So, today was test day! Even though Freeskate 3 had some elements that were not terribly difficult for me, there were a couple of things I still felt uncomfortable with, namely the CW BI three turns and the backspin. I crammed as many BI3's and backspins into the public session before the test as I could. Lesson time....here's how I did:
Forward and Backward crossovers in a figure eight pattern - Easy enough, there were no issues with this except for the fact that the testing area was so small and it was hard to squeeze this pattern into such a small space. Passed!
Waltz Eight - Again, small space but do-able. Her only comment on these was that I was rushing a bit coming out of the initial three turn. I wasn't holding that BI edge long enough. Passed!
Advanced forward consecutive swing rolls - For once my arms and legs were doing what they were supposed to do. She did tell me to be more swingy. Passed!
Backward Inside three turns (CW and CCW) - It's the CW ones that are hard for me to do but, lucky for me, I did a nice one when she was watching. CCW was good too. Maybe I do well under pressure! I have been so worried about the CW BI3 for a while. I'm glad it's over and I can practice them without a deadline. Passed!
Backspin with freefoot in crossed leg position (min 3 rev's) - These got progressively worse as the test session went on. The first one I did had the rev's but the exit was unsteady but she passed me. But, the second half of the test session, when she was testing my classmate, I was practicing them and they were just getting worse and worse. She even made a point to tell me so. So I stopped. Passed!
Salchow - Salchows are pretty comfortable. I was able to do a nice one for her for the test. But again, when I was practicing them, they deteriorated. I think I was distracted by all the other stuff going on right now in my life and was thinking of non-skating stuff while skating and we all know that that is never a good idea. I had some stupid falls and Gigi was like "What's happening with you today, I never see you fall!" I guess she's never seen me practice. Falling is what I do best! But these were dumb falls. Completely avoidable. Lack of concentration. Anyway, Passed!
Half Lutz - The jump itself was fine but she told me to watch so I don't kick my picking leg up to high in back of me on the entry. I should reach back with the picking leg, yes, but I don't need to "swing" it back. Passed!
Jump Combination: waltz-toe loop or salchow-toe loop - Although I can do both, I chose to do the salchow-toe loop combo because my technique is better and it's more comfortable. I fell on my first attempt but made up for it by doing a nice one right after. Passed!
Gigi signed my certificate and put her number on the back in case I wanted to consider private lessons with her. She did say that Freeskate 4 will likely be my last experience in group lessons. Apparently, they don't really do Freeskate 5 and 6 here. She explained that it is difficult to teach that material in a group setting. To be honest, I wasn't looking forward to learning a Lutz in a 6 week period of time and then being tested on it. I think it will take me a while to get that one. And, in Freeskate 6 you start learning the axel. I can't fathom learning the axel in the Spring. It's not going to happen.
Today's reward: a Berry Manilow smoothie from JJJ
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