Off the ice axel journey

Do you axel?

Well, I am trying hard to just even land it under rotated hahaha!!!
I know some skaters think I am not ready for axels, but my coach says different. She  seen my videos of me practicing off ice and axel attempts on the ice and she is quite impressed.

If only I can only be young again....maybe my muscle memory can kick in not to mention my fear of falling during my practices....at my age the healing process takes much longer.

Eventually if I keep going the way I am, and practice off ice, maybe, just maybe then I can get on the ice and land it...wow!! wouldn't that be great lol. Never give up...and follow your dreams.
Happy Skating!!

Waltz Jump + Backspin + Loop

So, I've been working on lately the backspin + loop and trying to master the waltz jump + backspin with a loop checkout.  By practicing this over and over it will somehow will get me to land a decent axel.

Things to remember:

1.  Waltz jump + backspin
   When you land the waltz jump keep the free leg in the "H" position.
   
2. Waltz jump + backspin + loop jump
   Bend the skating knee and jump up and do a loop jump then check out.

I found this video from a few years ago - doing a waltz jump + loop.

at that time I was not doing backspins yet....but know I have improved and can do them.  Hopefully I can post a more recent video soon.

 

Thanks for watching....Happy Skating.

One Year Anniversary

Hey, all....it's been a while but - its been crazy busy for me the past couple of months.  So much to tell you!!

It's My ❤ ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ❤-  Wow, how time flies...it seems like it was yesterday!! But I have to say, my skating has improved so much - it's not even funny lol!! 

What I love the about my coach - she understands, and knows how I think - she's the best!!  She breaks down everything for me, so I can actually understand it, at my age...my brain is a bit slower.

For a while had a cracked phone, so I was unable to take videos - GOOD NEWS I got a new phone!!! more videos to come...👍

ONE YEAR RECAP

COMPETITION:  June 3, 2018 Clearwater Ice Arena Championships:
1st Open Silver -
1st Place Artistic
1st Place Footwork

SPINS:
Sit spins; gotten lower and centered
Backspins: have improved to multiple revs and now I actually can cross my foot
Forward scratch spin:  way better than last year

JUMPS: All single jumps are sold - just have to get my flip consistent
Landed: Salcow+toe loop+loop jump combo
Most recent:  Flip+loop jump combination 2 weeks ago - super excited

THIS IS MY FLIP+LOOP JUMP: it was my first attempt and I know it needs improvement, but with time and practice, I will master this jump combo.

HAPPY SKATING

Define Determination

How do you define determination??

Determination is a big word when it comes to figure skating, whether its trying to master a jump or spin...or simply determined to pass a test or a better placement in a competition.  Determination is hard work, it pushes you to do better and not give up.

Well I proved to myself and was determined to go and try a combination jump that I've never done before...a 3 jump combination" and last week I hit the ice and went for it...fell a few times, but I did not give up was determine to land one and it was video worthy!!! My salcow+toe loop+loop jump combination.  Right now, its my favorite jump combo and I think it will be a keeper.

 

Here is my recent videos.  The second video is my toe loop + loop jump combination. With more practice and determination, I can get this jump consistent and maybe put it in my free skating program in the near future.  Coach already added my toe loop+loop in my Open Silver program for Clearwater competition.

Thank you so much for watching!! Happy Skating and keep the joy of skating alive.

Adult Bronze Free Skate "Pass"

I passed my Adult Bronze Free Skate!!!  YIPPY!!  WOOT WOOT!!  Finally, it was a long 4 years since my last test but here I am 9 months later with lots of training, hard work, practices and new not to mention changed coaches......but I did it!!!

Adult Bronze Free Skate (PASS)
Location: RDV Sportsplex Ice Den
March 11, 2018

Recap:
So, I arrived at the rink with a mindset that its a "do or die" and no turning back.  I have to admit that I was a bag of nerves and nothing was helping.  I always say "give me a competition any day and I am good" but testing is a whole other beast!!

Had a good 5 min warm-up, jumps were good, but my sit spins were not as expected....my knee kept locking up...I was in pain but I pushed through it. 

As the remaining skaters skated, now its my turn.  Judges called my name and skated to them and introduced my self ....they were so nice and pleasant.  They asked me "how I was doing?" and I told them "I am good, but I am nervous and my knees are like jello" they laughed so hard lol.....but as I took my position, I felt my legs shaking and I said to myself  "I got this".  I skated my best -  despite my knee issue...it was not a clean skate to say the least. 


RE-SKATE:
LOOP JUMP:  Popped it during my program (went in with to much speed after my foot work)
WALTZ/TOE:  I put my foot down after my toe loop landing

I am human and we all make mistakes this happens to the best of best skaters!!

Judges called me over and asked me to re-skate both jumps and I said sure no problem. Inside my head I said man "I've got this"....Boom!! NAILED IT!! both jumps CLEAN - HUGE and nice edge landing.  I was so happy that I did it and so glad its over!!

Reading the judges' remarks from the test sheets made my DAY for sure; Good Attack on Jumps" "Nicely Controlled Spins"  

Note to self...hard work, patience and determination really pays off...never give up on your dreams, never!!

Back Spins, Back Spins

The 'back spin" is a required element in the USFSA bronze free skate test, and to be quite honest, I wish they would do away with it!!  This spin has been haunting me since my last test session in 2014.

4 Years has passed and now 2018 I am ready to "retake" this test in March.  Though I am a little hesitant with my back spin because its not consistent it's "a hit or miss" for me but I am going to give it a shot, I dont have nothing to lose but much to gain from it.  Good news is that coach gave me the okay.  So now it's time to practice 2x to 3x a week and get my program test ready and let the skating Gods be with me on T-day.

Skated February 11, 2018 
I had a good practice yesterday morning, worked on my MIF and did some program run throughs.  I am not feeling out of breath which is good.  To get a good program run though, I like to break my program into 3 parts: the opening, the middle and the end, by doing this helps me work on the parts that I need to focus and practice...then I run it with music.

**EPIC MOMENT**
FINALLY skated my back spin with more than 3 revs in my program, I was so happy that I felt like crying!! now to remember how I did it and keep up the momentum!!

1. Tight free leg extension
2. Suck up in my belly button 
3. Rise up my axis 
4. Push down on my spinning foot
5. hold the spin and check
   
   Wish me luck.....keep following my blog for updates

Happy Skating

Set Goals 2018

Happy New Year to all my skating peeps!!

Wednesday 10, 2018
I got my first lesson of the new year...I was so glad to get back on the ice!!.  We worked on Silver MIF, jumps/spins and program run throughs.  It was a very productive lesson and Coach can see a big improvement over all.....yeah so happy!!

Managed to work on flip jumps, which I FINALLY got that "pivot" motion my coach has been telling me for the longest, but it just was not clicking in my head.
Now, I have "skating fever" and all I want TO DO is skate (don't want to lose my momentum) but there is a huge hockey tournament and I have to wait til next week and skate at different time slots errrrr.

Last year was a good year...managed to stay injury free.  This year, however, my goal is to stay healthy and train hard.  As a skater, I like to set goals, whether its short-term or long-term, it keeps me focused and positive moving forward.

2018 Goals:
Short-term:
Forward and back scratch spins
Consistent jumps
Test my bronze FS
Work on edges and transitions
Long-term:
Start training free style 5 level
Work on a new free skate program
Compete local and national competitions