It's a new month, which will hopefully mean some new adventures with my skating. It's kinda hard to believe that just three years ago, I just passed my Pre-Alpha skating test as a 30 year old adult. I even took the test in the rental skates that I was using at the time....wow.
The biggest challenge for me this month is that I will be taking my first ever FS test. I do have my music picked out (music from the soundtrack to "The Cider House Rules"), and a general routine. I have skated through the routine now about 5 times on the ice, and many more times off-ice and inside my head. I try to make it a point each day to listen to the music a few times, and at least mentally run through it. If I was on the ice tonight during the public skate, I probably would've even done a mini-run through in the center circle, if space would allow.
How do I feel about this test? Honestly, I'm nervous about it, as this is my first "real" skating test. The thought alone of having a judge watch me skate, looking at every stinking little thing (I think), makes me nerves. However, in a way, this is a good thing, as I want my nerves to work for me. I'm shooting for keeping my nerves in check, and just skating as well as I can in that moment. I don't like messing with the "perfection' issue because it causes a lot of stress, and that can majorly mentally interfere with the performance itself. Jeremy and I did skate through my program at my last lesson, and I did ask him if it was of passing quality. He told me it was (phew), but he wants to shoot on making it better, which I totally agree with. Although my elements were considered "passing," I was not happy with how I skated. So, my goal for my test is to pass by skating well, keeping my nerves in check, and being confident with my abilities.
That being a said, I did have a HUGE confidence booster over the last weekend. That was due to my best friend, Melissa, coming to visit. Melissa and I go back 20+ years, and she also figure skates. We had been talking for quite some time about getting together to skate, and we finally made it happen. :) She generally skates at level or so higher than me, but is with the USFSA. She's not much of a jumper or spinner, but really enjoys ice dancing, and I could totally tell with her edge work quality...wow! Her edges were so nice and deep. Someday, I will have the confidence to go onto that deep of an edge, and I would even be interested in testing some of the dances once I'm good enough. It was so great to skate with her as she was so positive and encouraging with my skating, and I got to help her with some of her skills as well. Plus, having cheesecake between skating sessions didn't hurt either. :) It was actually hard to see her leave that afternoon, but we're hoping to skate together again sometime soon, as we both determined that this needs to happen again. :)
That's the latest news for right now, but stay tuned......
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