training under eteri

test skates 2019

it was officially the start of a new season, which meant new programs and new costumes, my favorite part.

our training in novogorsk, russia, started june 10th and ended july 15th.
september 7-8 is when we show off our programs at test skates, which is one of my favorite mock/ real-ish competitions.
it has the perfect amount of stress, but also a bit of casualty because it isn't a real competition.

—

i finished tying my right skate, and went to stand up.
i could hear the boots squeaking under me, as i bent my ankles to make sure i liked how tight my skates were. the pair i was wearing were brand new, and this was the first time i was even putting them on my feet.

i got onto the ice and joined in on the group warm up. i went to the end of the line because i knew i couldn't keep up with everyone else.

" сегодня мы вернемся в привычное русло. прыжки и вращения - наш главный приоритет, а завтра мы приступим к программам. во время тренировки мы будем вызывать вас и объяснять ваши программные задания на этот сезон."
( today we'll get back on track. jumps and spins are our top priority, and tomorrow we'll get into programs. during practice, we will call you in and explain your program assignments for this season.) dudakov explained loudly as we all lined the boards.
..
shortly after jumping ( i popped majority of my jumps due to the pain in my feet), i was finally called over to listen to my music.
i really liked both of the ideas and songs for my programs, which is normally not how it goes.

...

this season will officially be my first year as an international senior skater.
it feels so weird to say that, but finally the time had come. i was in finally in the big league. for the next 2-3 years, every program i skate will prove my skating abilities, and whether or not i will be a perspective skater for the 2022 winter olympic games.

this season i am competing in 7 different event, 6 international and 1 national competition, with a few extra fun events thrown in there.

...

only a few days into training in novogorsk, it has not gone like i had wished. so far, i have completely lost my 4S and was very shaky on my 4T and 4Lz. the coaches have been pushing me to jump a 4Lo or 4F due to my lost 4S, but currently it's an impossible ask based on the state of both jumps.

my feet are practically torn open with the amounts of open wounds on them. my ankle and back of my foot are green with bruises, which caused them to be in constant pain, but there is nothing i can do but take advil.

the coaches have been pressuring me to spend extra time in the gym, to take off a few of my extra " guilty fat" as they call it. just like the years before, i had felt an overwhelming amount of pressure to loose weight, which would in their eyes " completely change the state of my jumps". in theory, yes it would, but until now it hadn't been an issue.