Test: Adult Pre-Bronze Freestyle program (video)

I passed my Pre-Bronza Freestyle test!

Firstly, let me tell you how the last week of preparation went. Not terrible but not well either. I skated Monday, Wednesday and Friday and each session was crowded. I did what my coach advised me (and I wrote about in in the previous post) and that was to warm up 5 minutes and do the program. On Monday I didn't jump the Salchow and the program felt shy. So I worked a lot on the elements and did few more run throughs... Wednesday the elements were all in but the Salchow was cautious and the program still shy. So I allowed myself to go a little bit bigger. On Friday the run through felt nice. The Salchow felt stable enough so I decided to work on it to make it better. When I'm not confident in an element I rather don't mess with it before a test. I let it be... The two foot spin ( from the inside 3-turn entrance) didn't center the whole session, but the regular one did. And I've got the back pivot working consistently. So I felt pretty good for the test.

I was scheduled to test at 12 on Saturday. My morning was quiet. Maybe I should have skipped the second coffee, but I usually have 2 each morning... I went to the rink at 11, fully dressed. At 11.15 my coach said to warm up my muscles, I did some light running and some stretches. Went to the restroom. At 11.45 I put on my skates and at 12 I had my warm up on ice. Everything went well. I even centered the two foot spin. I was the last one skating but it went very quickly. I was on ice before I know it. And here is the video.

I felt happy afterwards. Here is how it went:
- on the first move, the arms opening, I felt stretched out and in control.
- I didn't get in a big pivot, I finished it a little earlier then usually, so I felt I had to wait a little for the music and I kind of dropped into the next step, I didn't push from underneath me
- so the inside edges were wimpier the usually
- I don't remember the inside spread eagle, I suspect I was telling myself to get it together. In the test's video it seems again, smaller then in practice
- the toe pick turns and the stop were ok
- on the moment I pointed to the judges I gave them a big smile and eye contact.
- the steps towards the Salchow I don't remember
- I did remember to think "wait" before the Salchow. And I felt I've got a good landing.
- from the video I'm surprised I hold that power edge  after the Salchow so little.
- the next steps were slower then usually because I realized I'm ahead of the music. I think that relaxed me as I've been afraid I'll be behind...
- I remember I wasn't totally happy with the Waltz Jump but looks good enough in the video.
- the two foot spin felt ok, but in the video you can see it travels
- I think I relaxed, in the sense of getting mentally tired, here, on the steps towards the spiral
- the spiral I could do better, but as the coach said, I'll do it in the performance just as I practice. And again, I fell I was thinking that the end is close, so I was slowly giving up my concentration...
- I don't remember the Half Flip...
- I gathered all my energy to tell myself to wait and center the spin. And I did :)
- and then I totally gave up on the inside pivot. The funny thing that I didn't even realized it until I saw the video. I finished early too, don't be fulled by the video, I edited it and faded the music at the end...  Honestly this is my only disappointment in this performance.
- and then, I felt exhausted...

I mentioned few times during the posts describing the preparation of the program that I was purposely holding back on the frills (edges, speed and expression) to be sure I give the best chance for the jumps and spins to happen, as they are the elements judged for this test. I have proof now, that there is enough time to hold my extensions and posses in few places, so I should remember and try on my next showing of this program and the next programs. It seems it's a known fact that the adrenaline is making you move quicker. So I'll concentrate now in getting the underlined elements bigger and better. And the plan is to show this at my local rink competition in June. It's gonna be under the "artistic program" ISI requirements as I want to improve my expression, extensions and musicality on ice.

Fashion: Making the dress for my Freestyle program

When I started testing Ice Dancing and MITF I asked around what should I wear. I saw a testing session before I even thought of testing, and the skaters were wearing from colorful and full of crystals dresses, to simple black dresses, to leotards with wrap skirts and even black leggings and black athletic jacket. I was advised not to worry about it. Still, I had to wear something...

I was in few group numbers at my ice rink shows and sometimes we had the dresses ordered and twice we had them custom made for the group. Even if the measurements were required and provided, the dresses never fit me properly. It seems I have a long torso. So I didn't feel like investing in a skating dress or even a leotard that probably won't fit. Plus I do sew! For the MITF and Ice Dance tests I've made and wore a black leotard and a black skirt. You can see them here.

I waited to work on a Freestyle program until I was fairly confident in my skating skills and so I would feel that I could express myself a little. Unlike the pattern dances that are performed on music approved by USFSA and MITF that are testes without music, the Freestyle program is choreographed to music chosen by the skater, and I think the costume should fit the music. My music for the Freestyle program is Strange Magic by ELO. And I just had the fabric for it. It is 4 way stretch a beige with light gray kind of tie dye and with a very delicate goldish foil print all over it, like crackles maybe. As many fabrics in my collection, this was a remnant. I had just a little over a yard. I knew I wanted long sleeves and a neck and luckily, as I am a size small I can cut the sleeves from what is left in the middle after cutting the front and the back. I initially thought I'll make the skirt part of the dress straight and with slits on the side. But I ended up having some leftover fabric after I cut the sleeves so I inserted a triangle at the back seems, it gives me a kind of a bustle vibe... I also wanted the back a little longer as I see many skating dresses looking longer in front while skating. My practice skirt in the video of me practicing the program, is in that shape. The fabric seemed just not long enough for the length I wanted in the back. As I wanted to add interest on the upper body anyhow, I choose to add a mesh band just up of the breast and continuing around the sleeves. That will end up being adorned with rhinestones. So I ended up with a design inspired by the 19 century "magic" and by the limited fabric I had.

I expect I'll wear this dress twice. But I like it so much, I was thinking I can cut it at hips and have a skiing blouse. For that reason I decided to line the mesh band at the top and to not cut the skirt at the waist. Instead I added a power mesh lining connected at the decorative mesh seam and at the sleeve seam and that would continue with the panties. For Ice Dancing I wore a regular dress with a bathing suit under, but for Freestyle, the body of the dress would rise when jumping if it's not pulled down by a connected leotard. This "lining" leotard ended up being a challenge because the mesh and panty fabric had different amounts of stretch between them and then the dress fabric. The power mesh was more "power" and less stretch then I expected and the panty fabric I found after 3 trips to 2 different fabric stores (to match the color of the dress), was very stretchy and soft, but a mechanical stretch, it may not have lycra in it at all. It worked in the end...

Now the execution...
Firstly I washed the fabric. I'm used to wash all fabrics. Same of them, like cotton and rayon, wool, silk go "in" after washing so I pre wash everything I know I want to wash as garments. Another reason to pre wash is to remove some "sizing" from the fabrics, that could make them stiffer or not breathable.
Then, I made the pattern. I've already made a leotard pattern from my measurement a while ago, so I've just copied it and cut the bands were the mesh would be, then cut it at waist and added the straight skirt.
Next I've cut the fabric. I have a 2 leaves foldable craft table that is opening to 36 by 36 if I open one side or 36 by 60 if I open both leaves. It is also counter high so it is very comfortable for cutting fabric. I like to cut every single piece of the pattern so I don't have to open the craft table too many times and to realign the fabric edges. This time, as I was using different fabrics (4 different ones) I was afraid I'll end up mixing the pieces, so I decide to cut just what I'll sew next.
I saw the decorative mesh bands with the lining into the front, left back, right back and the sleeves. Then I saw them all together with the power mesh that would be the top of the leotard. The power mesh I didn't saw at the side seams, it would have a seam on it's own and the panties would be added to it. I used a serger and stretch needles.
At this point I could try it on and I had to take in very little at the back near the neck and at the hips.
Now, I had to put in the zipper. This has to be done with the regular machine. That came out very wavy. The fabric is stretchy but the zipper not and the regular machine doesn't have differential feed dogs as the serge has. I wasn't too upset to take it out because anyhow I disliked the color of the zipper. It was camel, should go with gold right? It didn't. I had to pause the project for a few days until I found a better color zipper.
I wanted to try the dress while skating as I was seeing the choreographer coach for the last time and I wanted his approval. It didn't have a zipper and the panties attached but I've made a temporary seam in the back and pull it over my head and wore it over my leggings. It felt good while skating and people said it looked good...
At this point I received the rhinestones that I planed to glue on the mesh parts of the dress. I've got very excited imagining how great they'll look but I couldn't start gluing them because the dress didn't have a zipper yet, and I couldn't saw over the beads (the needle would break when hitting the stones).
I finally bought the zipper and put it in successfully. I had to do a little hand sewing from where the zipper ended to where I could fit the fabric in to start sewing with the serger.
Now I did 4 sessions of gluing crystals. I spent around an hour each time. I had different sizes in both clear and yellow color. I wanted a random look, but you know, you have to plan very carefully "the randomness". First, I put in the two bigger size crystals (that I had a limited number) after I counted and split them in groups to be sure I use the same amount on each part of the dress. I had lots of the  smaller size beads (2 other sizes) so on the next sessions it went somehow faster because I didn't count them, I was just filling in the spots.
I decided to add a mesh cuff with a hole for my thumbs to hold the sleeves down and to repeat the design of the mesh and crystals band on the upper body. I glued the crystals. I think I would like more crystals there, on the back of my hands, so to be continued...
I finally found some fabric for the panties that matched the dress color and put them in. It is a nude color with a yellowish tint. My over the boot thighs are suntan color, hopefully they will have enough contract from the panties.
The only thing left was the bottom seam. At this point I think I'll let it be raw. The only solution I see would be a rolled hem but that will make the bottom a little wavy and I don't want that.

So it took a long long time to make it. This is partly because I used unfamiliar fabrics and because it was a new design and that always requires tweaking. Still, I find the sewing takes way longer then people that don't sew think.

Working at my first Freestyle program part 8

I'm testing next Saturday. As my Freestyle choreographer cannot be with me at the test session, my main coach will. I wanted him to see the program before the test session so he'll see where my problems are and be able to actually help at the test. I was a little stressed, because when I go on tests he coaches me for, he wants me very well prepared. This Freestyle test program was put together in 6 weeks and I didn't work much at the jumps and spins, that are the focus of the test. I thought they are good enough for an Adult Pre-Bronze Test, but I know they can all be improved. The lesson went well, and he seemed pleased!

He firstly advised me on the warm up for test and asked me to start with that. It should be 5 minutes..
- forward and backward crossovers with inside edges
- jumps (Waltz jump, Salchow, Half Flip) and spins - don't rush, do them well so I'll have good body memory for the program
- some steps from the program and the spiral.

Then he wanted to see the program without the music. I messed up the Salchow (of course) but he said to keep going. As I finished and walked over to him he asked to see a Salchow. It was ok. He said that even if I mess up something I should keep going and I may be asked to show an element after the program. I knew that, but it was reassuring to hear.

Then he wanted to see the program with music. The elements felt ok, but I didn't really perform it or push. We continued with corrections... He asked me to push after the 2 foot spin (I usually do, but nice reminder) and give him a good spiral (I honestly didn't even try during the program because somebody was in my way). He was ok with it, phew...
Waltz jump was ok.
Salchow: check and wait and press!!! after 3 turn and keep the weight on the left side!!!, coach B said few week ago don't drop the right shoulder. I know that knees shouldn't come together as I jump, he said not to think knee up (as the bunny hop) but kick like a soccer ball
Half Flip: bend the knee more before toe picking to get more high. This was an instant improvement!
Spins: don't rush...
Back pivot: lead with the right heal, push inside of the heal out.

We did another run trough. The elements were ok and I did put more "push" into it. He said nice! Don't forget to smile... He said he is confused about the step that looks like a spiral and to keep it moving so the judges won't think is a bad spiral...

So I feel quite good and quite ready for the test. The dress is almost ready. I've sewn it myself and even blinged it a little bit :) I'll think I'll write a whole post about it soon.

Working at my first Freestyle program part 7

Here I am talking again about my program. And that's because there is a new development. My choreographer/ freestyle coach won't be able to be with me at the test. I went by myself to one of the MITF tests and I felt kind of lost. So I asked my main coach, with whom I do dance and moves if he's gonna be at that test session with another student already, if he'll "put me on ice". That's what it's called... What that means is that he follows the schedule, tells me when to warm up, when to put on the skates, gives me exercises to do, tries to not let me get nervous, checks the costume, has back up for music... basically baby sits and that's great especially if I'm nervous.

This week I'll have a lesson with my choreographer on Wednesday to polish the program, and one with my main coach on Thursday for him to see the program. The thing is that my main coach is very exact, plus everything I do with him is standard testing (as kids learn) quality, not adult quality. For the freestyle I've chosen the adult testing because I just don't think my jumping will ever go high enough to be considered standard. So, now I'm curious how he will react to my program. Will it be good enough for him? I kind of feel more nervous about showing it to him that the test... Will he give me corrections? In past, I didn't like new corrections so close with the test. I'm a little afraid that if he's not gonna have a positive reaction it will affect my confidence.

My plan for this week was to work hard on the jumps and spins separately, and for the program to still try to make it better, like better hand movements, smile (that's tough for me), look up, be on music. Then next week I wanted to pull back and find the speed and performance involvement that would allow me to present the jumps and spins at their best. I think I'll have no lessons. Choreography should be done and my main coach lessons slot is Thursday and I don't won't to skate too much before Saturday morning when I have the test. I would rather skate on Friday then on Thursday.

Today I was tired, I didn't sleep enough. I warmed up, did few jumps and spins and decided to run the program before the ice got crowded, as I saw few skaters getting the skates on. I ran it twice and everything was ok. On the first run I've got a little early on music at the beginning and I liked the comfort it gave me because I didn't rush the Waltz jump and the 2 foot spin (which I want to hit on a music accent). I want to see if I can get to do this each time. Then I've got to "work" on jumps and spins. The spins were ok. Not as centered as Friday, maybe because I was tired? And I'm getting comfortable with the inside 3-turn entrance before the 2 foot spin, and being comfortable I'm not rushing anymore. For the jumps, I never had much instructions besides the group classes, so I don't even know what to correct. I think, meaning, I felt, I was successful in getting the waltz jump and the half flip a little higher. The Salchow, for some reason I think was better a month ago... I had few better then others, but not something I could grab onto and be confident I'll do it better consistently. It may be just that I do it better when my legs are rested and now I jumps each time I'm on ice. Things to remember next time on ice:
-straight 3 turn (3 counts), check and wait on 1 count (I don't think I do this consistently),
-jump up from the hip not just foot (think hip and hip)
-allow upper body o rotate (it seams I'm blocking the rotation holding the left shoulder forward). A correction I've got was to not drop the right shoulder.
- work at them in this succession

I ran the program few more times mostly trying to smile. It was more smiling than last week but that is gonna be a long long process...

After writing all these I'm realizing the only issue I have is the Salchow. That's not too bad. And I have 5 more ice sessions before the test.

Working at my first Freestyle program part 6 (video)

Here is my program after my 6th meeting with coach B on Monday.
Read about the experience with coach A here, then, the first, second, third and forth and fifth lessons with coach B.

I watched the video on my phone immediately after the coach took it and I said "Oh, lots of things to improve, posture, hands, I forgot some steps, the spins were a mess, I wasn't on time..." and he answered "You just see the negatives...".

So lets start with the positive. As it is in the video, the program would pass the test, so let's check that and don't worry about it. Even if there were people in my way and I felt I'm late on music and I forgot some steps, I made it work. The jumps were there, the spins were better then last week. And coach B keeps complimenting my edges, that I worked hard for with the Ice dancing...

Now things to improve:
- Posture! The blouse that I had on was ruched and did rise up my shoulders but still...
- Don't look down! I think that would help fix the posture too.
- Smile :) I am really really serious. I actually soo enjoy skating my program, I should be able to smile. I tried today to start the program with a smile and I forgot about it after the first 5 steps. My previous coach, coach A, was around and he advised me to choose some points in the program when I'm comfortable and to smile there. And maybe to add victory smiles after the jumps. Just as I was adding the arm movements. He always has practical advice!

Now picking the program apart from the beginning
- After the inside spread eagle where my palms are up, I would like to turn them down, today, I become aware just after the first step to flip them.
- Before the step like a spiral, I don't like how I bend the right hand from the wrist, again, today I was barely becoming aware of it while I was already moving, hopefully I'll start to remember before.
- The hand movements on the next steps are all very short, like after thoughts, I would like them to blend into each other and feel more connected to the upper body. These I feel ware better, in fact I was somehow complimented on it by somebody saying that at the end of the program my arms are not so controlled and pretty as at the beginning.
- I have to remember to not push on the back crossover before the Salchow. If I feel I have too much speed I hold the next edge too long and I get off time. Actually it is not the back crossover, it is the forward crossover before the mohawk that I felt I gained a lot of speed. So, again, an awareness moment. On that forward crossover would be also a good spot to smile :)
- Remember to check the Salchow, thou, lately it worked quite well. Smile here? Maybe not, because usually I'm rushing to do the next 3-turn and then the outside power edge where I look up...
- From here on, everything was late on music, I can recover if I do just one crossover after the Salchow, but as I slowed down more to avoid a person in my way I needed 2 crossovers and I added a chasse before those. Smile :) on crossovers and swing roll.
- At least look up during the dropped 3-turns if I cannot hold the smile..
- Jump the Waltz Jump, it was really tiny
- I messed up the entrance in the spin. I want to do an inside 3-turn. I did an outside one...
- Hopefully I can hold the spiral higher. I didn't do it in a year because of the hip pain. Also I didn't get a good push into it as people were in my way, so I adjusted the trajectory. And smile :) while doing the spiral.
- Don't rush the final spin
- After the spin I should do a back pivot, I just started practicing that, hopefully I can make it better... I learned today that have to stop the spin while in control and keep that control during the spin exit so I can do the pivot.
- And smile :)

I think the biggest positive is my coach's comment that he can see improvement each time I do the program. We think with my current ability I'll be able to improve it a little more. Then I will have to get back at work, and work hard moves, Ice Dancing and next jumps and spins to be able to increase my ability.

My legs were a little tired at the end of today session so I decided not to skate tomorrow (I had to cancel the Ice Dance lesson) so I'll be fresh for Friday. My test will be in 2 weeks on Saturday morning and one of my worry is to not be too tired. So this week skating just Monday, Wednesday and Friday would be a test to see if I'm rested enough. If not, I still have next week to figure it out.

Working at my first Freestyle program part 5

I had the 4th and 5th lessons toward choreographing my program with coach B.
Read about the experience with coach A here, then, the first, second and third lessons with coach B.

The program:
- After the Waltz jump landing I step forward, do an inside 3-turn into a forward one foot spin. This is a new entrance to me. When I first tried it on the 4th lesson I coudn't do it and we used the wind-up entrance from back crossovers. The problem is that it really didn't work with the music. So I worked on it with my main coach, I've got the 3 turn, (the secret is to let the left side go back, don't check it as for let's say the toe loop). But now, I mess my spin. I think I just rush...  I have to get out of the spin facing the judges, that's new to me and working only when I have a good spin.
- I continue with a forward a chasse into an inside edge with hand movement, crossover and right foot outside edge spiral.
- As I lover the free foot (left) I cross it in front over the right and step on an outside edge, then step on the right foot that is kept crossed back, on an inside edge that's becoming the first edge of a mohawk.
- Half Flip
- Mohaw with hand movement into wind up for the final two foot spin.
- The exit from the spin and final pose to be decided.

The testing chair got back to me that I can test on March 30. I have 3 weeks. The program is done, that's good. What's not good is that 3 weeks seems very soon. The program is very nice, but what is gonna count for the test, is to do the elements right. And I didn't really did Freestyle in the last 3 years, and 3 years ago I was very very slow so I was doing all the jumps and spins without any speed coming into them. With the speed I have now, and/or trying to  keep up with the music, sometimes I'm messing up the elements... The elements are 2 to 4 jumps, that could be half or full rotations and I decided to put in 3: Waltz jump, half Flip and Salchow (this one I mess up sometimes) and 2 spins that are a two foot spin and a forward one foot spin (they both got into the program just this week and I mess up both).

The Salchow I used to do from skating forward, now, for the program I do it from back crossovers, 3 turn, check and wait, and jump. Sometimes I have too much speed, sometimes I rush because I want to be on music, sometimes I overthink and sometimes I'm tired. All these scenarios end up with me not doing the "check and wait" and the jump it's not happening. But it was just fine on it's own, including today, so it should be fine with practice.

The forward spin I didn't do at all lately (last years), I worked a little on the forward scratch spin, but just a little so I don't strain the injured hip, I worked consistently just on the back spin. The forward scratch spin I do center but I take a lot of time for it.  I think now, for the regular forward spin I just rush... I need 3 rotations for the test and I always get them, but not centered.... The two foot spin I'm used to do from pivot, always centered, and now, for the program I do it from the regular wind up, I think I get too much speed, and again, I'm not centering... I was spinning like a mad man (woman) on Wednesday. Definition of the madness is to do something the same way expecting a different result...The results were consistent: spins were not centered. So, I've tried to break it down and work on parts of it. But when I put them back together they still were off. On last Thursday's lesson with my main coach, I asked to start with the spins. And knew all he was gonna tell me (hold the entrance edge, press the edge, don't let the left hand unravel before turning the 3-turn, bring the free foot around, don't stop it laterally, hold the open arm and free leg position long enough (as I do for the scratch spin)).  This Thursday I choose to do just dance on my lesson. I thought more spinning instruction would just make me more frustrated. I felt I just needed some quiet time to get the mind and body in sync. And I'm happy that today, Friday I've got few good spins.

I'm also thinking maybe I should put the two foot spin with the inside 3-turn entrance and put the regular spin at the end. The music phrase for the spin with the inside 3-turn entrance is short so a quick two foot spin would work, and at the end I have extra time, so I can hopefully do a good one foot spin from my regular wind up entrance and hold it for more rotations than the 3 requested, to end the program in a high note...

Monthly skating review: progress and goals adjustment

The thing that I remember the most from the previous "skating month" is feeling tired. That is, my muscles were tired a lot (quads and the gluteus on the side that was hurt), some days I was sore, plus, I felt tied overall after skating. I reviewed again causes for tired muscles and I can definitely improve some aspects. It is said the muscles need rest to recover after a hard work out, and I do have 2 rest days per week. It is also said more sleep is needed when you build muscles, and I actually had few shorter sleeping nights (involved with helping stray cats, but that's a story for another time) and this may well be the only reason I'm tired. Then, maybe my protein intake needs a boost. And also, I've fallen out of the habit of warming up before getting on ice. Other tips for muscle recovery arehydration, more iron rich foods, foam rolling, bath with Epson salts.
Update 3/6/2019. USFSA advice on it, here.

Freestyle: I've had 4 lessons, all towards choreographing my program. I've got very little technical explanation because I have the elements needed for the test, I needed help in the connecting elements and hand movement. I'm very happy of how this is going. I feel I've learned soo much. At this point I'm working on entering the forward one foot spin from an inside 3 turn. The music would ask for a quick entry in the spin so I really really hope I'll get this. We also tried to bring the hand over the head while spinning and that I can do if the spin is nice and centered. Other spin "developments", with my choreographer/coach, we decided that we don't really like the scratch spin from an esthetic point of view. On the other hand I feel the music asks for something fast, so I may be tempted to consider the scratch spin... But, for now, my inside 3-turn entry is wobbly, and if I don't center, I cannot do the scratch spin anyway... Now, while working with my main coach on the back swing rolls, he took me by the board and wanted me to push the hips forward and curl the shoulders back, as for a layback spin. I immediately said that that is my favorite spin and can we to work on it. He said that I need the scratch spin centered and strong first. So now, I have the motivation to work on it. I was avoiding it in order to not put pressure on the hip abductors that were the initial hip injury. And the last spin update, the back spin... it's getting better and better, but I don't work on it diligently anymore. I still have no instruction on the pull exit, I step inside to exit, but I need less and less concentration for the entrance and I usually center it.

I feel I'm using like half of my skating time to work on the program and that is taking away from the Ice Dancing and MITF. And I'm not actually working on Freestyle elements, I'm using what I already know. I don't know how much time is needed to learn a program. We have now 3/4 of the choreography done and it gets harder and harder to run it all, especially on music because of other skaters getting in my way. And I get stuck trying again and again. While for now I'm truthfully excited about working on it, I do hope I'll get better at doing the whole program not just half of it. I was hoping I can test the Freestyle Pre-Bronze program on March 30th in a way to be done with it and get back to the rest of my training. Of course I wanted to keep it trained for hopefully showing it at my rink small competition in June, but I want to take the focus off it. But the March testing session is already full, the next one is beginning of May. So, I'll have to plan my time.

MITF: I occasionally did some of them. I think I have now my hip strong enough to be able to work on them. At this point the biggest obstacle is feeling tired. If I feel tired I'm not totally controlling my body and maybe my attention is less then optimal, so I'm not eager to work on delicate things and risk to fall and hurt myself.

Ice Dancing: I had just 2 lessons with my main coach this month. The Ten-Fox is progressing with the speed of snail. I expected it. My coach seemed disappointed last Thursday with my complacent attitude. Then on Friday the skating session started empty and I thought to work on the Ten-Fox first. Bad idea because that got my legs tired and I wasn't efficient the rest of the session. So, no I cannot have it all. With the pattern dances, I feel that when I work at them, they really take over all my skating. They make my muscle tired because there is a lot of knee bending in Ice Dancing so I cannot really work on the other skating kills after I work on dance. They also need empty ice, many times that is only on the Tuesday session that I now don't take, I use Tuesday as a rest day... Then, my coach thinks that I need 2 lessons a week in order to really progress. But I skate 4 days total! As I said Ice Dancing takes over if I let it. I think I have to let them develop at a slow pace and then push when I decide to test.

Off Ice: I still have 2 weeks from this sessions for both my ballet activities. Then 2 week off and then a new 2 months session starts. The ballet conditioning on Fridays just before my skating I'll let go. It's not interesting enough and I'm not sure we are encouraged enough to hold the correct form, plus it's getting me tired before skating. The beginner ballet on Saturday is not really beginner, and I half love it and half feel frustrated about it, about not knowing what we are doing so not be able to follow along. I am getting better... And I do feel is gonna help a lot with posture, hand movement, choreography and muscle conditioning. And I love ballet as an art form a lot. I just didn't get yet to feel joy or accomplishment.

So the plan for this month? Hopefully I'll be better rested, by sleeping enough, but I cannot really control this. What I can control is to warm up off ice before the skating. And listen to my body and train just as hard as I can so I don't injure myself again.

I've reached out to the test chair to double check if the session is full and she said she'll work on the schedule tomorrow. Who knows, maybe I'll get to test... Then the Freestyle will be priority. If not, I'll have to push it back and whenever I feel the strongest I should work on the moves and whenever the ice is emptier I should work on Ice Dancing. But I should remember to not start with the Ice Dancing because that kills my legs for the rest of the session...