A lesson at last. Woohoo!

Yes, my darling coach has returned from San Francisco (albeit slightly later than intended due to her original flight being cancelled due to torrential rain!) and it was my first lesson in FIVE WHOLE WEEKS!!! Haven't blogged in a little while, but I've just been mostly settling into my new boots, which has been going relatively well.

Today was going back to basics - making sure I could do everything okay on new boots / blades and it was great to be back in a lesson. I have 45 minutes now (as opposed to half an hour) so lots of time to fit everything in!

Forward Stroking: All about knee bending in the right place to generate power. I look like I "skim" the ice, rather than pushing down into it.
Backward Stroking: Again, need more knee bend and push - in the right place. I also have to work on keeping my free hip forward.
Two and one-foot slaloming: One foot is not too bad on one foot - dreadful on the other. D has corrected my position (I was kind of holding my free leg a little behind me) so now I have my free foot tucked into my other ankle, and knee lifted to the front.
Changes of Edge: Namely, inside to outside which I have been struggling with. She got me to do them by bringing the free leg forward on the inside edge and then swinging it back on the outside edge. Bingo! Now just have to try and translate it into NOT moving the leg!
Forward Edges: Not like Field Moves, but keeping the free leg extended back all the way. Free hip needs to be more forward.
Backward Outside Edges: She is supporting me, but was actually really pleased with them. And when I tried to do them on my own, they were tiny!
Backward Crossovers: I need to lead with the inside shoulder more and keep my weight back at all times.
Backward Runs: Lol, haven't done these in aaaaages. But they felt relatively smooth and D was happy.
3-turns: These are one of the things feeling a bit dodge in my new boots - D puts it down to new blades, lack of confidence and needing a stronger check.
Spins: D was soooooo pleased with how these have come on in her absence. She is now bullying me, in her inimitable way to get more revs :) Most of it comes down to me not always being right over the skating leg, but I do know when I am not. We also played around with different spin entrances.
Spirals: She was pleased with my new outside edge spiral! Also did the Level 1 Field Moves spiral exercise which was okay I think.

One boot didn't hurt at all today, which is great - the other one was giiving me a little grief above my arch, but manageable. It's taken a few weeks, but the pain is nearly over! D was complaining that I have no creases in them yet - apparently she got creases within a week. But she skates like 60 billion hours a week!!!! Humph, no fair . . . I have been instructed to either blast them with a hair dryer, or wear wet socks in them. I think I prefer the hairdryer approach.

Overall though - I think she was pleased with my progress. She said I was definitely a stronger skater now than before she went away, which is a relief. I had visions of spending four weeks trying to break in new boots, and not getting anywhere!!!