Skating report, with illustrations

Because I asked her to help me get comfortable going straight from the back crossover to the forward outside edge for the next three turn in the power threes pattern (I typically set my foot down on a back inside edge or at best a flat before grinding it around), P has given me a fiendish little exercise. You do FO3, then immediately step into what appears to be the demon hellspawn of a Besti squat and an Ina Bauer, then go straight into a FO3 on the other foot. Repeat all the way down the ice.

I was quite certain last week that there was no way the human body could bend like that (yes, despite the evidence of P doing it...but she's been doing this for a few decades), but I did actually manage a not-completely-awful imitation of it, in one direction, this weekend. And it did translate into a very slightly better transition between back crossover and FO3 in that direction.

P also rearranged my arms for my waltz jump at this lesson, which is kind of throwing me off. I think I am getting higher, but I'm not rotating as much (I'm probably doing a third of a turn rather than a half turn). Ultimately, I think it will improve the jump once I get used to it, though.

I started bending my knee much more on the second half of the mohawk leading into my salchow. Magically, something that looks like a jump off the edge/toe pick appeared, rather than a step.

I'm back to working on the pre-loop exercise that troubled me before, when my back was unhappy, and I'm pleased to report that it doesn't hurt this time. Yaaaay.