should have more time to skate in a couple of weeks.  Yay!

Edges & FO8

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler 1:15 FS.  Beautiful ice and just 2 skaters.  I scribed circles and warmed up with edges.

Today's lesson:

• edges -- we spent a bunch of time working on my FO edges especially, trying to fix my issues with the LFO lobe being too large and not on a good edge.  We made some good progress.  Some similar fixes on the BO edges to make the lobe sizes even between the two sides and to lean into the circle more.  FI and BI were pretty decent.
• FO8 -- just a few minutes on these, mostly focusing on posture.  Eeep.  On the positive side I think the push has improved.

Jumps

 My lesson with Holly on the 9:15 FS at Gilbert.

I had an abbreviated warmup since the 9 a.m. ice cut didn't start til 9:10.  I got on the ice at 9:21 and my lesson started about 9:30.  I warmed up with stroking and did a circle-8.  I made it around!

For today's lesson we worked on jumps.  First a bunch of waltz jumps; the first ones were pretty bad, mostly I couldn't hold the landing as I was either not checking or leaning outside the circle.  Ugh.  We finally mostly fixed that, and went on to salchow.  I had to remind myself how to do this jump as I literally couldn't remember for a couple minutes -- geez!  Anyway a couple of bad ones and then one that was... almost okay.  Eeep.

Serpentines

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler 1:15 FS.  Beautiful ice and just 3 skaters.  I warmed up with edges and scribed circles.

For today's lesson we worked on serpentines.  Ugh!  So much to fix here.  My posture is horrible, and I need to work on the change of edge to be faster and smoother.  And of course my push is totally inadequate to take me through 1.5 circles with a change of edge.  Uck.

Moves

 My lesson with Holly on the 9:15 a.m. FS at Gilbert.  I only got a short warmup in before they decided to THEN do the ice cut they should have done at 9 (apparently they were fixing the Zamboni).

I finally got on the ice with Holly at... 9:35?  Something like that.  Private ice and obviously fresh.

Today's lesson:

• circle-8 -- I couldn't make it around the first circle (LFO) so I had to push.  After that it was okay.  We worked on the push a little more after that and it was better.  Considering I'd not skated much it was probably that.
• perimeter XOs -- once through the pattern. Woo!  This was the best I've ever done these, I think.  I had good flow and speed, and on the BXOs I worked to be on one foot more and to be on a more obvious BI edge.  I was really happy with these.
• 3s/power-3s -- we worked these briefly on the crease, then in the pattern, just the LFO3.  The step forward has really improved, I don't know why.  That said, I still have mental issues getting myself to do the subsequent 3s. Ack.  

All in all a pretty good lesson, actually.

8s

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler 1:15 FS.  Beautiful ice and just 2 skaters. I scribed circles and warmed up with edges.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 -- Other than the very first RFO these were really nice!  Good flow and posture was better.  I do need to work on bit on getting a better edge at the beginning of the circle.
• FI8  -- Pretty good. 
• BO8 -- We used the stick on these again.  It's really hard for me to hold my L shoulder back on the LBO.  Eeep.  Flow was okay but posture/position needs a lot of work.

The Stick

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler 1:15 FS.  Nice ice, just 3 skaters.

I warmed up with edges and scribed circles.  My FO edges were ucky so I did them again.

Today's lesson:

• FO3s -- For today's lesson, Danette brought her hockey stick and we used that to work on FO3s.  Ugh.  I just really don't want to twist into the circle enough.  I can do them okay when she's holding the stick, but when I just hold it myself, I don't want to turn in enough.  This is all mental, and it drives me bonkers.
• Waltz-8 -- after the FO3s we went on to work on the waltz-8.  Beside the wonky 3s, we still need to fix my step forward.  My posture quickly reverted to 'old Gordon'.  Ugh.  Lots to do here.