Approaching Test Anxiety

Yes, it's that time again. I'm testing Novice MITF next week, and approaching test anxiety has set in. I'm actually feeling really well prepared, but I've still got butterflies. I've improved so much just in the last few weeks that I'm starting to think that Coach K may not be insane for making me test so soon. I may actually have a chance of passing. Not that I've ever known anyone to pass Novice on their first try. I almost wish that I didn't think I had a chance of passing. It would be much easier on my nerves to think of this as a "see what we need to work on" kind of test.

In other news, my jumps are getting better :) My double salchow is still retarded, but after the moves test I'll be able to devote some extra lesson time to it. My double toe is approaching something like consistency. Although now that I've said it, I'm sure that I'll lose it. I even landed a split-jump/double-toeloop combo today! My double loop is 1000x better. I've learned that if I stand a little taller on the take-off, the jump is actually easier. For some reason, I had the strange idea that if I squatted like I was going to take a poo before take-off, I would get more height. The jump actually works much better when I stay a bit more upright and push through my skating ankle on take-off. I've also been trying to squeeze in some double flip work. I'd say that I get to it every other day or so. They're not very consistent yet, but I can land them. I'm trying to work out how to use my hips/shoulders on the take-off to lift while staying over my R side. I tend to either get stuck in checked position and not rotate completely, or pull too much over my L side and fall out of the landing. Hopefully I can give these some extra practice time once my test is over.