FO8, Waltz-8

 My figures lesson with Lynne on the Chandler adult skate.  Nice ice and just 8 skaters.  I warmed up with edges and FO8 and scribed circles.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 -- most of our time on this.  Really working to improve the push and position.  It's funny how working with a different coach (even, in this case, one you've worked with before) can make things a bit different.  Anyway good progress on the RFO, not so much on the LFO.  I did figure out that a good LFO just doesn't feel the same as a good RFO to me, so I need to quit expecting it will.
• waltz-8 -- Ugh.  The 3s are still really stinky.  We made some progress on the step forward from the RBO.  Most of our time was on the L foot waltz-8, just a couple of times on the R foot.

3s, Spins, Jumps

 My lesson with Holly on the CCIC 12:50 split ice.  This is ice that's blocked off half for hockey and half for freestyle.  Not ideal, but my schedule is limiting me (it will get even worse next week when school starts).  On the positive side ice was pretty good and I had it to myself!

I warmed up with stroking.

Today's lesson:

• 3s -- most of our time on this.  Worked on the LFO3 and got it much better.  RFO3 not so much.  We worked these on the crease and I did practice going into another 3 as in the power 3 pattern.  Eeep.  It's all a mental block and I just need to get over it.
• spins -- I had not spun in weeks.  I did several bad ones and then a pretty good one!  
• jumps -- several waltz jumps of improving quality and then a pretty good salchow.  Yay!

So, this format is not ideal but as I said above, with school starting it's tough to schedule between school and, oh yes, my job.  Eeep.

FO8, FI8, Waltz-8

 My figures lesson on the Chandler adult skate; nice ice and just 7 skaters.  I had Coach Lynne today as Danette is out of town.  It was really nice to work with her again!

I had a good half-hour to warmup, I ran through edges and FO8 and scribed circles.

Today's lesson:

• FO8 -- meh.  Actually the flow on the RFO was pretty good, but I really struggled on the LFO. We worked a bit on getting me to really bend my knees more for the push (like, crazy bending :-) ) and that really did help.  Still some posture issues though.
• FI8 -- issues with the RFI, mostly posture.  We did make some progress, but I'm still getting to a point where I'm breaking at the waist.  Urph.  Also it feels like my upper body is rotating toward the end of the circle, I don't know if that's related to the posture issues or not.
• waltz-8 -- whoa.  I don't think I've worked on these in months, and they were pretty bad.  The FO3s are bad.  We worked a bit on the BO edge/step forward and actually did make some progress in getting me to TURN MY HEAD.  Geez.

All in all some good progress!

Preliminary Test

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler adult freestyle.  Beyootiful ice, 9 skaters.

I received word yesterday that the figures portion of the Sherwood Invitational is canceled.  This competition is an NQS competition this year and so ice time is at a premium.  There were also only 4 of us signed up.  I don't blame them, but I am sad.  Unfortunately I suspect it won't be coming back :-(.  We'll see.

I warmed up with all my edges.

Today's lesson:

• edges -- FO not so great.  The rest were okay.  We spent some time trying to neaten-up the B edges by actually holding the free foot in front longer and then just 'hinging' at the knee so that the free foot stays close on the 2nd half of the lobe.  No 'landing position' with the free leg extended.
• FO8 -- meh. Some issues with circle size and shape.
• FI8 -- Better than FO8.  Wasn't getting around the LFI, which is normally the better side.  Ugh.

Danette is out the next two lessons so I should have Lynne as visiting coach.  It will be nice to work with her again.

Patch Perseverance

 I skated the Chandler adult freestyle for patch practice.  Good ice, about 8 skaters.

I warmed up with edges and then spent most of my time on FI8.  It's improving but still too inconsistent.  For the most part I made it around okay but posture is still an issue.  Urph.

FI8, Still

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler adult skate.  Great ice but a bit crowded -- 10 or so skaters.  I warmed up with forward edges and scribed circles.

Today's lesson:

• back edges -- I have some issues with flats on the BO edges and Danette pointed out that I really need to hold the free foot in front more.  When I do that I'm on a better edge and then I'm also set up to just 'hinge' the free leg at the knee so I can move it without dropping the hip.  Duh!  The BI edges were pretty nice, actually.
• FI8 -- most of our lesson time.  We used my scribed circles and also stepped over a couple of times to get fresh ice.  The first push is better now, posture-wise.  I'm not doing a good job of holding the free shoulder back on the push to the LFI though.  Ugh.  That had me fighting rotation for a half circle and cost me a lot of flow.  Ugh.  Still, it's coming along.