Competition is over, What's next?

Adult Nationals came and gone!! I am so inspired by all the Adult Skaters, and some were my dear friends who competed!! I am so proud of all of them, such amazing skaters!!! They inspire me to one day have the opportunity to compete at Adult Nationals....heck maybe Salt Lake City 2015!!!

I competed Florida Open so what is next from ME?.  Well, I have my goals that I did not accomplish...no let me rephrase that.  I accomplished my goal but it was not what I expected (my bronze test).  From a few months ago till today - I am proud of myself, despite the sickness I endured the past couple of weeks.  Though I took a 3 week break from skating because of my sickness...it did me good.  Why is that?  when you take time off and get back on the ice, all becomes clearer and simpler!!  I was worried at first that the moment I stepped on the ice....what if, or the could of, but I did.

Got back on the ice this week and it felt great!! I am back to my old self again, skating and trying new jumps and spins....my clarity is much clearer and I listened to all advice from my dear skating friends on my flip jump.....I had that jump a while back (1 yr ago) but had a bad fall and from then on had "a mental block" put a fear in me....but I had to over come it and stop putting excuses and just "go and do it for crying out loud!!"

There are some goals in my horizon that I will study and take it slow and see how my body can handle it.  I just want to enjoy the moment while skating.  I always like to document them and either here on my blog or in my little note book in my skate bag.

As always, whats sits in the back of my mind is the Bronze Test, I know I did well on my technical portion of the test, but now I have to worry and focus on my spins (eekkkk I hate spins) but I have ways to go and plenty of time to get there :) my back spin is getting more consistent and my sit still needs to be a bit lower

Oh did you hear??? The USFSA has changed the wording for the Adult Bronze Free Skate Testing to read "a recognizable sit spin" yes, you heard it !!! What does this mean, means I have a better possibility of passing my sit spin as opposed to the ISU IJS wording in the rule book.  Even though this will be implemented this season (I hope) I still have to work harder to get it lower no matter what!!!!

April 23, 2014
Skating practice was great!!! I manage to skate well and injury free....I did some really nice loop jumps, and finally landed my flip jump....still have to practice and get all my jumps clean!! I wont have a lesson until next week, but I will continue to practice and hopefully show my coach what I've been working on.....Oh sure, when you are on a lesson that's when everything goes down hill, right? but for now - practice, and practice if I ever want to pass that test and go to Salt Lake City :) :)

Thank you all for reading and Happy Skating

29th Annual Florida Open Championships Recap

April 4th thru April 6th
The Florida Open is a competition held every year at our rink by the Central Florida Figure Skating Club sanctioned by USFSA.  The competition is open to all skaters regardless of age and level from basic skills to senior level skaters.

This was my very first Florida Open competition even though I've been a member for 4 years and began testing adult tract in 2012.  At the moment I am a pre-bronze adult level IV with Master Adult Bronze level Moves in the Filed.  I've work hard for the past months to become a stronger bronze skater so that I can test bronze. When I tested I listen to the judge and worked on what needed to improve.  I can say that with my confidence, I decided to compete and skate UP to Adult Bronze Level- it took a lot of courage but I did it anyways.  Its really not about the medal for me in any competition, its just an opportunity to show my strength and skating skills.

Competition Day, April 4th
Well as usual, my nerves tend to shut down my eating habits and just have fruits and applesauce the entire day...funny but it keeps me going.  If I eat solid, heavy food...I'll end up getting poopie and that's a no no in competition.  I have to admit, I do get nervous but not because I am competing with other skaters. My nerves are of my own creation....aka if I feel my entry of a jump or element that is questionable by the judges - I syke myself up and get all jittery.

To add to my stress, I've been sick for the past week and then to add more my beautiful dress had a malfunction...my sleeve ripped and tried to fix it but my sewing machine literally died on me, we are talkin 1/2 hour before I leave to the rink. I had no time to do anything, felt like crying.  Thank goodness I have a closet full of beautiful dresses and decided to were a ivory lace with purple crystals and beads.  It worked perfect for my program!!  When I got to the rink and register, everyone can tell by my face something went wrong!!

Program Free Skate
My very first debut of my Bronze Free Skate and new music :)  To think my free skate program was choreographed only 4 weeks before this competition.   I am so proud of myself that I went out there and skated with my heart!!  Had the "blank moment" in my program.   As I was going to set for my inside 3 turn it happen the "blank moment" loop/toe combination was epic literately!! so I went into "what next move" so decided to jump a loop/loop but did not get the height on it....as I heard the music I know I was running out of time....and just kept going....that's what skaters do, improvise and keep going.  But guess what nobody knows your program but you and your coach!!! hahaha!!!  other than that little error - I skated great :)
I received, however numerous compliments on my performance and that's what makes all worth while.  All the pain, injuries and tears all comes down to a great performance.

Third Place!!

Priceless Moment Of The Day!! April 5th
Aside from skating, I did have the opportunity to volunteer during the competition as ice monitor.
It was about 6:10 am and all the skaters and coaches were checking in for practice ice then John Zimmerman approached and asked me " Did you skate yesterday? what music did you skate to? and I replied, then he told me "I saw you skate yesterday, and you did a great job - lovely skate, well done"  I was in awh!! and coming from him is like the best compliment ever!!  This is why I skate...its not about the medal, or if you come in last, its the pure joy of skating that makes it all fun.

Click here watch my video: Bronze Free Skate

Re-cap
What I take from this experience is; take risks face your fears full force, go for it!! no matter the outcome.  You wont know until to go and give a shot....this performance is my first of many to come and it will only make me stronger.  I shall keep skating and improve where it needed.  If I am blessed and God willing I can make it to Adult Nationals 2015 but for now.  I am a happy skater :) :) :)

Special thanks to all my dear friends who came out to 

support and watch me skate that means the world to me
Happy Skating