Trifecta Week. 3 Days on Ice 3 Lessons

 Today I had the chance to try a partnering lesson with Vitali Vakunov.  Honestly I don’t know much about him but he’s from Belarus and he coaches at Arcadia normally.  My coach Naomi recommended I try a partner lesson with him.  Right now I travel to Scottsdale for my partnering lesson and Chandler Ice is closer. Vitali comes to Chandler on Thursdays.  

This lesson was such a workout as he likes to incorporate stroking and warmups into all his lessons both before and after you work on your pattern dances.  I like that a lot.  I really miss skating pairs with Hank.  Maybe we’ll be able to get back to some partnering on easy freestyle this summer... fingers crossed.

Adult Figure Skating Freestyle and a Dance Lesson

Wednesdays are starting to be my fav.  This is an adult session.  Usually it’s just figure skaters but today we had a hockey guy out there.  I was motivated to try a few long lost jumps and spins.... including a Flip jump which I have not done in ..um 2 years or longer.  I didn’t land it .. it’s two footed but I’m happy I didn’t “pop” out into a 1/2 Flip.

At the end of the session I had my dance lesson. I just love working with Naomi Lang.  She is so patient.  She put this Freedance together for me which I won’t be able to use for a while.  Hopefully this summer I can keep working on it - and somehow improve the edges and turns.

Adult Figure Skating Tuesday Dance Lesson

So Tuesday I had my partnering lesson with Todd Gilles.  We did some warm up stroking exercises before working on the Fourteen Step and the Foxtrot.  Tick tock ....I’m feeling sad that my weekly dance lessons are ending soon as it is nearly time to migrate north for the summer where I don’t have a coach.

Private Ice Wednesday!

 I just got lucky.  People no-showed.   I went to adult skate and had a lesson .  We worked on my free dance changing some of the steps at the end of the program.  On the following session - a dance session - I  was the only one on the ice.  My music didn’t play very loud so I have the volume turned up - but it also turned up the volume of my blades grinding into the ice.  Sounds pretty crude!

11 Days Off - Ice Cafe on Tuesday

 I decided to try the Tuesday Ice Cafe Sessions for my last month in Arizona.  It’s been 11 days since I skated as we had the grandkids here visiting.

I felt wobbly at first but was pleased to get through at least one pattern of each dance and even a full run of my free dance (missing a few steps and not quite doing some of the edges and turns properly ...) but a good walk through.

Choreography Part IV

 After taking 5 days off ice - it’s that Bambi feeling again.  Trying to get my legs under me with confidence.  My lesson today was to pick up where we left off and make a few changes to what was previously choreographed.  I’m skating too slow to put the right EM-PHA-SIS on the right SYL-LAB-LE.

Day 4 on Ice

This was my fourth day in a row skating this week- For most skaters this is the norm. For me it’s probably too much. We had a short lesson but made some progress on both dances.

Wednesday Practice Only

 I got to have my Wednesday lesson on Monday this week so today was just practice.  Badly needed practice however skating 3 days in a row... soon to be 4 tomorrow... is taking it’s toll on my 61 year old joints and muscles.

Today I tried to mostly focus on skating elements.  Stroking, edges, foot work, twizzles and I spent a few minutes attempting some spins as a need one for the end of my Free Dance... whew.  Those spins did me in.  I am out of practice.  I was not centered and really dizzy following the first one.  Once you get spin sick .. there is no recovering!

Monday Lesson and Tuesday Practice

 Monday I had a lesson instead of Wed due to a cancellation.  We did part IV of our choreography on the Free Dance.  As frustrating as it is to not be able to execute these moves to perfection.. it is the most fun process of learning a new program.  My coach Naomi is AMAZING.  She just thinks of these steps right off the top of her head.

Tuesday - is my normal golf day but my thumb sprain is keeping me from any sports with clubs or racquets in my left hand.