Today I went in to practice and realized that I've got something wrong with my CCW back crossovers. I can't get the legs to scissor properly. The outside leg just doesn't want to cross in front of the inside leg. CW works fine. No problemo.
I gave it a few tries. Sat deeper on the edge. Worked my upper body position. Tried it on a circle. Tried it alternating with CW back cross. No go.
So I stopped practicing them.
I know. I know. There's this mantra of "practice till you get it right." But what if you don't get it right? What good does practice do?
If you fail over and over again, the same way, at the same task, you run the risk of training yourself to do it wrong. Practice is supposed to wire your brain to do a skill, so you can do it fluidly and naturally without thinking about it. Practicing a skill wrong, programs your brain to do it wrong.
Fortunately, I have a lesson tomorrow with Madam Mim. We'll work through it and she'll tell me how to fix it.
This is why we have coaches. Sometimes, we have non obvious reasons why we're failing a skill. My coach has to look at what I'm doing wrong, and work with me to correct whatever position, edge, or other error I've worked into habit. Then fix it.
And hope I remember it....When I practice.
Showing posts with label deliberate practice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deliberate practice. Show all posts
Friday, May 24, 2013
Monday, November 19, 2012
Fake Practice
So, while perusing posts on SkatingForums, I've noted that some people only skate when they have lessons. I know adults have busy schedules, and rinks can sometimes be hard to get to, but it puzzles me why someone would take expensive lessons in a sport and then not practice.
And, yet there are such people. So, let's talk about what you can do if you can't skate more than the time you have set aside for lessons in order to retain your skating skills.
1. Balance on one foot every chance you get--in a moving elevator makes it harder
2. Practice 3 turns in the kitchen
3. Practice spirals in the handicapped stall in the bathroom
4. Run up the stairs
5. Do some resistance work or do a stretching DVD
6. Scoot over to www.skatingforums.com and poke around to find out about stuff you're working on
7. Build the strength in your feet and ankles by using the stairs.
So there, too busy to skate or can't get to the rink? Plenty of things to do that don't need a big time commitment and you can do at home.
And, yet there are such people. So, let's talk about what you can do if you can't skate more than the time you have set aside for lessons in order to retain your skating skills.
1. Balance on one foot every chance you get--in a moving elevator makes it harder
2. Practice 3 turns in the kitchen
3. Practice spirals in the handicapped stall in the bathroom
4. Run up the stairs
5. Do some resistance work or do a stretching DVD
6. Scoot over to www.skatingforums.com and poke around to find out about stuff you're working on
7. Build the strength in your feet and ankles by using the stairs.
So there, too busy to skate or can't get to the rink? Plenty of things to do that don't need a big time commitment and you can do at home.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Keep on keepin' on
This is something I learned from Coach Amazing and my mother.
Say you're learning a new piece of music on the piano (my mother's specialty) or you're working on a test or a program (Coach Amazing's specialty), and you make a mistake. What do you do?
Do you go back to the beginning and start all over?
Do you stop and ponder the problem?
Do you roll your eyes and make a sign of disgust so everyone knows you recognize your mistake?
No. No. No.
You keep on keepin' on and work your way forward as if the mistake never happened. Put it behind you. Deal with it later.
If you stop or start over, you're training yourself to stop when you make an error.You want to skate or play right on. Part of this is stage presence, and part of this is being able to handle imperfections.
I was thinking about this today when I was working on my waltz 8. I started on my strong side, and couldn't get it right. So I started over a couple of times, then (metaphorically) kicked myself and just did the whole pattern, even though my strong side was flawed.
Lo, and behold, my weak side pattern is close to perfect. I would have never found that out if I hadn't kept on with the pattern, even after I made a mistake.
I've got issues with one part of the waltz 8, and I'll have to address it separately, but for now, every time I do a waltz 8, I do the entire pattern regardless of any flaws. And the things I'm learning, is not only how to do a better waltz 8, but how to get myself out of bad positions without stopping. So well worth it.
Maybe I'll get good enough to do a Keepin' On Bluff.
But never this:
Say you're learning a new piece of music on the piano (my mother's specialty) or you're working on a test or a program (Coach Amazing's specialty), and you make a mistake. What do you do?
Do you go back to the beginning and start all over?
Do you stop and ponder the problem?
Do you roll your eyes and make a sign of disgust so everyone knows you recognize your mistake?
No. No. No.
You keep on keepin' on and work your way forward as if the mistake never happened. Put it behind you. Deal with it later.
 |
| Maybe no one will notice your error! |
I was thinking about this today when I was working on my waltz 8. I started on my strong side, and couldn't get it right. So I started over a couple of times, then (metaphorically) kicked myself and just did the whole pattern, even though my strong side was flawed.
Lo, and behold, my weak side pattern is close to perfect. I would have never found that out if I hadn't kept on with the pattern, even after I made a mistake.
I've got issues with one part of the waltz 8, and I'll have to address it separately, but for now, every time I do a waltz 8, I do the entire pattern regardless of any flaws. And the things I'm learning, is not only how to do a better waltz 8, but how to get myself out of bad positions without stopping. So well worth it.
Maybe I'll get good enough to do a Keepin' On Bluff.
 |
| "Why yes this is the spiral from Silver Moves." |
 |
| "Why yes, this is part of my artistic program. Why do you ask?" |
 |
| "And here I demonstrate a swing mohawk variation for pre-Bronze moves" |
Monday, September 3, 2012
The Five Minute Rule
I didn't read this in any book, or hear it from any coach. It's just common sense.
We all know practice is necessary to advance. But if you're like me you kind of 'ignore' practicing or working on skills that aren't fun. Or you do a few, then go off and work on fun skills. I can work on progressives, FO3, dance patterns, even backward stroking all day, but deliberately work on my weak side mohawks? Uh-uh.
So I needed a way to make myself do stuff that wasn't 'fun stuff'. I invented the rule that I had to practice my 'un-fun skills' for five minutes straight. No breaking away to stroke around, no chatting, no resting.
I had on my iPhone one of those yoga meditation timers. It allows me to set multiple sequences of 5 minutes followed by a chime. So, beginning of the session I decide what 3 or 4 things I'm going to work on, then I get on the ice and warm up. When I'm ready, I turn on the timer and start on the first skill. When the chime goes, I switch to the second. Then the third. I don't go past 3.
Does it work? Yes it does. Even if the skill is scary, I keep after it even if I need to stay near the boards. Doing this helped me work out my fear of CCW mohawks. There's lots of work left, but I no longer freeze.
I do this off ice too. I'm working on my glider disc to strengthen my kneebend, balance and upper body position for the ever friggin' evil FI3. When I started, I was a flailer. Now I'm stronger and the flailing only occasionally happens. But boring though it is, I stick at it for five minutes.
Would this work with jumps and spins. I assume so, but it might be too stressful as most people don't switch legs.
The nice thing about a timer on your smart phone is that if a Chatty Cathy interrupts you, you can pause it then start it up again when they leave. And seeing you click off the phone, might actually get the Chatty Cathy to leave early!
We all know practice is necessary to advance. But if you're like me you kind of 'ignore' practicing or working on skills that aren't fun. Or you do a few, then go off and work on fun skills. I can work on progressives, FO3, dance patterns, even backward stroking all day, but deliberately work on my weak side mohawks? Uh-uh.
 | |||
| I need discipline. . . to get myself to practice |
I had on my iPhone one of those yoga meditation timers. It allows me to set multiple sequences of 5 minutes followed by a chime. So, beginning of the session I decide what 3 or 4 things I'm going to work on, then I get on the ice and warm up. When I'm ready, I turn on the timer and start on the first skill. When the chime goes, I switch to the second. Then the third. I don't go past 3.
Does it work? Yes it does. Even if the skill is scary, I keep after it even if I need to stay near the boards. Doing this helped me work out my fear of CCW mohawks. There's lots of work left, but I no longer freeze.
I do this off ice too. I'm working on my glider disc to strengthen my kneebend, balance and upper body position for the ever friggin' evil FI3. When I started, I was a flailer. Now I'm stronger and the flailing only occasionally happens. But boring though it is, I stick at it for five minutes.
Would this work with jumps and spins. I assume so, but it might be too stressful as most people don't switch legs.
The nice thing about a timer on your smart phone is that if a Chatty Cathy interrupts you, you can pause it then start it up again when they leave. And seeing you click off the phone, might actually get the Chatty Cathy to leave early!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Chatty Cathy
As a child I craved a Chatty Cathy doll. If you haven't heard of one of these, they were early talking dolls. Pull a ring on her back and it would repeat one of 11 recorded phrases.
Unfortunately, some of the adults who talk to me at the rink are just like her--but they won't shut up.
I'm there to practice, and I'm willing to stroke around a couple of times to catch up, but last week a woman I barely know verbally clung to me for a quarter of an hour talking about her party plans. I actually had to leave the ice and go home to get rid of her
I even had an 8 year old stalker once. She trailed me around the rink for a half hour saying, "See my spin!", "See my spiral!" "See my other spin! Is that a back spin?"
See my yawn.
Kids are easy to get rid of. Keep moving and don't make eye contact, or say "Your mom is here for you."
Adults are a little trickier. I usually use, "Well, I won't keep you from practice." and skate away.
But there's a lesson here. I never talk to a person more than two trips around the rink, then I use my 'I'll let you practice' line.
Some people are there to socialize, some to skate. Make sure you know which one you're talking too.
Unfortunately, some of the adults who talk to me at the rink are just like her--but they won't shut up.
I'm there to practice, and I'm willing to stroke around a couple of times to catch up, but last week a woman I barely know verbally clung to me for a quarter of an hour talking about her party plans. I actually had to leave the ice and go home to get rid of her
 |
| Yes, please tell me more about the cake for a party I'm not invited to |
I even had an 8 year old stalker once. She trailed me around the rink for a half hour saying, "See my spin!", "See my spiral!" "See my other spin! Is that a back spin?"
See my yawn.
Kids are easy to get rid of. Keep moving and don't make eye contact, or say "Your mom is here for you."
Adults are a little trickier. I usually use, "Well, I won't keep you from practice." and skate away.
But there's a lesson here. I never talk to a person more than two trips around the rink, then I use my 'I'll let you practice' line.
Some people are there to socialize, some to skate. Make sure you know which one you're talking too.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Okay Plateau
When learning a new skill there comes a point when you've mastered it.
Not.
Even chess grand masters, world champion skaters, and famous cricketers (hello UK visitors) never master their skills.
They're much, much better than the rest of us are, but no skill is ever 'mastered'. What the world champions, grand masters, etc. are is 'they're much, much better than the rest of us'.
So how do they get there?
What happens is 'the rest of us' (you and me), we get to a point where we're comfortable with a skill and we decide 'There, I've mastered that' and we move on.
This is called the Okay Plateau. As in, "I'm OK with that skill, I'll move on." Amateurs learn a skill and go on autopilot after that.
Big Mistake.
Getting a skill to an expert level requires challenging the skill in practice. If you just practice and are satisfied with the skill, then you probably will not reach expert skill levels. For example, chess grand masters spend enormous amounts of time on the basics, studying each move in the games of famous masters move by move. World champion skaters not only work on jumps but also skating skills. Amateurs spend their time on jumps and spins.
This is where deliberate practice comes in. In an earlier post I wrote about the concept of Achieving Failure. That's a two part concept. First, figure out how to do a skill in a way that you achieve an 'educational failure', a failure you can learn from. Sometimes it might mean doing something with more speed, other times odd entry angles, or different arm or body positions. It depends on the skill. Second, meticulously take apart that failure and fix it.
The problem is, in skating, fixing a skill is difficult for beginner skaters. We simply don't have the breadth of experience to analyze how to fix it. We rely on our coaches or group classes. Sometimes we can be overwhelmed by the sheer number of things we have to learn. Kids usually learn basic skills quickly. But it's the rare child who has the mental maturity to focus on practice and work on skills that aren't naturally easy.
As adults we can do what most kid skaters can't do, we can apply our mental maturity to getting past the OK Plateau. That means working to achieve an educational failure, then building the skills to fix that. Stroking along and doing things we're comfortable with won't hack it.
This means.....I have it in me to learn spins. And at least some half jumps. My age and my fears may stop me from going further, but there is no reason I can't learn single jumps with enough focus, time and fearlessness.
So those of you who are reading this, take heart. In theory, even if you didn't skate as a kid, even an axel is within your grasp! (with enough money, time, coaching, and good knees).
Not.
Even chess grand masters, world champion skaters, and famous cricketers (hello UK visitors) never master their skills.
They're much, much better than the rest of us are, but no skill is ever 'mastered'. What the world champions, grand masters, etc. are is 'they're much, much better than the rest of us'.
So how do they get there?
What happens is 'the rest of us' (you and me), we get to a point where we're comfortable with a skill and we decide 'There, I've mastered that' and we move on.
This is called the Okay Plateau. As in, "I'm OK with that skill, I'll move on." Amateurs learn a skill and go on autopilot after that.
Big Mistake.
 |
| Going on Autopilot doesn't improve your skills |
This is where deliberate practice comes in. In an earlier post I wrote about the concept of Achieving Failure. That's a two part concept. First, figure out how to do a skill in a way that you achieve an 'educational failure', a failure you can learn from. Sometimes it might mean doing something with more speed, other times odd entry angles, or different arm or body positions. It depends on the skill. Second, meticulously take apart that failure and fix it.
The problem is, in skating, fixing a skill is difficult for beginner skaters. We simply don't have the breadth of experience to analyze how to fix it. We rely on our coaches or group classes. Sometimes we can be overwhelmed by the sheer number of things we have to learn. Kids usually learn basic skills quickly. But it's the rare child who has the mental maturity to focus on practice and work on skills that aren't naturally easy.
As adults we can do what most kid skaters can't do, we can apply our mental maturity to getting past the OK Plateau. That means working to achieve an educational failure, then building the skills to fix that. Stroking along and doing things we're comfortable with won't hack it.
This means.....I have it in me to learn spins. And at least some half jumps. My age and my fears may stop me from going further, but there is no reason I can't learn single jumps with enough focus, time and fearlessness.
So those of you who are reading this, take heart. In theory, even if you didn't skate as a kid, even an axel is within your grasp! (with enough money, time, coaching, and good knees).
 |
| Skate Wisely. Skate with Focus. Kick yourself into action. |
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Ice Dance Way
Today my home rink had a late afternoon public immediately after freestyle. In fact, since there's no ice cut, people pour onto the ice at 430. So it's an interesting public. Lightly attended, but with coaches with students, and freestyle students (including one girl doing triples), and ice tourists. Oh, and a half dozen little boys in full hockey gear and no stops, too. I love this public session, and seldom get to go to it. Great fun.
As I booted up, one mother was complaining to me that the rink didn't have buckets or frames so she could just set her 'nearly' three year old in full gear (Including helmet!) on the ice by himself.
"Oh, buckets and frames are dangerous." I said before my brain could put a lock on my mouth.
The mother looked up at me from tying her son's skates, a cross expression on her face. "How can it be dangerous? He's got on pads and a helmet."
Well, in for a penny. "It's dangerous for other people. Little kids on frames go too fast, don't know how to stop or watch for other people and run into them. It hurts other skaters, not the kids."
The woman looked as if for the first time she realized that the world didn't orbit around her. I often have that effect on people.
Well, my work there was done so I got on the ice.
I'm doing deliberate practice starting with the weak side first. And practicing Coach Cruella's precepts for posture and stroking.
When I'm skating properly (upright body, stroking with the oblique stroke and point) I'm in pain in the feet and hips inside 5 minutes. And, I'm still not upright as far as Dance Coach wants me. I glance in the glass and I'm so verry, verry close. But not PERFECTION! I'll get yapped at tomorrow in lesson.
On the other hand, Coach Cruella's 3 turn technique (the freestyle way) is working. I'm getting some distance on back edge finally and I'm able to hold the free leg up and out. I plan to drop this on Dance Coach and watch him frown. I can predict his very words.
He'll make a dismissive gesture. "Do it that way if you want, but is not ice dance way." Properly chastised, I'll then do it his way. But I'll have a smirk on.
As I booted up, one mother was complaining to me that the rink didn't have buckets or frames so she could just set her 'nearly' three year old in full gear (Including helmet!) on the ice by himself.
"Oh, buckets and frames are dangerous." I said before my brain could put a lock on my mouth.
The mother looked up at me from tying her son's skates, a cross expression on her face. "How can it be dangerous? He's got on pads and a helmet."
Well, in for a penny. "It's dangerous for other people. Little kids on frames go too fast, don't know how to stop or watch for other people and run into them. It hurts other skaters, not the kids."
Well, my work there was done so I got on the ice.
I'm doing deliberate practice starting with the weak side first. And practicing Coach Cruella's precepts for posture and stroking.
When I'm skating properly (upright body, stroking with the oblique stroke and point) I'm in pain in the feet and hips inside 5 minutes. And, I'm still not upright as far as Dance Coach wants me. I glance in the glass and I'm so verry, verry close. But not PERFECTION! I'll get yapped at tomorrow in lesson.
On the other hand, Coach Cruella's 3 turn technique (the freestyle way) is working. I'm getting some distance on back edge finally and I'm able to hold the free leg up and out. I plan to drop this on Dance Coach and watch him frown. I can predict his very words.
He'll make a dismissive gesture. "Do it that way if you want, but is not ice dance way." Properly chastised, I'll then do it his way. But I'll have a smirk on.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Deliberate Practice and the Weak Side
The other night at edge group Coach Cruella asked the two of us who had shown up for class: "What do you want to start on tonight?"
"My three turns suck." I did one. They don't actually suck. I have a nice turn with a pretty point but because of my short exit edge they quickly turn into drop threes.
The other student's eyes popped open. "What's that?"
I have to cut her some slack; She was in hockey skates and apparently is still in learn to play. So, I thought quick about something she and I both do. "What about back crossovers?"
"Okay," Coach Cruella said, "What's your weak side?"
CCW for both of us. "So start there." She said.
"My three turns suck." I did one. They don't actually suck. I have a nice turn with a pretty point but because of my short exit edge they quickly turn into drop threes.
The other student's eyes popped open. "What's that?"
I have to cut her some slack; She was in hockey skates and apparently is still in learn to play. So, I thought quick about something she and I both do. "What about back crossovers?"
"Okay," Coach Cruella said, "What's your weak side?"
CCW for both of us. "So start there." She said.
So, upholding the banner of deliberate practice, I did weak side first. And I did it again today at practice. I'm getting more comfortable on the weak side, I can hold the body and arm position Coach Cruella wants, but I can't crossover on the weak side (yet). The good side? The back crosses are adequate. God knows what Dance Coach will say. He keeps saying "You're not ready for back crosses." He still has me doing back step overs because of my weak back edge. I guess I'll find out Saturday what he thinks!
Is deliberate practice working? Well, too early to tell. But I was able to practice all my backwards stuff first (weak side first) before I got to my fun stuff. Slowly conquering my skating phobias. What's next? Back 3s?
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Adult Practice Ice--
So, for the first time, I stayed after my group lesson and went on adult practice ice. This is really an adult public, but it's only an hour so everyone on it is in the adult group classes beforehand.
When I skated at Hockeytown Rink, there was practice ice before the group lessons and it was populated by little kids and adult skaters. I've mentioned before that practice ice with little kids is particularly scary, They're all speed and no control. You may remember the path of a typical little kid on practice ice:
Now, here is the path of the typical adult on practice ice:
When I skated at Hockeytown Rink, there was practice ice before the group lessons and it was populated by little kids and adult skaters. I've mentioned before that practice ice with little kids is particularly scary, They're all speed and no control. You may remember the path of a typical little kid on practice ice:
Now, here is the path of the typical adult on practice ice:
You'd think it would be a pleasant evening of deliberate practice with like minded adults on a well groomed piece of ice.
No. Sorry. It's worse than little kids.
A. Everyone is taller than I am
B. Even the beginner skaters are faster than I am
C. The adults are so big I can't squeeze between them like I can the kids.
D. If one falls on me---well it's not good for me
E. All the men in hockey skates are going backwards and not looking where they're going.
F. None of them know any ice etiquette. They just claim the space they're flying into and don't look.
I can't believe I'm getting nostalgic for little kid practice ice. At least there I could see over the kid's heads, and I was faster than some.
The one amusing thing that I saw on ice was a tough looking guy with tattoos, wearing a hockey shirt with the name of the local Hockey Hero on it. Then I look down to his feet, and he's in figure skates. Whoever you are, you go guy!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Deliberate Practice
One of the ideas I've been reading about over the past few months is the idea of 'deliberate practice'. This is a concept that has emerged over the last few years as a result of studies about how 'experts' gain their expertise. I've decided to work on my skating by applying some of the principals of deliberate practice.
Now, I've read a number of books and articles on deliberate practice and some steps are unachievable for me (For example, practicing several hours a day and being under 20). I love to skate, but it's a hobby. I'll implement the changes I can.
1. Practice the hard stuff first.
Start with the difficult skills first, while you're still fresh
I like to practice the warm and fuzzy stuff first: swing rolls, chasse's, cross rolls, etc. From now on I'm going to start by practicing with my uncomfortable skills: Back crosses, back stroking, back chasse's, back swingrolls.
2. Practice Intensely.
Have a set of drills planned out and stick to it. Don't be distracted by chit chat. Don't rest between drills. Focus on what you're doing, not on what other people are doing. Your skills don't get better because you're better or worse than another student; your skills get better because you work with focus.
3. Renew yourself.
Intense Practice can only be done in 90 minute sessions.
I've been doing a 2 hour freestyle. I'll try a 90 minute one, then break for lunch and practice another 90 minutes on public
4. Achieve failure.
One of the first ideas about deliberate practice is to make your practice harder so you achieve failure. Then break down that failure. Analyze it, and work towards fixing it.
For example, in my ice dance I prefer to do the dance slowly so I feel comfortable with it. To achieve failure the approach would be to do the dance at a faster beat, and identify where my problems are in the dance. Then go back and isolate the failures and work on them individually at the faster speed. All this sounds like a regular ice dance practice except for the instruction to practice up-tempo. By practicing up tempo I should be like a baseball player who swings a weighted bat before stepping to the plate. By practicing it under harder conditions, when I step back to regular tempo, it will seem easier.
So here's my goals for this week:
1. Practice my backwards skating first thing on the ice. Don't dither around warming up with skills I can already do well.
2. Have a set of drills planned for the day. So I'll start with backward stroking, then back chasse's, then back edges, and back crossovers. After that switch to the same forward. My goal is 2-3 minutes for each back skill and 1-2 minute for each forward skill. This will be followed by practice of other skills in a less structured format and dance practice.
3. Anticipate only 90 minutes on ice. Schedule my practice and lessons for that period of time. Followed by rest, and possible repeat later in the day.
4. Practice my dances solo by adding 10 beats per minute to the tempo. Instead of doing the Canasta Tango at 100 bpm, do it at 110 bpm.
5. Focus on identifying and fixing critical errors identified during up tempo skating.
I'll try this form my practices this week, and see how it goes. I'll have 3.5 hours practice before my lesson, maybe that will bring about some small changes. I'll report back.
Now, I've read a number of books and articles on deliberate practice and some steps are unachievable for me (For example, practicing several hours a day and being under 20). I love to skate, but it's a hobby. I'll implement the changes I can.
1. Practice the hard stuff first.
Start with the difficult skills first, while you're still fresh
I like to practice the warm and fuzzy stuff first: swing rolls, chasse's, cross rolls, etc. From now on I'm going to start by practicing with my uncomfortable skills: Back crosses, back stroking, back chasse's, back swingrolls.
2. Practice Intensely.
Have a set of drills planned out and stick to it. Don't be distracted by chit chat. Don't rest between drills. Focus on what you're doing, not on what other people are doing. Your skills don't get better because you're better or worse than another student; your skills get better because you work with focus.
3. Renew yourself.
Intense Practice can only be done in 90 minute sessions.
I've been doing a 2 hour freestyle. I'll try a 90 minute one, then break for lunch and practice another 90 minutes on public
4. Achieve failure.
One of the first ideas about deliberate practice is to make your practice harder so you achieve failure. Then break down that failure. Analyze it, and work towards fixing it.
For example, in my ice dance I prefer to do the dance slowly so I feel comfortable with it. To achieve failure the approach would be to do the dance at a faster beat, and identify where my problems are in the dance. Then go back and isolate the failures and work on them individually at the faster speed. All this sounds like a regular ice dance practice except for the instruction to practice up-tempo. By practicing up tempo I should be like a baseball player who swings a weighted bat before stepping to the plate. By practicing it under harder conditions, when I step back to regular tempo, it will seem easier.
So here's my goals for this week:
1. Practice my backwards skating first thing on the ice. Don't dither around warming up with skills I can already do well.
2. Have a set of drills planned for the day. So I'll start with backward stroking, then back chasse's, then back edges, and back crossovers. After that switch to the same forward. My goal is 2-3 minutes for each back skill and 1-2 minute for each forward skill. This will be followed by practice of other skills in a less structured format and dance practice.
3. Anticipate only 90 minutes on ice. Schedule my practice and lessons for that period of time. Followed by rest, and possible repeat later in the day.
4. Practice my dances solo by adding 10 beats per minute to the tempo. Instead of doing the Canasta Tango at 100 bpm, do it at 110 bpm.
5. Focus on identifying and fixing critical errors identified during up tempo skating.
I'll try this form my practices this week, and see how it goes. I'll have 3.5 hours practice before my lesson, maybe that will bring about some small changes. I'll report back.
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