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Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Competition Program vs Elements

Competition is next week!! Am I prepared? *sigh*

My previous coach used to have me work on my program at least 3 times at each skating session. She would have me do it twice in lesson, and then tell me I have to do it at least once more before I go off.

Now?

For the last few weeks, my coach has been extremely focused on the elements. Double Loop, Double Toe, Double Sal, Axel... Fair enough, it is necessary. Yes, I would need to get my elements consistent for competition. So, I have not done my program in lesson for the last 2 months - until this week when my coach decided that my program will happen in the last 5 minutes of my lesson... it didn't! I was too tired (or lazy) by then, and flopped everything.

I think my previous coach's philosophy is better. I miss her!

Before, I used to stand, at the start of my program in competition, and think, I'll just do it as I did in lesson. No worries. And I would know that everything would happen just as it always does... even though I may not land that double loop.

Now, as I want for the music during lesson, I start to wonder how I'm going to put all those elements together. I have lost the confidence in actually completing a program; the ability to work in all the connecting moves. Sure, today I was landing my double loops on one foot (finally!)... but in the program? FLOP!

What's the big *@#$%^&* deal about being able to land that double loop, or double toe or double sal or axel... when in the program they just flop???

*sigh* Am I prepared? Competition is next week!!

Monday, May 08, 2006

And so it happens...

Yes, it is happening... I am slowly giving up dance.

Why? Several reasons...

Firstly, there is no Solo Dance event at Oberstdorf. This prompted me to start concentrating on freestyle, though I wasn't giving up dance yet.

Then why?

My coach doesn't like to coach dance. Rather, he thinks there's no point dancing without a partner.

Why? Search me!

Anyway, in my desperate attempt to cling on to the thread I have been clinging on to for so many years, I signed up for solo dance at Mountain Cup anyway.

Then... ?

At the start of my lesson last week, I said wanted to dance. To my horror, my coach said, "You have to jump today." Eventually we came to a compromise - work on the dances and then leave a few minutes for that *@^#%!&* double loop.

This week, I asked his opinion on my stopping dance. He said, "Good!"

I get no more dance lessons. I am going to compete pre-Gold Solo Dance at Mountain Cup, having done the dances a grand total of TWO times in the past 2 years!

I am toying with the idea of withdrawing... *sob*