Magical Mornings

There is something very special about early mornings at the rink that reminds me just how much I enjoy skating. Yesterday was just such an experience. I'd like to write that I had some extraordinary skating break-through. Not so. In fact, it was the ordinary nature of the day that was special. 


I'm a 'ritual' person and they don't get much better than waking up when it's still dark, grabbing a cup of coffee, getting ready, pouring another 'cuppa' for the drive to the rink and arriving well before the madness, chaos and commercialism of the place truly begins.


I am working on Silver Moves in the Field, which means nothing to non-skaters, I know. Forgive me. Now I've been working on these for two years, but really not in earnest. I decided that I really need to improve my edges so my free dancing is better. After all, in skating, everything begins - and ends - with moves. Yesterday it was primarily the first set of required three turns. OMG, these are hard, but Coach J was pleased that I could do them in both directions with what she referred as to "comfort." She clearly didn't hear my heart nearly leaping out of my chest. But, Coach was holding my hand, too. No way am I able to do these on my own yet. I have strict orders from her that I am not allowed to practice these alone, but I did sneak in a couple of turns when she wasn't looking. 


Moves, as an activity, is about the precision of this sport. There is no fudging them, like in free skating. You either do them correctly or you are likely "arse" down on the ice. That's why I enjoy them so much; the structure, the intellectual challenge, the need for exactness, the sound of the blade cutting into the ice all appeal to me. There isn't the need for speed (at least for the three turns) so it's a great activity for us "adult onset skaters"(as my best skating buddy Janet refers to those of us who took up this sport later in life). Speaking of Ms. J, every time I work on Silver Moves I think of her testing these so perfectly and Coach J being so proud of her, as was I. Her test inspires me to continue working on these.


Then it was on to Free Dance 6. This tango program is so cool! Coach Chris is doing a fantastic job of putting the program together. He keeps assuring me I will be able to test it before year end. Given that only about 30 seconds of the required 2 minutes 30 seconds is done at this point, that seems a stretch, but I trust him. The opening elements are just fantastic; very sexy and fun for a "mature" lady to do. I have that inner self screaming to release another side of me. When I work on this program I am completely absorbed in the elements. There isn't time to think, "What would happen if . . ." - there is only trying to be that tango dancer that Coach C claims I'm supposed to emulate. 


Finally, the dreaded Ten Fox. Two pretty good patterns in "attack" mode. Then the wheels came off when I balked at the outside Mohawk. "Oh darn!" as Coach J says when I botch something in a lesson. I have got to get out of my head when I do this dance!


Had some quality time to chat with J about various topics. Another treat of being at the rink early! 


All-in-all, a good day at the rink. 


Skating onward.