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!