I want a program

I'm starting to itch for an actual program. Seriously itch for it. I skate and I love it and it's great and all, but there's that itch. Which isn't to say I've never done a program, I have. I got one briefly, and for a lesson or two it got taken seriously, but then it fell off the radar for some reason. Which isn't to say I forgot about it, I didn't. I worked on it quite religiously, devoting 20 minutes of every session to it for three months. I think it got pretty good, but no one ever asked about it and unfortunately I was too scared to ask for an opinion myself.  Plus my own program got lost in the shuffle of the Pairs Program we did for the Holiday Show.

But that was then, this is now, and once again I listen to music with an ear of, "Could I skate to this?"

Coach is out of town until the 9th, and I told him I'd have my Salchow and Spin better by the time he got back. I'm working on the things he told me to do, and I've had a remarkable string of strong practice sessions. Everything seems to be solidifying. When we started working together, he pretty much nailed my problem on the head, "You can do a lot of things, but you have nothing putting it together. You have gaps."

"YES," I was ecstatic in his phrasing, perfectly stating what was wrong, the strange problem I hadn't been able to figure out for over a year.

Now the gaps are starting to fill in, and I'm feeling stronger and more confident. Even Inside 3's are stronger and faster. Mohawks I don't even think much about anymore. Jumping is jumping, you jump. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, and the world doesn't end either way. Crossovers, edges, turns, and even some toepick things are starting to happen without a lot of me being involved, which makes me think I can devote more of my energy towards actually performing. Which is what I originally wanted to do, something I stated clearly two years ago.

So I'm thinking it's past time I got a real program. I think I'm overdue. Way overdue. After all, skating is supposed to be done to music, right? So not only do I plan to have a Salchow in decent shape and a spin happening (possibly solidified BO3's a bit more and his footwork patterns he gave me) when Coach gets back, I will have a CD and a Dress and a Plan. Already got the dress, put together the bulk of it over the holiday. All I need from him is some choreography and his eyes. He's already mentioned putting a program together, ever since I mentioned my problems with choreography. "Find some music," he said. "We'll put something together."

So, instead of feeling like Lucy constantly begging to be on the show, I'm just going to go for it. even if it means something like this...

Product Review: Lush Cosmetics Foot Treats

Typically I do not indulge in overpriced lotions. I'm a drugstore gal, since I'm usually on a budget and I'm just not that fussy. But we were all out on the holiday weekend, at the Nice Mall, and Lush Cosmetics just smelled too nice to pass up.

I wandered in, and the lovely associate asked me if I needed anything. "What do you have for feet?" I asked.

Now, the SP Teri's are great, don't get me wrong. They are hands down the most comfy skates I've been in. But a skate is still a skate, and hours in a stiff boot over the course of a week, plus walking everywhere (my commute makes me walk a mile, plus I do a mile at lunch) and off-ice, my feet get a little tired. Okay, very tired. And gross. I don't like to look at my feet anymore. I used to consider them my best feature.

But I figured I was flush and I deserved a nice treat, and the lovely associate sold me on The "Volcano" foot mask and a minty lotion for my feet, ankles and calves. She was nice enough to give me a healthy sample size of the cuticle cream, too. (Again, on a budget.)

We came home, and I put my feet up to watch the Rocky Marathon and take care of the most abused parts of me. I put on some Volcano, wrapped them up and put them in my winter slippers. Within a minute or so the tingling started. After five minutes, I wasn't sure if my feet were asleep or if this was just part of the treatment. After ten minutes, I rinsed off the kaolin clay mint freshness and did a scrub. My feet were very pink, very soft, very happy. I put on some of the mint lotion and the cuticle cream, and my once flaky, worn out, weird looking feet resembled what they had been two years ago before I started skating all the time. They still have some of the rough spots and weird folds, but they look healthy again. I wouldn't shy away from sandals.

So, would I recommend some fancy foot care from Lush? Yup. Not only do they work without being harmful (I read about that Japanese "baby foot" peel... gross) they are a nice excuse to say, "Can't get up, my feet are soaking." Even now, hours later, my feet don't feel like skating feet. They seem okay with me, which has been rare lately. I still have a nice bruise on my hip, but I think those are badges of honor now. And these are the first lotions I've had that come with an expiration date. I think these may become part of my "Regular Maintenance" program, both for my feet and myself.

I'm a big proponent of Self Care, and I have to say this stuff is worth the expense.

Motivation Monday

There's an interview online from a local ice dancer. One of the questions she was asked is, "Do you have Olympic aspirations?"

She said, "Yes .... you have to if you're in the sport and you take it seriously."

I laughed out loud. I thought of all the other adult skaters I know online and IRL who are in the sport, take it seriously, and not only have no Olympic aspirations, they don't need them.

Kids have it easy. The route is given them. Adults have the true courage, because it's a harder road to travel when the destination is unclear. But smile. Skate on. Have your goals, be they crossrolls or ISU Adult Champs.

So, how *DO* you buy new skates?

Nota Bene: I write this post not as an expert in skates, because I'm not. This is a commentary on my experiences with buying skates and in listening to the words of others as they have bought and broken in new skates. I have found this process to be challenging, and so this is written as a "you aren't alone" guide to those being challenged and likely confused by the process that is Skate Purchase.

Fewer Topics in skating are more esoteric, complex, and obtuse than the selection and purchase of the very thing that you skate with: Your Skates. New skaters are often confused, and rightfully so. What's the difference between a $150 skate set with the blade attached and a $600 Boot without a blade? (Clearly, skate manufacturers are scam artists!) Three hundred dollar boots in competing brands have descriptions that are practically identical, so what's the difference? How much skate do you need for your level? Where do you buy skates, and how can you be sure they fit right? Why is one person telling me to see one skate tech, and another is telling me to avoid him like the plague? Why does one skater swear by one brand, and another skater won't have anything to do with that same brand? And why is the blade separate, and what makes one blade different than another? Is there really a difference? Are used skates okay?

The reason why you can't find answers is because there is no one answer. No one is going to sit you down and say, "This is the right skate for you, blade and all," because they aren't you. Skate preference is unique to the skater.

The introductory Boot and Blade Sets are fine to start with, but once you start getting into your edges and jumping and spending a lot of time in your skates, you're going to start developing tastes. You're also going to start learning more about your feet than you ever thought necessary, and how to get skates that cater to your particular set of feet.

I learned that my right foot is slightly longer than my left, which is why my right skate has to be punched out a bit. My heels are narrower than a stock boot thinks they should be, so I need custom widths. This is pretty common among skaters, and in talking to people I learned that just about everyone has custom widths in the Freestyle levels. I pronate, so blade mounting can be a bit tricky. I used to use an insole, but since I switched to SP Teri's I find I no longer need it. This is just the boot.

Blades are something else. I started off on a 7' Rocker, but I was really tippy on it, so switched to an 8' Rocker where I feel more secure. (I'm debating switching back since I hear spins are easier on a 7' rocker.) I find I like my edges super sharp, so I need a blade that will hold a decent edge for awhile. I also really like my crosscut picks. Blades come with different rockers, hollows, picks, materials, colors and makes, and what makes any given one better than the other is simply a matter of personal preference and where you're at in your skills. They're separate simply because they are a completely separate factor in the skating equation. I like my Ultimas, I think they're just the right amount of blade and pick for me. But my skating partner likes a heavier, beefier blade with a huge pick.

So, how do you buy skates?

Take an objective look at your skating, and think about where you're heading in your skills. Get measured by a skate tech, and work with that person. Try things on. Talk to other skaters. Ask questions, be detailed, be honest about what you like and what you don't like in your current skates. Used skates are fine. Be open to whatever brand works for you. Be patient. If you aren't getting the answers or results you need, be Pushy. Be picky. And when it comes to cost... be prepared. Introductory skates aren't so bad, but when it comes to better boots, consider the costs of injury before putting a price tag on boots.

It's true that Expensive Skates don't make you a better skater. It's also true that settling for Cheap skates can hold you back from being the skater you can be. (My half flips and all toe work disappeared as my Jacksons became problematic, but everything and more resurfaced with the amazing stability of the SP Teri's.)

So, if you're just starting out and need to buy new skates, and you came to this post looking for answers, I hope it helped a little. I know that how much someone spends on their boots and blades can sometimes be a matter of humblebrag at the rink, but price isn't always indicative of quality of product (or skater.) And remember, what is super comfortable in the skate shop is a different story on the ice when you're breaking them in!

Freeskate Friday

What a week it's been... I was finishing up with a client on the phone and he said, "Have a great holiday!" I hung up in confusion... holiday? I was so busy I forgot it was a Holiday weekend! This is better than Christmas!

In all ways, this week was a challenge. In my skating, there were skills that decided to disappear and resurface, some pretty scary edges, there were some close calls in falls, and I became guilty of jumping 3 turns. But we stay in the game, right? While some of those edge changes were frightening, I learned I can lean more than I thought I could... and some close calls with other skaters made me sharper on my stops and reaction times. It wasn't all for naught.



They can't all be ringers, and we just keep going as best we can.

So, have a great Holiday Weekend, my American readers. Stay in the game, next week is another week to give it our best shot!