No Results Yet .. Monday Moving ON

 I hated skating today without knowing if we have to revisit the American Waltz.  Hopefully I will know this week.  Meanwhile… the Tango

American Waltz 50+ Test - - - - - Submitted and waiting for the results.

 I will update this page with the video we shot Monday and submitted this week once the results are back.

It wasn’t the best but I really hope it passes and that I never have to do that dance again for the rest of my life!!!  

Today I skated after the tragic news of the plane crash that took the lives of so my figure skaters, coaches and family of USFSA.  I felt sick but wanted to skate .. because I can.  The session was awkward.  The ice wasn’t that crowded but I couldn’t practice without running into skaters and coaches.  During my lesson we only had time to work on the Tango for like 15 minutes.

Also just heard that Dick Button passed away today at 95.  RIP Dick.  ❤️ 

Long Lesson Not Much Progress

Rink tag system out today.  Waiting to unplug a phone, plug a phone, start music - plus a few virtual tests on the ice today did not help make good use of my hour long lesson.  Monday the ice was awful - no cut in the morning so it was lumpy as hell.  Today this.  Aside from being a really cold rink this is another drawback to skating at Gilbert AZ Ice.  But this is where Vitali coaches - so I am kind of stuck.

2 Short Lessons This Week

 Here’s the first session - 30 minutes goes by so fast.  We left the American Waltz for last.

The plan is to try and virtually test the Tango this month.  

Happy New Year 2025!

New Years Resolutions set you up for failure ~  So I won’t list them too specifically.  

1. Lose weight

2. Skate more

3. Walk more

4. Read more

5. Play piano more

More of everything except #1.

Squeezed in 1 Last Lesson

Ok this is IT.  I normally skate on Thursday but why waste my money on New Years Day.

I won’t be fit to skate that day.. or get out of bed!

Hope this will be the last year I will be working on Silver Dances.  I’m giving myself until March 1 or I am giving up on them!

Goodbye 2024

It’s been a long year of trying to get these Silver Dances done but even living in AZ full time has not proved to be making  a difference.  I will have to set my sights for 2025… Maybe Valentines Day!

 

Im on my last legs here…

 I just can’t turn the corner on these dances.  One pattern looks about as good as I can do it, but two patterns I make too many mistakes.

Monday

Thursday

Short Practice Alone and Lesson Next Day

 My Christmas Program!  Ha ha.  Actually this was a practice dance session when NOTHING went well and I decided to do a Waltz jump and a spin and get the heck off the ice before I broke something!

Today I had my lesson after warming up alone for 20 min.  Wish I could just be done with these Silver Dances.

Dedicated to Coach Tony Howard

Today the skating world lost a treasure.  Tony Howard.  Tony .. or Coach Tony as I called him back in 1968 when I started skating.  Tony was my coach throughout my 3 years of childhood skating in Corte Madera, CA at Raydine's Ice Rink.  Tony taught me all the basics through single jumps as well as figures done on "patch" at O'Dark Thirty before our freestyle sessions.  He was firm but patient but would call you out for skating too stiffly or not pushing enough or extending your free leg .. all the way across the ice.  

After returning to the ice at age 52 and on a visit to the Bay Area in 2014 I was able to arrange a "reunion" of sorts at the rink in Oakland where, much to my surprise he was still coaching a few days a week in his 80's  We sat and chatted and reminisced about my brief childhood years of skating and afterwards he said .."well did you bring your skates?"  and he proceeded to give me an impromptu lesson from the boards.  I wish I had that video!  

After that we exchanged letters and Christmas cards several times and I really cherish them.  He was an artist too and asked me if he had ever drawn me one of his "Micky Mouse" drawings.  I couldn't remember if he had so he drew me a new one and sent it with a letter.  My heart melted.

Thank you Coach Tony for the gifts you gave so many on and off the ice.  We will never forget you.