Monday, May 28, 2012

ISI Conference Champ. Recap

I had a an amazing time at the 2012 ISI Conference Championships at the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den

Let's Recap:
Two days of sleepless nights, the nerves is eating you alive and to make matters worse you have to skate in front of  4 judges and your fate is in their hands!!!!  Got the nerve and did it and finally its all over. Now I  can relax, re-coop and look at the videos and pictures and criticize all the mistakes and the "should of - would of" moments".

Despite my health and the loss of my Dad one month ago this weekend, this competition was a "Tribute".  I am proud of myself  for going out there and skate for him.

Artisitic - 2nd, Dramatic - 2nd and Open Silver 3rd
Adult Production Number - 1st.  

Tribute to my Dad "Ave Maria" 2nd Place
Hats off to all the Adult Skaters who competed this weekend - you guys ROCK!!!! Let me just say this; "it doesn't matter what level you are, how old you are, the matter of the fact is that you got the courage and the will to face our fears and skate with our hearts" and the most important things is that we did it -YOU did it!

Open Silver 3rd
Best dress I've made by far!
All the practices, all the falls, injuries, tears and heartache - its all well worth it!  I said it before and say it again, this is a tough sport and it doesn't matter HOW you place, everyone is a "Winner" .

Special thanks to all the volunteers - everyone did a great job! couldn't have done it without you!

My next competition is Clearwater Championships June 15-17th but my biggest challenge is in two weeks testing USFS and I have to focus and hope to God that I pass.

"Skate with your heart, because the music is in your heart"
 by Coach Laws








Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Is Skating Costing Too Much?

In this economic times, its really gotten hard for families and their skater(s) to achieve their skating dreams!!  What has it come down to... do we go food shopping or pay a series to skate next week?  What sacrifices do parents like myself have to do?  I am self-employed business woman and its tough I have to say.   I skate and so does my daughter.  We both have the same coach and we skate 2x to 3x a week in a good week.


It is really difficult to just get those lessons in and the practice ice as well. what I decided to do is break up the lesson into two instead of each example: instead of doing one hour each, we are doing now hour split into 30/30.  Then we things get better, I will go back...but then comes the competitions and the holiday shows too.  Even though we want to participate, its just too much.  Also, are the testing sessions too that tend to run up a bill - if you fail the damn test, have to pay for it again until you pass it.  Not to mention the boots and blades, I have noticed that some parents are getting used boots/skates for their kids, not a bad idea. Then you have the outfits too, those prices out there are ridiculousness - that's why I design all mine and my daughters dresses.  We have to cut corners, one way or another - what ever it takes.

Is skating costing to much?"  I am just hanging in there, hoping things get better for myself and others.  Maybe I will win the lotto and buy a rink and all my friends can skate for free!!! hahaha funny!!!

In a good note: Lets budget ourselves, find ways to adjust our lifestyle to meet the demand, but please never give up your dreams, everything is possible.  With sacrifices comes SUCCESS !!!