The Bracket Bar

Alright, I've been practicing all week but haven't updated for each practice so here is a synopsis of each day (as best as I can remember). 

Sunday - My phone was doing some weird things so I wasn't able to plug it in and play any of my music. Just as well, I had Gold Moves to work on. My Backward Circle 8 is making it around almost every time but I would still like a stronger push to make the circle bigger. Forward Power Circles felt pretty good today even on the bad side. My real issue is that I can either make the circle bigger as I go or I can make it faster as I go but I am struggling to do both at the same time. Backward Power Circles seem fine. Forward Double 3s are still icky (it's mostly that damn LBI3 where I put my foot down every time, ugh). I worked on Backward Double 3s. Those are trash. Speaking of trash, let's talk about my Brackets. FO and FI seem fine (although the FO brackets tend to scratch sometimes coming out of the turn). I tried the BO brackets at the wall and I just feel kinda hopeless about them. I couldn't even get them to work at the wall! That's so dumb! To round out my practice, I dabbled in some jumps and spins and worked on knee slides and the step sequence for my Free Dance. 

Monday Lesson - I asked Christopher last week to look at my Brackets for this lesson because I'm struggling so much with these. So he brought out "The Bracket Bar!" It's just the end of the pole harness that he holds onto in the middle and I hold onto at the ends. It's like training wheels for brackets! This was so helpful for the backward brackets because it turns out I can do them (neat!) but I have a huge fear block. They feel so unnatural (as brackets do) and it really helped to have something to hold onto for safety. And I think that's why I was struggling at the wall with these! With the forward brackets, I can practice them at the wall easily by skating toward the wall and at the top of the lobe where I turn, I can grab the wall for a little extra support. However, backward brackets are tricky to do at the wall because you would almost have to reach behind yourself to grab the wall at the top of the lobe. It's too awkward to work properly. I won't have a bracket bar with a coach attached during my practices so I'm really going to have to grow some balls about this and find the courage to work on them on my own. Sigh. We finished up the lesson with the rest of my step sequence for the Free Dance. I complained about the knee slide (because of course I will, I'm not a fan) but I told him I wanted to keep it in. So, after the knee slide, I push under, ballet jump, RFI3 into a backward stop thing, LFO waltz 3 into an illusion, progressive, RFO swing roll into a RFI single twizzle. So, the only thing left for this program to be complete is a transition into my final pose (which we didn't have time for). So yeah, I have a lot to work on. 

Tuesday and Thursday Mornings - I'm just gonna lump these two together since I basically worked on the same stuff each time. On Tuesday, I was brave enough to try a RBO bracket and it sorta turned? But then I couldn't do it again because fear came back. Stupid brain. My attempts on Thursday morning were terrible (but at least I attempted them!). Double 3s were as they are. Same thing with the Power Circles. The step sequence feels better (with the exception of the knee slide). Both of these sessions were at the Promenade and Christopher was on the ice each time so I know he sees me sliding around trying to make these knee slides work. I'm trying so hard on these and I'm just not getting them to work right. I get the first part of the slide (the LFO3 from forward to back) but then I need to switch directions and get back up and that's where it just stalls. It's embarrassing to have it fail so often. Sigh.

Turns and Choreography

There was no practice ice to be had on Sunday due to a hockey tournament that was happening at nearly all of the rinks around the Denver Metro area. I had a choice to not skate at all on Sunday or to slum it at a public session at the Sport Stable. I decided not to skate. No way I'm going to risk broken bones or getting run into by unruly pubic session people (both of which have happened to me at the Sport Stable). I decided on an early morning Monday session at Apex instead. 

Monday Morning Practice - This was a mostly quiet session. There were only four of us on the ice. All older teens and adults. I dedicated 45 minutes of my one hour session to Gold Moves and you would think I made some progress. I did not. My Backward Circle 8 and the Power Circles feel okay but everything else is still just so sloppy. I was pleased that my FO Brackets seem to be better but disappointed that the more time I spent on the Double 3s, the worse they became. My final 15 minutes were spent on spot checking my Free Skate and my Free Dance. My Flip jumps felt awesome today! I'm so pleased at how these have evolved. I used to be so scared of them, then I got over the fear but did them with poor technique for years. Now, I happily do them! Once I got a feel for the proper technique of them, I love working on them! I feel like my skills have a tendency to suck pretty hard for a few years and then I have an "aha!" moment and they are all of a sudden good. I wish my Gold Moves would follow that trend. It's been a solid two years with very little progress. I want my Gold Medalist jacket, dammit!

Monday Afternoon Lesson - Today was all about the choreographic step sequence in my Free Dance. That is the final element we need completed and then some kind of end pose and then I have a completed Free Dance! So far in my sequence I have a twizzle, chasse, progressive, swing roll, rocker, chasse, swing roll, outside mohawk, twizzle, knee slide, and ballet jump. Because it's a circular step sequence, I think he's probably going to add a few more steps to make it completely around to where I started. The thing I struggled with the most was the knee slide. I wore a knee pad for nearly two months and we didn't work on knee slides and the one day I decide not to wear it...we work on knee slides. My right knee is so bruised and sore right now. Ouch! We worked a bit on getting the correct edge on the Rocker before finishing up the lesson with Double 3s (which were predictably awful). I requested that next week we take a look at Brackets because those need some serious help too. Ugh, I have a lot of homework to do!

As the World Turns

Ok, I'm going to try to be better about updating this blog (keyword: try). I practiced this morning at the Promenade because I didn't want to deal with construction traffic over by APEX but, it turns out, there was construction traffic over by the Promenade too. I can't win. Anyway, I got there and the ice was pretty torn up (as it is at the Promenade) but I was still able to get some work done. My goal today was Double 3s. 

Forward Double 3 Turns - I need more speed and confidence on these for sure but where I'm really struggling is on the LBI 3. This turn was so easy for me on the Silver Moves test but now I'm struggling hard with it. I keep forcing the turn and putting my foot down. I know I should be taking my time, looking in the direction of the turn, and easing into it, but my body does what my body does. My brain has no say in the matter. So, I went to the hockey circle and just did turns. When I got tired of the forward doubles, I started to work on the backward doubles (but just the BO-FI side). So many turns today!

Brackets - It's been awhile since I've worked on Brackets so I spent some time on these as well. FI Brackets are coming back but I punk'd out on working on the FO Brackets. Backward Brackets were non-existent before and that is how they are now. I'll ask Christopher to work with me on these. It's still the one element from Gold Moves that I don't have under me yet. 

Power Circles - I did them. 

Backward Circle 8 - I did this too. 

I finished up with jumps and spins since I only had about 10 minutes left in the session. Camel spins are gone again. Figures.

2023 Colorado Springs Invitational Free Skate Recap

I haven't updated in about a week but I assure you I have been working hard during that time to make up for the lost ice time from when I was sick. This past week, I have been living at the rink running this program over and over until it was beautiful again. The day before competition day, I was feeling strong and had a clean run through so I tried to carry those positive feelings with me going into my event. 

15 Minute Warmup Ice - This is a new thing. Every time I compete, I purchase the 30 minute practice ice and it's always crowded and stressful. I spend more time trying to dodge people or make way for others that it's never a good practice. This time, I purchased the 15 minute warmup ice and it made all the difference! First, they made it "adult only" so I didn't have to dodge 6 year olds with no situational awareness. What a luxury! I got everything done that I needed to! I struggled a bit on my camels. The first one was nice and then as I did more, they got progressively worse. My final camel was good though so that was refreshing. Again, I was feeling very at ease and confident in my elements so I was feeling like my skating during my actual event would be the same. 

Silver Free Skate - I was the third one to go on so I did some breathing and visualizing while I was waiting for my moment. When it was my turn, I was announced and got into position for my routine. My music started and off I went. My opening Loop jump was BIG and floaty with arms overhead. It really set the tone for the whole thing. The one change I made since my last competition was I took out the Lutz and replaced it with a Salchow. My Lutz is just not good. It's never good. So why am I putting elements in my program that are not good? I know Christopher wants to challenge me and I'm okay with that but I don't think I should put something in a program if it still needs more time to cook, you know? So I did a nice Salchow and went into my camel spin (which was lovely for once! Wahoo!). The rest of the program was really nice as well. I did a nice strong Flip jump right in front of the judges and ended with a beautiful spin. Honestly, I don't think I could have skated it better! Very pleased!

Results - Ok, here's where it gets wild! I got off the ice and Christopher asked me what kind of score I expect from that routine. I said I would be pleased with anything over 19.71 since that was my personal best and would also mean that I passed my Silver Free Skate Test. After a couple of minutes, he flipped his phone around with the results and staring back at me was 26.12!!!!!! Holy shit! What?! Bonkers! I knew it was a good skate but I didn't think it was that good! There were things I would have knocked me on that the judges didn't (hello Toe Waltz) but the only thing I got dinged on was my combination spin (camel to scratch) and even that wasn't a huge negative GOE. So yeah, I passed my test, had a beautiful skate, and earned a new personal best! It was a good day! I ended up with a Silver medal and I'm so proud of myself I could burst! 

Afterthoughts - So what was different this time? I'm not sure. Everything was so easy that day. I usually stress out about hair and makeup but it only took me 30 minutes instead of two hours to get that done. I had time to drink a cup of coffee which I don't normally allow myself to do. I also didn't "zone" this time. I usually make time right before I put skates on to listen to calming music and visualize success but, this time, I didn't have my phone with me to play music on so I just...put my skates on and breathed. I didn't watch the skaters who went on before me and instead focused only on me. Repeating positive affirmations and telling myself that I'm going to kill it out there. Maybe it was all of these things together. I don't know. But I think I was overthinking before with all of my old rituals. Sometimes change is good. I feel like I have finally earned my place as a Silver-level skater! Doing the IJS Test Protocol to pass my Silver Free Skate Test was the way to go! Highly recommend!

Click here for video!

2023 Cup of Colorado Free Skate Recap

 Hello! It's been awhile. I really meant to update sooner but I got sick right after Cup of Colorado and it put me on my ass for a bit. Here's how the competition went!

Morning Practice Ice - I felt kinda weird. My skating felt as solid as it could be but my nose was unusually runny and I was pretty tired (which I chalked up to not getting a lot of sleep the night before, but that's typical for me before a competition). It was a 30 minute Practice Ice and Christopher was coaching two of us. Not a problem. We touched on everything and I felt pretty ready. 

Since my event wasn't until later in the evening, I went home and had a bite to eat and just generally chilled. I played some Mario Kart and hung out until it was time to get makeup and hair ready. I got to the rink about an hour and a half before my event and did my mental prep, stretching, and floor run throughs. I was exceptionally hot. Like, really hot. I didn't remember being this hot when I was there earlier that morning. Even when I got on the ice for my five minute warmup, I was roasting.

Adult Silver Women Free Skate - My five minute warm up felt good. I landed some solid jumps and my spins felt okay. Footwork was good. I ran the last 30 seconds with the 6 jumps and 1 spin and hit my end pose right in front of one of the judges with a look like "yeah, you saw that? Wait, it gets better!" So yeah, needless to say, I was feeling pretty confident that I would skate a clean program. I was introduced and I took my starting pose feeling pretty good (albeit still really tired and hot). My opening Loop jump was great with arms overhead and my camel spin camel'd. When I started my footwork, I was starting to feel the fatigue. I made eye contact with the same judge I eyed earlier and then promptly missed a step. I got through everything else. The Flip-Euler-Salchow wasn't the best but it got done and I felt really good about the Salchow-Loop combo and the final Flip. Finally, the last spin, the easiest thing in my program, ugh. I just couldn't center it even though I rarely have trouble on this element so it was not the solid, confident ending I wanted. I was awarded Silver with a score of 15.90 (a far cry from my personal best of 19.71). 

Afterthoughts - It was not the skate I wanted or planned for but it wasn't the worst case scenario either. Later, on the drive home, I told my husband that my throat was really sore but, even then, I thought maybe it was from cheering on my fellow skaters. The next day, I was dead. Absolutely sick. And for over a week after, I was the sickest I've been in about 5 years. I took a week off of work to recover but during that time I lost my sense of smell and taste and had really bad bouts of dizziness. I took a home Covid test that was negative and even went to get a test done at my doctor's office and that was negative but I swear, this was not a cold. I don't know what it was but it was awful. I slowly got my sense of taste back for savory foods and then a few days after I was able to taste sweet foods. I can even smell things now (yay). I think adrenaline helped me get through my event and then once my brain sent the signal to my body that it can relax, all hell broke loose. I'm thankful I got sick after my event but I'm now realizing that I was probably sick during my event too and that may have contributed to how my program went. I purchased the pictures from the competition and I look so pale and sickly in all of them. Ew. 

Final Prep

Cup of Colorado is this weekend and I feel pretty ready and have been working hard this past week or so making sure my program (and all of the changes) are solid. 

I had one very lucky day this past Sunday at the Y where I was the only one on the ice for nearly two hours! I ran my Free Skate multiple times and my Free Dance a few times as well. My lesson this past Monday was also okay. I lost my focus on my camel spins for a bit but was able to get back on track. Also the Flip-Euler-Salchow could be better. It's happening but I really need more power in the Euler. I have so much power in my Loop jump but I think with the Euler, I hold back more because I know I'm landing on the other foot. The few times that I've been able to power through it, I've performed it better. 

Starting orders came out this morning. I'll be first in front of the judges after the warm up!

I still have time to practice tomorrow and then Saturday morning I have practice ice at the competition venue. I'm also practicing off-ice by running through the program physically with the music and mentally by visualizing the routine. 

Even though I'm not the only one in my event, I know the only person I'm really competing with is me. I want to skate a program that I am proud of and I want to see progress in terms of my score. If I can get above a 19.71 I will have earned a new Personal Best. 

Let's get it!

IJS Test Protocol!

Whoops. I went another couple of weeks without updating. Sorry.

Cup of Colorado - The schedule is out! They have the Adult Free Skates happening at 6:00pm. Ew. And practice ice is scheduled at 8:00-something in the morning so, double Ew. So, I figure I'll do my practice ice in the morning, drive back home and nap maybe, and then go back for my event. I really don't want to be down there all day. Ugh. I'm struggling with the Flip-Euler-Salchow combo. Sometimes I get it and it feels great and sometimes it's just garbage. We'll see which version decides to show up on competition day. AND...more changes! Nothing too major and these changes were in response to me requesting the IJS Test Protocol for CSI. I'm just switching my single jumps and jump combos around in order to comply with the requirements of the test.

Colorado Springs Invitational - I'm registered! For the low low price of only $10, I added the IJS Test Protocol onto my registration so my Silver Free Skate event will count as my Silver Free Skate test. Two birds, one stone. However, this means we had to switch some things around in my program. If my Lutz was good, I would have kept my PPC as is but, as we know, I am a consistent Flutzer. So, for my three single jumps, I'll be performing a Loop, a Flip, and a Lutz (the Loop and Flip will be the ones that count for the test) and my combos will now consist of the Flip-Euler-Salchow and a Salchow-Loop. Since these are easy changes to make, I'll be skating these elements for Cup of Colorado too. Good thing I still had a couple of days left to make changes on my PPC for that. I did some research about IJS Test Protocol and saw that I can fall twice (worst case scenario) and still pass as long as I meet the minimum score of 16.80. Considering last year's CSI score with this same program was 19.71, I'm hoping I'll be fine. If not, our club is hosting a test session later in September and I can retest then. I've never done IJS Test Protocol before so I'm hoping this will be an easy way to knock this test out (I'm already in front of judges, Christopher will be there, I already have the day off, etc). 

New Free Dance - We added some more to the choreography and, with that, I think I'm about 80% through the program. We already have the edge element, two twizzles, a spin, and we are now starting on the Step Sequence. Looks like it's going to be a circular step sequence this time and we have about half of it complete. It's all coming together and once I get more comfortable with being "spicy" I think this program will be really fun to skate. I promised myself I would stone the dress once the program was fully choreographed so I guess I have to start planning for that now since we are getting close to a complete program. 

Cup of Colorado next weekend!!!!