Warm Ups On A Sad Day

Before I left for the rink I heard briefly about a school shooting.  It wasn't until I got in the car and was headed to the rink that I heard the unbelievable early details of the elementary school shooting in Connecticut today.

I proceeded to the rink to try and skate, but my emotional state left me weak and sick to my stomach and I didn't get much practice in other than the raw footage you see below.   Senseless.

Center Ice Practice

No progress today.  I practiced a lot of stroking and Moves In The Field off camera.  Due to the number of people skating today I only taped from the center ice.

Working on Three Turns for the Silver Moves In The Field.  My posture is terrible.  I really need a lesson.  Perhaps next week.  I would really like to take the Silver MIF test in January.

Really excited that my ballet barre arrived the other day.  I am going to dedicate an extra bedroom to a warm up and stretching studio.

No Video This Week

Another week with barely any ice time.  I skated on Tuesday for part of a public session, but the ice was crowded with a class of learn-to-skate toddlers and I couldn't leave my phone resting on the rails.

I did see my skating friend Jill who is bravely skating at 76 years young!  Another helmet wearer.  I suppose if I am still alive and skating at 76 I too will wear a helmet at that point!  She skates very gracefully and loves to practice figure eights.  She used to skate with Holiday On Ice (circa 1958).

Today I went to the rink to watch some of the girls from the Lilac Figure Skating Club test.  There was one younger adult who tested Intermediate and passed.  I overheard she was judged on the "standard track" and not on the "adult track".  She was very pleased indeed.  I watched the young girls testing Pre-Juvenile on the standard track.  Those moves bear the closest resemblance to my next test which will be Adult Silver Moves In The Field.  Hopefully I can shoot for January 2013.

Adult Silver Moves in the Test

1. Eight-step mohawk sequence

The skater will perform two eight-step mohawk sequences counterclockwise. The step order is: Forward crossover into a LFO mohawk, followed by LBI, RBO,
LBI cross forward and RFI. The skater should maintain a march cadence (one beat per step). Between the circles is a two-beat left foot transition. The sequence is then repeated twice in the opposite direction. Introductory steps are optional. This move may start in either direction. Focus: Quickness, continuous flow and strength

2. Forward and backward free skate cross strokes

The skater will perform free skate cross strokes the length of the ice surface.
Forward cross strokes will be skated for one length of the rink and backward
cross strokes skated for the second length of the rink. Introductory steps and end
patterns are optional. This move may start on either foot. Focus: Continuous flow and strength

3. FO-BI three-turns in the field

The skater will perform forward three-turns alternating to backward three-turns covering the length of the rink. One length of the rink will start with RFO-LBI three-turns. On the second length of the rink, the skater will perform LFO-RBI three-turns. The end sequence and the choice of introductory steps are optional. This move may start on either foot. Focus: Edge quality

4. FI-BO three-turns in the field

On the first length of the rink the skater will perform RFI-LBO three-turns.
On the second length of the rink the skater will perform LFI RBO three-turns. Introductory steps and end sequence are optional. This move may start on either foot. Focus: Edge quality

5. Consecutive outside and inside spirals

The skater will perform right foot and left foot spirals. The outside edge spirals
will be skated for the first length of the rink. Forward crossovers may be utilized
(optional) around the end of the rink. Forward inside edge spirals will be skated
for the second length of the rink. The exact number of spirals will depend on the
size of the rink and the strength of the skater, however a minimum of four spirals
down each length of the rink must be skated. The extended leg in the spiral should
be held at hip level or higher. Introductory steps are optional. Focus: Extension and edge quality

Adult Silver Moves in the Test (cont’d)

6. Forward and backward power change of edge pulls

The skater will perform consecutive power change of edge pulls — FIO to FOI — for the full length of the rink followed by backward change of edge pulls — BOI to BIO — for the second full length of the rink. The skater will change feet at the center of the rink. Introductory steps and end sequence are optional. This move may start on either foot. Focus: Continuous flow and strength