Wow, it's been a YEAR since I started skating!  My very first lesson was April 2010.  I can't believe this much time has gone by.  I haven't gotten bored with skating at all, in fact my interest is even higher, now that I can do more moves.  I still have certain moves that I have a mental block against....such as clockwise crossovers and 1-foot spins.  Physically I know I'm ready to do these, but mentally I just can't....yet.  But that's OK.  I am just excited to have found a sport I can enjoy so so so  much!!

The good news is that I'm improving on the moves I could already do, plus I'm learning to do a spiral, which is new for me.  The best news of all, is that my favorite skating coach, Tabitha, was able to get permission to coach at Oceanside rink!  So I have been taking private lessons with her once a week for the past couple of months!  We've had 7 lessons, but had to take a few weeks break due to my busy schedule and her illness.  But we are back on track now, and these private lessons are a HUGE help.  I absolutely love Tabitha, she's such a wonderful, patient coach, and becoming a good friend as well.  Somehow we "get" each other, I think.  We aren't really working on any new moves for me (other than the spiral), but rather fine-tuning the moves I already know, so they look more polished, professional, and artistic.  Also we are learning to transition from one move to the next, and a couple of weeks ago was the first time I really felt like I was "Skating", not just doing independent moves.  It was SO awesome!!!  I would much rather do a few things really well, than do many things but sloppy.  I do NOT want to be a sloppy skater!!

I've picked out some music to start skating to, maybe it will become a short performance by the end of the year.  That's my goal, anyway, so now I have something more to work towards. 

So in addition to my early Monday morning (6:45 am!) lesson with Tabitha, I also try to go once a week to the Coffee Club skate during my lunch hour, at Polar Ice Chandler.  I went today, as a matter of fact!  I've also recently discovered Polar Chandler's freestyle sessions on weekend mornings!  I've been to one, and I will try to go at least one weekend morning from now on.  I was really happy to find a quiet time to skate over the weekend.  That means I try to skate 3 times a week!  Yay!

Here are some recent videos of my progress, taken during my private lesson with Tabitha, working on the transitions I mentioned above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNsorplk-zs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSbEVUh15Rk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT1ldTin0PY

Happy Skating, and Happy Anniversary to me! :)