spring show!!!

SPRING IS COMING !!!

H,i me again.
My next show is coming up in one month and I am not in a solo this time but I am next time!!!
 

Winter Games

A mother's note

Why she skates, in her own words. The reason I started Paris in ice skating was because she was struggling in school and the teacher was calling her out, "Paris get back in your seat," "No Paris, that's not right," "Paris quit talking..." All of these repeated public verbal disciplinary action, in first grade, caused a social whiplash. Kids in class don't want to be friends with the one the teacher doesn't like. Kids gravitate to befriend the perceived "teacher favorite," especially in the younger years. 

Crying at night, Paris described hating life, she didn't ever want to go back to school and she didn't feel like she was smart, had any friends, or could be good at anything. Once she found ice skating it changed her world. She felt like she could be good at something, she could love life again. In her own words this is why Paris skates.

It's fun watching Paris as she watches the Summer Olympics. She is glued to the TV, eyes wide full of dreams of her own. She loves watching the athlete stories telling about what is has taken to get reach their Olympic dreams. She is looking at how hard they train and that is inspiring her to reevaluate her current training. It is so much fun to watch her fall in love with a dream. I remember when I was young my dad used come into my room at night to say good-night, he would tell me that I could grow up to become anyone and do anything I wanted to do. Now it is my turn to say it to her. Has anyone watched that commercial about the mother's of the athletes? I get teary eyed because no matter what your little ones do, who they become, how big they get or fast they grow, they will always be your babies. That is how I feel when I watch my baby dance so beautifully across the ice.

Gearing up

I recently entered Copper Cup at a higher level of competition than what I am used to. I am surprised to find the level of competition much more difficult than previous categories. I really like having tough competition because it forces me to work hard. I ended up placing 4th, landing my most difficult axel. I think I was beat at a technical level, arm gracefulness, spins, and other details. My goal is to take more off ice training to increase core strength and upper body awareness. I also want to be on ice for 2 hours and 15 minutes each day, and off ice for 30 minutes each day (at least). I think I need to be more disciplined when I'm on the ice without my coach. When I'm training with my coach, I know what to work on, and when to move on. When I'm alone on ice I sometimes get distracted watching other skaters, or jumping from one thing to another without perfecting either move. I forget to pay attention to posture and arm. I'm currently working to pass off my moves in the field at the Pre Juvenile level. My next competition is Oktoberfest scheduled at the end of September.

Winter Games

Merry Christmas!

Hawaiian Christmas

December 16, 2011

Today was my Christmas program. This is a fun show where skaters and coaches from my rink come together to put on a show. We have a good time. I only really learned my little dance on Monday, to preform Friday...

First I preform with my syncro group, then with a smaller group.

Artistry in Motion from NYC is coming to my rink on February 18th. I'm really excited for this one day workshop, and I hope to raise enough money to go to a camp put on by the same company in NYC this June! Fingers crossed. If anyone has a great idea for a fundraiser, please share, I need some ideas.

A Big Thank You!

I have heard from you! I am feeling your support in so many ways and from many directions. Thank you for your support in helping me become better on the ice. There is nothing I love to do more than to ice skate. If I'm not on the ice, I'm jumping around at home or stretching out. If only I didn't have to do so much homework...

Thank you!

I passed my test!

I passed my test! I'm officially a limited beginner.

Currently I'm working on my Christmas program, syncro program, and winter games competition.

I can now do a loop a flip and a full lutz jump.  I'm really exited for my syncro program/competition. We will be going to DISNEYLAND if we win our competition! I love Disneyland.



I'm having a Lia Sophia party on December 7th! 10 % of the show will go toward my ice dreams. I hope you can make it! If you can't make it because you live too far away, you can order this awesome jewelry online at www.liasophia.com. It makes a great Christmas present. Be sure to ask about the special pricing and sales for my show.

 

Test

Tomorrow is my test. November 3,2011. I'm really excited for my test. It doesn't seem hard, but you have to have every move perfect. My moves in the field are: left and right stroking, inside and outside, backward and forward edges, spirals on both feet, front and back edges around the hockey circle. Everything has to be in perfect balance, shape, and posture or I fail the test. Wish me luck!

A note from my mom

Jeremy and I are so proud of Paris. Not because she won, but because she set a goal, she worked hard, and she achieved it. Speaking of working hard, Paris has been on the ice every single day, aside from Sunday. She doesn't really have time to play with friends, watch movies, or play video games. Mostly she is on the ice or practicing off the ice, or in school, of course.
Paris has a tough coach. She calls Paris out when she isn't doing her best, or when she loses focus. She coaches Paris' ice presence, and choreographs her routines. She is extremely proud of how quickly Paris has pushed herself up the levels. As the results posted Joleen said, "I can not believe how far Paris has come! She deserves to win because she has practiced every day, early in the morning and late into the public skate sessions at night."
I don't make Paris practice, or compete. She begs me everyday for a ride to the ice. That girl is a thorn in my side most days, "taxi me here, pick me up..." I'm thinking, I need to get that girl a motorized scooter and make her take herself to the ice. I can see it now, Paris zooming down Davis Blvd, skates over her shoulder, leotard and tights on. Well, maybe that wont work, a mom can dream right?
In the mean time, Jeremy, Berlynn and I remain Paris' biggest fan, not forgetting London. He is there watching her most practices! Poor kid.

Paris, we love you, we are proud of you, and win, lose, or draw, I hope at the end of each day you are proud of going after your dreams! I hope you never lose that quality.

And the winner is...

 

The results are in for my division. I'm so excited to know how the judges ranked me I fly down the stairs, skates still on my feet. My coach is with me, she wants to know how I did also. My mom recorded my reaction. Check it out.

The Big Moment

Getting Ready

I think I'm almost ready to compete this weekend. I have been working very hard, on the ice every day, early in the morning, late at night... I hope I win first or second place.

Right from left

Some people learn their right from left in kindergarten, or first grade, but I have always had a hard time with right from left. I think it's because I think about it too much, rather than just lifting the hand I write with when I'm supposed to lift my right hand. Today my coach was tough on me because I had my footwork all mixed up. I was using my left leg when I was supposed to be using my right. You can tell my coach isn't happy with me. Some days are better than others on the ice but at the end of the day I try to scrape myself up off of the ice, literally.

Octoberfest

I just got the schedule for my next competition. It looks like my category has a lot of hard competition. I will be competing at 6:33pm on Saturday, September 24. Octoberfest is at the Cottonwood Heights ice ring. I hope you can come!

Practice, Practice, Practice

MY NEXT COMPETITION SEPTEMBER 22-24TH

I hope you all can come and see me skate!  I am working hard to get all of the jumps and patterns just right.  It would help me just to know that you all were on the bleachers cheering for me!!!
I would like to get a sponsor, but I guess I have to be in skating competition longer and work up to higher levels , and win more metals.  (I have worked up several levels to freestyle skate one)  My mom and dad are spending lots of money for my lessons and all of the things I need to buy for skating.  (they must love me a lot).  If any body wants to help me to get more lessons, I have two /half hour lessons a week but I need more but mom and dad don't have the money to buy more lessons.  I need a jacket for warm-ups and a costume for the competition.  I want to go to the Olympics and so I am hoping you all can help me.
If you click on FOLLOW  on my blog then I can email you when I have some news about my ice-skating and I am so excited to share this with you!
Thanks to, Grandma GG, for the skates and helping my dreams come true.
I hope you comment on my blog and come to see me skate!

I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED!

I just wanted to post and tell everyone of my family and friends what is happening with my ice-skating and thank you for your help and support.
My Grandma Roma just bought me a new pair of ice skates.  They were expensive and I am so happy that she helped me to be able to buy them.  My other skates were so small and they hurt my feet.  The good part is that they are professional grade.  I need these kind to be able to do better jumps.  The bad news is that they are so stiff that I have been getting bruises around my ankles and on my feet.  My ice skating teacher, Joanne, told me a secret way to protect my feet, that professional ice skaters know.   She said to use foam make-up pads where it is hurting me.
I have one pattern that I am trying to learn, called shoot the duck, where I sit on one foot and stick the other leg out straight in front of me.  These new skates are so stiff that I ham having a really hard time being able to do this.
I love Ice-skating so much that I get up at 6 am so I can take a lesson before school.  

My Goal

My name is Paris Smith. I am a ten-year-old ice-skater with a dream to one day go to the Olympics. I have started this blog to chart my journey, and find sponsorships. The first time I went to the ice rink I was four. My Mom took me to the outdoor Gallivan Center during the winter. I was hooked from then on. I begged my Mom to put me in lessons. Once I began my lessons, I worked really hard to get better quickly. On July 8th I finished first in my division at Copper Cup, my first ice-skating competition. Follow me on this blog as I tell my story. I'm setting my goal and reaching for it.