The Cure for the Struggle of Back Threes

I've struggled with Back Threes forever.

I may struggle with them for some time to come.

What's my biggest problem? I bob forward when I make the turn and  that forces me to drop my free leg. Or maybe it's the other way around. Here's a picture.

Drinking Bird

I'm so ashamed I've spent years struggling with this.

On the other had for some reason,  this last lesson, the bobbing went away. I've still got to master the turn, but I've broken (I don't know how) the bobbing.

I'm going out to Celebrate!!

 

Expressions My Coach Makes

------>(Items in parentheses are unspoken)<-------

(You did something wrong, I'm thinking of a way 

to be tactful about it)

Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

( I don't care. ) Let's do it again anyway.

(Not bad. Not bad at all.)

That was good, let's add a mohawk in that pattern. 

I love a cute little mohawk.....

(Yes, I'm the coach, it IS all about me! )

When Coaches Collaborate

I have two coaches: one is a group coach, the other is a private coach.

They Don't Know Each Other!

They work at rinks 90 miles apart, take students to the same competitions, go to the same LTS USA training sessions, same PSA meeting. Have never even heard each other's name.

Group Coach teaches the LTS USA curriculum

(anything between FREESKATE 1 and 4)

in group

Then Private Coach asks me what I learned in Group--

So she can go over them!

Those 2 kids, they're her other students that skate around me and get in my way.

 Though honestly, sometimes I just want to lie so I don't have to do Back Inside 3's....again.

Competition and Performance Makeup for the Male Skater

Now every woman skater knows that if her coach says "for this performance lay the makeup on thick," you should be prepared for more makeup than you normally wear.

Nice but this still needs darker lipstick

And for skaters with darker complexions

This is from a stage makeup tutorial

You going to be 20+ feet away from your audience, moving fast, rotating, jumping, not going to a cotillion to be presented to society. Don't be shy, Be bold. If you have no experience, find someone who can help.

 

But guys? Guys.have.no. IDEA!

The coach says, "If you don't wear any make up your face will just look like a blob  out there on the ice. The lights will be so bright your face will wash out."

Most guys may get some help from a friend or relative and come up with something like this as a first attempt...

 "Damn," he thinks, "I look good"

Then the coach takes him aside, "No, heavier!"

I should say, that in my last 'performance' I used dollar store makeup. I was on ice for about 60 seconds as a slutty bombshell. I lathered makeup on. Then I topped it off with some sparkly stuff someone loaned me from her make up kit. 

The rest of my makeup came off, but that sparkly stuff stayed on there for DAYS!!. I flew across country leaking sparkles on airplane upholstery. Men of my age openly stared at me. I eyeballed the cute one and said, "Stage make up. Won't come off. Ice Show." Okay ladies, if you're single and you don't want to be, this has to be on of the best "Hey there" lines ever. Oh, and if you want to meet some widowers of my age, go to the Social Security Office and get in line before the door opens. Dress up, and put on the sparkly make up. You've got the line there, just waiting for you.

So you're in Group. Play Group Skills Lesson Bingo

Create a card for everyone in group.  The one below is an example. Check off what the coach has you do or what the coach says. If your coach has favorite sayings, throw those in too.

  Click here for the page to make more bingo cards.  You can make as many cards as you need for your group and even customize them for your level of skating. The card maker will mix up the order in columns and rows.

I think this can be fun for adult groups of maybe Basic 6 and above. Just don't tell the coach.

I Jump from Pre-Free to Freeskate 4---It's not a miracle

Remember how my groups have varied from just me to just two or three? Well, this time it was 6 kids. And they have yet to learn mohawks. So I murmur to the coach, "Okay, I'm better than them, at least for the next two weeks." Yeah, she laughs....Because , as we all know, kids will learn faster and get better and be working on their axels while I'm still struggling with a sit spin.

This may be my only sit spin

So, my advice is if you're in my situation, an advanced adult skating with a group of kids, get yourself way far away from the group to practice. It lets the coach give them more attention, and you can work on your own skills. The kids were learning 3 turns--I was doing alternating 3s. They were learning mohawks--I was doing chains of mohawks. They're learning spins. I'm spinning both ways. This coach knows me, and it gives her a chance to focus on the new learners.

Anyway, after group  was over the coach came up to me and said, "We'd like to move you to Freeskate 4."

Man, I knew it wasn't because I'm . just . that . good.

It's because they have a Freeskate 4 class with Just.One.Student.

Oh, that poor girl. She's working on her half loop and flip, and here I come--working on forward and backward spins, a butt load of footwork (okay, I can do that), back threes, and edge pulls--to catch up to her level.

But Semi-Private Lessons?

 

There's a Story Behind This Sign--it could be any rink

I love the ALL CAPS line. 

Maybe that should have been the first one.

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