2015 Skating Resolutions

[Neverdull44]

Judging  . . . .

Eons ago, when I was a snot nosed, school-aged twiggy girl on the ice . . . I was "too embarrassed" to hold my arms out when I skated.    Coach Bob took me aside.   We had a discussion about my self-consciousness.  I was afraid that by putting out my arms, people would watch me . . .. . (i.e. they'd judge me).   Coach Bob asked me to pick out the good skaters at the rink, and to watch whether or not they had their arms out.   They did.    Then, he said this, "Neverdull, there is always going to be someone better and worse on the ice than you."  Then, he had me pick out someone who was worse than me.   He asked me if I constantly thought about that other person on the ice.   I didn't.  I said something like, "No, I am worried about what I am doing and learning."   He said, "Precisely".   

(In other words, everyone on the ice is pretty self absorbed.   So, get over yourself.   No one is really watching you.  They are worried about improving themselves.  This is a solo sport.  Be the best that you can be.   Cheer on the others in their triumphs and help them up if they fall too hard.  And, skate with your arms out.)  And, once you get being self-conscious out of your mind, you can really skate!

[littlerain]

Yup, so true. People have quick impressions but generally don't spend a lot of time thinking about you further lol. Neverdull, I had those exact thoughts as a teen!!

[twinskaters]

I know you all are totally right! I just have years of neurosis over this sort of thing. I grew up doing ballet and then was on the dance team in high school. The coach was a horrendous beast and took great pleasure in belittling people, including me. She would shout "twinskaters, you suck!!!" from the top of the bleachers and basically convinced me I had zero dance or athletic talent. Skating is actually helping me overcome this stuff 25+ years, later but I've got a ways to go, hence the resolution.  :-)

[Neverdull44]

Twin skaters, I am so sorry that you went through this abusive teacher.   It sounds like she was like a cult leader and used cult tactics to try to get followers.    One of these tactics is use of fear and manipulation.    Chuck Stewart is a PhD and writes on "Ballet Cults", but his article is not on-line. I bet if you read it, you'd find some similarities in your experiences.    Humor me, and read up on the "BITE model of mind control" by Steven Hassan.   This type of mind control is hard to erase, and could, naturally, be the cause of your fears.

[twinskaters]

Thanks, that is some interesting reading! I can see some parallels there, for sure. She was really a horrible person and apparently still is. She lives a few towns away and I always imagine running into her and giving her a good piece of my mind. Except I am pretty sure I saw her watching my girls goofing around and being silly in the nearby mall a few months ago and all I did was frantically text my best friend (also a dance team survivor). 

Sorry to have taken this conversation so far OT! But I will keep working on this one and it is good to put it out there and feel a little accountable.

[davincisop]

Alright. These are the goals for this year.

1) Pass Bronze Freeskate.
2) Pass Silver Moves
3) Pass Gold Moves
4) Work on Silver Free, test if ready.
5) Solid, 20 rev scratch spin and backspin
6) Land all singles
7) Start axel, does not have to be landed
Start doubles, do not have to be fully rotated yet.

[alejeather]

Okay, time to document my goals for the year.

1. Land clean Axel in competition
2. Land Double Salchow
3. Land Double Loop
4. Start Double Toe
5. Pass Gold FS
6. Compete in my first Gold/IJS competition
7. 8-rev camel spin
8. Add IJS spins to repertoire
9. Pass Foxtrot and European Waltz
10. Add off-ice routine to my training

[PhysicsOnIce]

I tend to do my resolutions based on Season rather than year, but here are the ones for the rest of season 2014-2015 season;

Rest of 2014-2015 Season:

• Lose 5 kg
• 
  
  • Skate a clean Novice A program
  • Level to Novice B
  • Land a Clean Double Sal in competition
  • Land a Clean Axel in  competition from an outside spread eagle
  • Land a Clean Double Loop in  competition
  • Land a Clean Double Flip
  • Land a Clean Double Toe
  • Consistent Change Catch Foot Camel
  • Consistent Flying Camel
  
  Start of 2015-2016 Season:
  
  
  
  • Lose 10 kg (Before Christmas 2015)
  • 
    
    • Begin Working on Double Lutz
    • Begin Working on Double Axel
    • Land a Clean Double Flip in Competition
    • Land a Clean Double Toe in Competition
    • Level to International/Advance Novice

[CaraSkates]

A little late but better than never!

1. Compete under IJS for the first time (even better if I get credit for elements)
2. pass Rocker Foxtrot (May??)
3. pass American Waltz (fall???)
4. pass Junior MIF (summer/fall??)
5. land 2sal
6. keep up with my off ice training and on ice stamina
7. start new dramatic program for 2016 season
8. just for fun, compete at 2016 South Atlantics (non qualifying of course). They are nearby in October!
9. have a blast at Eastern Sectionals and make new skating friends!
10. keep improving spins, especially sit and back positions

Ooh, that's a lot of tests to accomplish...good thing I like to aim high.

[davincisop]

Alright. These are the goals for this year.

1. Pass Bronze Freeskate.
2. Pass Silver Moves
3. Pass Gold Moves
4. Work on Silver Free, test if ready.
5. Solid, 20 rev scratch spin and backspin
6. Land all singles
7. Start axel, does not have to be landed
8. Start doubles, do not have to be fully rotated yet.

Thought I should update this since I can't edit my post it seems. One goal done, two months into the new year.

[rd350]

I don't think I did this yet.

#1 goal is to find a coach that I mesh with and can commit to consistent coaching.
#2 break in new boots
#3 solve boot issues
#4 skate consistently EVERY week
#5 Edges, edges, edges - get awesome EDGES!!  (Edge class is helping with this, especially when I can skate min. 3x/wk.)
#6 Turns/footwork - 3-turns (especially back>forward), mohawks, rockers, choctaws, twizzles!!
#7 Start thinking about testing > to be discussed and planned out with awesome coach once goal #1 is met

[ice.idk]

I know I'm late to this  but my 2015 goals are...

1) Get new boots and blades 

2) Get a new coach that I connect with and like the way they teach

3) Get up to my double axel

4) Pass Juvenile and Intermediate Moves In The Field Test

5) Improve flexibility

6) Have a program that I love

7) Go to regionals

[Neverdull44]

I hope to pass my bronze tests in January.

Completed!!

[Meli]

8. At least two competitions.

Done!

[PinkLaces]

I didn't have any 2014 resolutions as I was injured the last part of the year and well into the spring. So......

1. Stay healthy/avoid injury.
2. Have a consistent off-ice routine to build strength and flexibility.
3. Pass ISI open silver FS by the Spring ice show.
4. Master my nemesis -the back 3 turns.
5. My reach goal: USFS Silver Moves by the end of 2015.

First Quarter Update:

1. So far so good!

2. Pretty good so far: 3-5 days per week. My flexibility is better than it has been in years.

3. Not going to make it(show is next week), but I have improved a lot and am way closer. Things holding me back right now are: not low enough on sit spin, not enough revs on camel or backspin, and inconsistent loop on the flip-loop combo. New deadline is July 4.

4. They are definitely getting better. 3 of the 4 have good turn, but only a little flow out of them.

5. Started back on working on some of the moves: Power pulls, cross strokes, and big outside and inside edges to prepare for 3 turn pattern. I need to start on the spiral pattern again. I think that will help with my camel spins, too. 

[ice.idk]

I know I'm late to this  but my 2015 goals are...

1) Get new boots and blades 

2) Get a new coach that I connect with and like the way they teach

3) Get up to my double axel

4) Pass Juvenile and Intermediate Moves In The Field Test

5) Improve flexibility

6) Have a program that I love

7) Go to regionals

Update!

1) Got Edea boots and pattern 99 blades

2) I have a new primary and secondary coach both who I love

4) Working on Juvenile Moves

5) I have an everyday stretching routine and I have been seeing results

6) A program is in the works - sadly I will have a late start in the competition season being that I was out for 4 months due to an injury

[Horseandpony]

Haha I'm way too late to this, but I guess I might as well write it down somewhere.

1) NO MORE INJURIES. This year so far, I've had a sprained hip, two re-sprained ankles (my ankles suck from previous injuries and I fall funny sometimes), and a concussion. No more, please!

2) land my toe loop.

3) get an average scratch spin (at least 10 revs).

4) get an average sit spin (at least 5 revs).

5) start backspin

6) get really good three turns (forward and back)

7) NOT get new skates. (I replaced my previous skates after 5 months).

continue to have a good relationship with my coach (I have so much fun in lessons!)

9) hopefully get a job at the rink. (I'd get to skate for free, which means I could stop having 6 hour practises and eating peanut butter sandwiches for breakfast lunch and dinner three days a week  )

But number one is totally the most important.

[CaraSkates]

My halfway through the year check in on goals....

1. Compete under IJS for the first time (even better if I get credit for elements) 4th out of 6 and a score of 24.42! I got +GOE on some of my jumps, one spin AND my footwork!
2. pass Rocker Foxtrot (May??)
3. pass American Waltz (fall???) Passed May 13th!
4. pass Junior MIF (summer/fall??)
5. land 2sal
6. keep up with my off ice training and on ice stamina Half credit here. Off ice is good, starting a new program next week so we will see about the on ice!
7. start new dramatic program for 2016 season
8. just for fun, compete at 2016 South Atlantics (non qualifying of course). They are nearby in October!
9. have a blast at Eastern Sectionals and make new skating friends! Made many new friends and had a GREAT time with my rinkmates.
10. keep improving spins, especially sit and back positions Half credit on this so far, back spins are still a work in progress but my pancake has improved enough we are going to try for 8revs by September.

[Isk8NYC]

Nearing the end of your year, skaters...giddyup, y'all!

[AgnesNitt]

1. have edge pulls both sides
2. inside and outside back edges
3. two foot spins
4. both mohawks, even the side with the bad knee and the hip  bursitis that I haven't been able to do for *years*
5. waltz jump
6. bunny hop
7. pre-bronze crossover pattern including the swing mohawk without the double swing cheat
8. forward crossrolls like butter
9. and I can side toe-hop like nobody's business!

It's been an amazing year.
Hey, and I've still go 4 months to go!

[ChristyRN]

I second yours and add my own:

3. Pass bronze MITF test.

Met! I passed yesterday!!

[skategeek]

OK, so this year I'm dividing things up into what I want to do and how I plan to get there.  After June my job responsibilities shift and I have more time and energy to devote to this.  So...

1.  Pass ISI Beta/Gamma and/or USFSA Adult 3 and 4.
    Continue LTS classes; add a second class at my regular ISI rink or the USFSA rink starting in the summer.
2.  Improve general fitness- flexibility, cardio, strength/endurance.
    Continue stretching daily at home and after skating; sign up for a pilates/yoga class starting in the summer.
3.  Improve presentation skills, put together a program.
    Private lessons starting in the summer; aim for next year's NJ Basic Skills competition series.
4.  Increase confidence in general.
   Skate at least twice a week in addition to classes/lessons.  Fall!

Updating with ~⅔ of the year done...
1.  Progress toward this; I haven't added a second class but I've been practicing a lot.  Backward stuff (crossovers, stroking, one foot glides) is holding me up but I'm seeing improvement.
2.  Daily stretching, check!  (well, nearly daily...)  Researching yoga and pilates classes but I'm waiting to see how my fall schedule shapes up.  Looks like I might be starting karate, which will help with some of this.  Meanwhile, I've been playing with a yoga app a bit (Pocket Yoga) and I'm liking it.
3.  Setting things up with a coach; still thinking about the Basic Skills competitions but might want to focus on just improving skills (see #1) for now.
4.  Been getting more skating in; looking forward to adult public sessions starting in a couple of weeks.  Still haven't fallen!

[AgnesNitt]

Well, I've had a good year. I still have to conquer FI3 but hey, it was a good year!

[CaraSkates]

With only a few weeks left in the year, time for an update! (And time to start thinking about next year's goals!)

1. Compete under IJS for the first time (even better if I get credit for elements). 4th out of 6 and a score of 24.42! I got +GOE on some of my jumps, one spin AND my footwork! Added a second IJS competition (and a new program) in September.
2. pass Rocker Foxtrot (May??) Passed August 19th! On to Pre-Golds!
3. pass American Waltz (fall???) Passed May 13th!
4. pass Junior MIF (summer/fall??) Still working on this - but finally feel like I've mastered LFI and LBO twizzles as well as LBO loops!
5. land 2sal I landed one on the pole harness that my coach swears he didn't help on. Hopefully I'll get it off the harness in 2016!
6. keep up with my off ice training and on ice stamina Off ice training has been good, and so far my on ice stamina has been good too!
7. start new dramatic program for Finished choreography, now to make a dress and perfect it. Debut planned for Feb
8. just for fun, compete at 2016 South Atlantics (non qualifying of course). They are nearby in October! Had a great time watching all the events and competing two program.s
9. have a blast at Eastern Sectionals and make new skating friends! Made many new friends and had a GREAT time with my rinkmates.
10. keep improving spins, especially sit and back positions Spins have improved a lot this year - consistently getting L1 with +GOE on my layback spin, back spins have improved a ton from just the summer and my sit is getting lower!

8 of 10 achieved, not too shabby. Here's to more awesome skating in 2016!

[davincisop]

Time to update with 2 weeks left in the year.

1. Pass Bronze Freeskate - This did happen, surprisingly in February.
2. Pass Silver Moves - Nope. Still trying to get the 3 turns solid. Lost the back ones for a good long while, but the power pulls and crossrolls are stronger than ever.
3. Pass Gold Moves - Gotta pass silver moves first....
4. Work on Silver Free, test if ready. - Can't jump now. Knee arthritis. So testing freeskate is out of the question for the long term.
5. Solid, 20 rev scratch spin and backspin - Still trying to just get a 3 rev backspin. Scratch I think is close to 15-18 revs on a good day.
6. Land all singles - Had loop, then lost it, then knee arthritis.
7. Start axel, does not have to be landed - knee arthritis. This isn't happening for a long time.
8. Start doubles, do not have to be fully rotated yet. - See above.