The ice is ready, the practices have begun, and the trick becomes getting focused and psyched. The goal for the year? Really modest...to get comfortable in the lean, to get a passable crossover. Good things will follow from each. Liz' qualifying for Olympic time trials was a MAJOR psyche for me, so I took her dream, and my mantra and came up with a new license plate as psyche #1 (as much of the mantra as fit the plate, anyway). By the way, Volkswagen of America, you can send your check for the free publicity any time.... Psyche#2 was finding some football padding that may protect my kidney, and if that is true I think that it will be more comfortable out there. Psyche #3 has been to just pick one technique issue to work on at a time. I'm starting with staying level in my bend, and not letting myself bounce much. Psyche #4 is tinkering with blades a bit and Psyche #5 was a refresher course in sharpening from Craig Pielchowski last Saturday after our RSST practice. We'll see. In the meantime, its off to Saratoga for the weekend for American Cup I, to watch the skaters with some real skill.
