FS 3/4

I had my ISI freestyle 3 test this week.  It's scored from 1-5, 5 being a pass... I scored 5's across the board on everything except my change-foot-spin.  Stupid. Change. Foot. Spin.  I scored a 4.  I knew I wasn't going to pass this week- I still have 3 more weeks to pass it... but even so, seeing the 4 still drove me to tears.  (Silly isn't it?)  I finally am consistently getting 2 rotations on the back spin, occasionally getting 3 rotations- what is throwing me off now is the going back forwards again.  Argh.

I honestly hate spinning, and I know that my hatred for spinning is what is now getting in the way of my getting better at it.  I actually have to stop, tell myself to stop hating it, and then try spinning without thinking about it.  And I get so frustrated so quickly with my spinning- I feel like I should be spinning better than I am.  Spinning is obviously not a good thing for a perfectionist to do!  Hah.  I can tell I'm getting better, and when I think about it, I know I'm getting better- but I'm not where I want to be with it, and that frustrates me.  I feel like I've been trying to perfect my spins for so long, though my coach tells me that's not true.  It feels like forever though, haha.  My one foot spin is starting to feel better- I don't hate it- I think it's because I spend so much time hating the change foot spin that the one foot spin is feeling more normal, lol.  Just wait until I start on the sit spin!!

In terms of the rest of FS3- the test was really easy.  My back spiral was the best it's ever been and felt really good.  My jumps (toe loop and salchow) weren't my best, but I hadn't been on the ice in nearly 2 weeks, so I was still happy with the pass.  I skated today and they were back at where they should be.  My back pivot is good... and the dance sequence- I finally started to get the hang of those outside mohawks.  So all in all, it was a good test- and I was recommended to sign up for FS 4 class.

In my private lessons, I've begun working on my loop and my flip jumps.  I like the flip jump- actually- I like all jumps, but I especially like the toe-assisted jumps.  They are very easy and natural to me- and I like flinging myself into the air.  Is that weird as an adult skater?  Not sure... but I've always enjoyed jumping.

We also have worked on back 3-turns... I hate 3-turns... but the back ones aren't as bad.  I'm hoping that this means that the FS4 footwork will be easier for me to master, since I hear it has back 3-turns.

I'm excited to keep progressing.  Although I wish I could abandon the spins and just focus on jumps, haha.  My goal is to learn my axel.  And actually I do want to learn the sit spin- it looks so much more fun than the regular spins.  It also seems more natural to me to spin and go down, than to spin and stay straight.  Probably just my weird brain though.

Anyways, it's a new year and I'm happy with how my skating is progressing over all.... though for the next few months, I won't be on the ice as much as usual (only 3 times a week rather than 5) because of my crazy schedule... the downfall of doing this sport as an adult... life keeps getting in the way!

So long for now.

Sick :-/

Unfortunately, I have not skated all week- it's my vacation, but I am sick, and can't skate.  :-/  I had a bad cold that turned into bronchitis... so no physical activity for awhile.  It sucks... I was looking forward to 2 weeks of non-stop skating.  So now, I have the worry that when I finally get back on the ice, I will suck completely and will have to start all over again with my spins.  Boo.  So no updates for awhile until I'm not sick anymore and back on the ice...

Happy Holidays

It's been awhile since my last post.  I've been crazy busy- we've entered the holiday season, which meant that at school, the kids were extra hyper and of course I've been sick off and on again.  Bah.

Skating wise, I had my first competition- it was a small in house ISI competition, but it was a lot of fun.  I competed at Freestyle 2 and skated a clean program.  My spin at the end was a bit shaky- out of all of the elements, spinning is the toughest for me.  But I came in first against the book, so that's pretty cool.  I probably won't have another competition again until the spring.  But for a first time out- I learned that I don't get nervous, I love having the ice to myself, and I love performing.  :-).  My coaches were pleased with my program and I'm excited to learn more.

I'm still in my freestyle 3 class- I'm repeating it because of that change foot spin.  Ugh.  I'm up to about 2.5 revolutions in my back spin when doing it by itself... have I mentioned that I hate spinning?  I love the jumps.  I am now learning the FS4 jumps- so I can do a loop and a flip (my flip is much better than my loop).  I like the toe assisted jumps- I'm partial to them, they seem easier for some reason.  I'm hoping to begin working on the sit spin- for some reason, I feel like it will be easier for me.  We will see.  I've had some back problems lately (thank you juvenile arthritis) and so I haven't worked on my jumps that much for the past week, only spins... which is good for the spins, but frustrating for me since I prefer jumping.

I'm still working on MIF- I'm ready to test the pre-bronze on the adult track, and will probably test pre-prelim the following month.  My spiral on my weaker side isn't up to snuff yet.  So I'm working on my flexibility.

I'm still pretty sick with a nasty cough, so I won't write more now... I'll try to update more regularly.

USFS testing begins!

One of the advantages of being an adult skater is that when you begin to work on USFS testing, you can actually test in two tracks (though you can only compete in one).  The standard track is the "kids track" for lack of better terminology- it's the one that the kids do in order to go to the olympics- which is what is most visible to non-skaters.  It starts with pre-preliminary, then preliminary, pre-juvenile, juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior, and finally ends in senior.  The adult track is much simpler: pre-bronze, bronze, silver, gold, masters (for people who have reached a certain level in the standard track and/or have finished lower level adult levels).  For adults over 21, the adult track is the one they will compete in.  When you test, you have to to test and pass moves in the field and then you can test the freestyle for the same level.  It is much more complicated than ISI, which is what I have tested under previously.

Up until now, I have tested and passed all of my ISI basic skills.  I will be testing and passing ISI Freestyle 1 and 2 as soon as my coach says, okay, let's test.  Haha.  I have one more week in my Freestyle 2 group class, then I'll move into Freestyle 3- yay!  So today, one of my coaches (I have two) began working with me on my moves in the field for my pre-preliminary test.  I will be testing under both tracks- and I'm super excited about it.  The edges will be no problem, just have to work on moving my arms a bit slower at the change and the stroking won't be a problem either- though I've gotten lazy with my technique, so I'll have to be sure to practice with long strokes rather than just quickly skating around.  The waltz 8 will be the trickiest just because it's new footwork- so we spent a fair amount working on that.  The hardest is trying to figure out how big to make that darn circle!  Haha.  We only did it on one side before it got way too busy to try and do the other side.   The last part we didn't practice, the spiral.  My left spiral is really good, but my right one is not so good-it's hard to raise my left leg up all the way!  I'm not flexible at all.  Boo.  But it's fun to work on something new because now I have a new goal- pass my pre preliminary and my pre bronze tests in addition to learning my ISI Freestyle 3 skills.

One of the reasons I love figure skating is there is always new things to learn and there are built in goals- new skills, new tests, new competitions.  :-)  It's perfect!

Jumps Vs. Spins

Okay- so all of you adult skaters- do you like jumping or spinning more?  Me, I like jumping more right now.  But, the only jumps I can do are the 1/2 rotation jumps.  Jumps are scary at first, but once you get them, they aren't any more- they are fun.  Spinning however stays scary b/c once you get it- then you start spinning faster!

I'm still working on getting my one-foot spin from back crossovers.  I have this problem of leaning onto my toepick- I have to work on that.  My problem is, I don't know how to fix it.  Any suggestions?

This week, I'll start to learn how to do the Salchow jump.  My first full rotation jump- the idea scares me, but I'm also really excited about it.  I'll let you know how it goes.

So let me know- spinning or jumping?  Which is better/easier/more fun...and which spin/jump do you like the best/least?

Thanks!

Injuries

As an adult skater, I often wonder whether we get injured more often than young skaters? In my experience, I would say yes... but I think part of it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. I am scared I will fall and hurt myself- therefore I fall and hurt myself. I wonder if other adult skaters have this problem?

In the first month of skating, I fell into the splits- I tore my groin muscle and ended up with a giant hematoma and a swollen leg for about 2 weeks. Luckily, with ice/heat/compression/pain killers... it wasn't that bad of an injury. Also, while I happen to injure myself in fairly spectacular fashions, none of my injuries are ever long-lasting (knock on wood!). Over the last nine months, I have fallen at least a million times. My latest injury is a growing chronic bruise on my right elbow/forearm- I have managed to fall on it twice in two weeks and I keep knocking it into things- ouch! Bruises I can handle, but they tend to make me fear the what if... what if something more serious happens the next time...

I think as adults, sometimes we tend to be more tense when we skate, thus when we fall, the injuries are more intense than younger skaters who I've seen literally bounce when they fall. It seems to be they don't have any fear- and it's a good thing! I've been working on my fear of falling, but it seems to creep up on me when I'm doing waltz jumps or left over right forward crossovers with speed. Those are the bane of my existence currently. Does anyone have any advice?

Tomorrow is my powerstroking class- the class I seem to fall the most in. I'm in class with a bunch of younger skaters who all skate so much faster and fearlessly... and I am constantly falling or almost falling. I count it as a success when I manage to not fall! So wish me luck... and any advice on how to get over my fear of falling would be much appreciated!

Introduction

Hello internet world.

I've been an avid blog reader for some time, and thought that I would give it a chance. Mostly, my blog will discuss my hobby, figure skating, but it may also discuss my full-time job- teaching.

I am 28 years old and last year, around Thanksgiving, I decided I needed something to do- and I chose figure skating. As a little girl, I loved watching the greats spin and jump on TV, but never had a chance to try it out. Now, as an adult- I have begun the learning process. It's an exciting time to be an adult figure skater- there are competitions, both local and national in both governing bodies- ISI and USFS. I currently skate under ISI (the recreational skating body), but I haven't discounted USFS completely.

At the beginning, I took adult beginning and adult workshop classes at my local rink. In April, though, I switched into the regular ISI curriculum classes. I've done the testing and have passed pre-alpha through delta, and am getting ready for my freestyle 1 and 2 tests. I've passed the freestyle 1 and 2 classes, so come September, I'll be signing up for freestyle 3. I'm planning on beginning to compete in November as a freestyle 2 skater. So what does all of this mean?

In ISI, each level is broken down according to specific skills that you must learn, starting with pre-alpha, which includes two foot glides, one foot glides, swizzles (forward and backward), and backward wiggles all the way to freestyle 10-- which is super advanced jumps and spins and combinations. At Freestyle 2, I can do all of my 1/2 rotation jumps- waltz, 1/2 flip, 1/2 lutz, 1/2 toe walley, and ballet jump. I can also do a one foot spin, spirals on multiple edges, and everything below.

Learning to skate as an adult is exciting- there are always things to learn and master and improve upon. It's a whole-body workout. It is an individual sport, but it's social too. Sometimes, when I look at the little kids doing elements that I can't even dream of- I both am jealous, but also say to myself "one day soon, I'll do that too".

Today in practice, I spent time perfecting my waltz jump- a tricky jump for me that is not consistent. In fact, out of all the jumps, it gives me the most trouble. I know when I get it- it's great...but when I don't, it's horrible! I also went through my program four times- it's so much fun to have a program. Not only do you have all of the elements, but you have them in combination and to music... it adds so much more to everything. I fell in love with programs today in practice, haha.

So...switching gears... I practice about 6 hours a week divided over 3 days. I do one early morning practice (6am), one evening practice, and one weekend practice. Each day of practice, I have a private lesson, and twice a week, I have group lessons. I would love to spend more time on the ice- but unfortunately my schedule does not lend itself to spending more time on the ice.

This will be all for now- over the course of the next few weeks I'll post about the various things I've encountered about the sport. I hope you will come back and read!