Scootie12's Practice Thread

[scootie12]

Looking good! :cheer2:

Thanks.

I worked on double flips this week and landed all of them perfectly fine. They seem to aggrevate my hip a bit more than the edge jumps, but I've just been jumping a little "heavy" on the particular element. My coach wants to get back to the double lutz this weekend, which I haven't done for MONTHS. It's not a hard jump for me, but I need to get the timing back so I don't pop.

I got my new skates in the hopes to actually doing double axels without killing my skates....I now have the KT-3 Sp-Teri's, which are for triple jumps, so hopefully they hold up well :)

I really hope the hip heals soon. It's so frustrating to have to hold back on skating.


Which leg is your injury on?
My right hip-flexor has been injured for several years now.... I had to quit practicing triple loops completely, attempting them only in competitions. Same with back sit spins. I heard it was bad to stretch the hip-flexor when it's injured though?? idk. i think i'll finally go to the doctor after putting it off all these years. :S

My hip flexor injury is on my left leg....on the inside part of my leg. I hurt it mid death drop in April.

I've heard the opposite about stretching the flexor. I've read and also heard it's good to stretch since it helps promote faster healing. I also notice I skate better if I stretch a lot, then get on the ice for about a half hour and just warm up my body before actually jumping or spinning. I need to see my physical therapist and actually stick to a plan....I just hope this actually heals. Blah.

[Doubletoe]

So how do you like the KT-3's so far? I would imagine they would be a lot tougher to break in...

[scootie12]

So how do you like the KT-3's so far? I would imagine they would be a lot tougher to break in...


I was surprised how much tougher the KT-3's were to break-in. The 2's were perfectly comfortable right out of the box, but the 3's took about two weeks to feel "normal." They are one of the stiffest pairs of skates the company makes, and although I no longer do triple jumps, I wanted a pair of skates that would hold up longer based on how often I skate, my weight, etc.

The boots feel great now, and I can definitely feel the stronger ankle support. Now, if my hip EVER heals, I really want to get competitive to skate adult senior and relearn the double axel. I always said I would NOT compete as a senior until I had the dbl axel back....hopefully one day.

BTW, it's funny how when I got the KT-2's in late 2009, the issue wasn't the boot, but getting used to the Pattern 99 blades, which are very curvy on the front.

This time around, it was the boots that took a while to get used to, and the blades felt perfectly fine. I switched to Gold Seal, and I pretty much felt fine right away.

Go figure :)

[Doubletoe]

I was surprised how much tougher the KT-3's were to break-in. The 2's were perfectly comfortable right out of the box, but the 3's took about two weeks to feel "normal." They are one of the stiffest pairs of skates the company makes, and although I no longer do triple jumps, I wanted a pair of skates that would hold up longer based on how often I skate, my weight, etc.

The boots feel great now, and I can definitely feel the stronger ankle support. Now, if my hip EVER heals, I really want to get competitive to skate adult senior and relearn the double axel. I always said I would NOT compete as a senior until I had the dbl axel back....hopefully one day.

BTW, it's funny how when I got the KT-2's in late 2009, the issue wasn't the boot, but getting used to the Pattern 99 blades, which are very curvy on the front.

This time around, it was the boots that took a while to get used to, and the blades felt perfectly fine. I switched to Gold Seal, and I pretty much felt fine right away.

Go figure :)

I loooooove Gold Seals! Glad you managed to break in your boots. I actually have one boot that's a KT-2 and one that's a KT-3. That's because my right boot started feeling weak in the ankle after I had my KT-2's for a year, so I took it to Willie's and had them add another layer of leather in-between the two layers, turning it into a KT-3. It was pretty darn stiff, so I can't imagine breaking in all 3 layers of leather at once, LOL!

[scootie12]

They certainly seem to have more "bite" to them than the Pattern 99's.

The only thing I really need to get used to is the toe-pick. The 99's have a huge pick, so the first few times going for the double flip felt funny because the Gold Seal picks are much smaller.

I competed today in an Adult Artistic event, and placed 1st. There were only two of us at this club event, but I wanted to do it because the event was local, and because I like to keep up skating in front of an audience.

The event is restricted jumpwise, so only singles. I was allowed one double jump, but I opted out because my hip flexor felt stiff today...annoying!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYW3_lMVvsM

[Doubletoe]

They certainly seem to have more "bite" to them than the Pattern 99's.

The only thing I really need to get used to is the toe-pick. The 99's have a huge pick, so the first few times going for the double flip felt funny because the Gold Seal picks are much smaller.

I competed today in an Adult Artistic event, and placed 1st. There were only two of us at this club event, but I wanted to do it because the event was local, and because I like to keep up skating in front of an audience.

The event is restricted jumpwise, so only singles. I was allowed one double jump, but I opted out because my hip flexor felt stiff today...annoying!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYW3_lMVvsM

Lovely performance! I've noticed I always miss my pick-ins on pick jumps whenever I get new blades, so I'm thinking it must also have something to do with the rounder rocker on a new blade. I have to point my toes extra hard or I'll "pick" with the rocker instead of the pick! If I'm also in stiff new boots and can't point my toes, well, hilarity ensues. . . :rolleyes:

[scootie12]

Lovely performance! I've noticed I always miss my pick-ins on pick jumps whenever I get new blades, so I'm thinking it must also have something to do with the rounder rocker on a new blade. I have to point my toes extra hard or I'll "pick" with the rocker instead of the pick! If I'm also in stiff new boots and can't point my toes, well, hilarity ensues. . . :rolleyes:

I think I'm finally okay with the toe jumps, and have slowly been getting my confidence back with doing the harder jumps again. I so badly want to be back on the dbl axel, and hopefully my hip continues to heal with the physical therapy I've been doing.

I had a fabulous skate yesterday, but only got one jump on film :( Figured I'd share here only because I get asked about technique on the loop jump a lot. Here's video of the double loop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRNT_zfikzU


I made it using an iphone app, which was so easy to use!!

[Simone411]

Great double loop and thanks for sharing, scootie12. Sorry regarding your hip. I'll keep you in my thoughts & prayers. :)

[Doubletoe]

Here's video of the double loop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRNT_zfikzU


I made it using an iphone app, which was so easy to use!!

Beeeeeaaaaauuuuutiful!!

[scootie12]

Here's another vid I made straight from iPhone...I love this app haha

My hip is slowly getting better, and I think this new stretch and physical therapy technique is making me feel better :) I feel better and I'm slowing getting my speed and confidence back. I was afraid to jump, especially the double flip, for example, because if I were to step out of the landing it would aggrevate my hip.

I think we finally loosened it up, and now I need to make sure it fully heals itself. The double flip is feeling better and I keep adding extra speed each week. I will then get back to doing the lutz and then hopefully maintain my skills, add levels to my spins, and get working on that darn 2axel.

Funny how an injury can make you lose your confidence, but I think it's fear of further injury.

Anyway, I skated last night and discovered my right blade was coming LOOSE on the back heel. No one had a screw driver that was the correct size to adjust the screw, so today I'm having my skate shop guy fix the mounting.

I did jumps up to double loop (no toe jumps since I was scared about the blade LOL).

Nothing new here, but I like to keep videos posted to I can see my own progress. I can see more and more that my stretch looks much stronger these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhQqgteEgUs

:cool:

[Spazactaz]

What kind of stretch are you doing for your hip? I got xrays on mine last week... and they're of course just referring me to yet another doctor. Said I might need injections, ahhhhhhhh.

Your skating is looking good though!

[scootie12]

here's a new video with a few jumps, spins and combos.

I've started back to double lutz this week and then probably by end of September will get the chance to work with another coach on the double axel. My childhood coach recommended to me that I work on the harness first, then move to the fish pole harness, then on my own. I work with him when I travel to AZ, so that might be a possibility.

The flip feels more comfortable each week, and now back to tackling the lutz...biggest issue for me is relearning the outside edge take-off. With the injury, the lutz was hurting me, so I haven't done the double in months. Feels a bit awkward, but hopefully I'm more confident soon.

Enjoy the vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s44h89ZlMAc

PS - I've noticed the Gold Seal rocker makes my spins much stronger than they ever were using Pattern 99. Gold Seal is more flat in the front, so that's probably why. My spins finally feel back to the old days when I had Gold Star blades...faster and more centered.

Spazactaz - I've been searching for videos online of the stretches I do...a bit difficult for some reason, but I WILL find a good one eventually :)

[scootie12]

Here's another video update. Just keeping up the usual basic skills until I start working on my program next week. At that point in time, I plan to ramp up the number of days per week I skate, and also intend to get in better skating shape in order to do a test competition event in January. I needed a nice rest in the last few months :D

I feel much stronger, but the stamina isn't there :) That's from lack of doing any program since July, so that'll be the goal very soon. I'll be in Phoenix for several days to construct the new program with my original childhood coach and a choreographer.

Then back to Los Angeles to practice on regular basis with my coach here.

Direct video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZYAtLUh6t0

[scootie12]

Wow, I haven't updated my thread in a long time. Nor have I really posted on FSU much, despite reading here all the time :)

Let's see, since my last posting, my hip finally healed in late October, and I finally had to work REALLY hard to regain my confidence in all aspects of my skating. I think I have gotten so much stronger, especially just from a physical standpoint. I cannot even compare myself to who I was in September!

Also, I was very fortunate to win my second adult national title last month in Bensenville! It was the perfect way to end this competitive season, especially after so many changes to get my body and mind back to where it needed to be. It took A LOT of work to get past the mental blocks, but I did it, so hopefully anyone with a similar problem will know there's an end to the road. Doing so many jump repetitions and programs got me past that part :)


So I think I'll update all of my video links to catch things up! :D


In December 2011, this is the one of last videos I posted on my YouTube before I hired a new coach and really whipped myself into shape. You can see how much different everything looks:
http://youtu.be/uIgZ-gjILpk


Towards the end of December I skated in the LAFSC Holiday Show. This is a program I choreographed by myself about a week prior to the event. I was in zero shape to be out on the ice, and you will see it haha. Otherwise, I think the choreography looks good LOL.
http://youtu.be/OlDmPNpkU_g


December 31st.....my very last day of practice before my new coach started with me.
http://youtu.be/AfIUJGgZwbA


Another axel/double loop video from first week of January.
http://youtu.be/VY5QoVPH2k8


My first week with my new coach. I think you can see some immediate changes here.
http://youtu.be/CIkbjySli9o


Getting more confident with my jumps.
http://youtu.be/CIkbjySli9o


In March 2012, here I am practicing my long program just prior to leaving for Sectionals. I was feeling much more comfortable here!
http://youtu.be/rQDUqPhMwpQ


One last video prior to leaving for Nationals. I think my jumps and spins had improved so much since December!!
http://youtu.be/GRNGv-rotvQ


Here's my winning performance from Adult Nationals (Champ Masters Int/Novice Men). Artistically and technically not my best, but I'll take it. It was a victory in itself for me to be there and to complete my program without being tired.
http://youtu.be/9qMuI0atXAQ



That brings us back to the present. Here I am working on setting the choreography for my new artistic program, which is to Josh Groban's "February Song."
http://youtu.be/QCDsRz719nE



Also, if any of you are interested to read a detailed journal of my few months leading up to Adult Nationals, I have posted a thread at MKF that details everything :)
http://mkforum.net/forum/showthread.php?25989-Michael-s-2012-Adult-Nationals-Blog-Essay

[LilJen]

You're also in the May issue of Skating Magazine, in their review of ANs. :)