10 times faster!

Things seems to be working out well. I had my third lesson today and Will was pleased with my progress. I actually spent nearly three hours at the rink this morning - mostly to make up for missing Tuesday and Thursday due to work stuff, and yes my ass is killing me. At the end of the lesson, I asked Will to tell me whether I'm picking this stuff up at an appropriate pace. Never having seen anyone ELSE learn how to skate, I don't have a way of judging whether I'm completely clueless and taking forever, or doing about how I should. His response was that I was learning at probably 10 times the rate of a normal adult student! Damn - I feel like it's taking me forever to get control of these exercises - I couldn't imaging having to slog 10 times longer than THAT! I guess I'm just impatient. Anyone who knows me is, at this moment, saying "duh". :)

I will say that it's nice to have a coach who has a background in dance. He's able to break things down for me in dancer-terms, and when he has to help me adjust what I'm doing, he's able to communicate it clearly. For instance, at the end of the lesson, we were working on forward crossovers and evidently I was bringing in my outside leg leading with the inside of my foot rather than the toe. A dancer's instinct would be to bring the leg forward leading with the instep because that's how you do a tendu in ballet. Yet another difference to skating - you have to lead with your toe or you can't keep your feet close together - which is important in ice dance since your feet and those of your partner are so close together. The cool thing is he spotted what I was doing, knew exactly why I was doing it, and was able to tell me quickly how to change it and I got it immediately. I really lucked out with my selection of coach.

When my lesson was over (and I'd heard the "10 times" assessment - WHOOPEE!), I confessed to Will that my goal is to compete at the Gay Games in 2010. He not only was supportive, but said he's always wanted to coach a male/male ice dance team! I told him he would get his chance, but we have to find me a partner when the time is right. Woo Hoo! I think this is actually gonna happen!!!

At the end of my session today, I got to watch my doppleganger practice jumps again. It's still amazing to see someone my size (ok - and 20 pounds lighter and 30 years younger - I found out he's a high school senior) get into the air like that.

Damn I feel old.