2014 Skating Resolutions

[Loops]

This is a good idea- resolutions in print!

My resolution theme this year is discipline.  This translates easily into skating.  I need more of it.  Skating and discipline haha.

I need/hope to:

• Stretch every day- get my splits back and eventually my layback
• Improve off-ice training discipline- work out two afternoons a week while DD naps

In terms of specific skills to acquire and goals to achieve:

• Center my spins
• Make it mindless to lift my free-hip
• I'd really like to get back up to the Pre-silver dances, but will be happy if my coaches eventually let me work on Bronze
• For next season.....Compete solo!

[pompeiii]

This year I hope to:

- Improve my mohawks
- find my missing right inside 3 turn
- improve my waltz jump
- actually do a salchow
- do a toe loop (dependent on that pesky missing 3 turn)
- learn a 1 foot spin

[Sierra]

My only resolution for this year is to skate healthy.

It's also questionable if I can afford skating at all after my eighteenth birthday in the summer, because I'm moving out.

[jjane45]

I want to be able to enjoy skating at leisure again, instead of thinking I should be taking lessons and testing...

[FigureSpins]

Resolved:

. Nail the layback spin; improve combinations and change-foot spins
. Get back all singles up through Lutz
. Better footwork through practice!

Depending on income and expenses, I'd like to take some Moves and Dance lessons.

How to make this happen...
. Keep losing weight (down 30 lbs and counting; long way to go still)
. Work out off-ice at least three days/week, including weight and off-ice jumping workouts.
. Skate at least three times a week for an hour or more.  (Too little, but it's a good starting goal.)
. Budget better and cut down on expenses.

[sk8lady]

*Consistent camel of more than 3 revs
*Test Fourteenstep before 2015
*Skate clean Freestyle program at AN!! (I would like to not be last but I will be pretty happy if I just manage to get at least 3 revs on a backspin and a nice exit, and don't blow up on my loop or flip)
*Get back to consistently practicing lutz
*Get Silver Free program choreographed so I can practice it over the summer if we have any ice
*Remember to practice camel-sit every practice

And a hope: have ice less than an hour away at least 2 days a week all summer!!

[JSM]

I am going into competition season realizing that last year was a rough one!  I had multiple injuries that kept me off the ice, and an unemployment stint that made it impossible to have any lessons for a few months.  Therefore, my much more realistic goals for 2014:

1. Have a respectable program at Sectionals - (attempt my jumps and finish the program without dying)
2. Take my senior MITF test
3. Strengthen my knee so I can practice jumps more often!
4. Lose 5 pounds

I think these are all doable!

[FigureSpins]

I

Resolved:

Skate more, eat better, and get skates sharpened regularly.

I'll add on "Test something" - not sure if it'll be Moves, Freeskate, Dance or ... maybe I'll finish my first USFSA Figures test.  (I was an ISI skater.  I passed one of the patterns, lol.  Ditto for Pre-Bronze dance.)

[WaltzJump413]

*Finish ISI Basic Skills and "graduate" to Freestyle
*Get at least one or two consistent jumps (probably 1/2 jumps) and one or two consistent spins
*Skate a program in a show or competition Not a solo but was part of a group number in our rink's annual show camp
*Keep working on improvement in basics (stroking, crossovers, turns, stops)
*Have fun and keep enjoying the process

[littlerain]

WaltzJump, that is awesome you got one of your resolutions already!

Here's mine -
1. Get back those missing inside 3 turns. And do all of the 3 turns FAST and not be scared haha
2. Stop feeling weird/scared/etc about stuff in my "bad direction"
3. Get a private coach and start thinking about testing
4. Consistently land 1-2 single jumps
5. Learn 1-2 spins well

[WaltzJump413]

WaltzJump, that is awesome you got one of your resolutions already!

Thank you, littlerain!
Best wishes on your resolutions, too!

[Isk8NYC]

Should we make this more enticing with some +GOE at the end of 2014?  Say, +95 if you complete each resolution, +48 if you complete one or more?

[WaltzJump413]

Should we make this more enticing with some +GOE at the end of 2014?  Say, +95 if you complete each resolution, +48 if you complete one or more?

Sounds good!

[Loops]

Should we make this more enticing with some +GOE at the end of 2014?  Say, +95 if you complete each resolution, +48 if you complete one or more?

Hey, why not!

Also a thought, since the standard resolution time falls right in the middle of the skating season, what do you think about having our our resolution holiday in say, August? 

[techskater]

Why not membership season-July to June

[WaltzJump413]

*Finish ISI Basic Skills and "graduate" to Freestyle
*Get at least one or two consistent jumps (probably 1/2 jumps) and one or two consistent spins
*Skate a program in a show or competition Not a solo but was part of a group number in our rink's annual show camp
*Keep working on improvement in basics (stroking, crossovers, turns, stops)
*Have fun and keep enjoying the process

[Kitten23]

A bit late, but...

1. Improve my Silver MIF so they are ready to test and pass.
2. Land all my singles consistently so I can return to my long lost (2) double jumps.
3. Skate more.
4. Skate my programs during at every session at least once.
5. Compete more.
6. Find someone who will actually comment on my blog (I miss that).
7. Take my Silver freestyle and pass.
8. Not care that people are actually looking at me when I skate (even in practice).

[Kitten23]

I don't know how to edit, but #6 has been taken care of!!!!   THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[Live2Sk8]

Sent these to my coach in January - will document here for my tracking!

* Compete in 6 competitions in 2014, 2-3 events each
* Perform in 2-3 exhibitions
* Test and pass at least one of the 3 Preliminary dances, partnered (I have yet to skate partnered, yikes!)
*  New Dramatic program by midyear
* Modify FS program to be a Bronze FS test program; must get a lower sit spin
* Improve speed, power and edges
* Improve jumps and spins

I may not be able to achieve all of these, especially the tests, but they are worthy goals.  Chronic injury is holding back the sit spin but at least I am working on it now.  I wasn't able to work on it for almost 2 years.

[dlbritton]

1) Pass Adult 4 and start on 5 by my 1 year skating anniversary in July
2) Pass Adult 5 and start on 6 by Halloween
3) Pass Adult 6 by Christmas
4) Participate in a December holiday show (either at the rink or the coliseum)
5) (Non-skating but somewhat related)-Complete snowboard instructor training by Christmas

[CaraSkates]

Time for a mid-year update! It's been about 6 months since I made my skating resolutions, let's see how I did!

1. clean axel in competition - achieved this in April at a local competition!
2. land 2sal
3. pass Juvenile FS - passed May 1st!
4. pass Gold FS - passed May 1st!
5. pass Junior MIF - took a break from MIF for competition - just started working these again. I'd like to try testing them this fall.
6. pass Tango & Rocker Foxtrot - passed Tango May 1st! Rocker is getting a lot better and I may try testing it in August.
7. compete at Adult Sectionals - medaled in all three events at Sectionals and competed/medaled three events at Nationals!
8. improve back/flying camel spins

Four and a half out of eight done! Not too shabby. I'll add in one more -
9. Gold FS program ready for competition

[littlerain]

Cant believe it is June already!

Here's where I'm at with my resolutions!
1. Get back those missing inside 3 turns. And do all of the 3 turns FAST and not be scared haha - can do all the 3s at varying speeds now. So, that's progress

2. Stop feeling weird/scared/etc about stuff in my "bad direction" - this is getting better too!

3. Get a private coach and start thinking about testing - took my first private lesson in May and i plan to work on the tests even if I don't actually test them. (Though I'm leaning towards testing them!)

These I still need to focus on  -
4. Consistently land 1-2 single jumps
5. Learn 1-2 spins well

[WaltzJump413]

Congrats to you both, littlerain and CaraSkates! Awesome!

[Live2Sk8]

Wow, half the year is over!  Update on my progress on 2014 wish list:

* Compete in 6 competitions in 2014, 2-3 events each    So far, competed in 3 competitions, 3 events in 2, 2 events in 1.
* Perform in 2-3 exhibitions   1 exhibition and another this week
* Test and pass at least one of the 3 Preliminary dances, partnered (I have yet to skate partnered, yikes!)   Finally tried a few steps with my coach so that's progress but testing this year may be ambitious
*  New Dramatic program by midyear  DONE!  Exhibition this week and maybe a competition in next month
* Modify FS program to be a Bronze FS test program; must get a lower sit spin    Working on sit spin; aggravated chronic injury
* Improve speed, power and edges    Think I have made progress; not racing to finish programs on time so I must be faster
* Improve jumps and spins    Good days and bad

[skategeek]

Mid-year update!

I think I'm going to keep this simple...

Starting in February when I get back from my trip:

* In addition to weekly group class, skate at least once per week, at least 3 weeks per month So far, so good... second weekly class and/or public sessions nearly every week.
* Start regular off-ice exercising, even if it's just stretching, 2x per week.  Doing this off and on, but need to be more consistent.
* Fall at least once so I'm not so scared of it.  Not yet!
* Build confidence in general (not sure how, though...) Bought more padding/protection (knees, wrists) to maybe help boost confidence.  Now I need to actually use it.

I think I need to rethink my approach to resolutions in general... some of these aren't specific enough for me to really be able to tell whether I've accomplished them.  I need actual achievable goals to "check off" (e.g. Pass ISI Beta).  I may revise my list later.