LIB, Can we be friends?

Coach decided that after my dance test that it was time to get moving on the next loop test. Loop test #2 has 130, a serpentine much like Figure 5 and that one is a piece of cake. Then there is 116, which is circle loop on backward outside edges. Not fantastic but not horrific, either. It needs some work for sure since it's not consistent. Little did I realize that there was ANOTHER figure on the test. Surprise, surprise! Time to roll on an inside back edge. 117, meet Sarah. Sarah, meet 117. We eyed each other warily but were willing to give it a go. OH, dear Lord. We have certainly located my remaining hugely deficient edge. I'd estimate about 8 desperate dash and swerve edge changes on that first go around the itty bitty circle. It's good to know that I can always be counted to entertain the crowd. I see a lot of quality time on Figure 4 and 117 in the near future. And up next, fun with the Balanciaga and City Blues. Can't wait for next week's lesson.

Fundraiser Time!

This is the first year our family will be participating in the annual Skate-A-Thon fundraiser.  It will be on Saturday, November 19th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Each of us will be skating the entire day.  It's a LONG time to skate but any skating is GOOD skating.  :)   I will be posting pictures on Facebook throughout the event.

All four of us will be skating together.  Ian, my 12 year old elementary boy, is working hard to make it out of Regionals this year in free skating and Lily, my 8 year old primary girl, is hoping to do the same.  Jason and I are preparing for team dance and competing in our individual figure divisions.

Sponsorships are done as a one time, flat rate donation.  Skaters may be sponsored individually or by family.  Money raised through sponsorship of a skater will help defray costs for travel to Regional and National events.  If you would like to come and skate a session with us, we also have free "Sponsor" discount passes.  This pass is good for only one session on Saturday.  We would LOVE to have people come skate with us.

If anyone would like to sponsor, funds may be sent via Paypal to slhallford@yahoo.com by November 18th.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

One year ago I started art skating

My First Post About Art Skating
And it was all I could do to stay upright and stroke with one foot at a time. Reading that thread really drives home how much work I have put in this year.

In that year, I have learned all the figures for the first 4 tests. I passed the first two in Septemberish. I learned the figures for the first circle loops test. I'll be taking the 3rd figure test and the first circle loop figure test this month.

I've learned the first 2 dances for the first solo dance test. And the first one for the second solo dance test.

I spent a month off skates with a cast for a badly sprained ankle. I've been knocked down in practice by another skater. I've hit the floor more times than I can count. 

I competed at two meets. They both taught me a lot. Most notably, that I skate significantly cleaner when I am really mad and need to prove something to myself. My daughter and I placed 3rd and 2nd in circle loops together at one of them. Our invitational and Regionals are looming ahead in the future for me and I am going to do the best I can at them.

I've learned the Mohawk turn and 3 turn is becoming a reality. I can skate backwards after working on it so much over the summer. I can shoot the duck and cannon ball and almost get up from STD with no hands. I can do a decent looking spiral and crosspulls and cross overs and I'm working on those first two upright spins.

Both my kids are art skating now as well as my husband.

I solemnly promise to come back to this post any time I feel bad about my progress. Hard work PAYS off.