Last Friday I skated for the first time in weeks, on freshly sharpened blades no less. Skills vanished, I tottered around cautiously. I skated again Saturday because I didn’t want my Monday lesson to be too much of a disaster. Saturday was reasonable. And Monday was fine. It’s crazy how quickly those skills come and go.
I’d been considering re-testing my moves at the Valley of the Sun Adult Skating camp next month in Chandler, Arizona. My coaches have advised me to re-test for a fresh set of eyes instead of my local judges who see my flaws day in and day out. It’s like the excitement of a new hire versus the co-worker who’s been plugging away for years, or a first date versus the partner who leaves those chinny hairs in the sink. A test session that is all adults might recalibrate expectations a bit too, even though the only way I can take this test is at the standard level.
So at my lesson Monday we ran through the juvenile test and Sharon told me to go ahead and sign up, which I did. It seems pretty vague and abstract at the moment, but soon enough I’ll be wondering, why did I do that? Sharon seemed pretty happy with my power circles and my eight-step mohawk, though on the back power threes she asked me, are you planning to test this at the standard level? Well, I can’t have it all.
The camp itself will be fun, with friends and coaches I care about and new ones to meet. Max Aaron has retired from competition and will be coaching at the camp, and Sinead Kerr will be there too. I’m excited about both!
My life’s been a good but crazy mix lately, a fantastic trip, an annoying sinus infection/cough exacerbated by the West Coast’s climate-change induced bad air. It will be interesting to add “preparing for a skating test” to that mix. Hopefully the smoke will clear soon and I’ll get some good ice time. I’ll keep you posted.
Related Posts:
Valley of the Sun Adult Skating Camp: Passed Juvenile Moves Passed my juvenile moves in the field test at the Valley of the Sun Adult Skating Camp.
Juvenile Moves Test: Retry My re-try juvenile moves test.
Juvenile Moves Progress Where I'm at with my juvenile moves: still close to testing, in theory, as I've been for a long time. But I'm making progress.- Six days to my Juvenile Moves test Final preparation for my juvenile moves test.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Mary: Good luck with both the test and the air quality. Climate change can be seen everywhere. Hopefully a consensus will form before we lurch over the edge.
Thanks. We have the scientific consensus, now we just need the political one.
I am so excited for you, Mary. It sounds like you are back in the saddle again and going full force. The test should be a good incentive to get the most out of the camp. I admire your ability to come back after taking a break. I’ve felt like this summer has really been on again, off again for me, so now I have a really long way to go to get back in shape. Will look forward to a full report on the adult skating camp!
I’m sure it will come back quickly for you, Jo! I hope the test doesn’t distract from just enjoying the camp. Ordinarily I’d enjoy all the sessions and be exhausted at the end of the week, but I think I’ll have to pace myself with a test on the last afternoon.
Welcome back, Mary! You are going to do great at the test session. Be confident because you know how to do these moves! And enjoy working with Max and Sinead. I’m so jealous!
Eva at Eva Bakes recently posted..Skating Fridays
You’ve worked with some amazing skaters yourself, Eva! The coaches were a definite draw for me. Thanks for the good wishes. I know for sure that I know these moves better than I did in April, and I feel better about taking the test than I did then. That’s all I can say about it for sure.
The camp sounds like so much fun. How cool Max will be there. I agree, a fresh set of eyes for testing is a great idea. Good luck and enjoy!
Marcia recently posted..Stress Is Great For Weightloss
Thanks, Marcia! I will definitely enjoy and will report back!