Fear

I had another private lesson with my favorite coach today! Gosh, I know everyone says they have the best coach, but my coach is THE BEST. With that being said, I didn’t give it my all today. I warmed up and felt awesome before getting on the ice. My coach mentioned in passing recently that I was “timid” and “stiff” on the ice. It hadn’t occurred to me before, but it definitely made sense. Since that moment, when I’m off the ice, I think to myself about how my attitude needs to change. I try to loosen my muscles while I am skating, but fear is holding me back.

Today, before getting on the ice I told my coach that I was going to give it my all. I’m going to try to break free from being timid and fearful. I tried to change my mentality but it just doesn’t translate when I’m on the ice. I know that I need to let go of that fear. When my coach tells me to do a one foot spin I just need to do it, without giving her the “I’m afraid” or “please no” look. Yet, I gave her these looks with the spins and toe loops today. Every single time I get ready to do a toe loop I freak myself out or I don’t actually jump. It scares me half to death. She tried to sympathize with me by telling me that she is also scared when trying new things, but doesn’t let it show. Unfortunately for me, you can read all my emotions on my face at any given time.

I’m not quite sure how I am going to let go of the fear. I feel like when kids are learning to skate they can just imitate what their coach shows them, but when adults learn they know the possible outcomes...and that impacts their performance. Adults also need to know the breakdown of the moves, step by step. Understanding where weight needs to be in the boot and such. I don’t think any other sport will make you more aware of your body than figure skating.

“Check your shoulder”

“Your boot needs to touch your other ankle before moving forward”

“Make sure your weight is on your pinky toes”

“Transfer your weight from your left leg to your right leg”

“Bend your knees….more...more….now hold...hold….hold”

“Lift your toes”

In the next month I am going to make it my goal to work on overcoming fear. Sure, I am going to work on learning more moves, jumps, and spins...but the only way I will truly progress is if I overcome it.

Half Way Through Session 2!

Today I had the third lesson in session two which means I am already half way through! I got on the ice an hour before my scheduled practice time, I absolutely love the girls that are on the ice at that time because they always let me on early. I learn so much more when I’m acclimated with the ice before lessons. I began with simple stroking and moved on to one foot glides and swizzles. Then started to work on stopping again, I really need to get that down because my habit of turning to stop is silly. 

During class we began with stroking, then worked on crossovers for a little. I am really glad that I didn’t work on them the entire time like I feel like I have been these last two weeks. Next Coach C took about half of us on the circle to teach us how to do a two foot turn. Now, technically I already know how to do this, but she showed me a different way to make it a little more challenging. After we worked on that for a bit she moved everyone back on the circle to begin learning Mohawks! I didn’t think I’d be learning this skill for a while since it’s listed as an Adult 6 lesson on the US Figure Skating Curriculum. 

Coach C showed us what the first part of it looked like, make a T on the circle (right foot in), push out so boots like like a spread eagle then bring it back to the circle. I had that down very quickly, I was astonished! With only a few minutes to spare coach came over and said I had it down and that I was ready for the second step. She also said I would have it down by the end of class, that’s in 4 minutes, but okay! I like a challenge! Do step one, then instead of keeping my body weight on my right leg I shift all my weight to the left leg and lift my right leg up. After trying it a few times I had it! I am really looking forward to working on this new skill at my next open skate practice session. Right now I have that scheduled for Saturday night, but if I don’t get an afternoon job tomorrow I will be heading to the rink! Get excited!

Learn to Skate Makeup

Class was amazing today. Shocker. I spent most of class just working on a couple skills, but it was incredible because I feel like I’m actually learning the proper way to do things. My coaches are fixing my posture, they tell me where my arms and weight should be and this really makes it easier to learn the skills. My muscles hurt from doing things the “right way” over and over again, but I know I need the basics down before I can successfully move on to bigger and better things. Today I mostly worked on half pump swizzles on the circle, both my right and left legs. My right foot has got it down, but the left foot is much weaker. I was also taught a simple combination, 2 swizzles and then a one foot glide. I was really pleased with this warm up because I was combining skills.  At the end of class, I asked one of the coaches to show me how to do the spin properly, unfortunately I was still unable to get it. I was told initially to split my body in two, upper and lower half, but I think it’s confusing me because I am not able to move both sides at the same time. I’ll work on it and it will come in time. On the plus side, I showed them the turn that I taught myself to do on like day three and they said it was a legitimate move! I am excited by the idea that I am capable of teaching myself how to do certain things on the ice.

Where have I been the last few weeks? … Missing out

OMG. I cannot believe how much I’ve been missing out. I love my Saturday coach, she is the one who referred me after all, but the coaches on Wednesdays have so much more experience. Geeze. I feel like I’ve learned more in that half hour than I have in the last two sessions. The coaches today taught me how to skate as opposed to Saturday when I’m just told how to skate. Big difference. You see the coaches today actually told me what my toes need to be doing when I’m practicing swizzles (I have to squeeze them together to gain speed when I’m pulling my feet back together). I also learned where my weight should be when I am skating backwards, on the balls of my feet. Bits of information like this has  truly transformed my experience on the ice. Who knew that your toes had to be doing something particular while doing a move? I know I have a lot to learn, but just after this one session I’ve realized that skating is made up of lots of little parts. For example, when doing the one foot glides I need to push off of one foot, tighten my core, and pick up my foot allowing it touch the side of the boot that is still gliding on the ice.

I’m so glad that I am making up another class with these coaches next week and frankly Wednesday evenings work so much better in my schedule than Saturday mornings, so if I am going to start session two I should really consider switching into this class. The other thing that is awesome about this session is that there are fewer skaters, only 4 as compared to the 10 skaters on Saturday. AND no hockey skaters, woot woot! Definitely looking to spend some more time with these coaches!