Sometimes I Feel As Though I'm Running On Ice

[anarchist_nomad]

I PASSED LEVEL SIX!!!!!

Ahem. Tonight, I had originally intended to have a social night, either at either the London Poly MeetUp or at Coffe, Cake and Kink. Those plans got the axe, however, on account of the need for an additional ice skating lesson.

Yesterday was week five of my Level Six course. At the end of it, I had passed three of the four skills for this level: a two-foot slalom, backwards chasses around a circle (both directions), and turning from backwards to forwards on one leg. I had not yet passed the "forward three-turn" -- a maneuver wherein one begins by skating forward, raises one leg, pivots to backwards on the other leg, and ends in a backwards glide on one foot. To pass Level Six, it was necessary to do the move on either leg. My turns weren't bad, but I found it difficult to end in a one foot backwards glide; the second foot kept coming down too soon.

Normally, this would not be a problem. After all, there is one week left in the course. However, I leave for the States (and P**T***!) on Thursday and will miss the final week. Whoops. To make up for the loss of a thirty minute group lesson, I sprung for a fifteen minute private lesson tonight. I would have preferred a different evening, to preserve the social night. Alas, this was the only evening that my instructor had available.

In any case, I am very glad that this worked out. We got me through the three-turn relatively quickly... so I am now certified as a Level Six NISA skater! We also had time to start looking at one of the Level Seven skills for next term: Backwards crossovers. Astoundingly enough, my first attempts at them were not bad!

Oh, my goodness. Eight months ago, I could barely stand up on the ice. Tonight, I just did backwards crossovers.

I can't wait to get to Rockefeller Center in December!!!

Comments

[kat1031.livejournal.com]

Unrelated, but you won't happen to be in the NYC area in mid-November (or Italy, Portugal or Spain in either mid-November (Italy) or early December (Portugal/Spain).

Not going to make it to the UK this trip, but I'll be sailing around the continent and traipsing over Iberia and would love to meet up if you are traveling anywhere near where we'll be.

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Afraid now, my dear! Current travel plans are as follows:

October: Upstate New York from 10th to 13th. NYC from 13th to 16th. Michigan from 17th to 19th.

November: None

December: NYC and Boston around Christmas. Chicago for New Years.

January: Japan

Sorry that I won't get to see you in the near future, sweetie, but have a blast! Your upcoming trip sounds fantastic!