Changing of the Seasons

You all know about sighting the first robin as a sign of spring. Now, I'm here to announce the sighting of the first knit gloves in the stores! Winter is coming!

Stock up! Stock up! Stock up!

And the knit gloves can't be here too soon. I skated with a gray glove and an orange glove for weeks.

I call the gray gloves Usova and Zhulin. They were capital gloves until one day, Usova disappeared.

Usova and Zhulin

So I bought....Platov and Grishuk. The orange gloves, at a rink that only had this color left.

Grishuk and Platov

And then Platov ran away to be with Usova.

So I formed a partnership between Zhulin and Grishuk.  It was the end of summer, I was desperate! Gray and orange together for 6 weeks! It wasn't pretty. I looked like I was directing traffic in Pittsburgh.

Then when I was going through a box of stuff, I found Usova again! She's back partnering with Zhulin.

Meanwhile I have no Idea what happened to Platov. Grishuk is at the bottom of the bag waiting for yet another partner....Meanwhile, Zhulin and Usova are at the end of their run....I need new gloves for the winter!!

Hmmmm, maybe if I name them Torvill and Dean they won't break up and I can keep a complete pair for the whole season!!

I should get purple gloves for Torvil and Dean. What do you think?

Favorite Skaters: Usova and Zhulin

The other day coach complimented me on my swing rolls (both sets of edges!). These seemed really simple when I started, but like other skating elements, as you learn them you discover there are hidden depths. There's the checking with the opposite shoulder, the pointing. of. the. toe, and the knee bend in a flow across the ice. Everything thing has to be timed correctly and you have to maintain a nice edge, good carriage, and power. It's taken me time to put everything together and get to the level of a competent beginner.

In reply to the compliment I said, "I'm channeling Maia Usova."  Pronouncing it the Dick Button way, u-SO-va.
Coach gave me a puzzled look. "Who?"

"Maia Usova, Usova and Zhulin."

Coach Frowny Face said "US-o-va."

What! Dick Button was wrong!

Anyway, these are my favorite skaters to watch for compulsory dances.  Here's my favorite one. Her expression is charming and full of life. His expression is typical Russian male--one of a long line of Frowny Faces. (Hate her dress though, it looks like a negligee'. It looks like it was designed solely with the intent of showing off her tuchus. But if you're a guy, enjoy.)

Those Choctaws and swing rolls and mohawks. Oh, My!

Love their whole presentation, the speed, the carriage and ultimately the ease they show in this dance. Zhulin just does a wonderful job at presenting Usova.

I miss the compulsory dances already. Ice dance is starting to look like adagio dancing with all the ugly extreme holds. The compulsories were what made ice dance a sport. Alas, now it's just judged entertainment.