Early Morning Lesson .. Yawn

This morning I had a lesson - rescheduled due to a hockey tournament during my regular time.  I am not a morning person! Of course I was late and it cut into 10 minutes of my lesson, but I still had 20 minutes of helpful coaching!

Big factors I need to work on is POSTURE, UPPER BODY CARRIAGE, SKATING INTO THE ICE AND THREE TURN CONTROL.

Meanwhile over at Chandler Ice Den ...

Today I finally had another chance to skate at Chandler Ice Den.  This is the rink I thought I would skating at more often.  It’s slightly farther away but considerably warmer - as you will see by my ability to strip down to a tee shirt after getting fully warmed up.

It was imperative that I skated today because I have another lesson tomorrow.  I was pretty tired during practice but forced myself to really practice the Hickory Hoedown 4-5 times and I even got my RinkMusic fob to work so I could make a few runs with music.

Dance is really interesting.  On the surface I will admit it sometimes seems boring, skating round and round in specific patterns.  But trying to hold your upper body in dance frame and getting your edges right and proper extension and the correct steps is not easy.  And to anyone who tests or competes in the solo dance series .. hats off to you.  I think it’s really hard to dance alone.  I prefer leaning on a partner!

Today’s video is a bit long.  I tried going through my Moves in the Field and even spit out a few spirals, a waltz jump and a scratch spin at then end of the session.

Another Ice Dance Lesson

My 2nd lesson with Sue Burdick.  Going over the Hickory Hoedown steps and pattern as well as the Willow Waltz.  I would much rather be learning these dances along with a dance partner but until I meet MR RIGHT - I will have to dance alone and test with a coach as a partner.  I’m really not interested in the solo dance testing or competition.  I just don’t think I will ever be able to carry myself well enough alone.

My takeaway from this lesson - especially after seeing the video is I really need to work on my extension and holding a frame position in my upper body.

A New Chapter

Today I started lessons with a new coach in Arizona for ice dance and MIF; Sue Burdick.  We touched on the Hickory Hoedown and she thinks I should test this dance in March!  I think I have a long way to go.

Gilbert AZ Ice Friday

After 9 holes of golf ... I bugged out early to go skate the adult session at AZ Ice Gilbert.  This rink is closer to my winter home .. but alas... it’s as cold as my rink up in Spokane.  I prefer to be warmer, but the skaters are really friendly here and the adult session is 90 minutes for just $7.

Loving Ice Cafe

I’m really enjoying my new rinks offering of “Ice Cafe” - Adult only session.  It’s a quiet session - un intimidating for me while I try to get my feet back under me.  They allow us to skate freestyle (or hockey as you can see), play our own music over the iPod or Rink fobs ... all for $10 for 90 minutes.

Today I was working on basics - my knee is not happy when I try to leave the ice.  I need to get some weight off and build up some pain tolerance in my R knee.

Dusting Off The Cob Webs in Arizona

New Chapter for my skating.  I’m in a new city and a new rink.  Minus my pair partner and my dance partner and without a coach as of yet.

This is it.  This is 60.  Other than a few additional discounts I may now be entitled to ... 60 sucks from a skating perspective!  Returning to skating after THIS hiatus will be long, slow and gentle.

No real goals yet except weight loss, working of flexibility and conditioning this creaky old body of mine.   Not even sure what discipline I will devote my skating to.

Today I skated at the Ice Den Chandler during Ice Cafe.  A 90 minute adult session.

Happy Thanksgiving - Grateful to be back on the ice.

Title Change... Figure Skating over 60

It’s official - tomorrow I turn 60.  It marks 10 years since returning to figure skating.  And really 3 years since I stopped working toward a test or competition.  Tomorrow I’ll wake up as a 60 year old with a pair of ice skates - out of shape again and out of touch with everything surrounding the rules and requirements for my age/skill classification.  There have been some big changes in adult figure skating since I stopped skating regularly.

I have a few obligations and travel plans between now and mid November, which is when I hope to return to the ice to see how forgiving it is.  Free skating, dance, pairs, testing ??? Who knows.  Till then good bye from me in my 50’s.  It was fun.

Felt Like Old Times

I had a chance to skate a public session with Hank last week.  We had fun trying to do a few things we could do together.  Not sure when or if we will ever get serious about it again.

Home Again Coffee Club

It’s been two months since I skated at my home rink in Spokane.  I showed up this morning at Adult Drop In Coffee Club.  Our regular coach Kim was away so she had one of our figure skating club’s alumni skaters stand in for her.  I didn’t get on the ice till the last few minutes so all I had time for was a little stroking lesson.

I’m skating pretty slow and cautiously right now.  I spent about 30 minutes working on the Hickory Hoedown Bronze Ice Dance - off camera before capturing a few of my last minutes.

My weight is really making it hard for me to do freestyle.  I need to shed 20lbs - perhaps getting on the ice more regularly will help hand in hand with that.