Ice Skating 159 & 160: New Chapter

It has been more than 2 weeks since Lil Shauna's National competition. With "No Big Deal" behind us, it is now back to learning new things. It also mean that this tuition teacher can now take a break. I think I should allow Lil Shauna more space to learn how to push herself.

The last lesson, Coach Raymond made her do camel, altitude and broken leg spin. There are so many interesting names to ice skating elements, isnt it? While they sound so funny, each one is so difficult. Zzzz..

None of the pictures looked like she did a decent spin, right? Haha, she has a lot more hard work to do, to figure out the gist to get those spins. Thankfully, her sit and back spins are so much better now after the competition drill.

The same night, she joined a footwork workshop organised by her skating club.

The instructor, which is also a coach but for the national and/ or development team (I think), is so good. I signed Lil Shauna up for the lower level class only to realise that her peers went for the higher level workshop. For a while, I was worried that it was a wrong choice. Bcos she knew most of the footwork, she had the opportunity to try to do better. Right choice, right choice. Unlike the 1st workshop, where she was blindly trying to catch up with the rest, she had better appreciation this time. She even shared with me her learning on good postures after the workshop. I reminded her that she needed to practice keeping her hands "less busy", the "busyness" frequently offset her balance and made her look messy.

Yday's class was interesting bcos Lil Shauna learnt new jumps! She was taught lutz jump but couldnt get the entire revolution and unable to land on one foot. Coach Raymond also made her do axle jump! I am so excited, much more than her. Lol.

Of course she didnt get her axle jump but Coach Raymond said that it isnt too bad for a 2nd time on ice.

We went back for extra ice time this afternoon. Lil Shauna worked on her spins but gave up soon after. She practiced her lutz jumps hard and was eventually occasionally able to land on one foot with almost a full round. She said something about edge or the jump wouldnt be considered a lutz jump and asked me if she did it properly. Huh? Simi edge? The tuition teacher 功力不够, she will have to go ask Coach Raymond the next lesson.

Towards the end of the ice time, she went on to practice her axle jump. It was obvious that she was worried about falling but unfortunately it was impossible to master an axle jump without falling on the ice. She of course fell, several times some more. Hahaha. Coach Raymond gave her some pointers along the way, reminding her to cross her leg. He said that she has a little bit more to go to complete the 1.5 round required for an axle. Yeah, sounded so near but I think a lot of hard work for that little bit more.

Competitions push skaters towards improving. Lil Shauna was pressured to work really hard to master her sit and back spins and flip jump needed for the competition. With the competition over, she now able to move to new elements. I am so proud and in anticipation of what she could do in the next competition!

Mummy Lim