Splat

Was a bit of a rush to get to the rink on time today - I am in Manchester tomorrow, after getting some ridiculously early train and had a lot to get done at work, and then buses didn't play nicely on the way to the rink.

However, got there on time on the end. Got on the ice and started off with some perimeter stroking and on the first set of FXO's, my feet went in the wrong direction and I splatted onto the ice. Straight into a big, deep, freezing cold puddle that was left over from the zamboni that hadn't had time to freeze yet. I was soaked - in fact, nearly 3 hours later, having just got home and changed, I am only just drying out and warming up now. It wouldn't surprise me if I came down with pneumonia tomorrow!

Back to the lesson - after being dried off, my knees were a little shaky for the start of the lesson but sorted themselves out.

Perimeter Stroking: I can do the requisite six strokes on the second side of the rink once I have some speed up, but its tonnes more than that on the first side at the moment. Need to work on power.
Forward Crossovers: I need to pigeon toe the crossing foot more instead of turning it out, so it is pointing in the direction of travel. CW still my weaker side, but gradually getting stronger.
Backward Crossovers: D had hovering hands, but managed a circle CW on my own! The other side felt good and was almost "magic hand" free.
Russian Stroking: Difficult to tell really as very busy rink. Was trying to concentrate on the point from last week about pushing off on the FO edge more to the side, rather than in the direction of travel. Think it was a little better.
Backward Russian Stroking: Hovering magic-hands but very light touch. Enjoyed doing this and now trying to ensure that I do a nice wide step to the side before the BXO.
3-turns: FO3's weren't bad - I think I am finally finding that backward edge more stable. FI3's weren't all that. I told D that I can do them near the barrier, so she made me show her. She told me that it wasn't fear that was stopping me, rather that I am using the barrier as a reference point for the turn. She also said that i shouldn't see it as a failure that I need the barrier - the turn is happening, and as it gets more and more committed to muscle memory, then it will happen. However, I do need to work on not dropping my free hip, and making sure my weight is nearer the front of the blade.
Mohawks: Ironically, the side (Left) that started out the weaker, is now my stronger - weird! They weren't bad - pointers were to try and transfer the weight more quickly and to also bring my arms round as I go into the turn. The arms feel much like a 3-turn does. Bringing the arms round actually helped me transfer the weight more quickly anyway, so a win-win situation!
Forward Cross-rolls: Part of my homework for this week is to work on the depth of bend in these, and to increase knee bend as I cross over, hopefully to enable a more powerful push onto the other leg.

Another busy class, and I stayed for quite a while afterwards working on FI3's and Mohawks.

I have started thinking about the way I use the barrier for reference on my FI3's and started working on finding my own point of reference. Eventually I started getting it, and doing the turn, so I think I am on the right track. I was tired and extremely cold though, so didn't push myself too hard.

I am now off to bed, ready for my 5.30 start!