Feeling Lutzy

Agh, it's been a week since I updated this blog. I've been super busy and just haven't had a lot of time but I'll try to recap a week's worth of activity here.

Compz - I just registered for the 2020 Colorado Springs Invitational! Woo! I'm not sure what this competition will be like this year. Most of my adult friends that I usually compete with either don't have a program ready, haven't had ice time to practice a program, or are just plain scared to compete this year due to COVID. As sad as I am that they won't be there skating with me, I understand. I've been fortunate to be on the ice as much as I have but even with that, those months spent off the ice have taken their toll and I don't feel as strong as I did before the pandemic. I can only imagine how they feel only skating once every other week or so, if that. Maybe things will get better and there will be more opportunities for us to compete with each other again. Anyway, since the ACS changed their rules again, I no longer have to skate compulsories. I'm only registered for the freeskate and I'm really okay with that.

Movez - Things are starting to shape up. My forward power pulls are seeing the most noticeable progress but still have a long way to go before they are testable. Backward 3 turns are getting slightly better as well but the LBO is still not making it around. I'll keep working on it but it's super frustrating that it's not happening yet. All the other moves are keeping steady.

Spinz - Camels are becoming more consistent but still need more work. The camel-upright-change foot-backspin is coming along. I'm really happy that this spin is in my program because I have never done so many camels or backspins in my life! It's really helping.

Jumpz - All of my jumps are okay. My flip jump is getting better but I still need to work on technique on the pick & draw part of the jump. Back in January or February, Christopher talked to me about learning a lutz so we started with working on the entry using just a half lutz. I haven't really touched it since then so today when Christopher had me start working on these again, I was a bit apprehensive. My entry was good enough that he asked me to try a full lutz (*gulp*). I tried it and I didn't fall but I'm sure it was gross looking and most likely flutzed. BUT!!!! I did the thing! There was so much fear associated with the flip jump when I was first learning it but I didn't experience that at all with the lutz! I haven't landed a new jump since 2017 so this is exciting. I kept working on it in practice and it's still meh but hey, I'm making attempts and that's neat! My goal of "Axel by 50" is getting closer!

Programz - I have done some full run throughs of my freeskate without the music but today was the first time I've run it from beginning to end with the music! I made it through without any falls and I ended on time but there were some spots that were hella sloppy. My step sequence was very icky and I lunged in the wrong direction at the end before the final spin (in my defense, I've been skating on four different sheets of ice lately and I have a hard time orienting everything to where the judges would sit at each rink if they were there. It gets confusing). I have five more weeks until CSI so I think I'll have plenty of time to iron out some of these wrinkles. My goal for this competition is the same as always: stay upright and skate well enough to not be embarrassed to show the video to people. LOL

Dressz - I finished stoning my freeskate dress a couple of weeks ago and WOW! It's so damn pretty! It sparkles so hard! I had some problems with the glue bottles and was not able to stone the skirt but I'm happy for it because I think it would have been overkill. And now I have extra crystals for a future project so yay! As much as I stress out about stoning dresses, I love that I'm saving so much money by doing it myself. Also, I like to feel that with every crystal I lovingly glue onto that dress I'm putting extra love and luck into the thing :)