The Un-landed Everything

Chapter 11

After the TV interview Nana dropped me off at home. I find my house very boring, so once Nana’s car pulled out of the driveway, I ran got some cash, and my paisley skate bag. I was going to the rink.

                It was only about three tenths of a mile to the nearest bus stop. I knew the exact route number that would take me to the rink, 11; my favorite number. Route 11 showed up just as I arrived at the stop, I hopped on board and handed the driver 2.50, and sat towards the back of the bus. I had never ridden a bus alone before, but I just needed to skate.

                Northern-Boston Skating Academy had four rinks, the hockey rink, the public rink, the competition rink, and the training rink. In order to be allowed to use the training rink, you had to be a member of USFS (United States Figure Skating), and I was. The training rink was completely empty today, maybe because Regional’s was over? I don’t know, but I was kind of excited I would get the whole ice to myself.

                I quickly laced up my skates, and stepped onto the ice. I finally had the ice to myself, literally this was just amazing, and exciting. It was all mine.

                I took a few warm-up laps around, then snapped into spins. I always start with spins; it’s kind of like a tradition for me. I also start with the easier elements first, then I move onto the harder elements. So, I casually stepped into my one foot spin. I could tell this was going to be a good spin from the way I entered, so I decided to do a few fancy arm positions, then I finally stepped out. After a few sit spins, and camel spins, I moved onto my layback spin the dizziest spin ever. I hate leaning back, with one leg in the air, it’s so terrifying; but I love the layback, I find it so amusing. For my last spin, I decided to have some fun, and do a broken leg spin. I swear everyone hates that spin, but me. The broken leg is my specialty; I can’t have a program without a broken leg. I just can’t.

                After getting spins out of the way, I was so excited to move on to jumps. I mean, I am the jumping queen. I absolutely love jumps; my jumps are strong and high. That’s how I got my nickname “the jumping queen”. As usual I started with my more simple jumps, A.K.A. my single rotation jumps. After singles I moved onto doubles, and then finally triples. I decided to start with my favorite triple jump, the triple loop. I then did my triple Lutz, and toe loop, and flip. Finally, I had one more triple left to do…the triple axel. I was scared to do it without coach, but at the same time I wanted to so badly. So I went for it.

                As usual, I landed on two feet. “Stop thinking so hard,” I muttered to myself. I flashbacked to the videos of figure skaters doing triple axels on YouTube, that night after Dairy Queen with Nana. “Phew, you’ve got this,” I said loudly. Then I jumped…

                I felt that great feeling of the air making my cheeks flush; and my bangs blowing out of my face. Then it happened. My blade swiftly skidded the ground, and my left foot stretched out. I just landed a triple axel.