Stuff to remember so I don't look like an old lady skater

O.M.G! I think if I checked the weather in Antarctica, it would be warmer that Louisville, KY - especially with the lack of ozone, that's got to let way more warmth from the sun in. It's 9'F here and it's going to stay that way all day. The ice rink was warmer this morning.

At the cozy warm ice rink my coach told me she watched a junior moves test with the new moves Sunday. The poor kid failed and she said my loops were about the same this person's. Such inspiring words to kick off the lesson! My loops are the same as a preteen who didn't pass the test!

Anyway, here are notes to myself to jog my memory for the next practice. Perhaps they help others someday:

Outside forward rockers - great shoulders and edge quality going into turn. Must remember an outside rocker creates a new circle. When you complete a 3-turn, you are staying on the same circle, a rocker puts you into the pattern of a new circle. Remember rise up through the pinky toe on the outside edge during the turn. Then think of aiming heel towards the boards and shifting shoulders into facing outside of the new circle. Also - IMPORTANT - think of this new circle as going into a back outside pivot right after the turn so the free leg tucks behind the skating foot which opens the free hip. When I do this right, it really feels like my skating leg keeps pushing out, as opposed to focusing on my free leg getting behind me. The skating leg works best when the shoulders are correct. It's all connected, one false move makes that horrible, annoying flat out of the turn.

Inside forward rockers - this is just for the left side, keep your edge during the turn by bending the ankle and putting pressure on the big toe. After the turn with pressure still on the big toe think of pushing rib cage outside of the circle.

Straight line footwork - friggin' do this without the twizzles and work on twizzles separately. When you are 30-something, this helps immensely and makes it look like you can do amazing Daisuke Takahashi footwork. Now that the twizzle-free sequence is executed much faster and more powerfully, gradually add in a twizzle a section at a time. Unless you are either Meryl Davis or Charlie White, I recommend this to skaters of any age when first working on this move.

Outside loops - it's all about the rhythm between the shoulders and hips. Remember, when pulling arm back while transitioning from an inside to outside edge to begin the loop, keep your ribcage out. Otherwise, you lean way to far back which can pull your weight from the front of the blade where it should be to the back of blade which is wrong. Remember doing back loops in patch - you looked under your armpit at the tracing, not over the shoulder. You looked under the armpits because the weight needs to be on the front of the blade, by the ball of your foot. When you lean back too far and start to rock to the back of your blade while executing the loop, you look like a preteen who failed the junior moves by making giant loop patterns!

Grand Prix Final Time

I'm swamped with work and holiday happenings. I had to prod myself out of my cozy bed this morning and was late for my usually skating practice. As I get further into my 30s, 5:50 a.m. practices on Friday mornings are not a good idea. I enjoy getting my blood pumping and feeling like I'm making a bit of progress on the moves, but being in the cold and darkness after four days of the daily grind is not easy.

Since I'm still tired and in skating mode, I may sneak and stream the GP Final live from Beijing today. Hey, I work for a education technology company and we're all about online! However, that will not help me get my projects finished. I'll probably check out some archives tonight. In the meantime, here is a compilation of blogger predictions from Tony Wheeler at Flutzing Around.



Do you agree or disagree?

Porter Synchro Classic

Calling all Synchro Skating fans, the Porter Synchronized Skating Classic is taking place this weekend in Ann Arbor, MI. You can actually watch the event live here for $15 as well as see on-demand content post-event: http://www.ledinvideo.com/stream.html

You can also get event updates on the Hockettes' team blog: hockettes.wordpress.com.

I've been catching up on the action and I'm looking forward to the senior free skate this afternoon. Team Unique from Sweden is competing! Also, it looks like a few of the collegiate teams - Western Michigan and Illinois - are giving seniors a try along with a former masters team, Denver Synchronicity. Major exciting stuff for a synchro fan.

After the short program, the Haydenettes are in the lead, followed by the Crystallettes, Team Unique, Miami Senior Varsity, California Gold, WMU, Denver, Illinois, and finally the Starlights.

Congratulations to my club teams, both the Open Juvenile and Master teams won their events. Go Riverstars!