Skating Class!

I'm trying out a Freestyle Skating Class again, my first session is Saturday. The last class I took was Beginner (Adult) Ice Dance. It was okay, I definitely got something out of it, but Ice Dance just isn't for me. After ten weeks of endless counterclockwise Waltzes and Whatevers, my sports med guy looked at me and said, "What's going on? It used to be your left glute was the weak one. Now it's your right. What happened?"

Ice Dance. Ice Dance happened.

But that's done and I can say I gave it a fair shot. I like Freestyle, thanks! So I'm taking a bold step and trying out the "Saturday Package" deal. It's Moves/Flow, Power and a Freestyle Class all in one big swoop. Stitch did it when he skated, and it's a great bargain, a serious workout, plus you get to work with a bunch of different coaches so you get a variety of skating input. While Freestyle Coach is the Final Boss on what I do, it's fun to get some different viewpoints. Saturdays are also the Big Social Days at the Rink. Everyone, Pre-Alpha to FS6, shows up on Saturday, so you can meet and greet and see friends.

Here's the Hitch: I'm taking the class with the kids. For the record, I do not mind skating with kids. I really don't. I share Practice Ice with kids all the time, it's not that big a deal. But taking a class with kids can get a little dodgy. I took an Ice Dance class with kids and at times it was very unpleasant. Head Coach of the class tended to direct all his instruction to them and left the adults to the rear. It felt... weird. Dance wasn't constricted to any given level, so there were Beta Level skaters sharing the ice with FS6 people. We had some kids plowing at 90MPH around people struggling with Outside Edges. (I nearly ran headlong into a kid who decided to do a spin out of nowhere smack in the middle of the traffic flow.) Plus there was the Parental Peanut Gallery in the stands, which isn't normally there during Practice Ice. That was also weird.

But I'm thinking that the Freestyle Classes tend to be a bit smaller, and have less a wide array of skillsets represented. I'll be in Freestyle 2, and everyone else there will be at that same level. The Parental Peanut Gallery will still be there, but I think most everyone knows me at this point so it's just something I need to get over.

The two Coach's names that came up as to who might be teaching it are both cool. One of them I've already taken a class with and I like her plenty. The other I've never been taught by, so it will be totally new if it's her, but from what I've heard she's great. I'm so excited, seriously. I can count on not being left in the rear by these two!

I've stated that I test USFSA, but Home Rink teaches ISI.. so I'll be doing ISI FS2. These things are (in no particular order):

Ballet Jump - I struggle with this. I can't throw my leg out sideways if I'm trying to. Put me on an 8 and tell me to do FO3's on it, and my leg swings out to the side like it's his job, but jump up and straighten it sideways? Nuh-uh.

One-Half Toe Walley - What. I'm pretty sure this is that really cute step I'm dying to know ever since Skate America.

One-Half Lutz - Working on it. I just need to be sure I'm really on that Outside Edge and that I'm really rotating the full 180.

One-Foot Spin - Inconsistent, but 1000% better than it was a year ago.
Two Forward Arabesques (On either foot – and on either outside or inside edge) - Inconsistent, but happening. Outside edge Spirals are easier than Inside Edge Spirals for me.

Dance Step Sequence - Someone showed me this once... I think it's a crossover and an edge and an inside mohawk business. Eh, okay.

So yeah. This seems doable. I'm thrilled to be on the Big Ice, doing big Ice things. Coach tells me I'm pretty fast, so hopefully I'll be fast enough to keep up this Saturday!