Thursday training

New week - new training.
Its come unexpected because I all week been organise staff to spare room (furniture, decoration) - my cousin today coming from Russia to visit me and see New Zealand (he 10 years younger and we seen each other only few times in my life because he lived at another city, where I was born - Krasnoyarsk. later I moved with my mum to great city Saint-Petersburg. memories :)
Another thing - I just yesterday visited one job interview. Nothing exciting - just weekend and late hours retail job. I guess anyway good start from blank page in New Zealand (its not so easy find first job without NZ education and experience and doesn't matter what my background - PhD, administration work at university, lecture, geography teacher, and some retail experience at student years :)
So mentally I not been totally ready for skating and feel tired after not sleeping night with kids (one wake up at 12, another at 2am, first one want been feed at 3 am and then nearly 5.30 they both awake. Happy mummy! They don't want miss any sunlight and all exciting around. Poor me! :)
But just before training I was concentrated, did some off-ice warm-up at car park (while baby was sleep and I have some time before skating). Than worm up at ice and training.

Training:
1. Cross overs (circle). 5-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-5 forward to back with Mohawk change legs. First in one side, then opposite move on circle.
2. Lie step (I gave description before).
3. Cross roll, cross roll, double outside 3turn and continue again with other foot.
4. Czech step. (on this step after half way through I became really tired and first time ever feel that I cant move legs or all body. Coach seen it, said something and made me move faster :)
5. Spirals. First time after break I did spirals and it was really unexpected! Especially way how to do it - not in circle how I use to do it but straight line with moving on half circle. Without any cross overs just good push on each leg - forward and back outside spirals both legs and then inside spirals (it was much harder and I cant get pushing step (on back spirals - with leave leg forward on push and then lift it behind)
6. Sit spin. Tried improved but not so successful. Main thing - entrance. Sometimes I hurry.
7. Loop!!! Ta-Dam! tried it again after my big break with baby born. Not bad. But coach said that I jumping it only with my power but not with good technique. And sometimes - I don't know why I doing it from two legs, not quit sitting on right foot before jump. and need all body work (make spinning top part and then jumping). Not great attempts but good for practice.
That's all!
I walk away from ice rink tired with really red face - sign of good training :)

P.S.

our new guest room.  Welcome! 

Junior World

Interesting was just before this weekend to know about Junior World Championship what going on right now at Sofia, Bulgaria.
Im usually not watch junior competitions, more interested in senior skating and programs, but this time after Olympics really miss watching skating. I know World Championship coming soon. But Im not patient person :)
I visited one of Russians figure skating forum (to see discussing, results) and accidentally find link for online watch competition. Because I was laying in bed by this moment and check it out with mobile phone, I get link for Live+ apps and watch it online straight at this moment (on this website not only figure skating, but other sports too, and some archive).
Cant describe how its cool - watching ice skating Live with great quality picture just from your mobile phone (I just at Christmas holidays get from my husband new mobile phone Samsung Galaxy III. And if before I was thinking that I no need anything from mobile phone - just call and text, now Im really enjoying all abilities of this device like Facebook, Instagram, Navigation, Tapatalk and others apps.
And now even can watch figure skating LIVE! That's amazing :) (another lifesaver thing - Youtube apps - put some cartoon for kids while driving long time and they became unsettle :)
So I move exactly on girl short program - that was great! Three Russian girls finished on 1, 2, 3 place - E.Radionova, S. Sahanovich and E.Medvedeva - very promising girls, I hope they move through grow up without lost. Not far from them girl from Japan, and 2 girls from USA.
Today gonna be free skating. Hope its will be great performances and strongest sportsmen will win :)
Its amazing how light, easy little girls doing all elements. Like jumping beans :) Live energy, positive emotions, exciting - all this elements with them. And make you just smile :)
Girls only don't have real women skating but its coming with time and grow up.
Anyway interesting to watch them and see maybe somebody will be same good skaters like Y.Kim, M.Osada, C.Kostner (her lines and skating wonderful)...
Time will show...
But we can watch their start on big skating way to be champion.
That's inspiring. And interesting to watch all figure skating elements, how they doing them (when you yourself learning jumps, spins, steps)

And maybe I too old (just over 30 :) but for me all this modern technologies looks just amazing, cant imagine me watching figure skating just from mobile device. Cool! :)

So this evening girls free skating. Don't miss!
(all results on  ISU website)

P.S.
At Live+ website you can also get archive with figure skating competitions (that's really useful!), not only Live watch.

Update:

three Russian girls stayed at the same first positions after free skating program. Congratulations, especially for first place - Elena Radionova!

Thursday training

Today I been totally relax- no any worries,  everything in time. Kids at pre-school and child minding.
Funny enough I even not think about training before because too much going on around at this moment. So no time think about ice skatinng (all my thinking at this momemt more about future job- what direction to choose,  what the best opportunity,  work at weekend or part time during the week, half day all week or full day but just few days per week, move kids to childcare or not.
Too much thinking and every day different ideas.
Really don't know what the best option with kids and ability having hobby- ice skating.
(At this moment I just sending CV and visited some interview. So will see how its goes :)

About training:
Freezing at ice rink. Closer to winter :)
Warm up. Simple steps. At the end I remember steps what I not often doing- Waltz step and loop step. I just love doing Waltz step, its make me feel skating with music at some ball, romantic atmosphere. Loop step been good but need more control and deeper sit.
Actual training-crossrolls forward and back 2 lines each, lie step with 3turn entrance in different directions (legs), new step- cross roll back inside 3 times and then 3turn back inside and continue with another leg cross rolls and 3turn, Czech step (was hard to remember it).
New step combination- in circle- 1 forward cross over, Jackson step, double 3turn back inside and step forward. I did it 5 times and then we plus to it bracket (when at end combination you doing step forward move free leg in front, shoulders look outside the circle and do bracket- change edge and direction).
And...time for spins:)
First upright spin. I did few times but it feels not so good like before.  We move to sit spin.  Did a lot attempts and only at the end get something close (I at least feel how to do strong move with free hand and leg. Coach other comments was about longer entrance, keep right hand behind, keep body position correct, not move on the sides, free leg stright).
And something new-today first time tried camel spin (before the break I just start learrn it and cant get correct position and spinning). Today it was hard to do too. But at least I tried few times. :) my mistakes was with wrong entrance and wrong hands position. I even was moving backwards but not spinning!
So need hold left hand in front, right back when move to entrance,
When stand in spinning position left hand move behind to the right hand.
At this moment left leg stretching with push, knee- body up. Need feel this moment.
and of course free leg go up like on spiral.
So I need work with entrance and body position.

Its made me excited- we move forward and try something new. But it was not end of the training yet- last surprise - try to do Salhow! First time jump on my training after break (I start training at middle of January, so its 2 month time with once per week training, not bad :) )!
Need to say that's Salhow my less favorite jump (I like to do Flip and Loop jumps, even if they been hard to learn. Have no idea what the situation with this jumps now - after big break). But anyway good start doing jumps :)
My main mistake with salhow - I move free leg too close to another leg, but need go around, keep her freedom. It's hard to do when you few years did wrong. Its always hard change techniques with different coach.
We did just few fast attempts at last minute of training and coach promised next time give me salhow and toe-loop.
Good news and good training.  Not perfect but good enough.  And surprising how much elements we done for the same 30 min. Maybe my skating speed getting faster or my brains became use to it and think faster, I get steps without too much explanation.  Who knows... anyway its positive changes.
Hope next time will be same positive :)

P.S.
I was wright this post from mobile phone (when baby was sleep near) - hard job! never do it again :) Now from computer will try delete mistakes :)

Unplanned training

At Monday morning I decided drive to Gym (anyway I now having membership and they can do child minding for free during morning class).
I decided go to Body Pump. Leave Anna-Bella with nice women and go to class. Funny feeling - its looks like weightlifting at Olympics :)
I almost straight get pain in knee (I guess doing sit down and up with weight need carefully and correct).
I was in class nearly 10-15 min and then leave to go to ice (ice rink just under Gym, you can see skaters from window in Gym class). It was to much for me - just look and not skate. and Gym class looks a little boring.
So I unexpected went to ice skating. There even was my coach and some known girls - adults skaters.
Its looks like I need really enjoy ice and skating.
But...strange - not! I feel me lost. Have no idea what to do (after did first simple steps tried concentrate and do something else but was hard to remember steps what I did at training with coach (only easily come old steps with first coaches - maybe because I did them during few years...)
Or maybe my thinking was about my baby, that I leave her.
Or maybe mentally I was not ready for skating...

Was funny moment when after did some steps I tried to do spins. And cant get it. My coach L seen what I doing and scream me -  Why you doing spins. You not ready. Go do steps first :)
She was absolutely wright. I just was a little hurry :)

Any way at the end I can get some upright spin, sit spin, and did some attempts of  back upright spin (not too bad). and did some waltz jump - just for warm up jumps (I hope I soon will be do them at trainings :)
and at the end did some spirals and just one circle cross overs for feel speed.

So skating was not too bad, and I get some results, just been not happy and not enough concentrate on what im doing and what order.
Next time I need be ready and have some plan :)

Not sure if I will be visit ice one more time during the week or only training.
My baby looks a little unsettle during the day, hard go to sleep. And I start thinking that maybe its because I leave her at morning for child minding.

So had some bad depressive thinking - maybe I not need Gym and ice skating. Maybe its too early for me and kids. Maybe I need give them more attention. Maybe better save money and delete all this spends for sport (because we in really hard financial situation - move in minus on our card, spends more than income, and I trying looking for some job for bring more money in family).
A lot different thinking :)
I hope soon I could decide all this questions.
Will see!
Life always show the way :)
Thinking positive!

Thursday training

I became better - today I wright about training straight at the same day :) (not one week after :) )
Relax driving, drop Anna-Bella at Gym (today they did my check pressure - seems fine, ask some medication questions, how many times I planning visit gym (I answer - at least one, but hope 2-3). this week I already visit Gym at Tuesday - visit some Step class  - it was really hard! - get all this rhythm and move - I did a lot of breaks and drink bit of water :) Exhausting!
And they check my weight - Ta-Dam!!! I expect see surprise result after 2 month training and skating. Yes it was surprise but not pleasure - weight 71.5 kg (but before Christmas was 70!!!), I was sure I move down, but not plus. O-oh!
Maybe its different scales or another clothes, or maybe some muscles come - funny thinking! :) But not pleasure result. Hope after few month will be better.
Anyway good news - that I go down after baby born (there was 79.4 - I remember it because was afraid move to 80, my weight before first baby was 62 kg, so at least I lost half additional weight, so left just a little bit - another half - 10 kg. Hope Gym and Ica skating will help me.
Cant say that I really worry about my weight, just want looks nice and fit enough :)

So about training:
1. warm-up (cross rolls, change edge etc)
2. cross overs by 8 shape 2 circles, and then 2 cross over with change forward-back, and then 1 by 1.
I actually feel a little bit not in my legs - hard was did change direction with Mohawk, not feel good with it.
3. then lie step (how we call it in Russia) - 3turn forward outside on left leg, sit on right foot moving back, change hands, sit on left foot back, cross over back, step forward on left leg (and then again with 3 turn, or another line with different leg). Another variation of this step - Mohawk entrance and then all the same.
4. Czech step. I describe it before one time. So we again did it. This time was a little bit better, I faster remember what need to do. (cross over back, change edge, cross rolls back, 3turn back outside and then crossover and repeat)
5. new for me step - with bracket. First coach asked me did I ever did brackets. Of course! I was show some steps but she said that its not a bracket. O-key...What is it - bracket? (turn with change edge and direction).
From Wikipedia:
"A one-foot turn with a change of edge that results in a '}' shape traced on the ice".
sounds clear, or not. I tried to do it, coach showed me at least 3 times:
forward cross over, move free leg forward, shoulders (chest) looks outside the circle, bracket turn, (crossover back - not sure in this moment) 3turn outside back, forward crossover and repeat with another foot.
I get it, just did really slowly :)
6. hello again - sit spin. This time we straight start doing sit spin (without prepare). I did few attempts. The main opening for me (simple, but surprising) - when move into spin with 3turn forward need stay back inside when doing spin (but I was always change edge for outside - Oh My gosh! Did I know it before and forgot or never know - hard to say, its looks so clear and simple, have no idea why I always fix spin on outside and it was for me really hard. And it cause move on ice (from spin centre) when spinning.
So now I hope I not will do this mistake.
Another point - my body move bad way at spin entrance - I don't know why I seems to move on the side, but not stay straight or move forward. So now I really need watch with big attention what I doing with my hands, body, legs.
So at this point I just work with spin entrance- tried fix position on inside edge (and 2 times I did it) and try made good entrance with at first hand in front and then move like open door.
Coach said that after this we will work with other parts of spin like sit DOWN (needs strong legs).

Training run fast, finished and became time pick up my baby from Gym - good girl was happy to see mum. I feed her in car and we move back home. I feel really tired and a little bit sick from morning (hope not get the same cold what kids having).

And another thing - summer finished, now unexpected come March and cold - it was freezing at ice rink!!!

P.S. Hope come extra time on ice next week if everything will be fine with babies :)
Have a good day everybody who read my post!

And I will have some day rest while my kids sleeping (its not often happened - same time day sleeping!!! I need appreciate it :)

Thursday training

This Thursday was a little bit unusual because of kids.
First thing at the morning - my almost 2 years old broken my Naveman while I was putting his little sister in car seat before move to childcare. Navigation system still working but I cant fix it on the glass so put near my knee on the way.
Another news - after drop my little boy at kindy and driving on motorway I found that my friend send me massage on Facebook at morning with information that she sick and cant look after my baby. Strange but it was not surprising for me, like I expect something gonna happened. That's the life. Anyway I appreciate all those times what she look after baby.
So I during driving tried to think where I can put baby while I on the ice with coach, who can look after her. Delete lesson just 30 min before training for me looks not good because too short notice for coach.
I just remember about Gym above the ice rink and their child minding during fitness classes up to 10 am. This time was exactly when my training finished.
With this great idea I come to gym and ask membership (good bonus - first month free!, and then pay 14 dollars per week with free child minding - much cheaper than move kids in childcare :) and at the same moment have ability visit Gym and go skating few times per week). I droped baby to nice smiling lady and fast went to ice rink. Done! (problem solved :)

Training:
fast warm-up before training with cross rolls, 3-turns, 3step, change of edge forward on each foot and back, waltz step, loop step and then work with coach L with her routine.
There was crossovers forward and back, moving at 8 shape forward, back, 2+2 with Mohawk change forward to back and opposite, and then 1+1 forward-back move by 8shape.
Cross rolls forward and backwards.
Next new step - 3turn back outside, chasse, chasse, Mohawk, 3turn back outside and continue (with different legs. Chasse we doing forward the borders (fence) and 3turn going in half circle along the borders.
I think there was one more step on training, but I really don't remember what it was (maybe something with Jackson step)...
Upright spin - I did it few times. was ok. nothing great but at least something :)
And then hard work with sit spin. At this moment for me hard to do right entrance and sit low.
My mistakes - I try all the time keep left hand in front, but as said my coach need work with left hand as usual in spin, and only at last moment move it infront. And then move straight free leg together to other hand and leg. I move my free leg not straight and I not leave gap between legs and as result cant sit lower.
Its looks like before break I did my sit spin just with power and fixing spin at any position just to do rotation, but now I try to do right technique and its looks really hard, I even cant sit low, or stand proper on toe (find position), and many times lay on the ice - refreshing, but not so good! :)
And I need strong legs for keep me in position.
So welcome to Gym!!! :)
hope now with accidental Gym membership for child minding I will have ability at least one more time per week go to Gym and Ice rink and practice (before I had opportunity go on ice only once per week for training - its almost nothing for having progress), all other days - sit at home with kids :). Hope everything will be fine and baby will be happy there! At least its good opportunity, another question only - how can I use it with kids, housework and busy lifestyle...Will see!
Stay positive-positive-positive :))

Thursday training

Im again writing post far after training. Always not much time during weekdays and weekends :)

Now maybe a little bit hard to remember what steps was at training.
Main success of the day - we move a little forward with coach and start work with sit spin. Never think that I will be so happy training sit spin again :)
But for me really important do not only steps but some other element what can show that I improve my skating.

So at training I did:
crossovers, 4-3-2-1 and 1-2-3-4 change forward to back move with Mohawk, with put hands up with changing foot.
step with toe around. don't remember start (I still not good with clear understanding and memorizing). main thing what I remember about this step -  that need do push like with back crossover, hold left hand in front and then move back on your toes around (one-two-three), cross, step forward, 3turn inside (+something else and then again move on toes) - something like this...
all this steps combinations I need wright straight after training otherwise its just impossible remember for me...

then forward upright spin. I show coach few times. it was not great but she was ok with it. just made comment about free hand and leg - hold behind while move to spin entrance.

and lucky moment - sit spin!!! step forward :)
I show coach L in what conditions my sit spin and received few comments:
- hold left hand infront of you
- try move body forward hand
- keep free hand and leg behind at entrance and than move together to left hand (and move body forward)
- sit lower - for this need not put legs too close to each other, leave some gap or will be just impossible to sit
- not move right leg across left (that's my mistake), try hold right leg turn toes to the right side
- what else? did I already tell about sit lower. yes I can repeat it- that's main point for me!!!

so need have right technique and strong legs what can hold your body. otherwise you will be often laying on the ice (like me!). but its not scary, so close distance to ice :)

I tried this spin few times but its looks not much impressive, hard get exactly all elements together. Only after training when I was practicing few more times I can manage to do one good enough spin. and finish at positive point :)

Funny that after all my worries and negative thinking, I just let situation go, relax, and finally get good training and positive emotions on ice. Good start (I hope :)

P.S.
Sit spin counting judges at competitions only if your free foot lower that your knee - otherwise its will be recognise like upright spin. So need be careful with choosing spins in program - safer do sit spin and not upright but change foot spin or combination or something else... of course if you can. :) at my point right now I can hardly do only upright and sit spin, but will see later :)

Even not dream about doing jumps on training...interesting how far I from this point? only my coach knows :)
But its not so matter. Just enjoying ice!

And last weekend was our 2 years anniversary marriage (2 years - 2 babies) - feels like 5 years truly :)