Well I never thought I would say this again, but I have entered a competition. My home club Lilac City Figure Skating Club is hosting the 2022 PCAS - Pacific Coast Adult Sectionals in March 2022.
I am most decidedly NOT in competitive shape nor am I expecting anything more than to show up and hopefully skate without falling.
My last competitive event was September 2016 at the ISU International Adult event in Vancouver WA. There I skated in the Silver Pairs and Silver Ladies III event.
Skating since then has taken a back seat to many other things. I keep posting my practice videos and blogging when I skate but there is no longer a learning curve .. seems more like a slow-but-steady decline in my skills.
Since taking up ice dancing I have come to learn that the discipline is WAY HARDER than one may think by looking at the pattern/compulsory dances. Putting those steps into the proper rhythm, using good extension, pointing toes and fingertips, good knee action, strong edges and turns and OMG TWIZZLES is not easy.
When I was free skating I could see progress and improvement but in ice dancing my thoughts of disappointment and self loathing are an everyday occurrence when I watch the playback of my skating.
Nevertheless, I continue. I do enjoy getting out there and trying and I am coming to grips with my age and body’s reconciliation with what it can and cant do. Some of it is a mental barrier for sure and I suppose if I wanted it bad enough I would work a little harder. More stretching, more gym time, doing things to build up stamina, etc .. but I don’t seem to be able to make the sacrifices necessary to do that.
So it is what it is … as they say.
What level has those two dances in it? I found it confusing when I looked at it, I wasn't sure which dances would be for my year and level, but I thought it was going to be European waltz if I did pre-silver (and I can't skate that pattern well by myself) and maybe ten fox and something else if I did bronze. At any rate, I'm going to be off the ice with family responsibilities for the rest of the month, and back on a week before Sectionals. So I'm only throwing out there my Christmas program as an 'emotional' program. But I will see you there, that will be cool.
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