I haven't blogged in a while. Things are just moving along at a good rate. I'm taking Wednesday evening classes at Polar Ice Chandler, from 6:15 to 6:45. There are 2 more classes in this session. I might not continue these Wednesday evening classes, though, because trying to get to the rink right after work is kind of a headache. It's during rush hour traffic, and it takes me 45 minutes to an hour to get to the rink! The class is only 1/2 hour so I'm feeling it's just not worth the long drive and fuss with rush hour traffic. As much as I enjoy a mid-week skating session, I detest rush hour traffic!
I'm still going to the Coffee Club adult skate open session on Fridays during lunch. This is also at Polar Ice Chandler, but since it's lunch hour and not rush hour, I can make it to the rink in only 15 minutes. Amazing, right? Such a difference in traffic! Work is still being great about giving me a 2-hour lunch on Fridays, so I can get in at least a full hour of skating. I really love the Coffee Club...such nice people, so very helpful, and all adult ages and skill levels. It's a great supportive atmosphere in which to practice!
Today I was supposed to start the new Saturday classes at Polar Ice Gilbert. I had to miss today, though, I had some other important things to take care of. I actually was planning to miss this first class anyway, I was supposed to be away on vacation...the vacation plans fell through, but as it turns out I had other stuff to do anyway...so I'll start those Saturday classes next Saturday. I'm sure getting a lot of skating in!! I love it!
Tomorrow is Sunday, and as part of the Gilbert classes, I received several free public skate sessions plus two free guest passes. So one of my Turkish friends and her husband will come with me tomorrow for public skating to try it out. They've never skated before, so it will be new for them, and so much fun! I don't feel too bad about missing today's class, knowing I'll be skating tomorrow anyway.
As for what I'm working on, pretty much the same as I've been doing. I can see two areas of improvement: one is that I can build up quite a bit of speed now, stroking forward. I know speed is not of the essence, form counts for a lot more, but it's good to know I'm getting so comfortable on the ice and keeping form even when I build up more speed. Of course I'm afraid to try any kind of move going that fast...so I end up stroking forward and gliding for a while, then stroking again....which is fine. For variation, I do a knee bend while gliding, and then stand back up straight again. That helps build up the leg muscles! And I suppose it's good preparation for a sit spin, if I ever get that far! The other thing I'm improving on is the 2-foot 3-turn. This is the move which takes you from forward gliding to backward gliding. I have to credit the Wednesday night instructor for helping with this move, she had some great suggestions and her instruction really helped me understand where my arms and hips should be in order to get that clear, sharp, sudden turn in direction (without falling!). I can turn pretty easily now in a counter clockwise rotation, and am working on clockwise, which is more difficult. The trick is to do it in an arc, not in a straight line. As you come around the top of the arc, you twist your upper torso into the circle, and then shift your hips to match in a sudden smooth move, and suddenly you're facing backwards, gliding along! It's a very cool feeling!
I'm also practicing my 2-foot spins. I think they're getting better, actually. I still can't revolve more than 3 times around, but I feel like my balance is better, my form is better, and the initial takeoff into the spin is much better. It just takes so many tries, over and over again, to get just the right moment where you say to yourself "aha! THAT's how it should feel!" Then it takes time to duplicate that move again! Slowly but surely. Still afraid to pick one foot up, though, and try it on one foot. I still remember falling and hitting my head on the ice trying to do that. I don't want to do that again.
The other major thing I'm trying to conquer is skating backward on one foot. I see a tiny fraction of an improvement here. I'm afraid to try this out in the middle of the ice, I just don't feel confident in my balance to pick one foot up. So I've started using the low wall as a crutch of sorts. I skate backwards a couple of strokes, along the low wall, then try picking one foot up while keeping one hand resting on the wall. Not holding on tight, but just resting there as I glide. Just yesterday while practicing this way, I felt I held my foot up longer than the usual nonosecond, and I got all excited! It gave me hope that eventually I CAN do this away from the wall. One of the nice guys in the Coffee Club group, Gordon, was also giving me some tips. I asked him for help because I noticed he was practicing his backwards 1-foot gliding a lot. He watched me and said my form is good, my balance is good, my foot placement is correct, so it's really now just a matter of practicing to the point of gaining confidence. I am sure he's right. I know HOW to do the move, I just need to practice more and build up my own confidence. I remember when I couldn't even more forward on the ice at all, which wasn't all that long ago! It will all come together in good time. It's a challenge, but I love it!
Happy Skating!