Spinning breakthrough

Show issues aside, I had a really great lesson today. I think I might be exiting spin hell, or exiting it as much as I can on these skates. (Can't wait for my new ones...hope they get here soon...) We went to the next step in the scratch spin process today, which is keeping the free foot out to the side for a bit before bringing in. Between that and remembering to keep my arms out for balance instead of drawing them in immediately, I got pretty far. I think I may have managed 4-5 revolutions on one foot. And I felt so legit, too, since that's how all forward scratch spins start.

P actually jumped up and down, on the ice, in her skates, when I managed that successfully. She is super adorable.

Back power pulls are...not much to write home about, but they exist, which is more than I can say for this point a couple weeks ago. Forward power pulls are actually looking almost like the woman in that video. Woo.

I tried to teach fellow skater J, who's struggled with power pulls for years, my philosophy about them--namely, that I think of them as being a variation of the pelvic thrust from the Samba (detailed explanation, in action). It didn't work very well, but I think that was mostly because I was trying to do it in skates. I'll have to send her that first video, or perhaps demonstrate again when I'm wearing shoes.

I did a half Lutz again, and again realized how incredibly, ridiculously awkward that jump is. So, so awkward. But toe loop is coming along. I might be back to the point where I was before I had my unintended break.