VIDEO!

Video of progress. Yes I know I need to jump off my toepick on my waltz jump, and NOT bend my picking leg when doing half flips. But still, I'll pleased!!!!

Bitten by the Pre-Bronze Bug

Watched a test session this past weekend. Got to see the only adult testing MITF (Bronze level). Seeing that I could do some of the moves on the Bronze level, I am very confident that I can do Pre-Bronze.

I've met two adult skaters who are also working on Pre-Bronze and I'm hooked. I think they're testing in a couple of months. If I can make major progress on my FI3s, and clean up my BI edges a bit, I can make it. I can swing $40 a month for lessons every other week. I must. It's an addiction!!!! And I have such confidence now.

Now all I have to do is decide on a coach. I took a private lesson from my LTS instructor months ago, and haven't had a private lesson from her since then due to some emergent health issues and money. I think our schedules conflict, so I may need to switch instructors. I guess the most professional thing to do is approach old instructor about my plans and schedule needs, and if it doesn't fit, then go with a different new instructor that all my adult buddies take lessons from (and who has a very open schedule). I can totally do this. Any advice on switching instructors??

Adult Advance, Week 2

Tonight was week two of Adult Advance. We worked on a few things. Too bad the class isn't 45 minutes long. 30 minutes goes by too fast!!!

Warmed up with some crossovers. CCW were good. CW sucked. Majorly. Very steppy and zero underpush. It's all about knee bend. But I suspect my blade may be off slightly too. I'm not to confident about my RFO edge.

BXOs to landing position: Not much tweaking needed here, just more knee bend (as always!!!)

Side toe hop: How can something so simple be so difficult??! I had more trouble with this more than anything. I think I fell while doing this too. Can't remember. Fell twice during class. It's just a simple hop side to side while being on the toepicks.

Ballet Jump: Saw the instructor demonstrate a couple. Looked impossible. Then we tried it against the wall and it's actually a very easy jump! You start out on a RBO edge with the free leg extended behind. Bring the left arm slightly back. Pick with the Left foot, do a half rotation in the air (With the Left arm up, Right arm out, pointing the right foot), land on the Left toepick, then go onto a RFI edge. It looks like a ballet move in the air, hence the name Ballet Jump.

Will be working on Waltz jumps (maybe?), spins, and maybe Mazurkas next week.