December 2002
Week of December 1, 2002
Although I got a lot of exercise this week, none of it occurred at an ice arena. One of my usual sessions was cancelled to accommodate a private party, and the other day I simply could not get to the rink. Soon my schedule will become less restricted, and I hope to start skating three times per week again before the holidays. In place of skating, I went to three aerobics classes, did a little cross-country skiing, and rode our recently purchased exercise bicycle. I should not omit the cardiovascular and muscle building benefits of shoveling snow.
Before I took up adult figure skating, I used to ride an exercise bike to stay in shape as a university student. I had forgotten how boring it could be. This new bicycle is a more sophisticated programmable model that varies resistance to provide a circuit-training regimen. To pass the time, I switched on the television and watched an episode of M*A*S*H, a show I enjoyed as a kid. I continuously glanced at the digital display monitoring my cycling speed, pulse rate, calories burned, and duration of workout. Amazing how few calories are actually expended while purposefully exercising. I probably burn more in an aerobics class and on the ice if only because I skate for a longer period in the cold. Aerobics and skating are fun, allowing me to lose track of time. Neither is a monotonous chore prone to clockwatching.
Many people probably fail to exercise because they find the traditional options extremely unappealing. Getting on that bike (treadmill, stair climber, or elliptical thing) requires a level of single-minded dedication that many people lack and find any excuse to avoid. However, a stationary bicycle can be positioned in the living room in front of the TV and within earshot of the stereo. It is not subject to cancellation, crowds, or the antics of rotten kids. It can fit into even the most hectic schedule, something that is virtually impossible with ice sports. Inconvenient or inaccessible sessions probably discourage most adults from ever stepping on the ice; and if they do, the mayhem of a Saturday public session would send many adult prospects running for safety. I do not even want to elaborate on the irritation caused by selfish freestyle behavior. I have dealt with plenty of adolescent nonsense this fall and would not blame any adult who chose aerobics and at-home exercise equipment over battling teenagers for a cassette player and a few square meters of ice space.
Frustrating as it may be, I still prefer ice skating to other fitness activities; but sometimes driving to the rink is impractical, or an aerobics class is not available. In spite of its tedium, I am glad to have an indoor exercise machine. Fortunately, I do not have to make a steady diet of pedaling through old reruns.
Week of December 8, 2002
Since Thanksgiving week, it has been one thing after another keeping me from the rink. Between the bad weather, cancelled sessions, and my own inability to get my act together; I had not skated for over two weeks by the time I got back on the ice.
I warmed up painstakingly, knowing I was ill prepared for my lesson. However, my footwork had not vanished, and I earned high marks from Cynthia on both the Dutch Waltz and Canasta Tango. The first dance I learned, the Canasta challenged my memory and forced me to think in an entirely different way on the ice. Suddenly I needed to possess rare and elusive traits such as rhythm, coordination, extension, and carriage. When Cynthia declared my Canasta Tango “awesome” I was understandably delighted. Dance has been a journey into the core of skating, an opportunity to reach beyond my areas of comfort and become a better skater. That awesome tango demonstrates progress toward my goals.
My backward swing rolls and backward chassés still need plenty of work, but I did a nice set of backward swing rolls that merited the word “beautiful” from my coach. While not reliably beautiful, a brush with correctness promises consistency in the future. Cynthia also taught me an exercise to control my three-turns on a new level. Dance three-turns are different than freestyle threes. They require precise control and must be performed to a beat. The turn itself is executed with the free foot held alongside the skating foot. This position is held before pushing to continue backward. The backward glide is maintained with the free foot extended in front of the body. The feet come together before the skater steps forward to repeat the process. This exercise requires light delicate knee action and graceful arm movement. Just this simple set of steps looks lovely when performed by Cynthia’s adept blades.
During the entire session, I only performed about three jumps and a dozen spins. All of the spins were nicely centered, including the backward scratch spin, which has never been one of my favorites. Aside from those brief interludes, I invested nearly three hours in ice dance and related skills. I find those basic dances engrossing, far beyond the martyrdom of doing something solely because it may be good for you. That mindset only got me so far with moves in the field. Ultimately, I dreaded my moves warm up, though I still use it every time I skate. There is something magical about pressing into the ice, stretching my legs, and holding extensions. Never before have I spent so long on the ice and did so little freestyle skating.
Week of December 15, 2002
This week I had the opportunity to skate more frequently than usual and decided to take advantage of three trips to the ice rink. I plan to do little, if any, ice skating until after the holidays, as the sessions will be mobbed with Christmastime revelers.
Day One
This quiet session invited carefree skating and dancing backward without reservation. I feared bumping into no one, as only a few adults shared the ice with a couple of wall-hugging recreational skaters. I practiced all of the dances in my repertoire until I literally could no longer hold my arms outstretched (about 2.5 hours). I dedicated the last thirty minutes to freestyle.
Day Two
I noticed a friend struggling with her flip jump, suffering from the same problem that left me mired for weeks (or months?). It seemed I languished at a clumsy two-footed stage for an eternity. My friend tapped in, drew her legs together and jumped squarely from both feet. She threw herself around without acknowledging the existence of a rotational axis and finished with a flat-bladed bipedal landing. Ordinarily, I do not peddle unsolicited advice, but she and I share a pleasant relationship, and I opened the discussion by recalling my personal predicament with the flip. She seemed receptive, so I demonstrated my walk-through method that, after dry land trials, resulted in an ice flip on my very first attempt. This followed many lessons with a frustrated coach whose solution to every problem required skating faster. After about ten minutes, my friend landed her first flip. It resulted from a slow series of discontinuous movements, but was no different from my first flip, a forerunner of the enormous flips I landed a few years later.
Day Three
The first hour of skating was not too bad. I managed to dance around a little boy in speed skates and enjoyed revisiting my backward attitude spin, which has apparently improved. Unfortunately, this session destined for bliss deteriorated when a rowdy group of released college kids entered the rink bent on having an obnoxiously good time. They chased each other, fell and slid all over the ice, and loitered in clusters in the center, disrupting all productive practice space. A friend and I set up cones after polite suggestions to avoid the center failed to impress these marauders. Finally, the young people’s careless antics resulted in injury to one of their buddies who slipped and hit her head on the ice. The girl spent the rest of her time in the players’ box while her friends frolicked undeterred. When the gang ceased to honor the coned center and I felt like a caged animal pacing a restrictive space, I decided to leave the ice.
As soon as I removed my skates and emerged from the restroom, the hooligans sat down to pull off their rentals. I was tempted to lace up again, but the moment had passed and I would brave the gloomy weather to commute home.
In terms of quality skating, the trip may not have been worthwhile, but I did buy a new multi-session skating pass. The very kind young fellow who works at the counter sold me two passes for the price of one. I was absolutely tickled! Merry Christmas!
Week of December 22, 2002
I knew I would not attempt to ice skate this week, the sessions would just be too crowded to make any rinkward journey worth the time and mileage. However, I planned to attend three aerobics classes and maybe brave the cold for roller skating in the park. Bundled in expedition weight fleece, I could attempt dances on inline skates at the outdoor roller rink. I might even play with dance movements on quad skates.
On Sunday night I did not feel particularly well. My husband had been sick all the previous week, and I made every attempt to avoid infection. On Monday and Tuesday I did not feel perfect but was not ill enough to forego aerobics. The exercise actually made me feel better. By Christmas Day, I had caught my husband’s cold. It snowed all day, so I we were cooped up in the house regardless of any preexisting malady. On Thursday, the sun shown in a blue sky and a foot of fluffy fresh powder invited a trip to the nearby state park for cross country skiing. Outdoor distance or artistic roller skating would have been impossible as pretty white stuff probably buried the facilities. However, I was now too sick to go anywhere. Others would enjoy that beautiful snow while I watched reruns and game shows between naps. What a terrible waste of a lovely winter day.
I even missed my Friday aerobics class. I can hardly wait to recover from this miserable cold and return to the activities I enjoy.
The content of this site is copyright by K. J. N., 1999 - 2003
Lots of Exercise
Dancing Queen
Three Days
I learned the Swing Dance, which is the first dance requiring backward skating. It incorporates backward and forward swing roll - chassé sequences along with stroking and an open forward inside mohawk turn. My backward chassés have become rhythmic and lilting, but my right backward swing roll could be smoother. I perform this skill nicely on my left leg, as it resembles a simple variation on a jump landing. In spite of years of moves in the field, I still lack bilateral symmetry. However, I enjoy this dance and am encouraged about moving on to more difficult patterns.
Yet another pleasant session allowed rehearsal of dances plus freestyle practice. I worked on my long neglected jumps, focusing primarily on the lutz, which has never been my best aerial stunt. I also invested time in my inverted backward camel, experimenting with the interesting position popularized by former Canadian champion Josée Chouinard. Chouinard performs the most lovely invert in all of ice skating, turning completely upside down and bending her free knee to create an unusual but graceful camel-layback hybrid. I am also perfecting my backward attitude spin with the intent of transforming this already difficult skill into a rare backward layback.
I almost opted to skip this additional day of skating in favor of aerobics, but persevered in a nasty rainstorm. The humidity fogged my car windows and mirrors, necessitating a stop to wipe them clean. I contemplated aborting the mission and returning home. However, I had already missed aerobics and forged ahead like a determined idiot.
Christmas Malaise
