Scootie12's Practice Thread

[scootie12]

Here's another bad video update. I was working on spins and a few jumps, and my Thursday practice was not great at all. Must be the 5am thing haha.

Today's practice, which wasn't filmed, was really good and I did a lot of great spins and jump combinations. Why don't I get those on film? lol Plus, on Thursdays, I don't work with my coach, but today (Saturday) I did. I guess when I work with her, she whips me right back into place and tells me what to correct.

Anyway, here's a bad update from last Thursday 05-13. Watch at your own risk

I really hope I get something better to update with what I can actually do. lol. Maybe this video will be motivation to get a good one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEaCRKRtn5s

[Spazactaz]

the flying camels and death drops are looking pretty good!

and from your post before.. i totally don't understand your logic with the double axels. why do you think you need to be able to do that off ice? and about being trained to only do 2 rotations.. i've never seen that apply with anyone on a double axel before. you land backward on all jumps.. i think that would be more dominant than stopping forward after 2 rotations. you should just go for them. :p

[scootie12]

the flying camels and death drops are looking pretty good!

Thanks!!

and from your post before.. i totally don't understand your logic with the double axels. why do you think you need to be able to do that off ice? and about being trained to only do 2 rotations.. i've never seen that apply with anyone on a double axel before. you land backward on all jumps.. i think that would be more dominant than stopping forward after 2 rotations. you should just go for them. :p

It's not like I *need* to do them off ice, but in general, I think I feel more comfortable being able to fully rotate the jump off ice first. Granted, I never even practiced double axels off-ice, and in most cases, of the ones I've attempted, I've fully rotated landing backward. I think for me, right now, when I pop the jump, it's because I'm *so* used to rotating 2 turns that I don't hold in long enough for the extra 1/2 turn. It's just one of those things you need to get your body used to again, if that makes sense.

I also haven't really done any double axels yet because I switched my focus to combination jumps so I have them consistent come time for me to put together a competitive program.

Anyway, I definitely plan on doing them soon and it's my goal to have them landed cleanly and consistently. That is actually one of my major goals after making a return 8 years after quitting. If I get a triple back, then more icing on the cake!!

[scootie12]

Here's a new update video. Feeling a bit under the weather today, but still did some decent stuff. I skated a quick session at 6am so this video is just a few double jumps, and mostly spins.

I started to learn the cannonball spin in both the forward and backward position, so here I am in the video doing the forward version (at the end). It still needs some work, but I think I can perfect the move in a week or two.

My back is also suffering Guess I need to start stretching it more to do the spin better, and also to not have a sore back after haha

Also excuse the huge flutz I did on the second double lutz. I tend to do that when I'm tired to ease up on the pressure of the jump....oops

Let me know what you all think about the cannonball spin. Not great, but whatever I look a bit tentative in the vid, but maybe because I was not 100% with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uau1SySwwKk

[Spazactaz]

the cannonball is decent.... you need to turn out and point your toe though. that's my biggest pet peeve with that spin is when people break their line by having it flexed upwards. and also i'd try grabbing more towards your boot with one hand so that you can pull your leg up towards your chest, rather than just trying to lean down towards it because then you get the break in the knee by solely holding there.
here's me doing one at 0:35 if you don't get what i mean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfaNYHl6SKM

[scootie12]

Thanks.

Now that I've seen it on film I know what to correct. Being the second day I even tried them, I think I did pretty well, but yeah, there were a few things I had to fix. So on Saturday's session, I really focused on pointing my toe and also tried grabbing the leg closer to the boot to I could have a more compact look, in addition to showing longer body line. My coach said the changes made a huge difference, so that's a good sign. I also maintained much better centering and balance, so I was happy about that as well.

And yeah, I have a pet-peeve too about a bent leg and an unpointed toe. This is why I'm happy I can see myself on video because I can nitpick all of the areas that need improvement.

Your cannonball looks nice btw. Hopefully mine will look nice and smooth like that very soon.

[orbitz]

Any updates ?

[scootie12]

Finally updating my thread. I decided to wait on replying until I got some video from today's practice.

Although I inteded to get a lot of stuff filmed today, I didn't get a chance to get much filming time in, so the video update is pretty quick.

Anyway, I'm glad I saw this video because I'm still not happy with the cannonball spin, and after making some adjustments, I realize I need even more since I still don't think the spin looks attractive The free leg needs to be perfectly straight (even though it FEELS straight, lol), and I need to turn our the toe even more.

Additionally, I've been working to fix my double lutz. I've been having a bit of trouble with the take-off the past few weeks, and I definitely need to work on making it consistent. It's an easy jump, but I've been picking into the ice funny and keep popping the jump....enjoy the pops in the vid

Thanks again to all of you that have been supportive or giving me feedback on things you like or dislike. It's definitely helping me as I start to get into competition mode.

Hopefully I get the music edited this week!!

Here's the youtube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLiIe5grezE

[orbitz]

Yep, your cannonball sit-spin position does look much better this time. The backs-sit position after your death drop also look much better too now that you've straigtened out the free leg.

A quesion on your 2Sal and 2Flip...since you seem to have those pretty much consistent, have you tried to go into them with more speed? It looks like you do have enough room during your practice sessions to increase speed.

[scootie12]

Thanks

Regarding the speed into certain jumps, it just depends what rink I am skating at. The ugly rink, as I call it , is VERY small, and I always have a problem picking up speed, especially for double flip since I practically land right on the barrier. Even doing simple crossovers in a large circle is difficult there, but luckily I only skate at that rink about once per week. When I skate at the nicer, Olympic size rink, which I just don't seem to have as much video from there, I tend to skate faster since it takes more energy to skate around, and I have more room to jump without hitting the barrier. Hope that makes sense.

[scootie12]

Nothing too special to show on this video. It's a few practice clips from my 5am session today.

My sinus infection has come back, albeit to a lesser extent, so I'm back on some antibiotics, which should hopefully kill it off for good this time. It hasn't bothered me too much, but I did notice while skating today that I was breathing harder.

The cannonball spin feels much better, but I didn't get any on film. I also did a really nice double lutz which wasn't filmed either. I've been working on correcting the takeoff, which has caused some grief. I want it to be correct, so I guess there will be a bit of time where I'll have a meltdown until I have the jump consistent....right now I'm popping it too much, so I've been doing a lot of single jumps to make sure it's correct before doing the double.

PS - the fall on the double salchow/double loop got me laughing. I don't know why, but it was an awkward fall, and when I fell, I just busted out laughing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvUE00HEwd0

Happy viewing, and thanks to each of you who have been supportive or offered advice. Always appreciated

[scootie12]

Here's a silly update. Was doing some filming for fun yesterday and I was being shadowed into my jumps....as you can see I kept doing wonky landings and it was mostly because I was thinking too much that someone was so close to me as opposed to doing the jumps

Watch at your own risk in case you get a bit motion sick haha.

Also have video of me working on double toe-loops from this morning's session. I am forcing myself to like this jump and to do it properly before I decide to focus more time on double axel and other jumps that I'd like to relearn. Plus, if I want to compete, I better be super consistent with ALL jumps, and not omit a double toe just because it has never been a favorite of mine.

By the end of the session, I was doing them faster and on a different pattern, but it wasn't on film. The ones you see are more of my "warm-up" ones I do along the line of the rink to help me reference where to pick for the take-off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faAYzi4v6c8


Enjoy!!

[ltnskater]

Here's a silly update. Was doing some filming for fun yesterday and I was being shadowed into my jumps....as you can see I kept doing wonky landings and it was mostly because I was thinking too much that someone was so close to me as opposed to doing the jumps

Watch at your own risk in case you get a bit motion sick haha.

Also have video of me working on double toe-loops from this morning's session. I am forcing myself to like this jump and to do it properly before I decide to focus more time on double axel and other jumps that I'd like to relearn. Plus, if I want to compete, I better be super consistent with ALL jumps, and not omit a double toe just because it has never been a favorite of mine.

By the end of the session, I was doing them faster and on a different pattern, but it wasn't on film. The ones you see are more of my "warm-up" ones I do along the line of the rink to help me reference where to pick for the take-off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faAYzi4v6c8


Enjoy!!

GAAAAHHH!~ I was hoping when I opened this thread to see a post saying, here's a video of my double axels! lol!!! I'm waiting to see them!!!

Other than that, the technique in your jumps look fine, I think you're ready to have more speed going into them, and that may also help you with your landings as well. (Yes, I noted that you did some faster ones at the end of the session that wasn't on film.) You could probably, even on warmup if you feel good enough to try to go into your doubles with more speed, and that should help.

But yesss double axels...I want to see! and tripless!!! we've been waiting on FSU for way too longg! lol

[Spazactaz]

GAAAAHHH!~ I was hoping when I opened this thread to see a post saying, here's a video of my double axels! lol!!! I'm waiting to see them!!!

But yesss double axels...I want to see! and tripless!!! we've been waiting on FSU for way too longg! lol

completely agreed! forget the rest. on to the 2axels!

[ltnskater]

completely agreed! forget the rest. on to the 2axels!

Yess!!! Agree with Spaz, on agreeing with me =D 2axels all the way! and TRIPLES!

Trust me... you don't need all your other doubles before working on the 2axel, as long as your single axel is good enough, and I've seen your single, it's read...my double lutz was horrible for awhile, yet my double axels were clean and better than my quarter cheated awkward double lutz (much better now though)...haha I'm in high spirits as my triple toe is back on track, finally good again after a couple days where I had lost my double toe.

[orbitz]

I'll jump on the bandwagon also. JUST DO IT ... and remember to videotape it, of course

[scootie12]

Well I tried my first few double axels after many months of not even trying them. The last time I did them I had the groin injury, and I guess after reading a few of your posts I decided to try some last Saturday.

It wasn't the end result I was hoping for, but at least I tried them. I simply need to retrain my body to add on the extra half revolution because I'm so used to doing two in the air.

The ones I tried I kept opening a little past two revolutions in the air....I think this marks the first real time a jump hasn't come back easily to me. When I first started back, I managed to land all the other doubles within the first two or three months. I think with a little work, I will have it back soon enough.

Anyway, I HOPE to have it on my next video. I feel bad for always posting the same type of stuff, but it's more to keep family and friends updated, and I like to look back to see how I've fixed things.

Also, the reason I've taken my time to get back into the 2axel and triples is because I really feel that if I'm going to compete (and I plan to do so), I want to have a full arsenal of nicely executed double jumps. Back in my better days when I could do triples, I avoided the double toe like the plague, lol. I've made it a point to love the jump that I always hated, and that's why I've made it a point to learn the correct take-off and make it consistent. It's consistent enough that I can now add more speed to it, and my next step is to incorporate the jump into combinations since I've always relied on the double loop on the end of every combo.

I also want to add more difficulty and better lines to my spins, and have a strong overall presence. It might seem funny for an Adult skater to have so many things to focus on, but I still want the option to compete in non-adult events as a Novice, and in order to do so, I want the full package. This is why I made it a point to avoid the 2axel and triples because I want everything else flawless first.

It's funny btw checking out my vids from last year from when I first started back. You can see a huge difference in my body line and jumps.

[ltnskater]

The ones I tried I kept opening a little past two revolutions in the air....I think this marks the first real time a jump hasn't come back easily to me. When I first started back, I managed to land all the other doubles within the first two or three months. I think with a little work, I will have it back soon enough.

Also, the reason I've taken my time to get back into the 2axel and triples is because I really feel that if I'm going to compete (and I plan to do so), I want to have a full arsenal of nicely executed double jumps. Back in my better days when I could do triples, I avoided the double toe like the plague, lol. I've made it a point to love the jump that I always hated, and that's why I've made it a point to learn the correct take-off and make it consistent. It's consistent enough that I can now add more speed to it, and my next step is to incorporate the jump into combinations since I've always relied on the double loop on the end of every combo.

I also want to add more difficulty and better lines to my spins, and have a strong overall presence. It might seem funny for an Adult skater to have so many things to focus on, but I still want the option to compete in non-adult events as a Novice, and in order to do so, I want the full package. This is why I made it a point to avoid the 2axel and triples because I want everything else flawless first.

Good! It's great that you're working on the double axels, let me assure you, it will take time. Think back to when you first learned jumps, double axel probably took you a longer time than the rest of your jumps too.

What I recommend is, spend every session, 5 min. just working on the double axel, as long as you maintain that routine, it'll get better and better, while still having alot of time leftover to practice everything else. It's just the habit of continuing to work on it that's important.

It's funny how you mention your double toe, that's like my double lutz. In these past couple of weeks, it's gotten astronomically better, and that is cause I've actually worked on it and have started putting it in combos now (it used to be and still is my worst jump but ) The important thing is to keep working at it, a jump that's difficult will only get easier if you continue working on it so it's good you're learning to love the double toe

If you don't mind me asking, about how old are you? and YES I fully support those skaters who are much older, adults, that compete novice competitive stream, there isn't an age limit like junior, and I think there should be more skaters that do that. Keep it up, sounds like you're moving in the right direction, working on spins and body line, not just jumps (I used to be like that...and then I started spending time on spins everyday, and they've gotten much better...as my dad says...people can actually recognize it's a spin now LOL).

Keep us updated! Haha, I'm rarely so interested in threads, but I always look at this one to see if there are updates

[scootie12]

Hi all....so here's a quick update on my skating.

In the past two weeks I've managed to do the following:

1. bang up my left hip working on double axels. I really felt I should start working on them again, and I do realize there will be some bad falls involved, and I guess I managed to get pretty banged up on a few attempts. I fully rotated, but took an awkward few spills.

2. last Friday I threw out my back. I was doing some spins and my back just locked up on me. It was pretty scary since I've never thrown out my back, but I managed to force myself to stretch and become mobile. I've been working with my sports doctor to have the kinks worked out. My back is still pretty tight, but I'm doing much better. I even skated on Tuesday, right after my doctor appt, with little pain. However, the next day my back was feeling tight and sore again. Sigh, just another small setback that threw me off, and it was awkward since I stretch so much and am so conscious of my body.


I feel almost guilty for not having the coveted double axel clip yet, and I honestly did try to film them , but here are two clips in the meantime. One is a double toe-loop I did, and the other is more camera fun with some skating friends.

I'm going to talk to my coach tomorrow to see what she thinks about doing more double axels. I don't want to hurt my back since I have a bad pinched nerve, but maybe we'll be fine as long as I don't take some freak fall haha.

Thanks again everyone for words of support, and critiques


Double Toe clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHStGDR_ns
Jumps clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmkyw7aCpzs

Enjoy

[ltnskater]

Atleast you're working on them! That's good =D, maybe just rest a bit while you're injured, you don't want a chronic injury and take it easy for a couple days.

On the other hand, my double axel has gone down the drain I have to fix my technique, sigh...but atleast the triple sal and toe are coming along nicely. haha it's nice to have this thread, we can see how each other is doing and keep each other motivated. I'm actually surprised my triples were good today, cause I had a horrible fall on the flip takeoff (where your toe COMPLETELY slips and u don't even take off the ice, and u just slide and slide, hurt my arm ).

And remember, even if you don't jump or spin, there's still plenty to work on the ice: choreography, spirals, MITF, skating skills, loops, rockers, counters...etc. it never ceases to amaze me that i spend maybe 10 min. on skating skills each session (or less), and the rest on jumps and spins....where as 3:30 min. out of a 4 min. program is NOT jumps and spins sigh