Going For Gold

Working on the Gold MIF is going to be a longer process than I anticipated when I started this year.  I really don’t want to fail the test when I take it.  Thus far, I have not failed a test so I will continue to work on these moves until I am good and ready.  Today was my first lesson with my new coach Randy Clark on the power circles and the brackets in the field.

Coffee Club with Randy Clark

Nothing makes me happier than to see 10 grown adults on a sheet of ice enjoying themselves and trying to improve their skills.  We had a great session today with 10 skaters including a newcomer who is just learning to skate and 3 skaters from Coeur d’ alene who came to skate with us AFTER skating their early morning session at their rink.

Randy Clark was our guest coach.  He is my new personal coach as well and while I have to say it’s always an adjustment getting used to each other, new styles and techniques, etc.  I think I will make some progress if I stick to it.

Pairs Lesson ..

Meh....   I wish this showed more progress than remedial skating....

Three Turn Hell

Another lesson with my new coach Randy Clark.  I feel like I am in THREE TURN HELL.
I have done this pattern and thought.. oh I can clean this up in no time.  NOT.

I am relearning how to do my edges and three turns.  Hopefully when I am done it will have some effect on my jump entries as well.

Ice Dance Lessons with Chris Obzansky

I had an opportunity to fly to Seattle and take 2 one hour lessons with Chris Obzansky.  We worked on all three of the Bronze Ice Dances.  Chris is a great coach.  Very easy to learn with .. patient and makes very good use of lesson time.  Can’t wait for the next lesson tomorrow.




And here is lesson #2

Busy Friday - Lesson - Pairs - Coffee Club

I’ll put these up as they are finished editing.

1) Short pairs practice on Coffee Club ice before the group lesson


2) Coffee Club

3) Lesson on Moves in the Field

Three Turn Dilemma

It seems just about every aspect of my skating is going through a rocky period.  I’m not sure how to get back on track except to keep skating, taking lessons and following the advice of my coach.

I went out today alone to practice moves in the field but the three turn lesson I had last Friday has me over-thinking everything and feeling as though I am starting anew.

After a bit I just took off my skates and swapped them out for my figure skates - with figure blades to try and force myself to get on the edges while keeping on top of my blade.. You’ll see the result!

Pairs ... Practice ... sort of

Hank and I had a short practice before a lesson .. which didn’t go so well today, so I didn’t capture it.
We are struggling to continue skating together for a myriad of reason right now.

Here’s what we did do...

First Lesson New Coach

My coach for the past five years has taken on a “regular” job and is spending less and less time at the rink.  So now I am in the awkward position of looking for a new singles and moves in the field coach.

... and the winner is:  Randy Clark.  Randy is one of our most senior coaches at the club and coaches everything from learn to skate through senior level skaters, many of which he has taken to Sectionals and Nationals and I believe even Jr. Worlds ... don’t fact check me.

Today’s first lesson was only 15 minutes but right away I can see I will have my work cut out for me.
Trying to teach this old dog new tricks .. or really OLD TRICKS done properly!

First on the long list of things needing fixing before I can .. move on are my Three Turns.  If you look at the ice to see my tracing ... it’s a three turn.... but my tense upper body is keeping them from being smooth turns.   After this first lesson, here is my bullet list of things to work on:

1. Staying on blended knee but not rising and falling in each turn (or hopping)
2. Not bending or breaking at the waist after the turn 
3. Keeping my foot toe to heel to start
4. Learning and remembering the sequence of 
1. checking the arms after the turn
2. passing the arms close to the body
3. then turning head while passing the free foot through
5. Checking with free hand in line with opposite hip

Something tells me this means I won’t be testing my Gold Moves In The Field .. any time soon!

Easing Back Into Pairs

After Tuesdays lesson we tried to practice a few of the new things we worked on during the lesson.
It’s going to be a slow climb back ....  Still loving it.