Scootie12's Practice Thread

**scootie12** · 05-17-2012, 10:54 PM

Thanks everyone! You're too sweet.

Here's another video of me practicing my new program today. It's still feeling awkward for me to perform, as much as I love to do it, so hopefully I can make it look much, much better in a week or two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl-OIAgm5IE

**scootie12** · 05-20-2012, 07:42 PM

Here's a test event where I skated the program yesterday. I guess I could sum it up as craptastic in certain ways haha. I did elements, but since I haven't had really any time to practice this program, I still need to fill in the choreography, look UP, emote more, and just make it look more fluid. I'm sure now that I'll have time to actually practice the program, it'll look much better.

Anyway, here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2nIb...ature=youtu.be

**overedge** · 05-20-2012, 07:53 PM

We should all be so craptastic

Scootie, there's a rockin' picture of you in the latest Skating magazine. Congrats!!

**scootie12** · 06-10-2012, 02:48 AM

Hey all...copying my text from my MKF thread to this one as well :-)

I always enjoy this time of year when my club, the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club (LAFSC), hosts its annual Showcase event.

This year, I skated in two events. The first was with my friend Jamie, skating to Simon & Garfunkel's "Old Friend." The other event was my dramatic solo skated to Josh Groban's "February Song."

Jamie and I only practiced our program 3 times (the day prior) to the event. I choreographed the steps, and then when we got together we practiced together. I'd say not too bad when you take that into consideration

On my solo, I feel I skated it pretty well. It's funny skating spotlight because you are basically blinded when you skate, so it's harder to find your points of reference. Anyway, I feel happy with my performance, and just wish the ice wasn't so choppy. My camel spin is such an easy spin, but I got caught right into a rut...eek. I tried to save it haha. After I got off the ice, a lady was crying saying how much she loved the song and my skating. That was awesome

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...h_photo1-3.jpg

Here are the programs:

Adult Masters Duets
Song: Old Friend/Bookends
Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
Placement: 2nd place

direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lepcTL4fseM

Adult Masters Dramatic - Men
Song: February Song
Artist: Josh Groban
Placement: 2nd Place (I got a lot of wuz robbed from people, but you can't win 'em all)

direct link YouTube (might be blocked in US): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o11FGIUKjuQ
direct link Vimeo (alternative link): https://vimeo.com/43746411

**scootie12** · 06-18-2012, 04:05 AM

I got my new boots yesterday, which is always kinda fun, yet annoying since you know you'll have to spend some time getting used to skating in them

Here are the pretty skates.......for now...until I beat them up haha
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...GRAFSkates.jpg

How many other skaters here use GRAF? I am skating in Edmonton Special without the extra stiffness to see how they work out. I have been in SP-Teri my entire life, and when I returned to skating in 2009, after nearly 10 years away, I was a bit disappointed with both of my SP-Teri boots purchased between 2010 and 2011.

I first had the KT-2 boots, but I broke them down completely in 2 weeks. Then, in 2011, I purchase the KT-3s (with the intention to relearn triples at some point), but then they broke down in about 2-3 months. It was very annoying to have two boots that were otherwise good boots, fall apart that fast! I understood with the 2's, but when I killed the KT-3, I was shocked.

Since I usually purchase skates about once per year I had asked some skating friends about GRAF. Everyone swears by them, so I took the plunge and bought them.

I just hope without the extra stiffness I won't break them down too fast. Many other skaters don't use the extra stiffness, so I hope I'll be fine. Since I like to bend deep, the skate guy explained how I put a lot more pressure on the V-notch, but also explained that my previous boots were ill-fitted (I brought my recent pair in). I was a bit surprised since I go to a reputable shop, but it also made some sense once he explained how the boot should properly flex, which was the case when I did my GRAF fitting.

Anyway, I look forward to skating in them. Oh, and they're also much lighter, which might throw me off for a bit.

For any of you using GRAF, how do you like? Also, any good tips to keep the suede looking nice?

When my groin injury (yes, another one!) heals, I'm working full-on this summer for senior next year, so I hope the boots work out for me so I can compete well at adult nationals

**kwanatic** · 06-18-2012, 05:56 PM

Good job Scootie! And get better soon so you can get back on the ice!

**kittyjake5** · 06-19-2012, 12:24 AM

Thanks for the update Scootie. Good luck with the Boots, they can be a pain.

**Simone411** · 06-20-2012, 07:42 PM

Scootie, your program was outstanding. I love the music you chose. I love Josh Groban. You also have some nice skates! Thank you so much for sharing.

**scootie12** · 07-11-2012, 05:22 PM

Quick update....copying my text from other forum post:

I've been back on the ice frequently with the groin strain/minor tear healing at a decent pace. I'd say it's about 85% healed so far. The new boots have broken in nicely and I am not back to a full array of jumps on the ice. Now that I've been in them for several weeks, I can definitely tell they are much lighter boots as my axel and other jumps feel much higher in the air. This was something I was warned about, and it takes a little time to get used to

I am planning to skate senior men next season, so I have spoken with my coach, and we will prepare the program by September and then work on combinations, getting comfortable with the flip and lutz again (two jumps I avoided most of last year due to previous injury), and the double axel. The double flip has been easy for me to get back, and I can usually hit several in practice. It's moreso getting comfortable with the take-off so I don't pop. I tend to be a skater that either pops or pulls in to land a jump. Luckily, I have cat feet and can usually save a jump, which is good

I've been working to get back a consistent double lutz, but the take-off has been causing me a bit of trouble, leading me to frequently pop. I am DETERMINED to land it this week! I know I can do it, but again, it's just the timing of the vault + my upper body movement that I'm not comfortable with yet.

In the meantime, here is a practice video from 07-04-12 and two run-throughs of my artistic program that I will skate this upcoming Sunday.

direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLT-3xRq5wk

**scootie12** · 07-16-2012, 07:41 PM

Yesterday, I competed in an artistic event at my home rink, Pickwick Ice Center. The rink hosts its annual LA Club (LAFSC) event each July, and I love competeing at this one. Since I have no other Novice adult to compete with in the mens division, I did artistic, where I was grouped with adult ladies

Since I am in the middle of moving into a new place, my body was a bit sore, but I think I did okay. I wasn't feeling it in my newish skates as I still need a bit more time to warmup in them to feel "right," but again, I was okay.

I changed the middle of the program from a lunge to a one-foot glide as my leg injury still get aggrevated doing the lunge. I just wish the camera angle was different to show how far backward I had my back

**overedge** · 07-16-2012, 10:31 PM

This is an extremely superficial comment, but I love the shirt on your outfit. It looked like just plain blue fabric, but then when you started moving, the beading caught the light and really emphasized the motion very strikingly. Can I ask what kinds of beads or stones you used on it?

**scootie12** · 07-17-2012, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by overedge

This is an extremely superficial comment, but I love the shirt on your outfit. It looked like just plain blue fabric, but then when you started moving, the beading caught the light and really emphasized the motion very strikingly. Can I ask what kinds of beads or stones you used on it?

Thank you! I wanted something very simple for this program, so I made a drawing of the shirt and had it made. Once it was done, we picked out some very small AB swarovski crystals for the top part. There aren't a ton of beads, but just enough to pick up some light when moving, and that's the effect I wanted...something simplistic.

If I use beading, I typically tend to use AB crystals, which are pretty reflective, and I always go towards the very small ones as they don't make the shirt look tacky, and when you look at it up close, it still looks very tasteful.

Here's another photo of the blue shirt, and here's a photo of my other shirt where I had over 1,000 small crystals lined in rows.

The lighting here shows the beads more clearly:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...2calchamps.png

The purple shirt I had made with many beads:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...2/NOG_2901.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...011-1small.jpg

**Simone411** · 07-17-2012, 06:45 PM

scootie, love the shirts - especially the purple one! You also look great in them.

**scootie12** · 03-04-2013, 03:03 AM

Wow, I haven't posted in my thread in quite a while.....yet I seem to be on the forum daily reading threads

I thought I'd post two videos I did today. One is for someone that I offered my help on how to do a back scratch spin. I might not be the best teacher, but hopefully the video is helpful. The other is just a few jumps as I tested out the ice for the upcoming Adult Sectionals event.

Scratch Spin Demo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0jfpHTMgo

Testing out the competition rink:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCaODdxjiLw

And while I'm at it, here are a few other vids I have posted on my YT page since I last posted here:

My mid-winter warmup artistic skate (I used this as a warmup for my freeskate later in the evening...pretty basic program):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_agZo1tn4VU

The LAFSC Holiday Icetravaganza:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlNo_04ByRI

An October practice video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipj8aGjXiRY

**smileyskate** · 03-04-2013, 03:43 AM

Thanks for the vids. I watched your Master's Showcase Dramatic one as I don't think I've seen one before and thought that was a really nice program.

**ioana** · 03-04-2013, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by scootie12

Scratch Spin Demo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0jfpHTMgo

Thanks! One of my friends is working on her back spin now, so all the closeups are helpful.

Thread: Scootie12's Practice Thread

Thread Tools

07-04-12 Skating

Posting Permissions