Pairs Reunion with Hank Landis

 Hank was in town for a family wedding this week and we were able to find a day to get together and skate a session.  It’s been 10 years since we competed together at the ISU Adult International Skating Competition in Vancouver BC.  10 years!  We’re aren’t getting any younger and neither of us has skated much this year.  I’ve only been ice dancing and he skates about 5 x a year now.  We couldn’t do much but we had fun trying!

New Beginnings - Skating Skills with Denae Raught

 No I’m not done with ice dancing, but I do want to get back to working on that coveted Gold Medalist Jacket which I can only achieve by passing all the Gold Level Tests in either Ice Dance, Skating Skills or Free Skating.  

* Ice Dance:  A long long way off.  I still have to test my final Pre-Gold Test and pass it before I start working on my Gold Level Dances of which there are 4.  These dances are no picnic.  I’d say I will be 2-3 years working on them and I may never pass them.

* Free Skating:  Nope never.  Not gonna happen.  Pre-requisite Must pass Gold Skating Skills first AND then produce a 2:50 program with a ton of jumps and spins - - I think that ship has sailed.

* Skating Skills: Working on it.  I know all the patterns and I can do all the steps and turns in small batches but putting an entire test down without a real break for a live or virtual test .. I’m a long way off and my “skills” are not worth of a gold medal .. yet. 

 But here’s the start of my quest: (ps pretty boring unless you yourself are working on these.  I keep all the footage so I can remember my lessons.)

Long Time NO SKATE! Back on the Ice. First Lesson New Coach!

 It’s been a hot minute.  Actually it’s been since Aug 11-12.  Prior to that my last skate - and virtual dance test day was May 13th.  That is a long long time to be off ice.  I guess my life has evolved to part time skating during the winter months when I am living in the East Valley of Arizona.  My summers in the the Arizona mountains precludes me from skating since there are no rinks nearby.

I’m back now and starting a new chapter of skating.  I’m 67 now.  I think I have decided I don’t want to compete, but keep working on skating skills (moves in the field) and ice dance (partnered).  Beyond that I can’t see or predict the future.

My new/old coach Todd Gilles will take the reins in the ice dance department.  Today we had our first lesson on the Starlight Waltz.  It went pretty good.  I didn’t fall and we were able to address all the sections of the Startlight in our first 45 min lesson.  One new thing is on step 17 the 6 beat RBO edge after the Mohawk - Todd likes to do a decorative double leg lift - big then small.  That will take some getting used to.

Summer Skate Adult Freestyle Session

 I’m in town for a few days before launching on a motorhome trip to Canada and decided to sneak in a session in Chandler.  Love this rink and the bright clean ice cuts, warmer temps and mid-day sessions.

After 2 months off ice it was pretty scary getting on the ice.  I worked on skating skills (moves-in-the-field) for 1/2 the session and did some freestyle toward the end.  The skating skills were pretty boring to look at so I condensed the video and pulled the longer one from youtube.  I’ll post more in the fall when I get back to skating a few days a week … find a new coach and start working on them.

Still Off Ice But Trying To Stay Active

 I don’t expect to see any ice until maybe August in Sun Valley Idaho during our summer RV trip.  Meanwhile I am trying to do something new, challenging and that will keep my on my toes … literally.

Here in Pinetop Arizona there is no ice rink, but there is a dance studio.  I signed up for an intro pass for 2 weeks and took Adult Ballet and Adult Tap.  While both classes are beginner levels, there are several ladies in both

classes who have quite a bit of experience.  I have taken a few ballet classes before so I’m vaguely familiar with a few of the steps and positions.  Tap on the other hand is 100% new to me.  I’m using shoes that belonged to my son .. now nearly 40 who danced in his pre-teen years.  I’ve kept his shoes and they just happen to fit me!   Well.. almost.  They are maybe 1/2-1 size too big.  

The studio White Mountain Dance Studio is really great.  The instructors/owners are super nice and welcoming.  So far I have taken about 6 classes 2 of each dance discipline plus 2 Barre Fit classes which are great for the core workout.

Unfortunately the studio will now allow me film my classes, or private lessons.  If I make any significant progress I’ll proudly post something, but this blog is really about skating.  Meanwhile this is a tap step combo she let me film that we are working on.

Pre Gold Ice Dance Test Results

I passed all three dances that we tested:  Blues - Kilian - Paso Doble.

May 13th was my final lesson with coach Vitali.  It was DO or DIE.  I brought my loving husband to the rink to record what I thought would be 1 virtual test:  The Blues.  

Instead we ended up skating 3 tests:  Blues, Kilian and Paso Doble.  We had never even skated a full test pattern of the Kilian in my lessons.. ever.  Paso Doble maybe once.  

After review of the dances we felt I had a chance at a pass since I’m testing 50+ which allows a little more leniency, but honestly I did not expect to pass all three.  It goes without saying “I wish I skated better” 

But time was ticking.  My coach is moving to Texas where he and his wife will be coaching at the Children’s Health StarCenter Multisport in Northlake TX.   

Without further ado - I present - my best effort after a solid year of working on these dances and received 3 passes by all three judges.

The final dance of this level is the Starlight Waltz.  It will have to wait for another day.. and sadly another coach.    

Thank you Vitali for all your patience and support over the past 4 years.

 

Virtual Test Day

Pass or Fail I am really proud of myself today.  I put on my big girl dress and pushed myself to my limit and somehow managed to lay down 3 of the 4 Pre-Gold Ice Dances on video today to submit to the judges.  The video I am uploading today are not the official submission videos - parts of all the dances are off camera in the corners.

I will post all three actual videos when the results come in in a few weeks time.  Meanwhile 🤞 🤞🤞.

No So HIGH Hopes Anymore

 Today was my real last full day of lesson/practice toward these Pre-Gold Dances before I leave for vacation and lose my coach forever.  I would HATE the idea of of starting over with another coach.  Picking up the pieces again, but it looks like that is what is going to happen.

We aim to record the dances tomorrow as though we are testing.  I’ll post anything we don’t submit - otherwise I will wait to see the results in due time.

Final 3 Days with Coach Vitali

Unexpected end to my ice dance season.  We booked a last minute Alaska cruise - leaving this Friday and won’t return until after Memorial Day - Which is also the beginning of my summer travel season.  Living in Arizona the heat is unbearable in the summer months so we head to the Arizona mountains to escape.  That means no real skating for me during June-Sept .. sometimes longer.

I never thought I would make skating a part time seasonal thing, but I’ll be 67 when I get back this fall and I am losing my coach because he is moving away to Texas before I return.  There are dance coaches here but mostly female and/or they are a long travel distance for me.  I don’t know what I will do come fall.  

Meanwhile I have 3 days of lessons - 1 already gone.  2 more left to try and get one or all of my Pre-Gold Dances to a place where I can try and record them to submit for testing.  I’m sure we will try them all on Wednesday if I can get my husband to come record them.  But whether or not I can pull it off ????? I seriously doubt it.

So today is part 1 of 3 and probably my last skating post for a few months.  If I find some mid summer ice time - Maybe in August in Sun Valley I will make a full report!!!

I’m Back from Vacay!

One month off ice

Picked up a nasty RSV virus on the last few days of the cruise and I’ve been trying to get over that.

Took my chances today with a lesson - Glad I did.  I felt a little wobbly at first but we got through all the dances with some practice today.

First is the long version, 2nd is just the dances to music.