Leap of Death
My pairs partner and I are working on cobbling together a program so that we can finally test our Adult Silver Pairs. About 3 years ago, we passed our Bronze Pairs test. Thankfully, the Silver Pairs test doesn’t seem too much harder than Bronze was.
One of the elements my partner came up with (after watching tons of YouTube videos) is this carry across the ice. We lovingly refer to it as the leap of death. The woman jumps up and hopes and prays that her partner catches her. Well, that’s what I tell myself in my head. Thankfully, my partner hasn’t dropped me yet, and I hope to keep that streak alive.
This is the first time he’s been able to turn 2 full revolutions on the ice. We usually get about a half of a revolution to one full revolution. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made as a team, and especially proud of him for accomplishing this feat. It’s not easy carrying a human across the ice like this, much less a full grown adult like me!
That’s one of the few things on my skating bucket list! I want someone to twirl me around just like that. You guys look great. Good luck as you continue working on your test.
Author
Thanks, Melissa! Go find a yourself a partner! It’s never too late – just have fun with it. 😄
I only want to be twirled around, not the rest of the pairs elements. I would be terrified of being thrown or lifted. Plus the odds of finding a lefty pairs partner where I live is zero. One of our skaters flies out of state to work with a male pairs partner; she couldn’t find anyone in state, and she’s a righty skater and super tiny, very easy to lift. I just need to ask one of the ice dance coaches at another rink for a private lesson to indulge in my bucket list twirl/lift fantasy…someday!
Your first attempt at a camel spin was really good, too!
Author
The lifting and throwing is a bit scary at first – especially when neither one of us knows what we’re doing (there is no pairs coach at our rink or anywhere nearby). I have a friend who drives several hours to train with her pairs partner. These people are dedicated! I hope you can find a coach or someone to fulfill your bucket list!