Adventures in Rink #2: The Rink of Misery

The story so far. I signed up for Basic 6 in Rink 2, so I could get some mid-week ice time and work on my FI3.

So far, life time number of FI3 done successfully? 2.

So, yes, I can do a FI3 turn, but I can't glide out. A few weeks ago, I had my epiphany about how to do them, then no matter what I did, I could never get that moment back again. I spent 45 minutes on public one day trying to work through them, and they actually got worse!

However, the rest of Basic 6? I'm a star. I can even get my elderly leg up to true hip height with toe point on both sides with good style points. Back stroking. Yes, fine. I'm doing back edges already. T-stops. Yes, yes. Great T-stops. Alternating with  only two strokes in between. Tits up, short complete stops with good shoulder position. Two foot turns? The coach actually told me they were 'elegant'. On a curve, either direction, on the straight ditto. Two foot spin--passing. Bunny hop--passing.  FI3--no passing.

So, this week I was the only student. I turned to the coach, and said, "I'm not getting out of here am I?"

He kind of talked me down from whatever pinnacle of FI3 agony I was suffering through at having to do Basic 6 again.  He give me a pep talk. "You can't pass without forward inside threes.  You came here to work on these, you really need to master them."

So we spent the most of the lesson working on my FI3. I finally got back the feeling of the entry the turn. And he identified the the problem with my exit glide: I glide out on the flat, so I just grind to a stop.

Still not passing.

There are times like these I just treat whatever I'm doing like structural engineering: Bring the free foot to the heel, hold, rise up turn, ....then try to hit that back  edge somehow without forcing it for the exit glide.

"You're like so many adults," the coach said, "You make it so mechanical, I want you to feeeell it." He demonstrates.

Nope. Not feelin' it.

 So what do I do?

A.

or 

B.

 Yes, I will take Basic 6 again!

The answer? Probably, B. I may be able to twist the next sessions coach's arm and just tell him/her to let me work on FI3. Thank goodness I have freestyle group at my home rink to keep me from going mad from boredom at Rink 2!