Morning Lessons

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS.....TGIF!!
I am happy to share that this was a good skating week!!!  Skating without *pain* is a total BLESSING :) which means THAT my nightly exercises, weekly message therapy and PT are working.  I will start acupuncture in a week or so, this will help with the healing process.  Now, I have to focus on my skills, edges and keeping myself  *injury free* tough task but I can do it.

My coach has switch me to *mornings lessons* which for the past 2 weeks its been a struggle. 1. stretching and exercise in the am is not a good thing for me.  2. I hate eating breakfast in the morning and 3. Just the thought of leaving the rink with a total skating high....and go straight to work is not my cup of tea.  On a good note; I am getting the hang of it and looking at the bright side I have the whole afternoon to myself and the rink is way less crowded in the mornings.

Lesson today was great....coach broke down my free skate program in 3 parts....1. Opening  2. the middle section and 3. the ending.  By doing this helped me concentrate on the correct entry of jumps and transitions.  What we spent the most on was the no. 3 the middle section; which is my salcow (hold edge to 6 counts) set into my sit spin lunge toe loop.

So here is the kicker!!! and my TIP OF THE DAY!!!!  I am not an expert or elite skater, but when it comes to skating and there is a tip that was given to me by my coach.....guess what??? I HAVE TO SHARE IT!!!

TIP:
SIT SPIN:  When you start your sit spin....first thing you need to do is what? 1. Strong knee bend and 3 turn into your hook right, RIGHT.   SO, when you are on the edge for your 3 turn, make sure you *go around the 3 turn to the position you first started (so if you started at 12 o'clock around and snap at 12 o'clock) and snap into your sit spin with your free leg extended out.  NOW, when you snap into position make sure your back is straight and knee is bent like the *lunge position* find you're centered then squeeze and drop down. Simple as that....and it works....Note: don't not rush the spin....just let it happen :)

TIP:
BACKSPIN:  Same with the backspin, once you go into the inside 3 turn with a strong knee bend *go around the edge turn to the position you first started...so if you started at 12 o'clock around and begin your spin 12 o'clock.  Hope this bit of tips will help you out....and if you have your own tips you would like to share with me, please feel free to mention it in the comments section.

Happy Skating, everyone and lets start this new Skating Season 

with a positive mind-set and lets work to stay injury free :)

Continuous Practice = Results

Discipline, practice, determination and perseverance are the key points to acquiring your highest potential and achievement when it comes to skating regardless of age and/or level.

The minute I hit the ice I already have a laid out my plan as to what to focus and work on.  First is off ice stretching and conditioning to warm up my muscles to prevent injury.  Second a few jump rotations to create muscle memory so when I try them on the ice I won't injury myself (yeah right).  Third is a cool down...this is very good towards the end of your skating session because you've put your body to so much torture now its time to tell it "now its time to relax and let it rest"....a couple of just stroking around the rink and then ass you get off and do some small stretching to avoid muscle ache and most importantly drink a lot of water with helps your muscles stay strong and healthy on the ice and off.

What I found out that  is working for me and that I would like to share with you is my 777... these 3 numbers was introduced to me by my daughter which in-turn was taught to her by her coach.  Its a condition, practice and muscle memory.  What it is; is you pick three elements that you really want to grasp and focus on to achieve; for example; I do these: 7 flip jumps, 7 loop jumps and 7 back spins one after the other no breaks in between do 7 of each element and go to the next and then next.  By doing these every practice session (which I do them 15 min before the session ends) has dramatically helped my jumps and spins in a matter of no time (weeks).

Also something to consider as well to get that momentum of conquering your jumps is this:  follow these regularly or weekly and you will improve.

Jump Abreviations
w = waltz jump
s = salcow
t = toe loop
lo = loop
f = flip
lz = lutz

Practice these by sequence:
w, lo / w, t
s, lo / s, t
t, lo / t, t
lo, lo / lo, t
f, lo / f, t
lz, lo / lz, t

You can start small like I did and work your way down the list...right now I am doing up to loop/loop and loop/toe.  The last two are a bit more difficult for me because I am not fully rotated in those jumps yet. Eventually it will happen but in the mean time its a realistic practice and its working for me and also will help you too.
Note: this is just practice...your coach might have something suited for you, so might want to discuss it with him or her first

Happy Skating