Resolved: To pass my first ice dance test.
I haven't made a new year's resolution in...well...years. But this year I'm inspired. I'm up against parenting, working and the fact that I have no natural ice skating ability. I'm nothing if not determined, but I'll need your help. Here's the plan:
- Off-ice - I have almost complete range of motion back in my ankle, so I'm hitting the gym for real. I'm doing a lot of stabilization work to strengthen my core and get my coordination back. And since my ankle injury has decreased the neural control of my glutes, I need to rebuild strength in my ass. Lots o' squats. I also need to start drinking more water. Lately, I've done a poor job of staying properly hydrated. I especially need to start drinking more at work. *Leaves sentence as-is.*
- On-ice - I'm taking the weekly group class and I'm going to be more diligent about my lessons with Dmytri. I'm supposed to skate with him every-other-week, but because of time and financial constraints, it rarely works out that way. No more! It's twice a month, surely I can make that happen.
My problem: I need a way to keep tabs on what I've learned in my classes and lessons, plan practice sessions, and track my progress. I've been messing around with an app called MySk8ers, which is close to what I need, but not exactly. It has mechanisms for tracking progress, but the note taking capability isn't working for me. Plus, it's aimed at coaches, so in some ways, it's speaking a language I don't. Do you all have any ideas?
Since I have no clue how to do this testing stuff, it'll be fun, probably hilarious, and sometimes frustrating. And of course the whole messy process will play out here. You know, if you tell us your figure skating goals, we could all share in the misery excitement. Oh! Oh! 2013 can be the Year of the Adult Figure Skater! Alright folks, who's with me?
I'm in! I just keep a hand-written diary. Yeah, you know one of those things with a thing called a pen, on that stuff called paper? As far as what I'm learning and what my goals are I keep track of them there, but it's a loose enough format to mention other peripheral stuff going on. Like for example, the weekend before my 1st Adult Comp in Oct, a close friend passed away. Did it affect my skating? You bet!
ReplyDeleteI'm probably not as diligent about off-ice training sessions, and what I practice on the ice, but I get to see my coach once a week, so I'm on the ice two or three times a week as well. I'm at the Gamma level, so really just a beginner.
My coach is grooming me to go to San Francisco next October. I'm learning a seven?-step Mohawk and I'll have Bunny Hop and a Lunge in the routine. There might be a FI 3-turn in there as well. These are all moves I'm currently learning and hope to nail before October!
This is great stuff! And sounds like so much fun. You'll definitely have to keep us all posted on your progress. Or vent, if you hit a rough patch. :-) I love hearing other skaters talking about what they're working on and the process they're going through.
DeleteSo...pen and paper, eh? I can do that.
And perhaps most importantly, I'm sorry for your loss.
Hi Mer: The ISI pretty much sets my goals for me. Right now I'm working on free style-1 stuff. This was where I was 35 years ago when I stopped skating to work on my Ph.D. My 2013 goal is to actually pass FS-1 this time! The consecutive back inside edges required for this level are coming along (finally), as are the forward inside pivot, two foot spin, back outside edges, forward spiral and Waltz jump. I need to clean up my CCW FO3 (flatten the back inside exit edge) so that I can use it as the set up maneuver for the required half flip jump. So, plenty to work on. If I can also master some FS-2 elements within the same year that will be icing on the cake. Long term I plan on getting into ice dance but want to have a firm mastery of foundation turns and edges first.
ReplyDeleteOh George, you're making my head spin! Where do you get the energy? This is amazing. It also has to take a tremendous amount of practice time. How much ice time do you log each week? You're going to pass FS-1 this year, for sure. After all, it is the Year of the Adult Skater.
DeleteI try to get on the ice at least 3 times per week. That isn't much compared to the serious skaters at our rink but I still work for a living! I take a 30 minute group lesson on Thursdays, I have a 45 minute power stroking class on Saturday mornings and usually skate a two hour public session on Sundays with our daughter. Beyond that if I can slip away from the lab for a light traffic public (eg:mid-day) during the work week (I usually have credit hours to burn off from coming in on weekends to feed cells) that's about it. That's probably enough for a geezer. I've found during this holiday vacation period (I'm going through a bunch of "use or lose" annual leave) that if I skate too many 2 hour sessions in a row that my legs are "gassed" the next day. I definitely benefit from a recovery day off the ice. I highly recommend the power stroke sessions if your rink offers that (if not come to Bowie!). You WILL become a faster, more powerful, more confident skater (especially in the back skating elements) or you'll be dead. I guess, at least for me, it's a quality time rather than quantity thing. And as Martha Steward would say, "that's a good thing"!
DeleteI haven't considered testing at this point but my New Year's resolution was indeed to spend more time on the ice and to do yoga to gain additional flexibility.
ReplyDeleteI resisted testing for so long. I felt rewarded enough just learning. Then something clicked and I decided if I'm spending time and money on this, I want something to show for it. We'll see, I guess. I love that you're going to do yoga. I think it's easy to neglect off-ice training, but it's so important. Enjoy!
DeleteThis fall I set a goal skating at least twice a week, and three times most weeks. I have been meeting that goal, and want to continue that this year. I want to master the MITF skills for the USFS pre-Bronze and Bronze adult levels. I particularly want my three turns to be clean and strong. (They were wretched at the start of the fall and have improved a good deal, but still have a ways to go.) I also want to get a big, floaty waltz jump and (hopefully) get my flip jump back. (I worked my way up to be able to a flip and lutz in my teens in the 1980s. I returned to skating again late last winter.)
ReplyDeleteMaking notes (on paper, with a pen/pencil) right after a lesson works great.
Great goals! If you have any tips based on your experience improving your three turns, please share! I'm struggling with them, but I'm determined to figure them out. And you're right about paper and pencil...I dug out an old notebook and voila! I'm tracking.
Delete2013: Year of the Adult Figure Skater - love it! I'm really looking forward to this year and the competitive season, and hope everyone has a productive & fun-filled year.
ReplyDeleteI'm very excited for you and am looking forward to hearing all about your test and the process of preparing. I really enjoy getting the scoop on dance!
I keep a small spiral notebook in my rink bag, and sometimes I'll jot notes in there, keep lists of drills, etc. I also use it write down my goals (both short-term for this season and long-term). Some of mine for this season are to catch up my MIF to FS (I skated for a few years in the late '90s, when the adult FS tests had been introduced but the adult MIF had not). I'm taking Bronze on Feb 6, and hopefully I will pass and can get to work on Silver. I'm also working on improving my spins (especially their consistency) getting my sit spin very low ALL the time, a reliable catch-foot camel & camel/sit/change sit. Also flying sit & maybe flying camel! Jumps, I am working on creating rotation correctly (with edges vs upper body), and I need to get better at jump combinations. Most of all I will be working towards relaxing and not rushing so much in my program, while also improving my speed.
Mer11 I think you bring up a good point about keeping track of practice sessions and what gets covered - sometimes I get to the end of the week and realize I didn't squeeze in some time for a particular drill or skill that I'd meant to. I usually try and devote a block of time each day for MIF, edge drills, spins, jumps and program run-throughs, but it's really hard to fit it all in. Maybe we should write an app. :)
I'm getting dizzy just reading your skating goals! Wow! I think in 2013 I need to catch you competing...if you'll let me. ;-)
Deletehaha that would be fun! It sounds like a lot but I am never satisfied though... the kids are always better and I keep trying to keep up with them. :) We should get Kristina and go skate for fun sometime too!!
DeleteYes! We definitely need to have a fun skate, maybe at one of the outdoor rinks. We'll make it happen.
DeleteSomeone needs to tell US Figure Skating that there needs to be National Adult Figure Skating Month, or Day, or Year! My goal is to test Silver Moves in April. February was the original aim, but when you can only skate once a week things get pushed back a bit. Oh well. I started work on Silver in August, didn't have a single practice in December, so I guess that's not such bad progress if I look at it in terms of number of lessons/practice sessions instead of number of months gone by.
ReplyDeleteI keep track of progress by consulting two things: the USFSA official rulebook for the tests, and my coach. We go over the rulebook together, he explains the standards to me, then let's me know what I need to improve on and then designs drills for me to practice on my own. For example, practice for the edge spirals involves holding the spiral not in pattern but holding it until you naturally run out of momentum into the center of your circle, with the goal being to increase strength and control. Then the second part of the equation is I will go to my Pilates instructor, tell her what I am doing on-ice, and get Off-ice exercises to help those. Then, every couple of lessons, my coach will do an evaluation of progress, and it is very specific (for example, "Spiral will pass; let's now focus on dropping the back more and a better head position so it will pass two-tenths over minimum score.")
You've got to figure you need to get your money's worth out of your coach, and the more you ask, the more you'll get. Here's to adult skaters AND the coaches who love them!
I love the way you and your coach are tracking your progress. So clear and tangible. What a great way to work toward your goals. Can I also say, I love how many folks are paying attention to off-ice training. It's so important and does a ton to improve on-ice performance. Good luck with everything you're working on!
DeleteBy the way, stay tuned...I LOVE your line "Here's to adult skaters AND the coaches who love them!" It totally started a post idea rattling around in my head.
Thanks! I will need all the luck! I cannot imagine taking up skating without augmenting it with off-ice conditioning. I'll be on the lookout for your coming posts.
DeleteHowdy! Do you know how to make sure that the content of your portal is exclusive in the whole Internet and no one is it without making sure you are aware of it?
ReplyDeleteYay - you're going to test! I knew it!! *does a little (off-ice) happy dance*
ReplyDeleteA little late to the party here, but after watching my friends skate at mids, I am all in for the year of the adult skater. For April though, I'm all off-ice, all the time trying to fix/strengthen my injured self so I can skate - barre3, yoga, balance work and strength. Yuck.
I committed to a summer ice program, so I'll "join you" on the ice in May, and back to a club membership/on ice program in June - weekly group, and hopefully bi-weekly privates (if real life doesn't get in the way).
Did you find a good way to track? I have a small 3-ring binder so I can add/remove pages for notes/drills/diagrams as needed instead of hauling around test books.
You know, this is basically your fault. You were the one who told me to ask Dmytri to teach me Dutch Waltz. See what you started! :-)
DeleteComing back from injury is the worst! Hang in there and definitely be diligent in your off-ice training. It really does make a huge difference. (And if you ever have questions or need help with off-ice, shoot me an e-mail. meronholm@gmail.com) Summer is such an awesome time to skate. The rinks tend to be less crowded (at least around here) and it's nice and cool on a hot summer day. Sounds like your timing is perfect!
I ended up going the tablet route with tracking and it's working out okay. I've combined all my rink-related stuff (apps, videos, notes, etc.) on my tablet. It's not perfect, but it's close enough.
Sending positive, healing vibes your way!!