Serpentines

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler adult skate.  I scribed circles and warmed up with edges.

Today's lesson:

• Serpentines! -- I wanted to work on something different and we had not tried these in forever, so I gave it a go.  I scribed an extra circle and we had at it.  The good news is that it wasn't much worse than everything else at this point.  The bad news is that it wasn't any better either.  I've never been able to do a whole circle and a half on one push but it's much worse now than it was a few years ago.  Geez.  I used to be worried about the change of edge taking too long, now I'm just trying to make it happen.  Frustrating.

F8s

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler adult skate - a different day due to Danette's travel.  Okay ice, 6 skaters.  I scribed circles and warmed up with edges.  

Today's lesson:

• FO8 -- about 2/3 of the lesson. Still working on posture. Improvement but it's still very inconsistent and I'm still not making it around the circle.  Still, for skating 1 day a week this is what I get.
• FI8 -- not surprisingly, rather better than FO. Still need a better push, but the position is better.

3s

 My figures lesson with Danette on the Chandler adult skate.  Nice ice and 5 skaters.  I warmed up with edges, but didn't scribe circles.

Today's lesson was spent on 3s, both on the crease and against the wall.  Other than my usual issue with forcing/rushing the turn ('push & turn') the other issue that we spent a lot of time on is getting me to turn more into the circle (more twist) and then to fix my timing on the down-up-down.  Apparently I'm turning while I'm still down and then rising up right after (which explains why everything is forced, duh).

I'm really verklempt on this.  My 3s have never been great but they have really regressed and are even a little scary now.  Geez.  

Posture

 My lesson with Danette on the Chandler adult freeskate.  Nice ice.  I warmed up with edges & scribed circles.

Today's lesson:

• BO8 -- we worked on posture, again (still).  Still not making it around the circle -- how did I ever compete these? Ugh. The subsequent pushes have improved, though, I'm doing a better job of bending the knees and really feeling the push.
• BI8 -- just a few minutes on these.  Lately I seem to have trouble remembering which way my arms are supposed to go -- I think it's because Danette's really working to make me actually look where I'm supposed to on these and it mixes me up.  Ugh.