Saturday, July 30, 2016

"Post" Traumatic Stress Disorder

Between my busy summer schedule and toying with a new Go Pro camera - add some company at home ... result .. I have not had time to properly take/edit/post my skating videos lately.

A while back I decided I was probably posting too many long videos of really repetitious things -
but I have not turned the corner yet on honing my editing skills.

Seriously .. I just put the camera on the boards and get what I get.

Anyway, today we skated in the morning and had a great pairs lesson - with a complete program run with all the lifts and jumps - but alas the battery on my camera failed and all I got was a snippet of practice.


Friday, July 29, 2016

Dancin' Fridays

I think we have a "passing" Rhythm Blues for my upcoming test.  It's not perfect by any means, but unless I totally forget the steps - I am feeling confident about it.

The next dance - the first of the Pre-Bronze dances is the Swing Dance.  It's not that hard on paper..
But on the ice.. Especially at the end pattern I get a little off.  I need much more quietness in my upper body and MORE LEG EXTENSION.  Deeper edges too!  I like the feel of the dance, especially during the Chasses.


Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Just an Illusion

Just a short clip of something I tried the other day.  I need to practice getting more of a straight line from fingertip to toe pick on the Illusion.  As for the scratch spin... Stop this ride... I want to get off!


Friday, July 22, 2016

Coffee and a Sweet Roll?

Yawn, stretch ...  NO .... Chassé and Swing Roll.

That's right.  It's Friday morning.  Grumpy Maxine is back on the ice doing her best to learn how to ice dance before her second cup of joe!


Thursday, July 21, 2016

Pairs Program Progress

It's hard to see but we are making progress.  Despite very little off ice practice and only skating 1-2 times per week.  Getting close to crunch time!

GoPro Camera Test

Well, I got a new GoPro Hero4 Session camera and I am trying it out on the boards.  I don't think this camera was meant to shoot anything too far away nor in low light.  I am still figuring out what it can and cannot do.




Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Flying Camel Day

Still piecing my program together with zero stamina... I guess I'm making progress on the flying camel since I'm see-sawing less and getting 2 revs... I am hoping for 3.

Our pairs coach Chris Anders was on the ice toward the end of the session doing some nice jumps!!!





Pairs lesson afterwards...


Friday, July 15, 2016

Rhythm Blues and Swing Dance Practice

Friday morning ice dance practice with Mike.  The R n B dance is coming along.  I am still confused about the end pattern of the Swing Dance.  It just doesn't feel natural yet.  We'll get it.


Thursday, July 14, 2016

Singles Practice

Long overdue.. A session dedicated to my free skate.  I haven't seen my choreographer or main coach in a month --- since my meltdown at my last lesson.  Trying to lay out the framework of my new program on my own and let them tweek it afterwards.  It will save me a lot of money and frustration.

I'm currently working on the opening through the 1/2 way point.  The planned program content I sent into the competition says:

StSq
1F+1Lo+1T
1Lz+1T
FCCoSp

... In plain English that means:

Step Sequence
Single Flip jump + Single Loop jump + Single Toe Loop combination jump with 3 jumps
Single Lutz jump + Single Toe Loop combination jump with 2 jumps
Flying Change of foot spin (Flying camel + Forward Sit or Broken leg sit... I haven't decided)

Looks good on paper right?

Here's how it's unfolding on the ice:




Hanky Panky....

... Translation:   Pairs practice!

We are working hard to get some stamina and cohesivenes back.  Crowded sessions don't help!
No program runs today since we are on a public session.

Everything looks off.  We need work on fundamentals.  Timing, upper body position, arms - sigh... So much to improve on.


Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Vacation Remorse!

Just back from 3 weeks of family vacations, traveling and ... Well for lack of a better word gluttony.  Excess eating and drinking and not nearly enough exercise.  A few bike rides, a little paddling in a kayak, some dancing - but the family dinners all included dessert and the BBQ ribs in Memphis... Well, let's just say ... I didn't stick to my diet!

Anyway.  Had a double-header back on the ice Tuesday.  Pretty wobbly and out of condition, I skated pairs and ice dance right after.

Hank and I tried to skate, but we looses what little synchronicity we have when we take time off.  I'm sure it will come together in the coming weeks.  We are officially 7 weeks from competition in Vancouver at the ISU International Adult Skating Competiton Aug 28 - Sep 3.  There are only 4 competitors/teams in our event.

Here's what happened today when we tried to do a program run!  It wasn't pretty!




After that Mike and I did some dance practice and we worked on the Rhythm Blues and Swing Dance.  This was my first try at Swingl Dance.


Im on my last legs here…

 I just can’t turn the corner on these dances.  One pattern looks about as good as I can do it, but two patterns I make too many mistakes. M...