Check, please!

Lesson today!

We started off with twizzles since that is what I was working on when he got on the ice. He had me do an exercise where I do my 1 1/2 twizzle three times in a row down the length of the ice. I've discovered that it's easier for me to get used to the push under this way. Twizzles didn't feel as sketchy as they have been. They felt nice today, actually.

Jumpz - Next up were program jumps. We worked a bit on the toe loop since I'm still cheating it. If I may quote him directly, he said "try less," proving that I am overthinking once again. When I slow it down, I can get the proper glide through and it just feels easier but when I put in maximum effort to get it right, I get it wrong every time. Stupid brain. He also reminded me to do a stronger check and don't reach up so high with my free leg before picking in. Salchow was next. I really need a much stronger check on that BI edge before getting up into the jump. Loop-loop combo was kind of a disaster today. The first loop is fine but I'm still having a difficult time crossing my free leg in front on the second loop. I gotta keep plugging away at this. Then he surprised me by asking for a flip jump. Yikes! I haven't touched this in like three weeks. However, I was able to reel one off for him and I consider it a small victory that his only comment was to cross the free leg in front more. I'm sure it wasn't perfect but it got around and it was landed on one foot so I'll take it. Overall, I need to make sure I do a strong check on ALL of my jumps. I rush everything but when I check, things tend to go better.

Programz - By the time we decided to run through the program, there was nearly 30 skaters on the ice, most of them small children skating at lower levels. Needless to say, it was a disaster. Nobody noticed that I was wearing the sash and they weren't paying attention to where I was going so nobody really moved out of my way. I spent more time abandoning elements and bobbing and weaving than I did actually trying to do the program. It was a test of survival! Christopher promised we'll run the program earlier next time when there are fewer skaters on the ice. Scary. But my spins felt good and I ended on time despite it being a mess overall.