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!

Olympics 2

Olympics finished and now we know all results in figure skating competitions.
A little bit pity - all good goes fast.

Ice dance
not much surprises with 1-2 place. Two favorites - Davis-White from USA and Virture-Moir from Canada.
thats couples just amazing, really hard choose first. Canadian lyrical and making magic on ice. USA very fast, technically perfect, strong and confident. Confidence just in blood in all American sportsmen from birth :)
So VIrture-Moirs fans still had hope that they can again win gold, but everybody else understand that its almost impossible - judges already made their choice, and only really big mistakes can changes it, what again almost impossible when you look at USA couple.
another interesting detail - this pairs have the same coach Zueva (and its even looks like she made her choice too, prefer Americans).
so result
1 place - Davis-White
2 place - Virture-Moire
and 3 place - surprise - Russian Ilyinyh-Katsalapov. Their short program was sparkle and bubble and free program just beautiful Swan Lake. They go in front French Peshala-Bourza (who did maximum in their short dance - Chicago and Russian Bobrova-Solovyov (who expect be at 3 place but not get it).
road to young!

Ladies
that's was tense, intense, perfectly amazing program performances from women. A lot girls did their best in short and free program. They show to men how need skating at Olympics :)

after short program results: Y.Kim from Korea, A.Sotnikova from Russia and C.Costner from Italy - they all get 74.XX points - all during one point. Not far from them Y.Lipnitskaya (all world watch her and put a lot hope), Americans G.Gold and A.Wagner and everybody had chance for medal.
C.Costner did program of her life - their was crying and amazing skating. All fans was happy for her. But another favourites - Mao Asada cant did her triple axel and stop at 16 place - that was really disappointing but next day she did it - jump triple axel and did just great performance of life, tears at the end (3 place in free program, but not enough for medal, just 6 place for vice-champion previous Olympics).
Results after free skating -
1 place - unexpected young Russian girl A.Sotnikova with good technique, spins, jumps
2 place - Y.Kim from Korea - who miss just a little bit.
3 place - happy Italian C.Kostner with beautiful program (long way to first Olympic medal and last Olympic games for her).
at 4 place Gracy Gold from America.
Is it fair result. Hard to say. Im sure this 3 girls might be on first three positions but just not so sure about order. Costner can be on 2 place, Kim on 3, or opposite - Kim on first, Sotnikova on second.
But games in Russia, that's why so big points. But I guess its not change final result. So might be fair...
And interesting - its first gold Olympic medals for Ladies for Russia. and I think first Olympic medal for Italy too :) well done girls!
On award ceremony they show really warm and nice relationships. That's nice :)
Good when people can stay nice after hard competitions and be friends.

So exciting Olympics finished and we will wait next in 2018 in Korea.
but at least at this season still one more big competition - World Champiomship. Interesting, if all leaders planning come or not, and maybe we will see new surprises. Some skaters ready take what they miss in Sochi - medals!!!

Olympics

I just cant move through this great event and not wright anything about it :)

First thing - Olympics in Russia, Sochi. Few years ago I even made some plans to go there, while I still was lived in Russia. But then - suddenly turn in my destiny - and Im in new Zealand - really far from Russia, Sochi and Olympics.
But I still can enjoy beautiful views, mountains, races, and figure skating competitions :)
Opening ceremony was really good for me, I expected much worth. I don't know maybe its looks great only for Russians, because we can understand what exactly show - Russian villages, history of Russia, Saint-Petersburg 1703, War and Peace by Tolstoy and ballet of course :)
So I really enjoy watching it :)

Figure skating:
Team competitions.
That's just a great idea! Somebody can say - that its not fair and its just ability get more medals for strongest countries - USA, Canada and Russia. Nobody even think that its can be some other countries (maybe just little chance for Japan, France and Italy with their strong sportsmen at some).
But when you look at podium - and see how happy some sportsmen with medals, what the big work they done. And maybe no any other chances for them get Olympics medals (like Kevin Reynolds, Jeremy Abbot, and others - who at first we think just cant get medals in personal events, but then - surprise-surprise!!! - like Ilyinyh-Katsalapov 3 in ice dance or Stolbova-Klimov 2 in pairs. And who knows what other surprises still coming (I mean girls and russian Julia Lipnitskaya).
So actually team competitions before personal gave sportsmen great chance feel Olympic ice and made name for judges.
Well done all team members all countries! funny to see how they support each other and had so much fun!

Pairs:
Results became a little bit unexpected. Everybody was hope that Russian Volosozhar-Trankov will get gold, but it was with question because of German Savchenko-Sholkowy, what made big way to this medals and not leave sport after Vancouver because of hope for better medals.
But unfortunately its not happened.
Results: 1. Russian favourites Volosozhar-Trankov
2. Russian Stolbova-Klimov (they skating just amazing strong and powerful, with new confidence after team competitions - unexpected and happy for them result)
3. poor german Savchenko-Sholkowy (I think again third, if I not made mistake)
But its Olympics gods and destiny...

Mens
Japan boy Hanyu used all his chances - did great at team - his short program just wonderful! really enjoyable for watching, then get ridiculous points in both program, beat great Patrick Chan from Canada, get gold Olympic medal. I guess young guys and girls favourites at Olympics (remember O.Bayul, Tara Lipinsky, and others. now some chances have Julia Lipnickaya.
Second became Chan from Canada - who made long way to this Olympics with a lot world awards. but....only second.
And third - Denis Ten from Kazahstan (been surprise at last World competition - with medal) and now he show that he still here.
all this guys shows the best of new system - great skating skills and transitions.
To compare - was a little bit pity watch last Bryan Joubert skating - what looks like last century skating, but we love him and appreciate everything what he done for many years.
With him finished carier other great sportsmen. We need say thank you to them for everything! They give us a lot not forgettable moments.

Thursday training

Usually I have Thursday ice skating training. But this time because of Waitangi day its gonna be at Friday. not a problem!
I drop one kid at kindy, another at friend (hoping she still feel ok with look after my 6-month old baby). No traffic at all - move through motorway like knife through butter! And been at ice rink at 9.20 (training time 10.00).
Great! 40 min for warm-up and be ready for action :) That's how I think, but reality more cruel: at ice rink hockey training meet me. HOCKEY!!!! no chance for skating and warm-up at all!
That's disappointing, especially because straight after skating I need fast drive to pick up my toddler from pre-school (he there only at 4 morning hours, and over 2 hours for me - its just driving, and 30 min skating in between).
But its life - enjoy the moment. Each of them just wonderful! Need use any ability.
So at this waiting time I did some exercise-stretching at car park near my car. Maybe looks funny, but who bother :) Anyway not much people around.
Then at ice rink I meet few adults skaters - interesting to talk and see people who live with the same passion and ready spend at ice all free time. At this moment I realised that my time what I spend at ice really NOTHING! Just one or two time per week, when others go there every day. And of course if you more time on ice your progress go really fast and skating skills improve better.
(I remember how I was skating in Russia 2 times per week training and 1-2 times additional go to public sessions, and even this was not enough, before competitions I was skating almost every day)
Its make me feel a little bit sad and even think that I never go back to what I had before (my skating skills and elements) or it will need much longer time (not half year how I think before but maybe 1-2 years. sad thinking.
but I still not lost hope. Just start thinking - is it worth it, if I cant get what I want. But then remember how good I feel on the ice and after training and even this feeling worth it. Just pity that its cant be more often...
So - TRAINING:
Steps
crossovers forward and back (don't forget move hands! I again tried fix them :)
3turns forward - outside and inside. just need control body, move on half circle, and skate longer and deeper
another step with Mohawk. not too bad.
and at the end 3step with double 3turn back outside. cant say anything good or bad - need just practice :)
Good point - at least I understand how to do this steps - not work out for long time like before. so its already progress! :)
and another positive point - feel that I can skate on edge longer and it give you nice flow feeling. Can be great if I always can feel it.

At the end of training we try my terrible upright spin. It was not good and coach explain to me some points what sounds really clever.
so what I knew about upright spin, what make it work.
first trick - move into spin like you move around the tree (and when you start spinning you actually hug this tree - really nice hug! just joking :)
another example - like open door (how another coach said me. but imagine tree work for me better then door :)
try first be in open position and then slowly move hands to each other (far from body in front) and free leg cross another near the knee.
try stretch all body up - move chest up, shoulders down!, hands slowly together close to body and free leg slowly move down from knee along another leg. that's made good spinning moment and good central position.
my bad point - that I not spinning in one point but move really far from centre.
So need work at this point.
I carefully listen all coach explanations, tried few times and I did it!!! I have no idea how but I feel really good spinning, and on ice I can see central position (circle marks).
So good, I hope I could repeat it again.
Want go and practice this tricks again and again for good result.

Maybe its sounds funny that I doing just upright spin and have problem with it after almost 5 years skating. But I never been good at spins and never understand how actually do it correct way.
(just fast tried move into it, anyway fix position and did few rotations, and fast exit. never feel that I can spinning long time or over 5 rotations-turns).
So now feel really exciting when knew some details and open for me this spin again :) hope we will be good friends!
And I guess - upright spin - key to al other spins (not exactly of course but at least I will get entrance :)

Cant wait next time on ice!

Nights with baby

One of the bonuses having 5-month old baby - wake up during the night for feeding. Do you think I am crazy?
Not, I hate wake up few times per night and then at morning feel like zombie :)
Just last few nights special - its time for European Figure Skating Championship!
So straight after feeding my baby-girl at 3 am I move to living room for watching EFSC - men free skating LIVE (night before was girls - love it!!!). And for not go to sleep decided make Russian pancakes. Nice surprise for husband and kids at morning!
(yes its can sound crazy making pancakes at 4am (the same I did last time when had contractions during the night with first baby - really helping move through pain and counting contractions in between :) Here I am :)

So it worth it - Russian boys on 2 and 3 place (Sergey Voronov and Konstantin Menshov - jump from 11 to 3 place - incredible!). day before girls been on 1 and 2 (Yulia Lipnitskaia and Adelina Sotnikova). They show beautiful skating and even beat great Carolina Costner). (Watch video with links)

This night will wait pairs free skating program (hope will be good result for Volosozhar-Trankov - they show powerful skating in short program). Hope my baby-girl not give me ability to sleep again. But just for this night. then - sweet dreams :)
update - Russian pairs take all three places on pedestal.

P.S.
oh! and if somebody interested - here recipe for pancakes :) Enjoy yummy taste!

You need:
1 tbl spoon sugar
solt
2 eggs
200 gr flour
500 gr milk
butter
2 tbl spoon oil

1. Put eggs in bowl
2. Mix eggs with sugar and salt (for taste)
3. Add oil, mix together
4. Put milk, mix
5. Add flour, good mix all together.
Its ready to make. Texture - liquid.
6. Heat pan (as hotter - better!), put butter for pancakes not stick.
7. Put mixture on the pan (I usually put 1 huge soup spoon (don't know how its call) in small pan and 2 spoons in big pan. Its might cover all surface (for this you need move pan around in air).
8. Leave on heat while top part loose white colore and bottom became brown.
9. Turn around (I usually use fork for put corner a little bit up and then help with special thing for turning)
10. Leave heating another side just for few seconds (its became ready really fast!)
And enjoy yummy thin pancakes!
Bon appetite!

Back to Basic

Yesterday training was like back to basic.
Not did anything hard (just moving forward and back with changing edge on one foot, and forward 3 turns - outside and inside). Base.
Did few openings for me:

1. hands work. hands (arms) need move up and down with each turn along the body (not around or be just fix like I doing. its just not allow you doing all proper and its happened against you move - not helping). sounds simple, but really hard do for me - because I not use to it.
when I start think about hands - my legs move just without any control, and I lost it.

2. knee work. up and down. sit - get up. that's how its might be. (not just fix in one position). actually knee really helping do right. and if they works proper - you will have beautiful edge, deep and strong move with speed (often you lost your speed because not work with your knee and body not helping at all - you move became slower and slower and then you cant do anything - just stop)...

top sportsmen have health problems with knee often (especially those who lift their partners). I found with my weight grow I often feel pain in right knee (remember how few years ago really terrible fall down on ice. so pain still with me.

3. rhythm. need control body and doing steps in rhythm (not one too long, another too short - how I doing. I guess its looks funny :)

4. not hurry, control body. I found that I try do steps fast, because its easier for me - I not lost balance. but right way - do it slow (at first - when you just start learn element. then when you feel confident its faster), try control body and feel how exactly need work you body. I try do fast and its a lot dirty lines, not finished moves, rush and bad quality work.

5. circles. Yes, its all about circles! Funny enough I often try do step how I can, but forgot about right line on the ice - about go on half circle direction and imagine line what cut it in the middle circle.
when you doing it and try follow this imagination line all became easier :)

Its top of the list basic things what I need keep in my head. Of course there much more....

Did I heard about this details before? I think yes... But funny how you fast forget basic things what actually need be your gold rules every time when you on the ice.

P.S.
So for me this training was really useful with ability again know and remember basic things.
(basic or old school really important I think. A lot sportsmen in old times did basic steps at competitions (we call it "school"). Without school steps impossible right way doing jumps or spins.

From history - figure skating start from trying paint on the ice with your skates different figures and sometimes this shapes looks complicated - almost impossible to do.
here example special figures by Panin Kolomenkin (Russian figure skater)

Back to ice

Today very exciting day for me - back to my ice skating practice.
After big break. it was much more big then I think at first time - instead one baby, its became two. and now im busy mum.
My lovely son 20 month and my baby girl turn 5 month.
I think its good time go back on ice (after 2 years break) :)

About me - My name Olga. originally im from Russia, beautiful city Saint-Petersburg. I was doing ice skating nearly 2 years on small peace of ice (for little kids) with my first coach O in group of the same crazy adults and few kids). we did training 2-3 times per week. it was hard job (especially 30 min training on the floor before ice) and a lot fun. we became real friends who live with the same passion.
(it was dream from childhood - do ice skating when I been on open ice and seen how other kids practicing with coach some elements. for me its looks almost impossible.
In Russia if you not start at 4 you lost a moment for do it ever. And I was 6 at this moment - so lost forever :) Now really funny think about this - how all changes.
When I was middle 20-th my colleague said that she doing ice skating training with group of adults. I been really surprised. I have no idea that its really possible, that your dreams can became true.
From childhood I been watching all figure skating championships (it was my favourite sport!).
so I come to the ice. and then after two years realise that I want more - not just skating but took part at adult competitions.
I changed my coach - move to group with bigger ice (almost normal size - this ice rink was in shopping center and sometimes there been really hot - on the ice was a lot of water or really cold - at winter. but it was nothing. the most important thing - skating!!!
with new coach V I start better improving and only at this moment feel that I doing progress and to me comes more elements what I cant do at previous group. there I feel that I stop on one place and cant do anything good.
so that's come time for skating, competitions and fun. In Russia at this time was a lot adults who took part at competitions (I remember at Bronze category been nearly 15 participants and I come 2. I cant believe it. so happy. but actually result was no so important for me. The main thing - did program good, enjoy it, and do everything with music (not opposite :). And I really love be at this atmosphere, talk with other adult skaters, know how they learning elements, see there relationships with coaches. support each other. that's great feelings!
Than I was happy enough to find ability go to my first international competition to France in Dunquerk 2010. it was the best memories in my life. we did 2 program with my coach - free skating and artistic. I decided that no reason why I cant do it - more chances be on the ice, perform and have more fun. I been 2 in free skating Bronze and 5 in Artistic (bronze with silver category). nice enough and bring cup to home :)
cant describe how cool it was. its great memories. and then I went to Tallinn (Estonia) to another competitions 2011.
and then I feel really tired and even finish skating for few months. lost motivation (broke up with boyfriend). and start doing photography courses.
I decide go back on ice, practice one month and took part in competitions what feels like my last competitions. finished not too bad, even took 2 place but was not so happy how I done my program.
And then .... European holidays (Paris, Venice, Rome, Brussels, Milano, Florence...) and meeting My Man - inlove, happy, harmony.
Move to New Zealand, where he originally from. 2012 - born William Ivan and 2013 born Anna-Bella. Great goals in my life.
(feeding, changing nappies, playing, have fun with kids, but feel really tired and under stress all the time.)
So Sunday contact my coach (lucky - Russian coach in New Zealand)and now sitting excited - waiting first training. really hope everything goes fine and I not will looks terrible on ice (did few public sessions during holidays) so hope a little bit better skating but really far from my last level before babies :)
So list what I can did before my break (4 years hard job):

toeloop
loop
flip
lutz
salhow (badly - cant get this jump at all :)

upright spin
sit spin
start learn camel and back spin upright

did some steps and spirals

So my goal in New 2014 year:
repair my elements - do better steps, jumps and spins (that's not my best side :)
hopefully be in good form for took part in some school competitions - just for fun and faster progress and of course made a program.

Will see how its gonna work (with few kids and husband at home, not much abilities to go skating and just 15 min training per week just for start :)
But I not lost my hope. Sure "everything gonna be all right"! (song in the head :)