Fiesta Skate

by Mary on May 3, 2015

My running friends are always posting about the cool swag they got at their latest run. Skating competitions lag in that area, but not this year at Fiesta Skate!

Fiesta Skate swag

Fiesta Skate swag

Whoever created the cool magnet did well, the custom chocolate bar was a nice touch, but the best was a free sitting and postcard at the competition photo booth:

Fiesta Skate photo

Fiesta Skate photo

Fiesta Skate is an in-house competition I skated in a couple of weeks before adult Nationals. It has a lot more heart than most skating competitions. Wish I’d taken some photos of the decorations and the volunteers dressed up Fiesta style with some pretty great sombreros.

Fiesta Skate photo Tallis program

beginning of Tallis free skate

I skated both of my programs exhibition. Spent the whole day there between two warmup ice sessions, the skates, and Douglas Webster’s seminar at the end. It made for a full day, and sharing the warmup ice with Basic Skills skaters who hadn’t learned how to look where they were going was scary, but I’m glad I was able to run both my programs through at a public performance close to Nationals.

Fiesta Skate photo Tallis program

free skate

The night before the competition I had a sudden fear when I lay down to sleep. I knew that Douglas Webster would be teaching his seminar at the end of the competition, and my coach had introduced me to him when we were on the same freestyle session (with Keegan Messing too!) earlier in the week. I wondered if Douglas might see my free skate and I didn’t feel ready for that in that moment. Doesn’t make sense perhaps, there was going to be a whole audience anyway and plenty of accomplished coaches and skaters around.

Fiesta Skate photo Tallis program done

Done!

As it happened, when I arrived for Douglas’ seminar he said hi to me and said he had seen my program. He said “it was a lovely performance.” That was very nice of him, he didn’t have to say that. I mean I know what kind of skater I am. So my fear came true in a way and yet did not turn out to be a bad thing at all.

On that skate of my free program I tried reversing my starting position by 180 degrees to practice facing the judges if they were on the opposite side of the arena. What ended up happening was that I started my program at the starting spot for my other program, my rose program. Oops. Surprisingly it didn’t make a huge difference and I was able to skate that program pretty well. My lutz, however, didn’t work at all, so I redoubled my efforts on it for the last couple of weeks before Nationals. My sit to back sit spin didn’t work so well, either, and I put more training effort into that too.

Fiesta Skate photo rose program

Rose showcase program

My rose program earlier in the day felt rushed: unfortunately it was still similar at Adult Nationals. I promise to write about Nationals next time!

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Jo May 3, 2015 at 4:06 pm

What a great set of pictures from what sounds like a terrific competition. I like the “icicle” bling!
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mary May 3, 2015 at 5:14 pm

Thanks, Kim who makes my skating dresses came up with that, I liked it enough to order it that way!

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Joanne Willcox May 3, 2015 at 10:41 pm

Love the photos. Every competition is progress. Great job!
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mary May 6, 2015 at 4:25 am

Thanks Joanne! I do learn something every time I compete!

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Eva May 4, 2015 at 1:16 pm

Fiesta Skate sounds awesome! I love the postcard that you created at the event – how fun! Glad you were able to get your programs out there before ANs and that you had the opportunity to meet Douglas Webster. I’m sure you’ll remember his wonderful comment for a long, long time! šŸ™‚
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mary May 6, 2015 at 4:26 am

Thanks Eva, I’m sure I will remember that, I hope it helps me remember that overall people are watching with a goodwill and a kind heart.

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