Chapter 51: Stepping Up Into Something
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I set my pace at a quick clip. I was later than usual. I didn't actually run, but I had 7 minutes less than I wanted. I was always the first one on the ice in the morning and I liked to use the time as productively as possible. I was still practicing speed drills, trying to throw jumps at the end with the same kind of speed and power which characterized Russavini's upper tier skaters.
I was actually getting more consistent on the triple toe and my triple flip was a wonder of height and hang time. I wanted to spend a little time this morning working on the wrap technique of my double axel. Somehow, I had never been able to drop the high wrap that beginners sometimes had. Alexi's double axel was extremely nice and in the interests of unison, I had to change my technique.
All week it had been like learning the jump all over again. Especially since I couldn't just turn off my brain and throw it. I had to think about each and every step, each minute movement. I had to know exactly where my body was and if it was right. It was nerve wracking, even with Alexi to watch and point out difficulties. The analysis was unfamiliar to him, but I insisted on it. If we were going to be competitive at all, we had to be perfect, and perfect we would be. We couldn't count on Yelena and Mikhael to make any mistakes.
At any rate, I was stretched and on the ice before the skate house van arrived. I did my speed drills, missed a toe, landed one and did a flip which was less than inspired. Then with the last bit of clear ice I would have all day, I started on the double axel. First, I did singles. I turned on the little navicomputer in my head and tried to identify where each and every important body part was. When I knew exactly where I was in the air, I moved up to the double. I kept running over the technique in my mind, "Okay, build up speed, stroke, stroke, stroke, now turn, step up! up up up! wrap the foot, closer, now down with the knee, closer, unwrap and check! check check check check!
"That's getting better." Russavini was on the ice. "Watch your arms in the check, there should be no hunch in your shoulders. You're trying too hard."
"Where was the wrap?"
"You tell me. Where were you in the air?"
"About here." I demonstrated.
"Actually, you were wrapped a bit lower. It's looking good. Now go do it right 10,000 times, so it's natural. You must be able to do it without thinking."
"Like breathing." I repeated having heard this line a thousand times in the last 3 weeks. I started to skate away. "Oh, Madame? Sasha Klukov is in town, could he share some of your practice ice this weekend?"
"A Sasha Klukov takes up a great deal of room. People will notice?"
I sensed that she was asking a different question than she was answering. I ignored it. "I'm sure that Sasha will keep it low key and not get in the way. He knows about precedence."
"The younger skaters will give way to him."
"just out of awe, I suppose."
"just out of preservation for their own hides. But they must learn to take the ice with someone who far out ranks them. For that, he will be welcome on our ice. Yes, it will be good for the young ones to assert themselves."
"Thanks, Madame."
"Good, now go. Ten thousand times, I said. But not too tired for the lesson. I want for you to speak with the choreographer today."
"Our new program?" I asked with eager anticipation.
"The long."
I was so excited that I popped the next few axels which I tried. the I calmed myself down and put my brain back in control. Sasha arrived and I could see him doing his off ice warmups beyond the boards. Then he put on his skates and went about some speed drills. He did a forward sit, and sure enough, the position was much improved. I guess being fresh helped, it helped his center too.
I wasn't paying attention to my 2X and ended up sliding across the ice on my fanny. Sasha glided over, standing back on his skates. "Watch that wrap, you were too open and it got away from you."
"Yeah, I lost my way in the air." I commented as I levered myself off the cold, wet ice. "Thanks I can manage," avoiding his outstretched hand.
"Do you want some help?"
"From Mr. Text-book Jumps?"
I hadn't meant to be so harsh. Sasha backed off, confused at my tone. "I'm sorry. I... "
"Of course, I'd be glad of any help you could give me. But Sasha... " I paused. "When the rink gets more... public. Leave me alone, I don't want to attract any attention. I don't want to answer any questions about you. If anyone asks, you dropped in to see Yelena... and Mikhael on your way home."
"Okay darling. Whatever you say." He seemed uncomfortable.
"It's not you. It's the rumor mill and the press."
"Oh."
Russavini wave me up and made a circular motion with her hand. Usually I don't have to be told to put my mind back on my work.
"Now about that double axel... " Sasha said.
I can't quite explain how he did it, but he managed to fix my 2X. He watched it a few times. I did it right once and wrong twice and then right again and wrong again.
"You're thinking, aren't you?" He said when I came back after a particularly bad fall. "You can't think your way through these things, you have to set up properly and just do them. Here," He hunkered down and reached for my free foot. "Your foot is like this when you step up into the jump. Remember, you're not stepping up into the air, it's not nothing, it's something. You are stepping into the jump, onto something. There is no fear in stepping onto something. I can see your fear. Instead of putting your foot like that, put it over like this. Then push down, like you are walking up stairs. Try a single first."
I took a turn around the rink, narrowly avoiding young Wolf warming up with his new American partner. I did a serpentine around the ice until I was approaching the point where Sasha stood. I forced all thought from my mind and envisioned my foot doing exactly what he had said. I cocked my foot just so, turned and threw it. I pushed off the jump like it was a staircase and not empty air. I felt my skate boots rubbing together as I unwrapped the jump. Check!
"See." He commented as I caught my breath. "Step into the jump, onto something, not nothing. There's no fear. Now try it with the double. Get the extra rotation with your arms and shoulders and with the hip. Leave the leg exactly where it was."
It was actually alot easier to do the 2X with a low wrap. I reminded myself to have it taped so that I could see exactly what I was doing. Now it was time to do it 10,000 times so it would be second nature. Sasha continued to work with me, making minor corrections and reminding me not to think. I was fair tired when I noticed that all the younger pairs were on the ice and finished with their warmups. American skaters were starting to arrive.
Sasha went off to rewarm himself and then got to works on some of his own stuff. He was still working the forward sit, forcing the position and the center to be as low and close as he could. I stopped at the boards to take a few sips of water.
"Is that Alexandre Klukov?" Wolf asked. He had skated up behind me. I had not even noticed him approach.
"Yeah, he's visiting. He offered to help with my double axel."
"It's much better."
"Thanks." I looked at my watch. It was 8:30! "Have you seen Alexi?"
"No." He smiled knowingly and skated back to his partner.
I stood at the boards nursing my drink. Nadya approached from the floor side. She had dark circles under her eyes. The look on her face was knowing, much the same as Wolf's had been and she was not happy.
"Where is Alexi?" She asked as if she already knew the answer.
"I don't know. He's not on the ice. I've been here since before 7."
"Wasn't he with you?" She accused.
"With me?"
"I assumed that he stayed with you last night. He didn't come in. I waited up half the night."
"He never came in?" I said stupidly.
"No. He did stay with you. You're no longer under my roof and I can't approve of your comings and going, but leave Alexi be... for your own good."
"But I wasn't with Alexi! He was over the house with Mikhael and... some other company, but Yelena drove him home about 9:30."
"He never came in."
"Yelena gets here around 11:30, so we can ask her then."
Nadya walked away looking unconvinced and muttering. Sasha skated up. I guess he was concerned. I'm sure that I looked worried. He put his hands on my shoulders, turned me toward him and hugged me. "What was that about? Is that woman bothering you?"
"Sasha, people are looking! I've got to practice." I disengaged myself. "That was Nadya, the house mother at the skate house. Alexi's gone!"
Text Copyright © 1998-2003 Mary E. Tyler
