Snippets of Monday Morning Practice

 I ran my Gold MIF but none of them went very well.  It wasn’t worth recording.  Did some three turn practice in front of the camera - then my phone got knocked over and when it was reset .. it was out of focus.  A few Twizzles were captured in the blurry background.

Picking Apart My Twizzles and Three Turns

 I really struggle with balance on Twizzles and some Three turns .. especially inside controlled ones like in moves in the field.  I can do them in freestyle - like before a Toe Loop or if I choreograph one particular one into a program - it gets practiced over and over so I find the balance of it.

Obviously I am not practicing the moves in the field enough to find my balance on them.  I know what I am doing wrong YET I am (thus far) unable to take the words of my coach and correct the problem.

Problem:  Keeping my hips tucked under me.  Using enough ankle/knee bend to keep the edge with just my lower body.  I usually stick my butt out - which needs to be counter balanced so I then lurch my upper body forward some.  That makes the turn off balance and harder to check the exit edge. 

Simple right?  I know what’s wrong so just correct it!  I wish.

My Twizzles have the issue of turning into spins (too centered) or turning into loops (inside edge vs a traveling three turn).  Coach thinks part of the problem is in my entry arm position.  I tend to shoot both arms straight out in front of me… causing the same problem as above… off balance.  

Now we are trying more of a “sweet spot” approach to them.  We did a two foot spin test and used my arm position of that spin to gauge where that spot was and are trying to apply it to the Twizzles arm position.

Wednesday Lesson on the Hickory Hoedown & European Waltz (Solo)

We spent 2/3 of the hour today working on the Hickory Hoedown.  Still getting comfortable together on the end pattern - my three turn into back swing roll and his three turn into back swing roll.

After that we started into a step sequence that we plan to use in our Free Dance test program.

What Another 6:00 am Practice?

 I’ve had the grandkids this week so I had to squeeze in practice where I could even if it meant 6:00 a.m.

Have I mentioned I am not a morning person?  Nobody should skate before coffee should they?

My usual routine involves a few cups of coffee, a soak in the hot tub (yes I know it’s not recommended before exercise) and a few stretches off ice then on ice.

Today I was cold and stiff and my knees would not let me rise and fall into the turns.

Man I HATE Mornings!

 .. But you have to make sacrifices.  This is the only time we can squeeze in our lessons with coach Kendall.  

Today we each took our 20 minute separate lessons and then spent 20 minutes partnered.  We had our first lesson on the dance spin.

Misc Dance Practice Solo

 After my lesson Wednesday I stayed for an extra session - tried some moves in the field then did a few of my Pre Silver Dances in the solo mode .. although I have no intention of testing these alone if I don’t have to!

Worked on some Twizzles and turns then tried a few final spins before leaving the ice.

I have been really struggling with spins on the MK Dance blade.  Same rocker in theory as my MK Phantom FS blade but lacking of course the first big toe pick at the bottom.  I think I may be making baby steps of progress on them.

Moves I Ain’t Got

Practicing those pesky Gold Moves In The Field.  

They need some serious attention.  Especially the inside double three turns and the brackets.

The power circles need POWER.  From the first step to the last - all with POWER but increasing speed and circle size.

The double threes need more edge control and tidy feet.  I need to tuck my hips under me ~ pretty much for everything I do.  The inside double threes need some attention.  I have some great exercise for them but haven’t had enough ice time.

The backwards circle 8 is ok but needs better flow and especially the last edge = the LBI edge.  I always am misaligned and fall out of the circle or can’t continue the flow.

The brackets ..well… Plth.   They need work.  I know if I tuck my hips under me and keep neat feet without too much scissoring .. they will be cleaner.  Right now I can hardly do them without two - footing.

Lesson 2 Ice Dancing - with a partner

 Kendall LeClaire is working with my partner Mike and I for the summer.  By October we hope to test or compete somehow ~ depending on how things go.  Maybe a Bronze Partnered Free Dance or test. Finding both ice time and free time for us to practice is the only thing holding us back.  

Lesson 2 was really good.  It’s amazing how different skating with a partner at your level is compared to skating with a pro who anticipates all your faux pas’ and poor posture and skating skills.  

In Arizona when I skate with my coach Vitali Vakunov it is a totally different experience. Only one of us is learning.

When I skated pairs with Hank ~ it was similar to this; in that we had to spend a lot of time getting a feel for each other’s speed, edges and body language.  You know you’ve reached that point when you stop looking at each other’s feet!

Today we worked on stroking hand in hand, then in Kilian stroking and some Swing Rolls and Chassés then onto Progressives in Waltz hold.  We’re off to a great start.  

Tuesday Twizzles

Went for a badly needed practice session today.  No partner, just working on loosening up for tomorrow’s lesson early in the morning.  

The ice was unusually terrible today so I was cautious in my steps.  Did some warm ups and working on getting the cross rolls “dance style” vs free style.  I made a few attempts at my Pre Silver Dances .. some with overhead music and surprisingly (to myself) I did a full run of my free dance.  

My major issues right now are fatigue and knee pain and lack of confidence!

Back in the Saddle Again!

 On the ice with my previous dance partner Mike Otis.  He took me through the first 6 dances back in 2016 and 2017.  We have decided to spend some time this summer skating together and taking some partnering lessons with coach Kendall LeClaire.

Day 1:  Evaluate our current skills and see where we are at!  

My 20 minutes with coach Kendall was spent on fundamentals.  Stroking, cross rolls, swing rolls, progressives front and back.  My takeaway was finally figuring out how to set my foot down on the ice during cross rolls like an ice dancer vs a freestyler or someone doing moves in the field.  

I was busy practicing during Mike's 20 minutes so I didn't see what they worked on.  Once together we just reacquainted ourselves with stroking side by side in hand hold.  We needed some help with even that! I can stroke pretty good with my coach Vitali in Arizona but he keeps a pretty good lock in our dance positions which makes it easier.  Skating with 2 skaters vs a skater and a coach is more difficult.

We made some progress on the side by side skating and found out we did better in Kilian hold.

It was a great first lesson with Kendall.  Looking forward to more..