First Competition - Tips/Advice for a nervous skater!

[Doubletoe]

You are probably smart enough to know this (i.e., smarter than I was at my first competition), but don't try to do anything *better* than you normally do it in practice.  Don't try to make your jumps bigger, don't try to skate faster, don't try to spin faster, don't try to present so much that you lose focus, etc. etc.  Anytime you make any adjustment like that, it affects you in unexpected ways and tends to make you mess up that element or the one after it.  So whatever you're doing in practice, just go out and do that!

[skategeek]

Good luck tomorrow!!!

[Vicki7]

I'm home! What a day, I'm physically and emotionally drained right now, but I have to say I LOVED IT!

We had one of the judges deliver a seminar on NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) for skaters this morning, and a few competitors attended. She gave us some good advice and techniques to help keep the nerves under control, and I have to say I think they helped me a lot, as I'm usually quite a nervous person.

I skated the warm up just doing stroking, and a few crossovers, getting a feel for the ice, and was the last in the group of 4 to skate.

I tied with another skater, and due to there being fewer competitors in the pairs dance than expected, we both got a bronze medal.

I am thrilled - there will be a video going in the competition section as soon as I have it from my friend who filmed it for me

I did miss out a crossover though, which I didn't realise until after when my coach told me - but she said I nailed everything else I think I have the competition bug

[twinskaters]

That's great! I'm glad your first time out was a positive experience.

[WaltzJump413]

Vicki, that's AWESOME! Congratulations!!!
Looking forward to seeing the video.

[littlerain]

Yay!

[Loops]

Awesome Vicki7    So glad it went well, and that you had fun.  Congrats, too on your bronze medal.

[fsk8r]

Well done. Conquering the nerves is always the biggest battle, but getting off and wanting to do it again means you've got the bug.

[Doubletoe]

Yay!!  Congratulations!!

[robinsnest]

Very cool!  Congrats!!!