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Friday, November 21, 2008

9 months after...

When I got pregnant, I wondered how long into pregnancy I would be able to skate. Not long after that, I wondered how I would get back to skating after the baby!

So now that my baby is 9 months old, here's a quick look back...

6 weeks post
I went back to skate for the first time after baby. My legs felt like jelly, and my balance seemed waay off! I managed some upright spins, and single jumps with wobbly landings...
Posts from the first month back on ice (in reverse chronoligical order)

8 weeks post
I started coaching again. Meanwhile, I was still trying to skate 1 or 2 sessions a week, and building up my strength.

10 weeks post
I was thrilled the Axel was back. Strangely enough, I was happy attempting doubles even before I dared to try the Axel. I attributed it to the fear of the forward take-off. However, in reality, I think was afraid I might find myself losing something I had, rather than something I never really had. (did that make sense)

12 weeks post
I went back to work, and skating was greatly reduced - to zero! I was still coaching on weekends, but didn't have the time to skate myself. I suppose I must have stopped blogging too...

4 months post
I can *finally* get up from the sit spin. It did take me a while before I got to trying the sit spin, and when I did, I was happily doing a pretty low sit, a nice broken leg... then oops, I couldn't get up!! I was pretty embarrassed by that when I was asked to demo the spin combo during the seminar by technical specialist Janet Born.

5 months post
I danced! Yes, it so happened one of the coaches was free, and agreed to dance with me. This was the first dance in eons!

6-7 months post
My skating schedule became regularly irregular. I would skate almost once in 3 weeks, each time trying to work on jumps, spins... sometimes thinking of choreographing a new program. There wasn't much visible progress.

8 months post
I got myself in a skating dress and skated in an exhibition! It was a group item put up by a few of us coaches, for the Fuji Ice Palace farewell party.

Now, 9 months post, and having lost my home rink and my coaching job, I am trying to get into a more regular skating schedule. The difficulty is that the other rink in this entire country is oh-so-far (don't hate me for thinking that a 20-min drive is "far"), and with the school holidays just started, the crowd makes it uncomfortable to work on anything seriously.

As for skating itself...
  • The Axel is mostly there. I'm also working on the 1A+1Lo+1T combination, which generally comes along nicely once I land the Axel.

  • the double Sal and double toe feel good when I don't pop them, *but* I am still trying to get rid of the slight 2-footed landing

  • I've been working on a potential L4 spiral sequence, and hopefully there are no more major changes to the IJS rules on this!

  • Spins are back to normal, with one big exception - my flying camel has flown away! Possibly because I have problem working on that during public sessions, but if that is the reason then it will never come back... I will have to do it sometime!

  • Recently, I have been trying to choreograph a new program... I say "trying" because this is really can't be done properly during public sessions, and without music!

That's my 9 months' of skating in a nutshell... Time to plan for my training so that I can compete next year!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

ChowSkates Figure Skating Photo Contest

Enter the ChowSkates Figure Skating Photo Contest!

To submit your entry, go to http://www.chowskates.com/contest/ and click to enter.

Fill in the entry form, and upload your photo. You will be informed when your entry is approved and available for voting.

You may submit as many entries as you wish, and vote on your entries and your friends' entries. Hurry, the sooner you submit, the earlier you can vote!

This contest is open until 7 December 2008.

Meanwhile, skate great!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Christmas Special at ChowSkates Store!

ChowSkates Store is having a Christmas Special...

Duration: 15 Nov 2008 until 29 Dec 2008

10% discount on selected items, including
* Red Ribbon skate sets
* Blue Ribbon skate sets
* Bronze Medallion skate sets
* Blade Guards
* Blade covers (soakers)
* SkateMate® PRO
* Se_Ku skatewear
* Selected skating dresses

Free shipping is available to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Philippines and Thailand.

More details here.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Ice-skaters spin into record book

Figure skaters in Lanarkshire have spun into their way into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Youngsters from the North Lanarkshire Figure Skating Club set the record for the most two-footed spins in one hour.

The 48 skaters taking part in the attempt on Wednesday completed a total of 3917 spins.

The skaters helped raised £822 for this year's Children in Need appeal. The club chairman said a "great night was had by all."


As reported on BBC News story "Ice-skaters spin into record book"

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

2009 ISU Adult Figure Skating Competition Announcement

The International Adult Figure Skating Competition 2009 will be held in Oberstdorf, Germany from May 28 to May 31, 2009.

The announcement is now available and can be downloaded from the ISU website's Adult Skating page.

The entry deadline is April 1, 2009.

Singapore competitors, please contact me if you're going to enter, as I will be consolidating all entries for SISA. Of course if you need info on logistics, I'd be happy to help where I can. :-)

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

POSB Everyday Champions '09 -- Nominate your Everyday Champion today!

Do you know of any individual or organisation that has a passion for sports, and translates that passion into inspiring YOU or others to play sports and grow through sports? If you do, why not nominate the individual or organisation for the POSB Everyday Champions Award '09?

The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) together with POSB, launched the POSB Everyday Champions Award '09 recently to recognise everyday individuals and organisations that have consistently gone beyond their call of duty and responsibility, so that others can enjoy sports and grow through sports. The Award comprises of three categories – individuals, coaches and organisations.

The closing date for nominations is Sunday, 16 November 2008.

Website: http://www.singaporesports.sg/posbchampions/home.aspx

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