Showing posts with label spins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spins. Show all posts
Friday, August 30, 2013
Friday, February 25, 2011
30 minutes of annoying jump exercises
So I've been on a bit of a cloud with all the excitement and positive vibes in the last week. This morning my coach burst my bubble a bit by reminding me that my jumps are still crummy and put me through 30 minutes of those dreaded jump exercises. I hate to get all negative but I really despise doing annoying jump exercises. No matter how many times I do slo-mo jumps at the boards, I just can't translate them into the nanosecond movements that need to be made in the actual jump. Maybe you just can't teach an old dog new tricks? We didn't even get to my new Lutz in 30 minutes which was a bit of a drag. After that I didn't even feel like practicing any more jumps on my own. >:(
Once my lesson was over I cleared my head a bit with some skills practice. My 3-turns are really skidding a lot lately which doesn't bother me anymore because I'm getting used to it but I should probably try to fix that for my test which includes copious amounts of 3-turns. Two of my skills patterns are fine. The third one (Power Circles) is still a dog's breakfast so I made sure to practice it several times this morning. I figured out how hard I have to push on the first circle to make it all the way around the required 2 times. Then I figured out that after that I hardly need to push at all. Furthermore, I learned that the worst part now is the single count back crossovers. They build speed ridiculously quickly, and it's spooky when you come close to the boards. It doesn't help that I get more into my toes when I get spooked, then the crossovers get even scratchier and it will drive the judge crazy for sure. The tempo is so quick there isn't really time to fully extend each one and point the toe. That would drive my group enhancement coach crazy too! Despite these problems, I feel much more confident in the pattern and have the hang of how hard to push, the freaky swing Choctaw at top speed, and the light-speed tango stop. I figured out that I have to stay into my knees and get my weight balanced properly as soon as possible at the start of each new circle. Now I just need more confidence on those back crossovers and I'll be ready to conquer this test and move on to some delicious bracket turns.
Next I worked on my spins and spirals, focusing on more 'attack' in the spins. I'm definitely attacking more and occasionally it's rewarding; I get a really fast (for me) spin out of it. However I noticed today that my centring really goes to hell when I do this, and it had been getting better so I don't want to undo everything I've achieved in that department. So I need to remember that 'attack' doesn't mean 'rush'. IT'S NEVER OK TO RUSH. Right? Then I attacked the crap out of a backsit and fell down hard. Oops! I think that I didn't get enough 'snap and square' on that one, my right arm was still out in la-la land and it threw off my balance. Well it was good to have a fall, it means that I'm pushing myself out of my comfort zone and I haven't had that many falls lately doing freestyle elements. They've all been from dumb stuff like trying to show off doing a tango stop from top speed.
Once my lesson was over I cleared my head a bit with some skills practice. My 3-turns are really skidding a lot lately which doesn't bother me anymore because I'm getting used to it but I should probably try to fix that for my test which includes copious amounts of 3-turns. Two of my skills patterns are fine. The third one (Power Circles) is still a dog's breakfast so I made sure to practice it several times this morning. I figured out how hard I have to push on the first circle to make it all the way around the required 2 times. Then I figured out that after that I hardly need to push at all. Furthermore, I learned that the worst part now is the single count back crossovers. They build speed ridiculously quickly, and it's spooky when you come close to the boards. It doesn't help that I get more into my toes when I get spooked, then the crossovers get even scratchier and it will drive the judge crazy for sure. The tempo is so quick there isn't really time to fully extend each one and point the toe. That would drive my group enhancement coach crazy too! Despite these problems, I feel much more confident in the pattern and have the hang of how hard to push, the freaky swing Choctaw at top speed, and the light-speed tango stop. I figured out that I have to stay into my knees and get my weight balanced properly as soon as possible at the start of each new circle. Now I just need more confidence on those back crossovers and I'll be ready to conquer this test and move on to some delicious bracket turns.
Next I worked on my spins and spirals, focusing on more 'attack' in the spins. I'm definitely attacking more and occasionally it's rewarding; I get a really fast (for me) spin out of it. However I noticed today that my centring really goes to hell when I do this, and it had been getting better so I don't want to undo everything I've achieved in that department. So I need to remember that 'attack' doesn't mean 'rush'. IT'S NEVER OK TO RUSH. Right? Then I attacked the crap out of a backsit and fell down hard. Oops! I think that I didn't get enough 'snap and square' on that one, my right arm was still out in la-la land and it threw off my balance. Well it was good to have a fall, it means that I'm pushing myself out of my comfort zone and I haven't had that many falls lately doing freestyle elements. They've all been from dumb stuff like trying to show off doing a tango stop from top speed.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Music
On Monday, my coach brought me some music to listen to and pick something out for my program. It's a CD of Spanish guitar music, and I love it. Hopefully we can piece something good together that will work.
What did I do at practice on Monday? After a bit of a warmup with stroking and power pulls and two-foot turns, etc. I did some 3-turns down the line and took a quick look at my new Jr. Bronze Skills patterns. After a lot of searching I finally found them on the Skate Canada website, so I printed them out. But, it was too crowded to have my nose buried in a sheet of paper while skating around so I will try them another time.
As usual I put a large fraction of my session into spins. I have quite a number of them to practice now! The upright, sit, and camel version on both feet makes six. Then there are combinations and variations and the occasional layback or attitude making quite a significant number of spins that I like to practice. And now I have my new flying camel to add to the mix! I tried to focus on the ones that we were experimenting with for my program. Sit-broken leg is not too bad as long as I don't screw up the entry (sometimes my free blade scrapes the ice). I did one of them that felt really good and solid and then I saw the trace and it had traveled badly, sigh. It hadn't even felt like it was traveling! Then I experimented with camel-layback-backsit, and it is a mess. The layback is hard to centre, and I get up onto my toe, yuck. If I can get it down this will be a cool, and probably less common, combination, but it might be wise to pick something I can actually do well. If I can get a bunch of time to practice it, we'll see where it goes.
I always get in a few spirals and leg pulls before I get to camel spins for a bit of a stretch, and they were alright. I tried my catchfoot spiral again, but my balance gets messed up and my free arm ends up sort of desperately reaching out to the side which must look ridiculous. I tried doing something with it like bringing the hand up to my face or taking the hand back to my free knee, but it threw my balance off. This is going to take some practice! I tried a leg pull going backward but was too frazzled trying to watch for traffic that it didn't go so well. Will have to wait until Friday.
After that I started working on jumps but I felt a sharp pain in my left knee during the takeoff of a Salchow. I've had issues with my knees for years and it's exactly this type of thing that sets them off, but this time it didn't just shake off right away. I went and sat on the bench for a minute and it felt ok so we went ahead with my lesson, but we focused on elements that keep the weight on my right foot like backspins, loops, and flips. I had one terrific backspin and my coach was really impressed with the newfound height in the free leg. Unfortunately I couldn't repeat it but that's the way with skating, sometimes you do something cool and you don't know how you pulled it off! For loops she had me try doing 4 in a row after I mentioned having accomplished this the other day. My first attempt was ok but she says not to jump again immediately after landing, but hold the landing edge for a few moments before doing the next one. And to try making those edges less curvy, haha. I did better the next time but the upper body was a bit wild, so that's something to aim for improving. For my flip it was the same old story about needing to check the 3-turn better, and a new bit of advice about keeping my arms still for longer. I tend to sort of pull them in as I initiate the jump, instead of waiting until I have already left the ice. That's going to take some time to get into that new habit!
In our group lesson we ran through our number for the Christmas show again. It was not too shabby. I have to remember to ask on Friday what I am supposed to wear to it. I am guessing I shouldn't wear my silly elf hat :)
What did I do at practice on Monday? After a bit of a warmup with stroking and power pulls and two-foot turns, etc. I did some 3-turns down the line and took a quick look at my new Jr. Bronze Skills patterns. After a lot of searching I finally found them on the Skate Canada website, so I printed them out. But, it was too crowded to have my nose buried in a sheet of paper while skating around so I will try them another time.
As usual I put a large fraction of my session into spins. I have quite a number of them to practice now! The upright, sit, and camel version on both feet makes six. Then there are combinations and variations and the occasional layback or attitude making quite a significant number of spins that I like to practice. And now I have my new flying camel to add to the mix! I tried to focus on the ones that we were experimenting with for my program. Sit-broken leg is not too bad as long as I don't screw up the entry (sometimes my free blade scrapes the ice). I did one of them that felt really good and solid and then I saw the trace and it had traveled badly, sigh. It hadn't even felt like it was traveling! Then I experimented with camel-layback-backsit, and it is a mess. The layback is hard to centre, and I get up onto my toe, yuck. If I can get it down this will be a cool, and probably less common, combination, but it might be wise to pick something I can actually do well. If I can get a bunch of time to practice it, we'll see where it goes.
I always get in a few spirals and leg pulls before I get to camel spins for a bit of a stretch, and they were alright. I tried my catchfoot spiral again, but my balance gets messed up and my free arm ends up sort of desperately reaching out to the side which must look ridiculous. I tried doing something with it like bringing the hand up to my face or taking the hand back to my free knee, but it threw my balance off. This is going to take some practice! I tried a leg pull going backward but was too frazzled trying to watch for traffic that it didn't go so well. Will have to wait until Friday.
After that I started working on jumps but I felt a sharp pain in my left knee during the takeoff of a Salchow. I've had issues with my knees for years and it's exactly this type of thing that sets them off, but this time it didn't just shake off right away. I went and sat on the bench for a minute and it felt ok so we went ahead with my lesson, but we focused on elements that keep the weight on my right foot like backspins, loops, and flips. I had one terrific backspin and my coach was really impressed with the newfound height in the free leg. Unfortunately I couldn't repeat it but that's the way with skating, sometimes you do something cool and you don't know how you pulled it off! For loops she had me try doing 4 in a row after I mentioned having accomplished this the other day. My first attempt was ok but she says not to jump again immediately after landing, but hold the landing edge for a few moments before doing the next one. And to try making those edges less curvy, haha. I did better the next time but the upper body was a bit wild, so that's something to aim for improving. For my flip it was the same old story about needing to check the 3-turn better, and a new bit of advice about keeping my arms still for longer. I tend to sort of pull them in as I initiate the jump, instead of waiting until I have already left the ice. That's going to take some time to get into that new habit!
In our group lesson we ran through our number for the Christmas show again. It was not too shabby. I have to remember to ask on Friday what I am supposed to wear to it. I am guessing I shouldn't wear my silly elf hat :)
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Last Chance to Practice
On Monday I had my last practice before my skills test. I ran through all the patterns and they are mostly fine. My coach didn't even really have too much feedback. Maybe she just doesn't want me to overthink it. She does want me to lift and extend more in the two arabesques that come at the end of the 3-turns pattern. For three months I have been practicing this sequence and she never mentioned anything about the stupid arabesques! Now I'm worried about my arabesques and spirals instead of sloppy three-turns and following the timing of the music. Ha.
Other than that I did the usual 25 minutes of freeskating practice that I get on Mondays. I worked on some of the stuff that we usually do in the group lessons like 2-foot turns, power pulls, etc. Also I practiced some spins and had some luck with camels when I really paid attention to thinking about leaning to the left. Lately I am having a terrible time with back-sits, not sure what's up with that. Just the same balance problem I'm having with my upright backspin I guess. Oh and I practiced spirals and leg pulls!
Something cool that I have learned at physiotherapy is a balancing exercise that should help with my spins and glides. My physiotherapist got me standing on a Bosu with the flat side up, first on two feet; then on one foot holding on to a support; then not holding on; then adding a one-leg squat; then doing a one-foot squat and throwing a small ball at the wall and catching it. This progression took place over about two weeks. The first time I got on the Bosu it would wobble back and forth like crazy! This morning I got up to the part where I throw and catch the ball and it's fun. I can use the Bosu like this to practice my position changes in spins. If I feel it wobbling, I know that I would have travel in my spin at that point. Kinda cool!
Tomorrow is my test. Apparently I can come a bit early and get a little bit warmed up but not too much. Nobody will make a big deal about it but me so it's just up to me to stay calm.
Other than that I did the usual 25 minutes of freeskating practice that I get on Mondays. I worked on some of the stuff that we usually do in the group lessons like 2-foot turns, power pulls, etc. Also I practiced some spins and had some luck with camels when I really paid attention to thinking about leaning to the left. Lately I am having a terrible time with back-sits, not sure what's up with that. Just the same balance problem I'm having with my upright backspin I guess. Oh and I practiced spirals and leg pulls!
Something cool that I have learned at physiotherapy is a balancing exercise that should help with my spins and glides. My physiotherapist got me standing on a Bosu with the flat side up, first on two feet; then on one foot holding on to a support; then not holding on; then adding a one-leg squat; then doing a one-foot squat and throwing a small ball at the wall and catching it. This progression took place over about two weeks. The first time I got on the Bosu it would wobble back and forth like crazy! This morning I got up to the part where I throw and catch the ball and it's fun. I can use the Bosu like this to practice my position changes in spins. If I feel it wobbling, I know that I would have travel in my spin at that point. Kinda cool!
Tomorrow is my test. Apparently I can come a bit early and get a little bit warmed up but not too much. Nobody will make a big deal about it but me so it's just up to me to stay calm.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Bad Spirals
This morning I ran through all my test sequences again with my coach. We spent a bit of time cleaning up the circles, otherwise she thinks the only thing worth improving right now are my 'bad spirals' at the end of the mohawk pattern, haha. I think I will be fine on the test as long as I don't get too nervous or have a big wipe out. It's not an important test, but it's important to me, and I don't want to look like a chump :) Only six more days then I get to learn some new stuff. My coach asked me if I have a skating dress to wear for the test, but I don't really feel like spending money on that right now, and I would just be putting a sweater on over it anyway. Fortunately she agrees that my skating skirt will be fine. It would be nice to get a pretty dress but not just for a silly skills test...
Other than that, I practiced my edges, power pulls, two-foot turns, spins, spirals, and leg pulls. My spins were just so-so. I find that I have to practice them every time I skate to just keep them at the so-so level, to keep the movement in my muscle memory. To actually improve at them I have to dedicate an extended, focused effort, and I haven't had time for that in a while. I always have a few good spins in each skate though, even if I struggle with consistency. Today I had several spins that were perfectly centred. I don't know how I did it, but it's cool that it's within my abilities. I just have to figure out what I did differently on those ones (the others travel madly). I finished the session with one really solid backspin and one solid combination spin. It's always nice to end on a high note!
I feel very tired this evening after getting up early this morning at the end of a busy week. I can't wait to go to bed and go skating in the morning.
Other than that, I practiced my edges, power pulls, two-foot turns, spins, spirals, and leg pulls. My spins were just so-so. I find that I have to practice them every time I skate to just keep them at the so-so level, to keep the movement in my muscle memory. To actually improve at them I have to dedicate an extended, focused effort, and I haven't had time for that in a while. I always have a few good spins in each skate though, even if I struggle with consistency. Today I had several spins that were perfectly centred. I don't know how I did it, but it's cool that it's within my abilities. I just have to figure out what I did differently on those ones (the others travel madly). I finished the session with one really solid backspin and one solid combination spin. It's always nice to end on a high note!
I feel very tired this evening after getting up early this morning at the end of a busy week. I can't wait to go to bed and go skating in the morning.
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