Like scuba diving with sharks?
We worked almost exclusively on Dutch Waltz and we had just come out of the clockwise crossover when four crazy-fast ice dancers descended upon us from all sides. My involuntary reaction was to try to get out of the way.
"Don't rush!" Dmytri exclaimed. "If you rush you'll trip me."
"But they were coming right us!" I protested.
He went on to assure me that he knew their choreography and they knew what we were doing and everyone but me knew we wouldn't run into each other.
"After their music, I'll put on yours." While highly competitive ice dancers whooshed beautifully around me, I did Dutch Waltz (badly) to music. Dmytri yapped at me for picking up my skate and stepping over on my crossovers and I wasn't getting the lever action on the swingrolls. We ran through it over and over and each time I committed a little more to my movement, mostly because I was acutely aware of the repercussions if I didn't.
My skating wasn't very good and I had a really hard time focusing on what Dmytri was asking me to do, but I skated with the big dogs today. That's pretty cool.
Here are videos of the kids I was on the ice with, and yes, this is what they were doing. (At least I think, mostly I just saw a blur.) I hope they do well at Nationals.
Good fr you! That take some guts, for sure. I don't think one can appreciate just how fast those high level teams skate until you've been on the ice with them... and how scary it is to have FOUR skaters barreling towards you at top speed.
ReplyDeleteI was amazed at how hard they were skating. When you watch video or from the other side of the boards, it all looks so effortless, but seeing how much strength and power they had to put into what they were doing as they whizzed by...just wow! I've always thought they were good skaters, but after today, I appreciate what they do on an entirely different level.
DeleteI am occasionally on the ice with a non-US elite skater. Being on ice with a guy regularly doing triples.One H*** of an experience. His oversight of the ice is so good he knows where each of us will be when he lands, and we keep an eye on him. No one waits at the boards for him to finish his lesson either, people keep skating and follow the rules. It's a nice rink, everyone obeys skating etiquette.
ReplyDeleteI've read your posts about that guy. That must be amazing to see up close. At one point during my lesson, the kids were working on some pretty intense stuff and everyone had moved to the side. Everyone except Dmytri of course, who was completely confused as to why I wasn't following him around anymore. "We should wait 'til their done. I don't want to get in their way," I said, and yes, my voice was hushed. Dmytri propelled me to the point on the ice where he wanted me and said, "They know this is your ice. They'll be fine." I thought that was sweet, but also very respectful. Like you said - good rink etiquette.
DeleteUm..."they're" not "their." (Really, Michelle?) :-)
DeleteWow! I love that. I get my skates sharpened at the rink where Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and a bunch of other highly competitive skaters, train -- and it's incredible to watch just from rinkside. The speed is stunning. I can't imagine being on the ice with that. Good for you for being brave.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! You are surrounded by star power! I would love, just once, to see D and W skate in real life. Full disclosure: I wasn't terribly brave. I never would've gotten on the ice without Dmytri. In fact, I almost chickened out at the last minute. But I'm glad I did it. Someday when those kids are on Olympic podiums I'll be able to say I shared the ice with them! :-)
DeleteOh how fun, and yes, scary! Even when some of our adult dancers are on the ice, I get nervous. My normal response is to just cling to my coach and hope he drags me out of the way if needed. So far, so good.
ReplyDelete